[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner discharging conditioned air into
a room. More particularly, the present invention relates to an air conditioner that
can discharge from an air outlet an airflow widened in a longitudinal direction of
the air outlet.
[Background Art]
[0002] The following Patent Literature 1 discloses an air conditioner including a ceiling-suspended
indoor unit. The indoor unit of this air conditioner includes: a body casing including
an air outlet on a front side thereof; a heat exchanger accommodated in a front portion
of the body casing; and an air blowing fan accommodated in a rear portion of the body
casing. The air blowing fan suctions air from a lower side of the body casing and
blows forward the suctioned air. The heat exchanger performs heat exchange by letting
therethrough the airflow blown forward by the air blowing fan. The air heated or cooled
through the heat exchange process is discharged from the air outlet into the room
whereby room temperature and the like are conditioned.
[0003] On the other hand, the body casing is provided with an airflow adjustment blade at
the air outlet thereof for making adjustment of airflow direction. FIG.7 is a sectional
side view showing in enlarged dimension the vicinity of the air outlet of the indoor
unit of the prior-art air conditioner (Patent Literature 1). The airflow blade includes
a vertical blade 135 for transverse adjustment of the airflow direction and a horizontal
blade 136 disposed forwardly of the vertical blade 135 and making vertical adjustment
of the airflow direction.
[0004] During a cooling operation, for example, the horizontal blade 136 is in a level position
(indicated by a chain double-dashed line in the figure) thereby directing a cool airflow
forward. During a heating operation, the horizontal blade is in a downward position
(indicated by a solid line in the figure) thereby directing a warm airflow forward
and obliquely downward. The horizontal blade promotes air convection in the room by
vertically adjusting the airflow direction according to its operation mode for cooling
or heating. Thus, the air conditioner can achieve effective air conditioning.
The vertical blade 135 delivers a wide airflow into the room particularly by adjustably
directing the airflow outward in the transverse direction. The vertical blade contributes
to effective air conditioning of the entire room.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[0005]
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2002-106882 (FIG.1)
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0006] The indoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has the following problem. In a
case where the horizontal blade 136 is in a downward position during heating operation
or the like, a rear end 136a of the horizontal blade 136 is positioned higher than
the vertical blade 135, as shown in FIG.7. This disables the vertical blade 135 to
adjust the direction of the airflow passing over it, and therefore the vertical blade
fails to form transversely widened airflow. This results in an increased likelihood
of uneven air conditioning of the room and increased time to even out the room temperature.
[0007] In view of the above, the present invention has an object to provide an air conditioner
that can discharge from its air outlet an airflow widened outward in the longitudinal
direction of the air outlet and can obviate uneven air conditioning of the room.
[Solution to Problem]
[0008] (1) An air conditioner of the present invention comprises: a heat exchanger; an air
blowing device for generating an airflow passing through the heat exchanger; a body
casing accommodating the heat exchanger and the air blowing device and including an
elongated air outlet for discharging the airflow having passed through the heat exchanger;
and an airflow shield member provided at a longitudinal end portion of the air outlet,
the airflow shield member covering the heat exchanger on the air outlet side and thereby
diverting the airflow having passed through the heat exchanger inwardly in the longitudinal
direction before guiding the airflow toward the end portion of the air outlet.
[0009] According to the present invention described above, the airflow generated by the
air blowing device passes through the heat exchanger and then collides against the
airflow shield member at the longitudinal end portion of the air outlet so as to be
diverted longitudinally inwardly. Thereafter, the airflow passes the airflow shield
member and blows toward the air outlet. Then a low pressure region which is substantially
in no-airflow state is formed in front of the shield member, so that the air having
passed the airflow shield member and flowing toward the air outlet is directed outward
in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet as drawn into the low pressure region.
This drawing action generates an airflow spread longitudinally outward from the air
outlet, thereby the uneven air conditioning of the room can be obviated.
[0010]
(2) In the above constitution, it is preferred that the airflow shield member is placed
on the air outlet side with respect to the heat exchanger at a distance therefrom.
According to this arrangement, the airflow having passed through the heat exchanger
moves along a back side of the airflow shield member and is smoothly diverted inward
in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet. Thus, an adequate volume of airflow
can be discharged from the air outlet, in contrast to a case where the airflow shield
member is closely spaced from the heat exchanger.
[0011]
(3) It is preferred that a covering member is provided at a longitudinally opposite
end portion of the air outlet from the airflow shield member and covers a component
on the air outlet side, the component adjoining the heat exchanger in the longitudinal
direction. Because of the provision of such a covering member, a low pressure region
which is substantially in no-airflow state is formed in front of the covering member,
so that the air passing the covering member inward in the longitudinal direction of
the air outlet is directed outward in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet
as drawn into the low pressure region. Thus is generated an airflow spread longitudinally
outward from the air outlet.
[0012]
(4) It is preferred that the air outlet is provided with a plurality of first adjustment
blades swingable in the longitudinal direction for adjusting the longitudinal direction
of the airflow discharged from the air outlet, and that the first adjustment blades
are arranged in a manner that, when they are swung maximally, one first adjustment
blade has its one end portion overlapped with the other end portion of its adjoining
first adjustment blade in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet.
This arrangement ensures that the air flowing through a space between the first adjustment
blades swung maximally does not go straight but is adjusted in direction by the first
adjustment blades. When the first adjustment blades are swung fully outward in the
longitudinal direction of the air outlet, therefore, the airflow can be assuredly
directed outward in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet.
[0013]
(5) It is preferred that the air outlet includes a lower wall portion and an upper
wall portion opposed to each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction
of the air outlet, that a second adjustment blade is provided between the lower wall
portion and the upper wall portion for vertically adjusting the direction of the airflow
discharged from the air outlet, and that the airflow shield member is spaced a distance
from the upper wall portion.
According to this arrangement, the airflow having passed through an upper part of
the heat exchanger is not diverted but moves straight through a space between the
upper wall portion of the air outlet and the airflow shield member. This facilitates
the passage of the air over the second adjustment blade, and thereby enables to form
a cold-air seal of a cold air layer on an upper surface of the second adjustment blade
during cooling operation. The cold-air seal can prevent warm room air from coming
into contact with the upper surface of the second adjustment blade and condensing
thereon.
[0014]
(6) It is preferred that the distance from the airflow shield member to the upper
wall portion is substantially equal to a distance from an upper end of the second
adjustment blade in the most downward position to the upper wall portion. When the
second adjustment blade is adjusted to the most downward position, the upper end of
the second adjustment blade generally comes closest to the upper wall portion of the
air outlet. Even so, a gap substantially equal to the distance from the airflow shield
member to the upper wall portion is defined between the upper end of the second adjustment
blade and the upper wall portion, facilitating the passage of the air over the second
adjustment blade in the most downward position. Accordingly, the cold-air seal can
be favorably formed on the upper surface of the second adjustment blade, preventing
the formation of condensation.
[0015]
(7) It is preferred that the air outlet includes a lower wall portion and an upper
wall portion opposed to each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction
of the air outlet, that a first adjustment blade for adjusting the longitudinal direction
of the airflow discharged from the air outlet and a second adjustment blade for adjusting
the vertical direction of the airflow are provided between the lower wall portion
and the upper wall portion, and that the first adjustment blade is substantially level
with an upper end of the second adjustment blade adjusted to the most downward position.
In such an arrangement, the first adjustment blade can favorably adjust the airflow
direction in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet even when the second adjustment
blade is adjusted to the most downward position.
[0016]
(8) It is preferred that the heat exchanger is inclined in a manner that an upper
part thereof is located forward in an airflow discharge direction and a lower part
thereof is located rearward in the airflow discharge direction, and that the upper
wall portion is formed substantially perpendicularly to the heat exchanger.
The air having passed through the heat exchanger flows substantially perpendicularly
to the heat exchanger. Therefore, airflow disturbance and flow resistance can be reduced
by forming the upper wall portion substantially perpendicularly to the heat exchanger
as described above. Hence, an adequate volume of airflow can be discharged from the
air outlet. Even when the second adjustment blade is adjusted to the most downward
position, the air flowing along the upper wall portion of the air outlet is allowed
to pass over the second adjustment blade, thereby facilitating the formation of the
cold-air seal on the upper surface of the second adjustment blade during the cooling
operation. Accordingly, the formation of condensation can be obviated.
[Advantageous Effects of Invention]
[0017] The air conditioner according to the present invention can discharge from the air
outlet the airflow widened outward in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet,
thus obviating the uneven air conditioning of the room.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0018]
[FIG.1]
FIG.1 is a front view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[FIG.2]
FIG.2 is a schematic sectional view of the indoor unit shown in FIG.1;
[FIG.3]
FIG.3 is a schematic plan view showing an internal construction of the indoor unit
shown in FIG.1;
[FIG.4]
FIG.4 is a schematic sectional view showing in enlarged dimension the vicinity of
an air outlet of the indoor unit shown in FIG.1;
[FIG.5]
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing in enlarged dimension one transverse end portion
of the interior of the indoor unit shown in FIG.1;
[FIG.6]
FIG.6 is a schematic plan view showing in enlarged dimension the other transverse
end portion of the interior of the indoor unit shown in FIG.1; and
[FIG.7]
FIG.7 is a schematic sectional view showing in enlarged dimension the vicinity of
an air outlet of a prior-art air conditioner.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described as below with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
FIG.1 is a front view showing an indoor unit 10 of an air conditioner according to
the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.2 is a schematic sectional view of the
indoor unit 10 shown in FIG.1. FIG.3 is a schematic plan view showing an internal
construction of the indoor unit shown in FIG.1. The indoor unit 10 is of a ceiling-suspended
type and includes a body casing 11 formed in a box shape elongated in a transverse
direction and short in a vertical direction. The body casing 11 accommodates a plurality
of air blowing fans (air blowing devices) 12, a heat exchanger 13, a fan driving motor
(driving portion) 14 and the like.
[0020] As shown in FIG.2, the body casing 11 includes: a top panel portion 16 suspendable
from a ceiling; a bottom panel portion 17 disposed under a front portion of the top
panel portion 16 in opposed relation thereto; a grille cover 18 disposed under a rear
portion of the top panel portion 16 in opposed relation thereto; and side portion
covers 19 (see FIG.1) disposed on transversely opposite sides of the top panel portion
16, the bottom panel portion 17 and the grille cover 18. A rear end of the top panel
portion 16 is bent downward so as to define a rear panel portion 16a. The grille cover
18 is formed with an air inlet 20 for taking room air into the body casing 11. A partition
plate 21 vertically upstands between the bottom panel portion 17 and the grille cover
18, dividing the interior of the body casing 11 into front and rear spaces 11A, 11B.
The body casing 11 is formed with an air outlet 22 on a front side thereof. The air
outlet has a transversely elongated rectangular shape and defines an opening to the
front.
[0021] As shown in FIG.3, the air blowing fans 12 are transversely arranged in the rear
space 11B of the body casing 11 and supported by the partition plate 21. Each of the
air blowing fans 12 is a multiblade fan such as a sirocco fan. Each of the air blowing
fans 12 is driven by the motor 14. The air blowing fan 12 is designed to suction the
room air through the air inlet 20 (see FIG.2) formed in a bottom of a rear portion
of the body casing 11, thus generating airflow into the space 11A forward of the partition
plate 21.
[0022] As shown in FIG.3, the heat exchanger 13 is disposed in the front space 11A of the
body casing 11 and designed to let through a forward airflow generated by the air
blowing fans 12. The heat exchanger 13 includes multitudes of fins 25 transversely
arranged with predetermined spacing, and refrigerant piping 26 transversely extends
as penetrating the fins 25. The heat exchanger 13 has a length spanning most of the
transverse range of the interior space of the body casing 11. The heat exchanger is
placed slightly nearer one transverse side of the body casing (to the left side as
seen in the figure) as viewed from the front. On the other transverse side of the
body casing (the right side as seen in the figure), components 27 such as piping for
refrigerant circulation between the indoor unit and an outdoor unit are provided in
adjoining relation with the heat exchanger 13. The air blowing fans 12 are transversely
distributed so as to deliver the airflow to the entire transverse range of the heat
exchanger 13. The air conditioner is capable of performing a cooling operation by
using the heat exchanger 13 as an evaporator and a heating operation by using the
heat exchanger 13 as a condenser.
[0023] As shown in FIG.2, the heat exchanger 13 is disposed at an angle with respect to
the top panel portion 16 or the bottom panel portion 17 of the body casing 11 in a
manner that an upper part thereof is located forward (closer to the air outlet 22;
on a downstream side of the airflow) while a lower part thereof is located rearward
(closer to the air blowing fans 12; on an upstream side of the airflow). The airflow
driven forward by the air blowing fans 12 passes through the heat exchanger 13 whereby
the air exchanges heat with a refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant piping 26.
The resultant airflow is discharged as turned in a forward and obliquely downward
direction, that is, substantially perpendicularly to the heat exchanger 13.
[0024] The top panel portion 16 is provided with a heat insulation 30 at a lower surface
of a front end portion thereof. An upper wall portion 31 of the air outlet 22 is defined
by this insulation 30. Disposed on the upper surface of the bottom panel portion 17
is a drain pan 32 for receiving condensation water generated at the heat exchanger
13. A lower wall portion 33 of the air outlet 22 is defined by a front edge portion
of the drain pan 32. A lower surface of the upper wall portion 31 is inclined in a
direction substantially perpendicular to the heat exchanger 13. Accordingly, the air
having passed through the heat exchanger 13 and flowing in the direction substantially
perpendicular to the heat exchanger 13 is reduced in flow resistance and turbulence
when moving along the upper wall portion 31 to pass through the air outlet 22. The
reduction in volume of the air discharged from the air outlet 22 can be obviated in
this manner.
[0025] The air outlet 22 is provided with an airflow adjustment blade for adjusting the
direction (wind direction) of airflow discharged from the air outlet 22 after having
passed through the heat exchanger 13. The airflow adjustment blade includes a vertical
blade (first adjustment blade) 35 for transverse adjustment of the wind direction
and a horizontal blade (second adjustment blade) 36 disposed forwardly of the vertical
blade 35 and making vertical adjustment of the wind direction.
[0026] As shown in FIG.3, multitudes of vertical blades 35 are arranged substantially in
the entire longitudinal range of the air outlet 22. The vertical blades 35 are each
mounted to the lower wall portion 33 in a manner to be transversely swingable about
a first vertical axis X1. A given number (e.g. four) of adjoining vertical blades
35 are interconnected via an interlocking member 39 such that these interconnected
vertical blades 35 may swing simultaneously in the same direction.
[0027] The horizontal blade 36 has a length spanning substantially the entire longitudinal
range of the air outlet 22. The horizontal blade 36 is mounted via an unillustrated
support member in a manner to be vertically swingable about a second axis X2 extending
in the transverse direction. The horizontal blade 36 is driven into the swing motion
by an unillustrated motor or link mechanism. The horizontal blade 36 is movable between
a level position, indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG.4, as an upper limit
of the swing motion for adjustment of the wind direction and a downward position,
indicated by a solid line in the figure, as a lower limit of the swing motion for
adjustment of the wind direction. The horizontal blade can be moved between these
positions to make the vertical adjustment of the airflow direction. The horizontal
blade 36 is curved such that the horizontal blade, when in the level position, is
convex upward as seen in side view.
[0028] As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.3, the air outlet 22 is provided with an airflow shield
member 43 at one transverse end portion thereof (the left end portion) for blocking
the air flowing toward the air outlet 22 after having passed through the heat exchanger
13. The airflow shield member 43 is a rectangular plate. As shown in FIG.4, the airflow
shield member is inclined in a manner that an upper part thereof is located forward.
The airflow shield member is disposed forwardly of the heat exchanger 13 and extends
substantially in parallel to the heat exchanger with a gap t defined therebetween.
Furthermore, a gap T1 is also defined between an upper end of the airflow shield member
43 and the upper wall portion 31.
The air outlet 22 is provided with a blind plate (covering member) 45 at the other
transverse end portion thereof (the right end portion), the blind plate covering the
components 27 such as piping from the front side to keep the components out of sight.
[0029] FIG.5 is a schematic plan view showing an interior of the air outlet 22 at a left
end portion of the air conditioner. The air flowing forward through the heat exchanger
13 is blocked by the airflow shield member 43 so as to be guided rightward along a
back side of the airflow shield member 43 (see an arrow a in the figure). The airflow
directed rightward to pass by the back side of the airflow shield member 43 is redirected
forward (see an arrow b in the figure). In this manner, the airflow shield member
43 functions to divert the airflow having passed through the heat exchanger 13 transversely
inwardly.
[0030] On the other hand, a low pressure region A1 which is substantially in no-airflow
state is formed in front of the airflow shield member 43, as a result of blocking
the airflow coming from the heat exchanger 13 side. Therefore, the airflow moving
forward after passing by the airflow shield member 43 is turned leftward as drawn
into the low pressure region A1, before discharged from the air outlet 22 (see an
arrow c in the figure). Thus, a wide airflow spread leftward from the air outlet 22
can be formed without relying on the vertical blades 35.
[0031] FIG.6 is a schematic plan view showing an interior of the air outlet 22 at a right
end portion of the air conditioner. The components 27 such as piping are disposed
within the body casing 11 at the right end thereof. The air outlet 22 is provided
with the blind plate 45 as the covering member in order to prevent the components
27 from being exposed on the air outlet 22 side. A low pressure region A2 which is
substantially in no-airflow state is formed in front of the blind plate 45. Therefore,
the airflow moving forward after passing through the heat exchanger 13 and then passing
along the left side of the blind plate 45 is turned rightward as drawn into the low
pressure region A2, before discharged from the air outlet 22 (see an arrow d in the
figure). In this manner, a wide airflow spread rightward from the air outlet 22 can
be formed without relying on the vertical blades 35.
[0032] As described above, the air outlet 22 is provided with the airflow shield member
43 at the left end portion thereof and with the blind plate 45 at the right end portion
thereof, so that the airflow is discharged from the air outlet 22 as spread wide in
transversely opposite directions. Therefore, uneven air conditioning of the room can
be obviated.
[0033] The vertical blades 35 are adapted to swing in the transverse direction. When the
vertical blades 35 are swung to the rightmost or leftmost position, as shown in FIG.5
and FIG.6, a front-back end portion of one vertical blade 35 transversely overlaps
with the other front-back end portion of its adjoining vertical blade 35 by an overlap
width e. This ensures that the air flowing forward after passing through the heat
exchanger 13 inevitably collides against the vertical blades 35 so as to be adjusted
in the flow direction instead of being allowed to move straight ahead. When swung
to the rightmost or leftmost position, therefore, the vertical blades 35 become capable
of transversely widening the airflow, and accordingly functions, together with the
above-described airflow shield member 43 and blind plate 45, to obviate the uneven
air conditioning of the room.
[0034] The vertical blade 35 is formed to be substantially level with a rear end 36a of
the horizontal blade 36 in the most downward position as indicated by a solid line
in FIG.4. Therefore, the airflow directed downward as passing under the horizontal
blade 36 is also transversely adjusted in direction by the vertical blades 35. Hence,
the airflow can be discharged in a transversely wider range by adjusting the vertical
blades 35 to turn transversely outward.
[0035] A gap T2 between the rear end 36a of the horizontal blade 36 in the most downward
position and the upper wall portion 31 of the air outlet 22 is substantially equal
to the gap T1 between an upper end 43a of the airflow shield member 43 and the upper
wall portion 31 of the air outlet 22. During the cooling operation, therefore, the
air (cool air) from the heat exchanger 13 having passed over the airflow shield member
43 flows though the gap T2 and along an upper surface of the horizontal blade 36.
The airflow along the upper surface of the horizontal blade 36 forms on the upper
surface a cold-air seal of a cold air layer, which can prevent the formation of condensation
on the upper surface of the horizontal blade. In other words, if the airflow shield
member 43 is extended so long as to reach the upper wall portion 31, it is difficult
to form the cold-air seal on the upper surface of the horizontal blade at the transverse
end portion of the air outlet 22. Hence, the formation of condensation is more likely
to occur. However, the embodiment of the present invention can obviate such a problem.
[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and permits
appropriate design choices. The present invention is also applicable to air conditioners
besides the air conditioner including the ceiling suspended indoor unit 10. The present
invention may be applied to an air conditioner including, for example, a ceiling mounted
indoor unit having a downward-oriented air outlet.
The location of the airflow shield member 43 according to the above-described embodiment
is not limited to one longitudinal end of the air outlet 22. The air outlet 22 may
also be provided with the airflow shield members at both longitudinally opposite end
portions thereof. In this case, the blind plate 45 may be extended inward in the longitudinal
direction of the air outlet 22 so that the extended portion may be located in front
of the heat exchanger 13 to serve as the airflow shield member.
[Reference Signs List]
[0037]
10: Indoor unit
11: Body casing
12: Air blowing fan
13: Heat exchanger
22: Air outlet
27: Component
31: Upper wall portion
33: Lower wall portion
35: Vertical blade
36: Horizontal blade
43: Airflow shield member
45: Blind plate (Covering member)
1. An air conditioner comprising:
a heat exchanger (13);
an air blowing device (12) for generating an airflow passing through the heat exchanger
(13);
a body casing (11) accommodating the heat exchanger (13) and the air blowing device
(12) and including an elongated air outlet (22) for discharging the airflow having
passed through the heat exchanger (13); and
an airflow shield member (43) provided at a longitudinal end portion of the air outlet
(22), the airflow shield member covering the heat exchanger (13) on the air outlet
side and thereby diverting the airflow having passed through the heat exchanger (13)
inwardly in a longitudinal direction of the air outlet before guiding the airflow
toward the end portion of the air outlet.
2. The air conditioner according to Claim 1, wherein the airflow shield member (43) is
placed on the air outlet (22) side with respect to the heat exchanger (13) at a distance
(t) therefrom.
3. The air conditioner according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a covering member (45) is provided
at a longitudinally opposite end portion of the air outlet (22) from the airflow shield
member (43) and covers a component (27) on the air outlet (22) side, the component
(27) adjoining the heat exchanger (13) in the longitudinal direction.
4. The air conditioner according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the air outlet
(22) is provided with a plurality of first adjustment blades (35) swingable in the
longitudinal direction for adjusting the longitudinal direction of the airflow discharged
from the air outlet (22), and
wherein the first adjustment blades (35) are arranged in a manner that, when they
are swung maximally, one first adjustment blade (35) has its one end portion overlapped
with the other end portion of its adjoining first adjustment blade (35) in the longitudinal
direction of the air outlet (22).
5. The air conditioner according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the air outlet
(22) includes a lower wall portion (33) and an upper wall portion (31) opposed to
each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the air outlet,
wherein a second adjustment blade (36) is provided between the lower wall portion
(33) and the upper wall portion (31) for vertically adjusting the direction of the
airflow discharged from the air outlet (22), and
wherein the airflow shield member (43) is spaced a distance (T1) from the upper wall
portion (31).
6. The air conditioner according to Claim 5, wherein the distance (T1) from the airflow
shield member (43) to the upper wall portion (31) is substantially equal to a distance
(T2) from an upper end of the second adjustment blade (36) in the most downward position
to the upper wall portion (31).
7. The air conditioner according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the air outlet
(22) includes a lower wall portion (33) and an upper wall portion (31) opposed to
each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the air outlet,
wherein a first adjustment blade (35) for adjusting the longitudinal direction of
the airflow discharged from the air outlet (22) and a second adjustment blade (36)
for adjusting the vertical direction of the airflow are provided between the lower
wall portion (33) and the upper wall portion (31), and
wherein the first adjustment blade (35) is substantially level with an upper end of
the second adjustment blade (36) adjusted to the most downward position.
8. The air conditioner according to Claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger (13) is inclined
in a manner that an upper part thereof is located forward in a airflow discharge direction
and a lower part thereof is located rearward in the airflow discharge direction, and
wherein the upper wall portion (31) is formed substantially perpendicularly to the
heat exchanger (13).