AIR CONDITIONER

Abstract

 The present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of readily performing maintenance tasks of a drain pan including inspection of an interior of the drain pan and supply of an antibacterial material into the drain pan from an exterior. An air conditioner (A) includes a substantially box-shaped casing (1), a fan (20) arranged in the casing (1), a heat exchanger (30) arranged in the casing (1), a drain pan (40) for storing condensed water from the heat exchanger (30), and a drain pump (50) for discharging the condensed water stored in the drain pan (40) to an exterior of the air conditioner. A passage (60) through which a flexible long body for maintaining the air conditioner (A) is inserted from the exterior to the vicinity of a bottom part of the drain pan (40) is further provided. The passage (60) only includes one, two or more of a straight part, an obtuse bent part and a curved part. The passage (60) has a high level passage part (61) placed at a higher position than a suction port (51) of the drain pump (50).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner. More specifically, the present invention relates to a ceiling-buried type or ceiling-suspended type air conditioner for discharging condensed water from a heat exchanger stored in a drain pan to an exterior of the air conditioner by a drain pump.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In a ceiling-buried type or ceiling-suspended type air conditioner (indoor unit), in general, condensed water from a heat exchanger stored in a drain pan arranged on the lower side of the heat exchanger is discharged to an exterior of the air conditioner by a drain pump.

[0003] When the air conditioner is operated, grit and dust and cigarette smoke floating inside of a room are attached to fins of the heat exchanger, and the grit, the dust, and the like drop into the drain pan together with the condensed water. When an amount of such grit, dust and the like is increased, the condensed water containing the grit, the dust, and the like becomes like muddy water. When the muddy-water-like condensed water is suctioned by the drain pump, a lump of the grit, the dust, and the like contained in the muddy water is stuck in a suction port and a discharge port of the drain pump so as to create a fear that drainage failure is caused.

[0004] In order to prevent the drainage failure, conventionally, the air conditioner is disassembled so that the drain pump and the drain pan can be detached, and the drain pan and the like are manually cleaned. However, such a cleaning task requires time and effort and hence is uneconomical.

[0005] Thus, there has been proposed an air conditioner capable of discharging muddy-water-like condensed water stored in a drain pan from an exterior without disassembling the air conditioner (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1). The drain pan described in Patent Literature 1 is provided with a cleaning tube having a suction part and a discharge part, and a suction port of the suction part is fixed to the vicinity of a bottom part of the drain pan, whereas a discharge port of the discharge part is exposed to an exterior of the air conditioner so as to be connected to an indoor muddy water cleaner.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[0006] 

Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-120851

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

[0007] However, although the condensed water stored in the vicinity of the bottom part of the drain pan can be discharged to the exterior without detaching the drain pan from the air conditioner in the air conditioner described in Patent Literature 1, there is a need for detaching the drain pan from the air conditioner in order to perform maintenance tasks of confirming dirt in an interior of the drain pan and charging an antibacterial material into the drain pan.

[0008] Japan's Act on Maintenance of Sanitation in Buildings (Building Sanitation Law) stipulates that dirt in the drain pan is visually inspected once a month, and in a case where there is dirt, the interior of the drain pan is cleaned (specifically, a detachment task of slime attached to the bottom part of the drain pan). However, in the air conditioner described in Patent Literature 1, unless the drain pan is detached from the air conditioner, such visual inspection and the detachment task of the slime attached to the bottom part of the drain pan cannot be performed.

[0009] The present invention is achieved in consideration with such situations, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner capable of readily performing maintenance tasks of a drain pan including inspection of an interior of the drain pan and supply of an antibacterial material into the drain pan from an exterior.

Solution to Problem

[0010] An air conditioner of the present invention includes a substantially box-shaped casing, a fan arranged in the casing, a heat exchanger arranged in the casing, a drain pan for storing condensed water from the heat exchanger, and a drain pump for discharging the condensed water stored in the drain pan to an exterior of the air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner further includes a passage through which a flexible long body for maintaining the air conditioner is inserted from the exterior to the vicinity of a bottom part of the drain pan, the passage only includes one, two or more of a straight part, an obtuse bent part and a curved part, and the passage has a high level passage part placed at a higher position than a suction port of the drain pump.

[0011] The air conditioner of the present invention is provided with the passage through which the flexible long body is inserted from the exterior of the drain pan to the vicinity of the bottom part of the drain pan. The passage only includes one, two or more of the straight part, the obtuse bent part and the curved part. Thus, the flexible long body used for maintaining the drain pan such as a fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan, a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan to the exterior, an antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying an antibacterial material into the drain pan, and a water injection tube for supplying cleaning water to the vicinity of the bottom part of the drain pan can be readily and smoothly inserted from the exterior into the drain pan. Therefore, maintenance tasks such as inspection and cleaning of the drain pan can be easily performed from the exterior without detaching the drain pan from the air conditioner.

[0012] The passage has the high level passage part placed at a higher position than the suction port of the drain pump. Thus, the condensed water in the drain pan does not leak out to the exterior through the passage.

[0013] It should be noted that the "passage" in the present invention includes not only a passage formed in the drain pan itself but also a tube serving as separate body from the drain pan, and further, a passage formed by combining such a tube and the passage formed in the drain pan itself.

[0014] The flexible long body may be at least one of a fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan, a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan to the exterior, an antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying an antibacterial material into the drain pan, and a water injection tube for supplying cleaning water to the vicinity of the bottom part of the drain pan. When such a long body as the fiberscope, the water drainage tube, the antibacterial material supplying long body, and the water injection tube can be inserted, the inspection and the cleaning of the drain pan can be readily performed from the exterior.

[0015] The passage may include a first passage through which a fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan is inserted, and a second passage through which a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan to the exterior is inserted. According to the above configuration, the interior of the drain pan can be visually inspected using the fiberscope inserted through the first passage, and the condensed water in the drain pan can be discharged to the exterior using the water drainage tube inserted through the second passage. If necessary, while inspecting the interior by the fiberscope, the condensed water can be discharged.

[0016] The passage may include a first passage through which a fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan is inserted, a second passage through which a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan to the exterior is inserted, and a third passage through which an antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying an antibacterial material into the drain pan is inserted. According to the above configuration, the interior of the drain pan can be visually inspected using the fiberscope inserted through the first passage, the condensed water in the drain pan can be discharged to the exterior using the water drainage tube inserted through the second passage, and further, the antibacterial material can be supplied into the drain pan using the third passage. If necessary, while inspecting the interior by the fiberscope, the condensed water can be discharged.

[0017] Preferably, an interior side opening of the first passage is arranged on the upper side of an interior side opening of the second passage. Since the interior side opening of the first passage through which the fiberscope is inserted is arranged on the upper side of the interior side opening of the second passage from which the condensed water is discharged, the bottom part or the like of the drain pan can be observed from a high position. Therefore, more precise inspection can be performed.

[0018]  A water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan to the exterior may be arranged, and the water drainage tube may have a high level passage part placed at a higher position than the suction port of the drain pump at least at the time of operating the air conditioner. According to the above configuration, the interior of the drain pan can be inspected using the passage through which the fiberscope serving as the flexible long body is inserted, and the condensed water in the drain pan can be discharged to the exterior using the water drainage tube. The water drainage tube is not inserted from the exterior at the time of use but fixed to the drain pan. Thus, as long as water drainage is possible, a route and a degree of bent of the tube are not particularly limited.

[0019] The air conditioner may further include a decorative panel having a suction port for the air, and an outlet of the passage may be arranged on the upper side of the suction port of the decorative panel. According to the above configuration, only by detaching a suction grille or the like installed in the suction port, access to the outlet of the passage can be easily obtained. Thus, the fiberscope or the like can be readily inserted into the drain pan.

[0020] The air conditioner may further include a decorative panel having a suction port for the air, the decorative panel being provided with a detachable corner cover in a corner part thereof, and an outlet of the passage may be arranged on the upper side of the corner cover. According to the above configuration, only by detaching the corner cover, the access to the outlet of the passage can be easily obtained. Thus, the fiberscope or the like can be readily inserted into the drain pan.

[0021] An openable and closable lid part may be arranged in the outlet of the passage. According to the above configuration, the condensed water in the drain pan can be more reliably prevented from leaking out from the outlet of the passage to the exterior. In a case where there is no condensed water in the drain pan at the time of heating or the like, the air on the secondary side of the heat exchanger can be prevented from leaking out to the suction side. Further, insects and the like can be prevented from coming into the drain pan.

[0022] A scale mark indicating height from an inner bottom surface of the drain pan may be provided on a side surface of the drain pan. According to the above configuration, for example by inserting a tube into the passage and suctioning an interior of the tube once so as to make the condensed water in the vicinity of a front end of the tube pass through the high level passage part, an amount of the condensed water in the drain pan can be readily confirmed in the exterior of the drain pan.

[0023] A retaining part for accommodating the antibacterial material may be provided in an interior side opening of the third passage. According to the above configuration, the antibacterial material filled (supplied) into the vicinity of the bottom part of the drain pan through an antibacterial material filling passage can be prevented from scattering. It is particularly advantageous because when the antibacterial material is put into the drain pan at the time of shipping from a factory, the antibacterial material does not scatter at the time of transporting the air conditioner or the like.

[0024] At least part of the retaining part may be formed of a mesh, a net, or a lattice. According to the above configuration, while sufficiently ensuring contact between the condensed water and the antibacterial material, the antibacterial material can be effectively prevented from scattering.

[0025] In the vicinity of an outlet of the passage, a locking part for locking an accommodation container receiving the condensed water discharged from the outlet may be arranged. According to the above configuration, a worker is not required to hold the accommodation container receiving the condensed water at the time of draining the water. Thus, workability can be improved to a large extent.

[0026] The passage may be formed by the drain pan and a lid body covering the drain pan. According to the above configuration, the passage can be easily formed by the drain pan and the lid body. Specifically, for example, the passage can be formed by a groove part formed in the drain pan and the lid body covering the groove part. Conversely, the passage can be formed by a groove part formed in the lid body and the drain pan.

[0027] A connection tool for connecting a tube serving as the flexible long body may be arranged in the outlet of the passage. According to the above configuration, by using the connection tool, the tube serving as a flexible hollow body can be easily connected to the outlet of the passage. Via the tube, the cleaning water can be charged into the drain pan and the condensed water in the drain pan can be discharged to the exterior. Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0028] According to the air conditioner of the present invention, the maintenance tasks of the drain pan including the inspection of the interior of the drain pan and supply of the antibacterial material into the drain pan can be readily performed from the exterior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] 

Fig. 1 is a side illustrative view of a first embodiment of an air conditioner of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan illustrative view of the first embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a major part illustrative view of the first embodiment

Fig. 4 is a major part illustrative view of the first embodiment at the time of draining;

Fig. 5 is a perspective illustrative view of various passages of the first embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a major part illustrative view of the first embodiment at the time of using a fiberscope;

Fig. 7 is a major part illustrative view of the first embodiment at the time of filling an antibacterial material;

Fig. 8 is a view showing a scale mark provided on a side surface of a drain pan;

Fig. 9 is a major part illustrative view of a second embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective illustrative view of various passages of the second embodiment;

Fig. 11 is an illustrative view of a modified example of the second embodiment;

Fig. 12 is a major part illustrative view of a third embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a major part illustrative view of the third embodiment at the time of draining;

Fig. 14 is a major part illustrative view of a fourth embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention at the time of draining;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a water drainage passage and a water drainage passage lid of the fourth embodiment;

Fig. 16 is a major part illustrative view of a fifth embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention at the time of draining;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a drainage hose of the fifth embodiment;

Fig. 18 is a sectional illustrative view showing another example of the air conditioner to which the present invention is applied;

Fig. 19 is a sectional illustrative view of the air conditioner shown in Fig. 18 at the time of using the fiberscope; and

Fig. 20 is a sectional illustrative view showing still another example of the air conditioner to which the present invention is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of an air conditioner of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[First Embodiment]

[0031] Fig. 1 is a side view for illustrating an air conditioner A according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view for illustrating the air conditioner A, and Fig. 3 is a view for illustrating major parts of the air conditioner A. The air conditioner A is a ceiling-buried type air conditioner to be arranged on the back of a ceiling, and includes a casing 1, a decorative panel 10, a fan 20 arranged in the casing 1, a heat exchanger 30 arranged in the casing 1 so as to surround the fan 20, a drain pan 40 for storing condensed water from the heat exchanger 30, and a drain pump 50 for discharging the condensed water stored in the drain pan 40 to an exterior of the air conditioner.

[0032] The casing 1 has a substantially box shape in which a lower surface is opened, and is manufactured by a steel plate or the like. The casing 1 is suspended from a ceiling slab or a floor slab of an upper floor by suspending bolts (not shown) locked onto suspending fittings 2 (refer to Fig. 2). An insulating member 3 is arranged on an inner peripheral surface of the casing 1.

[0033] The decorative panel 10 is arranged so as to cover an opening in the center of the lower surface of the casing 1, and has an air inlet 11 for suctioning the air in an air-conditioned room, and four air outlets 12 arranged in an outer periphery of the air inlet 11 so as to form a rectangular shape. As shown in Figs. 2 to 3, detachable corner covers 13 are respectively arranged in corner parts of the rectangular decorative panel 10.

[0034] In the air inlet 11, a suction grille 15, a filter 16 for removing grist, dust and the like in the air suctioned from the suction grille 15, and a bell mouth 21 for guiding the air suctioned from the air inlet 11 into the casing 1 on the upper side of the filter 16 are arranged. The bell mouth 21 is fixed to the drain pan 40 by a fixing means such as a screw (not shown).

[0035] Flaps 17 oscillated on axes extending in the longitudinal directions of the air outlets 12 by a motor (not shown) are respectively provided in the air outlets 12. By oscillation of the flaps 17, the directions of air flow discharged from the air outlets 12 into the air-conditioned room can be changed.

[0036] The fan 20 is a centrifugal fan for suctioning the air in the air-conditioned room into the casing 1 via the air inlet 11 and discharging the air in the outer peripheral direction. A motor 22 constituting the fan 20 is fixed to a top plate part 1a of the casing 1 via a rubber vibration insulator 23.

[0037] The heat exchanger 30 is a cross fin tube type heat exchanger panel formed by bending so as to surround an outer periphery of the fan 20, and is connected to an outdoor unit (not shown) installed in an outdoor site or the like via a refrigerant piping. The heat exchanger 30 is formed so as to function as an evaporator for a coolant flowing through an interior at the time of cooling operation and as a condenser for the coolant flowing through the interior at the time of heating operation. The heat exchanger 30 exchanges heat with the air sucked into the casing 1 through the air inlet 11 and blown off from a fan rotor 24 of the fan 20 so as to cool the air at the time of the cooling operation and to heat the air at the time of the heating operation.

[0038] The drain pan 40 is arranged on the lower side of the heat exchanger 30, and receives and stores the condensed water generated by condensing moisture in the air in the heat exchanger 30. The drain pan 40 is a plate-shaped member manufactured with synthetic resin or the like, and installed in a lower part of the casing 1.

[0039] On the upper side of the drain pan 40, the drain pump 50 operated in accordance with a signal from a float switch 56 (refer to Fig. 2) for discharging the condensed water stored in the drain pan 40 to the exterior of the air conditioner is arranged. The drain pump 50 is fixed to a bracket 53 attached to the casing 1 via a rubber vibration insulator 52 in such a manner that a suction port 51 thereof is positioned on the about 10 mm upper side of a bottom surface 44 of the drain pan 40. The condensed water suctioned by the drain pump 50 is discharged to the exterior of the air conditioner via a drain pipe 54. It should be noted that in Fig. 3, the reference sign 55 denotes a drainage port to which a hose (not shown) for discharging the condensed water to the exterior of the air conditioner is connected.

[0040] In the present embodiment, a passage 60 including a first passage 60a, a second passage 60b, and a third passage 60c is provided in the drain pan 40. As shown in Fig. 5, the passages 60a, 60b, 60c are formed by three groove parts 41a, 41b, 41c formed in the drain pan 40, and a lid body 42 covering the groove part 41. The first passage 60a (refer to Fig. 6) is a passage through which a fiberscope 91 (refer to Fig. 6) for inspecting an interior of the drain pan 40 is inserted, the second passage 60b (refer to Figs. 3 to 4) is a passage through which a water drainage tube 92 (refer to Fig. 4) for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan 40 to an exterior is inserted, and the third passage 60c (refer to Fig. 7) is a passage through which a supply bar 93 (refer to Fig. 7) serving as an antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying an antibacterial material into the drain pan 40 is inserted. It should be noted that although described later, a water injection tube for injecting cleaning water for cleaning the interior of the drain pan 40 can be inserted through the first passage 60a.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 5, the three groove parts 41a, 41b, 41c respectively include groove parts 41a1, 41b1, 41c1 having a substantially semi-arc or substantially U-shaped section, the groove parts being formed in an upper stage part 40a of the drain pan 40, and groove parts 41a2, 41b2, 41c2 formed in inclination bases 45a, 45b, 45c arranged in a corner part made by the upper stage part 40a and a side wall 40d of the drain pan 40. The groove part 41b constituting the second passage 60b is formed so as to extend from the upper stage part 40a of the drain pan 40 further to a middle stage part 40b, and opens at a lower stage part (bottom part) 40c of the drain pan 40 at the end. The lower stage part (bottom part) 40c of the drain pan 40 is formed into a keyhole shape when seen from the upper side, a retaining part 82 accommodating the antibacterial material described later is arranged in a rectangular part thereof, and the suction port 51 of the drain pump 50 is arranged on the upper side of a circular part thereof.

[0042] In a part 42a of the lid body 42 corresponding to the middle stage part 40b of the drain pan 40, a groove part 42b communicating with the groove part 41a1 of the first passage 60a is formed, and a groove part 42c communicating with the groove part 41c1 of the third passage 60c is formed. An interior side end of the groove 42c communicates with an interior of the retaining part 82 of the antibacterial material.

[0043] An upper surface 82a of the retaining part 82 and a side surface 82b excluding a surface in which the groove part 42c opens are formed of a synthetic resin net. Thereby, while sufficiently ensuring contact between the condensed water in the drain pan 40 and the antibacterial material in the retaining part 82, the antibacterial material can be effectively prevented from scattering. It should be noted that as long as the condensed water can pass through, a mesh, a lattice, a punching metal, or the like can be used in place of the net.

[0044]  Next, one example of a method for performing maintenance tasks of the drain pan 40 in the first embodiment will be described. Firstly, at the time of operating the air conditioner A, an outlet 62 of the passage 60 is closed by a stopper or a plug 63 serving as a lid part. Although Fig. 3 shows a state that an outlet 62b of the second passage 60b is closed by a plug 63b, outlets of the first passage 60a and the third passage 60c are similarly closed by plugs. The passages 60a, 60b, 60c have high level passage parts 61a, 61b, 61c placed at higher positions than the suction port 51 of the drain pump 50 at the time of operating the air conditioner A. Therefore, in combination with the fact that the outlet 62 is closed by the plug 63, the condensed water in the drain pan 40 can be reliably prevented from leaking out to the exterior of the air conditioner through the outlet 62. By closing the outlet 62 with the plug 63, in a case where there is no condensed water in the drain pan at the time of heating or the like, the air on the secondary side of the heat exchanger can be prevented from leaking out to the suction side. Further, insects and the like can be prevented from coming into the drain pan.

[0045] At the time of performing the maintenance tasks, firstly, operation of the air conditioner A is stopped. Next, the suction grille 15 and the filter 16 installed in the decorative panel 10 are detached, and the plug 63 closing the outlet 62 of each passage on the upper side of the air inlet 11 is detached. Then, the water drainage tube 92 serving as a flexible long body is firstly inserted into the interior of the drain pan 40 from the outlet 62b of the second passage 60b. At the time, the second passage 60b through which the water drainage tube 92 is inserted only includes a straight part L, an obtuse bent part B, and a curved part C as shown in Figs. 3 to 4. Thus, the water drainage tube 92 can be readily and smoothly inserted into and drawn out from the drain pan 40. It should be noted that although a front end of the water drainage tube 92 is in the middle of the second passage 60b in Fig. 4, the front end is actually inserted up to the bottom part (lower stage part) 40c of the drain pan 40.

[0046] Next, only by suctioning an interior of the water drainage tube 92 once at the beginning using a proper aspirator or the like, the condensed water in the drain pan 40 can be drained by a principle of a siphon. In this case, the front end of the water drainage tube 92 is inserted up to the bottom part (lower stage part) 40c serving as a lowest part of the drain pan 40. Thus, the condensed water can be drained until there is almost no condensed water in the drain pan 40.
It should be noted that in the present embodiment, for example as shown in Figs. 3 to 4, a hook 64 serving as a locking part for locking an accommodation container (not shown) such as a bucket receiving the condensed water discharged from the water drainage tube 92 is arranged in the vicinity of the outlet 62b of the second passage 60b used for discharging the condensed water. Thereby, a worker is not required to hold the accommodation container receiving the condensed water at the time of draining the water. Thus, workability can be improved to a large extent.

[0047] After draining the condensed water, as shown in Fig. 6, the fiberscope 91 is inserted from an outlet 62a of the first passage 60a so as to inspect the interior of the drain pan 40. The first passage 60a also only includes a straight part L, an obtuse bent part B, and a curved part C as well as the second passage 60b. Thus, the fiberscope 91 can be readily and smoothly inserted into and drawn out from the drain pan 40. In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, an interior side opening of the first passage 60a through which the fiberscope 91 is inserted is arranged on the upper side of an interior side opening of the second passage 60b through which the water drainage tube 92 is inserted. Thus, the bottom part or the like of the drain pan 40 can be observed from a high position. Therefore, more precise inspection can be performed.

[0048] In a case where it is found that a lump of grit, dust, and the like, or slime is attached to the bottom surface 44 of the drain pan 40 as a result of the inspection, the fiberscope 91 is once drawn out from the first passage 60a, and the water injection tube (not shown) serving as the flexible long body is inserted into the first passage 60a. The cleaning water is injected from the water injection tube into the drain pan 40 so as to clean the lump of the grit, the dust, and the like, or the slime. After cleaning, the cleaning water remaining in the bottom part of the drain pan 40 is discharged to the exterior of the air conditioner using the water drainage tube 92. In accordance with a degree of dirt, such a cleaning process is repeated for a plurality of times. Finally, the water injection tube is drawn out from the first passage 60a, and the fiberscope 91 is inserted into the first passage 60a again so as to re-inspect the interior of the drain pan 40.

[0049]  It should be noted that in a case where the lump of the grit, the dust, and the like, or the slime is severely attached and cannot be cleared up by injecting the cleaning water, for example, the drain pan 40 can be detached from the air conditioner A and cleaned.

[0050] When it is confirmed by the fiberscope 91 that the interior of the drain pan 40 is not dirty, the fiberscope 91 and the water drainage tube 92 are respectively drawn out from the first passage 60a and the second passage 60b, and then the outlets 62a, 62b of the passages 60a, 60b are closed by the plug 63.

[0051] A necessary amount of an antibacterial material 83 is supplied into an outlet 62c of the third passage 60c, the supply bar 93 serving as the flexible long body is inserted into the third passage 60c, and the antibacterial material 83 is charged so as to be pushed into the retaining part 82 arranged in the bottom part 40c of the drain pan 40. The third passage 60c also only includes a straight part L, an obtuse bent part B, and a curved part C as well as the second passage 60b. Thus, the supply bar 93 can be readily and smoothly inserted into and drawn out from the drain pan 40. It should be noted that instead of pushing in by the supply bar 93, the air can be blown in from the rear side of the antibacterial material.

[0052] After charging the necessary amount of the antibacterial material 83, the outlet 62c of the third passage 60c is closed by the plug 63, and the suction grille 15 and the filter 16 are attached to the air inlet 11 of the decorative panel 10, so that the maintenance tasks are completed.

[0053] It should be noted that as shown in Fig. 8, a scale mark 90 indicating height from the inner bottom surface 44 of the drain pan 40 is provided on a side surface 43 of the drain pan 40 in which the outlet 62 is formed. Therefore, for example by inserting the water drainage tube 92 into the second passage 60b and suctioning the interior of the water drainage tube 92 once so as to make the condensed water in the vicinity of the front end of the tube pass through the high level passage part 61b, an amount of the condensed water in the drain pan 40 can be readily confirmed in the exterior of the drain pan 40. By watching that a water level is lowered in trial operation after installment, an action of the drain pump can be confirmed.

Second Embodiment

[0054] Fig. 9 is a major part illustrative view of a second embodiment of the air conditioner A of the present invention, and Fig. 10 is a perspective illustrative view of various passages of the second embodiment. It should be noted that in the second embodiment, the same elements or configurations as the first embodiment will be given the same reference signs as the first embodiment. For simplicity, description of the common elements and configurations will be omitted. The same is applied to the following third to fifth embodiments.

[0055] The second embodiment is different from the above first embodiment in terms that the second passage through which the water drainage tube is inserted is not provided. In the second embodiment, a water drainage tube 192 for draining the condensed water in a drain pan 140 is arranged in and fixed to a groove 161 formed in the drain pan 140. In other words, the water drainage tube 192 is not inserted into the interior of the drain pan from an exterior when necessary but the water drainage tube 192 is always arranged in the drain pan 140. Therefore, a configuration of the groove part formed in the drain pan 140 is different from the first embodiment (refer to Fig. 5). In the first embodiment, a part of the groove part 41b constituting the second passage 60b is formed in the inclination base 45b. However, in the second embodiment, a corresponding inclination base is not provided. Therefore, the water drainage tube 192 is arranged in a posture bent by substantially 90 degrees as shown in Fig. 9.

[0056] In the second embodiment, a first passage 160a and a third passage 160c correspond to the passage through which the flexible long body is inserted in the present invention. The first passage 160a is a passage through which the fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan 140 is inserted, and the third passage 160c is a passage through which the supply bar serving as the antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying the antibacterial material into the drain pan 140 is inserted.

[0057] An opening 192a of an outlet side end of the water drainage tube 192 is normally closed by a cap, a clip, or the like (not shown), and the cap or the clip is detached at the time of the maintenance tasks. The maintenance tasks are performed by following orders of water drainage, interior inspection, and antibacterial material supply described in the first embodiment. At the time, in the second embodiment as well, by inserting the water injection tube into the drain pan 142 with utilizing the first passage 160a and injecting the cleaning water from the water injection tube into the drain pan, a bottom surface or the like of the drain pan 142 can be cleaned.

[0058] Fig. 11 shows a modified example of the second embodiment. In the modified example, a socket 170 serving as a connection tool is fixed to a side surface 140a of the drain pan 140. The outlet side end 192a of the water drainage tube 192 arranged in and fixed to the drain pan 140 is connected to the socket 170. An opening of the socket 170 is normally closed by a cap 171. When the condensed water in the drain pan 140 is drained, the cap 171 is detached and a tube 172 is connected to the socket 170. The condensed water in the drain pan 140 is discharged via the water drainage tube 192 and the tube 172.

Third Embodiment

[0059] Fig. 12 is a major part illustrative view of a third embodiment of the air conditioner A of the present invention, and Fig. 13 is a major part illustrative view of the third embodiment at the time of draining.

[0060] The third embodiment is different from the above first embodiment in terms that the second passage through which the water drainage tube is inserted is not provided. In the third embodiment, a water drainage passage 292 for draining the condensed water in a drain pan 240 is formed in the drain pan 240. One end of the water drainage passage 292 opens on a bottom surface 244 of the drain pan 240, and the other end opens on a side surface 243 of the drain pan 240. A socket 270 serving as the connection tool is fixed to the opening portion on the side surface. An opening of the socket 270 is normally closed by a cap 271. When the condensed water in the drain pan 240 is drained, the cap 271 is detached and a tube 272 is connected to the socket 270. The condensed water in the drain pan 240 is discharged via the water drainage passage 292 and the tube 272.

[0061] It should be noted that although not shown, in the third embodiment, the first passage through which the fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan 240 is inserted, and the third passage through which the supply bar serving as the antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying the antibacterial material into the drain pan 240 is inserted as well as the first embodiment are also provided.

Fourth Embodiment

[0062] Fig. 14 is a major part illustrative view of a fourth embodiment of the air conditioner A of the present invention at the time of draining, and Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a water drainage passage and a water drainage passage lid of the fourth embodiment.

[0063] The fourth embodiment is different from the above first embodiment in terms that the second passage through which the water drainage tube is inserted is not provided. In the fourth embodiment, a water drainage passage 392 for draining the condensed water in a drain pan 340 is formed by a groove part 341 formed in the drain pan 340 and a lid body 342 covering the groove part 341. The water drainage passage 392 is different from the second passage 60b in the first embodiment in terms that it has a bent part 392a bent by substantially 90 degrees in one part thereof.

[0064] One end of the water drainage passage 392 opens on a bottom part 340c of the drain pan 340, and the other end opens on a side surface 343 of the drain pan 340. A socket 370 serving as the connection tool is fixed to the opening portion on the side surface. An opening of the socket 370 is normally closed by a cap (not shown) (a similar cap to the cap 271 in Fig. 12). When the condensed water in the drain pan 340 is drained, the cap is detached and a tube 372 is connected to the socket 370. The condensed water in the drain pan 340 is discharged via the water drainage passage 392 and the tube 372.

[0065] It should be noted that although not shown, in the fourth embodiment, the first passage through which the fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan 340 is inserted, and the third passage through which the supply bar serving as the antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying the antibacterial material into the drain pan 340 is inserted as well as the first embodiment are also provided.

Fifth Embodiment

[0066] Fig. 16 is a major part illustrative view of a fifth embodiment of the air conditioner A of the present invention at the time of draining, and Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a drainage hose of the fifth embodiment.

[0067] The fifth embodiment is different from the above first embodiment in terms that the second passage through which the water drainage tube is inserted is not provided. In the fifth embodiment, a water drainage tube 492 for draining the condensed water in a drain pan 440 is fixed to the drain pan 440. In more detail, a vicinity part of an interior side end of the water drainage tube 492 is arranged in a groove part 461 formed in the drain pan 440, and an interior side part continuous to the vicinity part is arranged so as to be exposed in the drain pan 440. The water drainage tube 492 extends to an exterior through a hole 446 formed in the drain pan 440. It should be noted that in Fig. 17, the reference signs 480 denote locking parts protruding in an open edge 461a of the groove part 461 and facing to each other, the locking parts preventing the vicinity part of the interior side end of the water drainage tube 492 from being drawn out.

[0068] In the present embodiment, the water drainage tube 492 is not inserted into the interior of the drain pan from the exterior when necessary but the water drainage tube 492 is always arranged in the drain pan 440. Therefore, a configuration of the groove part formed in the drain pan 440 is different from the first embodiment (refer to Fig. 5).

[0069] An opening 492a of an outlet side end of the water drainage tube 492 is normally closed by a cap, a clip, or the like (not shown), and the cap or the clip is detached at the time of the maintenance tasks.

[0070] It should be noted that although not shown, in the fifth embodiment, the first passage through which the fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan 440 is inserted, and the third passage through which the supply bar serving as the antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying the antibacterial material into the drain pan 440 is inserted as well as the first embodiment are also provided.

Other Modified Example

[0071] In the first embodiment, the first passage 60a through which the fiberscope 91 for inspecting the interior of the drain pan 40 is inserted, the second passage 60b through which the water drainage tube 92 for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan 40 to the exterior is inserted, and the third passage 60c through which the supply bar 93 serving as the antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying the antibacterial material into the drain pan 40 is inserted are separately provided. However, one passage can serve as two or three of the passages. For example, one passage can serve as both a passage for fiberscope insertion and a passage for water drainage, or further serve as the passage for the fiberscope insertion, the passage for the water drainage, and a passage for antibacterial material supply. It should be noted that in a case where one passage serves as three kinds of passages, the maintenance tasks are readily performed when the retaining part of the antibacterial material in the first embodiment is not provided.

[0072] In the above embodiments, the outlet of the passage is arranged on the upper side of the air inlet of the decorative panel. However, the outlet may be arranged on the upper side of the corner covers. In this case, only by detaching the corner covers, access to the outlet of the passage can be easily obtained. Thus, the fiberscope or the like can be readily inserted into the drain pan.

[0073] In the above embodiments, the passage is formed by the groove part formed in the drain pan and the lid body covering the groove part. However, a groove part can be formed in the lid body, and the passage can be formed by the groove part and the drain pan.

[0074] In the air conditioner according to the above embodiments, the heat exchanger is arranged on the discharge side of the fan. However, the present invention can be also applied to an air conditioner in which a heat exchanger is arranged on the suction side of a fan.

[0075] In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the ceiling-buried type air conditioner in which the inlet and the outlet for the air are provided in the decorative panel. However, the present invention is not limited to such an air conditioner. For example, the present invention can be also applied to a type of air conditioner shown in Figs. 18 to 19.

[0076]  In the air conditioner shown in Figs. 18 to 19, only an air inlet 611 is provided in a decorative panel 610, and a suction grille 615 is installed in the air inlet 611. A lower surface opening of a casing 601 accommodating a fan 620 and the decorative panel 610 are connected by a canvas duct 614. In the casing 601, a heat exchanger 630 is arranged on the discharge side of the fan 620, and a drain pan 640 receiving the condensed water from the heat exchanger 630 is provided on the lower side of the heat exchanger 630. A drain pump 650 for discharging the condensed water stored in the drain pan 640 to an exterior of the air conditioner is arranged on the upper side of a bottom part of the drain pan 640. The air passing through the heat exchanger 630 is fed to the air-conditioned room via a duct 618 connected to a side surface opening of the casing 601.

[0077] A passage 660 through which the flexible long body for maintaining the air conditioner is inserted from an exterior to the vicinity of a bottom part 640c of the drain pan 640 is provided in the drain pan 640. The passage 660 only includes a straight part and a curved part. An outlet of the passage 660 is normally closed by a plug 668.

[0078] In order to perform the maintenance tasks, firstly, an air inlet part of the decorative panel 610 is opened, and the plug 663 of the outlet of the passage 660 is detached. Then, a water drainage tube (not shown) is inserted from the outlet of the passage 660 to the bottom part 640c of the drain pan 640 so as to discharge the condensed water stored in the drain pan 640 to the exterior of the air conditioner. After drawing out the water drainage tube from the passage 660, as shown in Fig. 23, a fiberscope 691 is inserted into the passage 660 so as to inspect a vicinity part of the bottom part 640c of the drain pan 640. When the vicinity part is dirty, as well as the first embodiment, the cleaning water is injected into the drain pan 640 via the water injection tube so as to clean the vicinity part of the bottom part of the drain pan 640. When the vicinity part is not dirty, or when the fiberscope 591 confirms that dirt is cleared up, the antibacterial material is supplied into the drain pan 640 via the passage 660 if necessary, and then the outlet of the passage 660 is closed by the plug, and the air inlet part of the decorative panel 610 is returned to an original state.

[0079] Further, the present invention can be also applied to a ceiling-suspended type air conditioner as shown in Fig. 20. In the air conditioner, a casing 701 accommodating a fan 720 and a heat exchanger 730 arranged on the discharge side of the fan 720 is suspended from a ceiling by suspending fittings (not shown). An air inlet 711 for suctioning the air in the air-conditioned room is provided on a lower surface of the casing 701, and a suction grille 715 and a filter 716 are arranged in the air inlet 711. Air outlets 712 are respectively provided on four side surfaces of the rectangular casing 701, and flaps 717 for adjusting the wind direction are arranged in the air outlets 712.

[0080] A drain pan 740 receiving the condensed water from the heat exchanger 730 is provided on the lower side of the heat exchanger 730. A drain pump 750 for discharging the condensed water stored in the drain pan 740 to an exterior of the air conditioner is arranged on the upper side of a bottom part of the drain pan 740.

[0081] A passage 760 through which the flexible long body for maintaining the air conditioner is inserted from an exterior to the vicinity of a bottom part 740c of the drain pan 740 is provided in the drain pan 740. The passage 760 only includes a straight part and a curved part. An outlet of the passage 760 is normally closed by a plug 763.

[0082] In the air conditioner shown in Fig. 20, by opening the air inlet 711 and detaching the plug 763 closing the outlet of the passage on the upper side of the suction port 711, the maintenance tasks similar to the case of the air conditioner in Figs. 18 to 19 can be started.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0083] 

1:

Casing

2:

Suspending fitting

3:

Insulating member

10:

Decorative panel

11:

Air inlet

12:

Air outlet

13:

Corner cover

15:

Suction grille

16:

Filter

17:

Flap

20:

Fan

21:

Bell mouth

22:

Motor

23:

Rubber vibration insulator

24:

Fan rotor

30:

Heat exchanger

40:

Drain pan

40a:

Upper stage part

40b:

Middle stage part

40c:

Lower stage part (bottom part)

40d:

Side wall

41:

Groove part

42:

Plug (lid part)

44:

Bottom surface

45:

Inclination base

50:

Drain pump

51:

Suction port

52:

Rubber vibration insulator

53:

Bracket

54:

Drain pipe

55:

Drainage port

56:

Float switch

60:

Passage

60a:

First passage

60b:

Second passage

60c:

Third passage

61:

High level passage part

62:

Outlet

63:

Plug (lid part)

64:

Locking part

82:

Retaining part

83:

Antibacterial material

90:

Scale mark

91:

Fiberscope

92:

Water drainage tube

93:

Supply bar

170:

Socket (connection tool)

A:

Air conditioner

Claims

1. An air conditioner (A), comprising:

a substantially box-shaped casing (1);

a fan (20) arranged in the casing (1);

a heat exchanger (30) arranged in the casing (1);

a drain pan (40) for storing condensed water from the heat exchanger (30); and

a drain pump (50) for discharging the condensed water stored in the drain pan (40) to an exterior of the air conditioner,

wherein the air conditioner further comprises a passage (60) through which a flexible long body for maintaining the air conditioner (A) is inserted from the exterior to the vicinity of a bottom part of the drain pan (40),

the passage (60) only includes one, two or more of a straight part, an obtuse bent part and a curved part, and

the passage (60) has a high level passage part (61) placed at a higher position than a suction port (51) of the drain pump (50).

2. The air conditioner (A) according to claim 1, wherein
the flexible long body is at least one of a fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan (40), a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan (40) to the exterior, an antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying an antibacterial material into the drain pan (40), and a water injection tube for supplying cleaning water to the vicinity of the bottom part of the drain pan (40).

3. The air conditioner (A) according to claim. 1, wherein
the passage (60) includes a first passage through which a fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan (40) is inserted, and a second passage through which a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan (40) to the exterior is inserted.

4. The air conditioner (A) according to claim 1, wherein
the passage (60) includes a first passage through which a fiberscope for inspecting an interior of the drain pan (40) is inserted, a second passage through which a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan (40) to the exterior is inserted, and a third passage through which an antibacterial material supplying long body for supplying an antibacterial material into the drain pan (40) is inserted.

5. The air conditioner (A) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein
an interior side opening of the first passage is arranged on the upper side of an interior side opening of the second passage.

6. The air conditioner (A) according to claim 1, wherein
a water drainage tube for discharging the condensed water in the drain pan (40) to the exterior is arranged, and
the water drainage tube has a high level passage part placed at a higher position than the suction port (51) of the drain pump (50).

7. The air conditioner (A) according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

a decorative panel having a suction port for the air, wherein

an outlet (62) of the passage (60) is arranged on the upper side of the suction port (11) of the decorative panel (10).

8. The air conditioner (A) according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

a decorative panel having a suction port for the air, the decorative panel being provided with a detachable corner cover (13) in a corner part of the decorative panel, wherein

an outlet (62) of the passage (60) is arranged on the upper side of the corner cover (13).

9. The air conditioner (A) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein
an openable and closable lid part (63) is arranged in the outlet (62) of the passage (60).

10. The air conditioner (A) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein
a scale mark (90) indicating height from an inner bottom surface (44) of the drain pan (40) is provided on a side surface (43) of the drain pan (40).

11. The air conditioner (A) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
a retaining part (82) for accommodating the antibacterial material (83) is provided in an interior side opening (84) of the third passage.

12. The air conditioner (A) according to claim 11, wherein
at least part of the retaining part (82) is formed of a mesh, a net, or a lattice.

13. The air conditioner (A) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
in the vicinity of an outlet (62) of the passage (60), a locking part (64) for locking an accommodation container receiving the condensed water discharged from the outlet (62) is arranged.

14. The air conditioner (A) according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein
the passage (60) is formed by the drain pan (40) and a lid body (42) covering the drain pan (40).

15. The air conditioner (A) according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein
a connection tool (170, 270, 370) for connecting a tube serving as the flexible long body is arranged in the outlet (62) of the passage (60).

Drawing