INDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONER AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING INDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONER

Abstract

 An indoor unit 10 includes an air-conditioning main body 11; an inlet base 21 that is provided on a front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11 to form a suction port 17 of air and is a member separate from the air-conditioning main body 11; an inlet panel 22 that is provided on a front surface of the inlet base 21 to cover the suction port 17; an opening and closing link mechanism 24 that connects the inlet base 21 and the inlet panel 22 to each other to allow the suction port 17 to be openable and closable by the inlet panel 22; a link case 23 that is capable of attaching to the inlet base 21 in a state where the opening and closing link mechanism 24 is accommodated in or attached to the link case 23, and the opening and closing link mechanism 24 is connected to the inlet panel 22; and a driving mechanism 12 that is provided in the air-conditioning main body 11 to operate the opening and closing link mechanism 24.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a method of assembling an indoor unit of an air conditioner.

Description of Related Art

[0002] In the related art, there is known an air conditioner on which an inlet panel that covers a suction port of an air-conditioning main body of an indoor unit so as to be openable and closable is mounted. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2008-267777, a structure, which automatically opens a suction port during operation of an air conditioner by operating an inlet panel rotatably mounted on an air-conditioning main body by a link mechanism of a driving device of the air-conditioning main body with a lower portion of the air-conditioning main body as a fulcrum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

[0003] However, in the air conditioner of the related art, in which the inlet panel is mounted on the air-conditioning main body so as to be openable and closable, and is driven to open and close via the link mechanism, the inlet panel is assembled to the air-conditioning main body by connecting the inlet panel to the link mechanism which is provided in the air-conditioning main body in advance. In this case, it is necessary to connect the link mechanism to the inlet panel in a gap between the inlet panel and the air-conditioning main body. Particularly, if the gap between the inlet panel and the air-conditioning main body is narrowed, it is very difficult to perform the connecting operation in the narrow gap, and there is a problem in workability during assembly.

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a method of assembling an indoor unit of an air conditioner capable of easily assembling an inlet panel, which covers a suction port so as to be openable and closable, to an air-conditioning main body.

Solution to Problem

[0005] An indoor unit of an air conditioner of a first aspect of the invention includes an air-conditioning main body; an inlet base that is provided on a front surface of the air-conditioning main body to form a suction port of air and is a member separate from the air-conditioning main body; an inlet panel that is provided on a front surface of the inlet base to cover the suction port; an opening and closing link mechanism that connects the inlet base and the inlet panel to each other to allow the suction port to be openable and closable by the inlet panel; a link case that is capable of attaching to the inlet base in a state where the opening and closing link mechanism is accommodated in or attached to the link case, and the opening and closing link mechanism is connected to the inlet panel; and a driving mechanism that is provided in the air-conditioning main body to operate the link mechanism.

[0006] According to such an indoor unit, the opening and closing link mechanism that is accommodated in or attached to the link case is connected to the inlet panel in advance, each link case in which the opening and closing link mechanism is accommodated or attached is attached to the inlet base, and then the inlet panel, the opening and closing link mechanism, and the inlet base can be integrally assembled to the air-conditioning main body. Therefore, when the inlet panel is assembled to the air-conditioning main body, it is not necessary to connect the opening and closing link mechanism to the inlet panel. Therefore, it is possible to easily assemble the inlet panel to the air-conditioning main body.

[0007] In addition, in the indoor unit according to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect, locking portions that lock and fix the link case and the inlet base to each other may be provided in the link case and the inlet base. As described above, if the locking portions for locking the link case and the inlet base are provided, it is possible to easily attach and fix the link case to the inlet base, and to further easily perform an operation of assembling the opening and closing link mechanism connected to the inlet panel, to the air-conditioning main body via the inlet base.

[0008] In addition, in the indoor unit according to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect, the opening and closing link mechanism may include a slide rail that is provided in the link case so as to extend in an upward and downward direction, a slider that is slidably mounted on the slide rail, an upper link that is connected to the inlet panel and the link case so as to rotate in the upward and downward direction, a lower link that is disposed below the upper link and is connected to the slider and the inlet panel so as to rotate in the upward and downward direction, and an intermediate link that is connected to the slider and an intermediate position of the upper link so as to rotate in the upward and downward direction. The driving mechanism may be capable of moving the slider in the upward and downward direction.

[0009] Such an opening and closing link mechanism is provided. Therefore, when the slider is first moved upward by the driving mechanism, the intermediate link is moved upward and a connecting position of the upper link and the inlet panel is moved upward. Therefore, it is possible to separate an upper portion of the inlet panel from the inlet base and the suction port while lifting the inlet panel. At the same time, the lower link is moved upward by the slider, a lower portion of the inlet panel is pulled in a direction close to the inlet base. Therefore, it is possible to lift the inlet panel.

[0010] In this case, the upper portion and the lower portion of the inlet panel appropriately adjust a position and a length of each link, or the like. Therefore, it is possible to determine a lifting amount and a separating amount of the inlet panel with respect to the inlet base. It is possible to easily incline the inlet panel with respect to the inlet base and the air-conditioning main body by adjusting the position and the length of each link. Therefore, it is possible to obliquely and largely open and close the suction port at the upper portion by a simple structure such as moving the slider up and down.

[0011] In addition, in the indoor unit according to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the first aspect, hook portions, which are always locked to each other so as to be displaceable, may be provided in the inlet base and the inlet panel. As described above, if the inlet base and the inlet panel are always locked to each other so as to be displaceable at the hook portions, it is possible to support a load of the inlet panel on the inlet base via the hook portions. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a load applied from the inlet panel to the opening and closing link mechanism, to easily and smoothly operate the inlet panel, and the durability can be easily ensured. Furthermore, when the inlet panel to which the opening and closing link mechanism is connected is attached to the inlet base, it is possible to perform an attaching operation while positioning the inlet base and the inlet panel by the hook portions, which leads to improvement of workability.

[0012] In addition, in a method of assembling an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the method includes a connecting step of connecting the opening and closing link mechanism to the inlet panel; a link attaching step of overlapping the inlet base and the inlet panel and thereby attaching the link case to the inlet base after the connecting step; and an assembling step of assembling the inlet base and the inlet panel to the air-conditioning main body after the link attaching step.

[0013] In such a method of assembling the indoor unit, the opening and closing link mechanism that is accommodated in the link case is connected to the inlet panel in advance, each link case in which the opening and closing link mechanism is accommodated or attached is attached to the inlet base, and then the inlet panel, the opening and closing link mechanism, and the inlet base can be integrally assembled to the air-conditioning main body. Therefore, when the inlet panel is assembled to the air-conditioning main body, it is not necessary to connect the opening and closing link mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to easily assemble the inlet panel to the air-conditioning main body.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0014] According to the indoor unit of the air conditioner and the method of assembling the indoor unit of the air conditioner, it is possible to easily assemble the inlet panel which covers the suction port so as to be openable and closable, to the air-conditioning main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] 

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the invention as viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a closed state in an inlet opening and closing mechanism of the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an open state in the inlet opening and closing mechanism of the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inlet base and an inlet cover of the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an assembling step of a method of assembling an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an assembling step of the method of assembling the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an assembling step of the method of assembling the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an assembling step of the method of assembling the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the method of assembling the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 10 that is provided in a room and an outdoor unit (not shown) that is connected to the indoor unit 10 by piping and is provided outside the room. The indoor unit 10 sucks air, performs adjustment of a temperature and humidity, and then blows out air to perform air conditioning in the room. Hereinafter, the indoor unit 10 according to an embodiment of the invention will be described.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indoor unit 10 includes an air-conditioning main body 11 in which a heat exchanger 13, a blower fan 14, and the like are disposed, an inlet opening and closing mechanism 20 which forms a suction port 17 of air and is disposed on a front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11, and a driving mechanism 12 (see FIG. 3) which is provided in the air-conditioning main body 11 and operates the inlet opening and closing mechanism 20. Here, the front surface indicates a surface on a front side in a state where the indoor unit 10 is installed.

[0018] A shape of the air-conditioning main body 11 is not particularly limited and in the embodiment, is formed in a horizontally elongated shape extending in a lateral direction D1. A blowout port 15 is formed in a lower portion of the air-conditioning main body 11 and a flap 16 is mounted so as to open and close the blowout port 15.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the inlet opening and closing mechanism 20 includes an inlet base 21 that is fixed to the front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11 and is a member separated from the air-conditioning main body 11, an inlet panel 22 that is provided on a front surface of the inlet base 21, an opening and closing link mechanism 24 that connects the inlet base 21 and the inlet panel 22, and a link case 23 that accommodates or attaches the opening and closing link mechanism 24.

[0020] The suction port 17 is formed on the front surface of the inlet base 21 and is formed in a substantially quadrangular plate shape. The suction port 17 is provided on the front surface and is formed by a plurality of through openings 26 partitioned in a lattice shape in upward and downward, and rightward and leftward directions.

[0021] Attaching holes 27 are respectively provided on both end sides of the inlet base 21 in the lateral direction D1 to extend in an upward and downward direction D3. Each of the attaching holes 27 penetrates the inlet base 21 in a plate thickness direction and has a rectangular shape when viewed from the plate thickness direction. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a locking claw 28 is provided as a locking portion around the attaching hole 27. The locking claw 28 protrudes rearward from the attaching hole 27 to the air-conditioning main body 11.

[0022] In addition, hinge portions 29 are provided in the upper portion of the inlet base 21 on both end sides in the lateral direction D1. As the hinge portions 29 are connected to the air-conditioning main body 11, the inlet base 21 rotates with respect to the air-conditioning main body 11 and the lower portion of the inlet base 21 is movable in a forward and rearward direction D2 and the upward and downward direction D3. Therefore, the inlet base 21 can largely open the front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11.

[0023] In addition, hook receiving portions 31 formed of through holes or the like are provided as hook portions which penetrate the inlet base 21 in the plate thickness direction and are formed in a quadrangular shape when viewed in the plate thickness direction, in the lower portion of the inlet base 21 on the both end sides in the lateral direction D1 and below the attaching holes 27.

[0024] The inlet panel 22 is formed in a substantially quadrangular plate shape which is equal in size and shape as those of the inlet base 21, or one size larger. The inlet panel 22 is provided so as to overlap the inlet base 21 from the outside (front surface side) of the inlet base 21.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, when the air conditioner 100 is stopped, as the inlet panel 22 close the inlet base 21, the suction port 17 provided on the front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11 can be in a closed state. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when the air conditioner 100 is operated, the suction port 17 can be in an open state by separating the inlet panel 22 from the inlet base 21.

[0026] Hooking hooks 32, which protrude rearward to the inlet base 21 as hook portions that lock the inlet base 21 and the inlet panel 22 so as to be displaceable with respect to each other, are provided in the lower portion of the inlet panel 22 on the both end sides in the lateral direction D1. The hooking hooks 32 are inserted into the hook receiving portions 31 of the inlet base 21 and are hooked. Even when the inlet panel 22 is in the closed state or in the open state, a state where the hooking hooks 32 are locked to the hook receiving portions 31 is always maintained. A pair of receiving portions 22a, to which the opening and closing link mechanism 24 is connected and which is separated from each other in the upward and downward direction D3, is provided on the both end sides of the inlet panel 22 in the lateral direction D1. The receiving portion 22a protrudes rearward from the inlet panel 22 to the inlet base 21.

[0027] The link case 23 is a box-shaped thin member having a groove 33 which extends in the upward and downward direction and of which one side (front side) is opened. A bottom portion (bottom surface portion on an inlet base 21 side) of the groove 33 partially penetrates and opens. In a state where the link case 23 is accommodated in the attaching hole 27 of the inlet base 21 with the opening of the groove 33 facing an inlet panel 22 side, and a part of the link case 23 protrudes on the inlet base 21 side, the link case 23 is attached and fixed to the inlet base 21.

[0028] In addition, a flange 36 is provided at an opening end of the link case 23 and when the link case 23 is accommodated in the attaching hole 27, the flange 36 can abut against the surface of the inlet base 21 so as to be positioned. Furthermore, locking holes 37 as the locking portions which lock the link case 23 and the inlet base 21 to each other are provided on a side surface in the link case 23 by locking the locking claws 28 provided in the attaching holes 27 of the inlet base 21 to the link case 23.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 to 9, the opening and closing link mechanism 24 includes a slide rail 34 that is provided in the link case 23, a slider 38 that is slidably mounted on the slide rail 34, and an upper link 41, a lower link 42, and an intermediate link 43 which are connected to the link case 23 or the slider 38.

[0030]  The slide rail 34 is provided to extend in the upward and downward direction D3 along the bottom surface of the groove 33 of the link case 23.

[0031] The slider 38 is supported by the slide rail 34 and is attached to the link case 23 so as to be slidable in the upward and downward direction D3. In addition, in the embodiment, the slider 38 has a rack gear 51 facing the air-conditioning main body 11 side.

[0032] The upper link 41 has a bar shape. Both ends of the upper link 41 are respectively connected to a fixed pivot portion 44 provided above the slide rail 34 of the link case 23 and an upper pivot portion 46 of the receiving portion 22a provided in the inlet panel 22 so as to rotate around an axis extending in the lateral direction D1.

[0033] The lower link 42 has a bar shape similar to the upper link 41. Both ends of the lower link 42 are respectively connected to a movable pivot portion 47a provided in the slider 38 and a lower pivot portion 48 of the receiving portion 22a provided below the upper pivot portion 46 of the inlet panel 22 so as to rotate around the axis extending in the lateral direction D1. The lower link 42 is formed to be shorter than the upper link 41.

[0034] The intermediate link 43 has a bar shape similar to the upper link 41 and the lower link 42. Both ends of the intermediate link 43 are respectively connected to a movable pivot portion 47b provided in the slider 38 and adjacent above the movable pivot portion 47a, and an intermediate pivot portion 49 provided at an intermediate position of the upper link 41 so as to rotate around the axis extending in the lateral direction D1.

[0035] The driving mechanism 12 is provided on the air-conditioning main body 11 side and slidably moves the slider 38 with respect to the slide rail 34. The driving mechanism 12 includes a pinion gear 52 provided so as to mesh with the rack gear 51 of the slider 38 and a driving source such as a motor (not shown) that drives the pinion gear 52 to rotate.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the opening and closing link mechanism 24, as the pinion gear 52 is rotated by the driving mechanism 12, the slider 38 is slidably moved upward with respect to the link case 23 and pushes up the intermediate link 43. Then, in the upper pivot portion 46, the upper link 41 lifts the upper portion of the inlet panel 22 while rotating with respect to the inlet panel 22 and separates the inlet panel 22 forward from the suction port 17.

[0037] At the same time, the lower link 42 is also moved upward by the movement of the slider 38 upward. In this case, the inlet panel 22 lifts while the lower portion of the inlet panel 22 is pulled in a direction closing the inlet base 21. Therefore, the suction port 17 of the air-conditioning main body 11 is in the open state.

[0038] On the other hand, as the pinion gear 52 is rotated in the reverse direction and the slider 38 is moved downward, the suction port 17 of the air-conditioning main body 11 is in the closed state by operating each of the links 41, 42, and 43, and moving the inlet panel 22 in a direction opposite to the above description. In the closed state, each of the links 41, 42, and 43 is disposed to extend in the upward and downward direction D3 and is completely accommodated in the groove 33 of the link case 23.

[0039] Here, it is possible to appropriately set a lifting amount and an inclination angle of the inlet panel 22 with respect to the inlet base 21 by appropriately setting a moving amount of the slider 38 and the position and the length of each of the links 41, 42, and 43, and the like.

[0040] A method of assembling the indoor unit 10 by assembling the inlet opening and closing mechanism 20 to the air-conditioning main body 11 which is preliminarily manufactured will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. First an opening and closing link assembling step S1 is executed. In the opening and closing link assembling step S1, as shown in FIG. 6, one end side of the lower link 42 and the intermediate link 43 is connected to the movable pivot portions 47a and 47b of the slider 38. Thereafter, the slider 38 is mounted on the slide rail 34 of the link case 23, and the intermediate link 43 and the lower link 42 are inserted into the bottom portion of the groove 33 of the link case 23 so as to be disposed to extend to the opening side of the groove 33.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 7, one end side of the upper link 41 is connected to the fixed pivot portion 44 of the link case 23. In addition, the other end side of the intermediate link 43 connected to the slider 38 is connected to the intermediate pivot portion 49 of the upper link 41.

[0042] Thereafter, a connecting step S2 is executed. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper link 41 and the lower link 42 connected to the link case 23 or the slider 38 are respectively connected to the upper pivot portion 46 and the lower pivot portion 48 of the inlet panel 22. As described above, first, the opening and closing link mechanism 24 which is accommodated in or attached to the link case 23 is connected to the inlet panel 22 so as to rotate.

[0043] Thereafter, a link attaching step S3 is executed. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the inlet base 21 and the inlet panel 22 are overlapped, the hooking hook 32 of the inlet panel 22 is inserted into the hook receiving portion 31 of the inlet base 21 to be positioned, and the link case 23 is inserted into the attaching hole 27 of the inlet base 21. The flange 36 of the link case 23 abuts against the surface of the inlet base 21. Furthermore, the link case 23 is attached and fixed to the inlet base 21 by locking the locking claw 28 provided in the attaching hole 27 to the locking hole 37 of the link case 23.

[0044] Finally, an assembling step S4 is executed. That is, in a state where the inlet panel 22 and the inlet base 21 connected by the opening and closing link mechanism 24 and the link case 23 are overlapped, the inlet base 21 is connected to the air-conditioning main body 11 by the hinge portion 29, and the pinion gear 52 is meshed with the rack gear 51 to assemble the inlet base 21 to the air-conditioning main body 11.

[0045] According to the indoor unit 10 and the method of assembling thereof of the embodiment described above, the opening and closing link mechanism 24, which is accommodated in or attached to the link case 23, is connected to the inlet panel 22 in advance and the opening and closing link mechanism 24 can be attached to the inlet base 21 together with the link case 23. In addition, thereafter, the inlet panel 22, the opening and closing link mechanism 24, and the inlet base 21 can be integrally assembled to the air-conditioning main body 11.

[0046] Therefore, when the inlet panel 22 is assembled to the air-conditioning main body 11, an operation of connecting the opening and closing link mechanism 24 may not be performed. That is, it is not necessary to perform an operation such as inserting a tool or the hand into a narrow gap between the inlet panel 22 and the air-conditioning main body 11 to connect the opening and closing link mechanism 24 to the inlet panel 22. Therefore, the inlet panel 22 that covers the suction port 17 so as to be openable and closable can be easily assembled to the air-conditioning main body 11, which leads to an improvement of workability.

[0047] In addition, in the indoor unit 10 of the embodiment, the locking claw 28 and the locking hole 37 for locking the link case 23 and the inlet base 21 are provided. Therefore, it is possible to easily attach and fix the link case 23 to the inlet base 21 and it is possible to further easily assemble the opening and closing link mechanism 24 to the air-conditioning main body 11 via the inlet base 21.

[0048] In addition, in the embodiment, a driving force from the driving mechanism 12 is transmitted to the inlet panel 22 by the upper link 41, the intermediate link 43, and the lower link 42 via the slider 38 having the rack gear 51 mounted on the slide rail 34.

[0049] Therefore, the intermediate link 43 and the upper link 41 are rotated by moving the slider 38 upward and thereby the upper portion of the inlet panel 22 can be separated from the suction port 17 to the outside to be lifted. In this case, the lower portion of the inlet panel 22 is not largely separated from the air-conditioning main body 11 by the lower link 42. Therefore, in a state where only the upper portion of the inlet panel 22 is separated from the air-conditioning main body 11 and is inclined with respect to the air-conditioning main body 11, it is possible to obliquely and largely open and close the suction port 17 of the air-conditioning main body 11 at the upper portion.

[0050] In the indoor unit 10 of the embodiment, the inlet base 21 and the inlet panel 22 are always locked to each other by the hook receiving portion 31 and the hooking hook 32 so as to be displaceable. Therefore, it is possible to support the load of the inlet panel 22 by the inlet base 21 via the hook receiving portion 31 and the hooking hook 32. Therefore, a burden of the load from the inlet panel 22 to the opening and closing link mechanism 24 can be reduced, the inlet panel 22 can be smoothly and easily operated, and the durability of the link mechanism 24 can be easily secured.

[0051] Furthermore, when the opening and closing link mechanism 24 and the link case 23 which are connected to the inlet panel 22 in advance are attached to the inlet base 21, the hook receiving portion 31 and the hooking hook 32 can play a role of positioning. Therefore, the assembly of the indoor unit 10 can be further facilitated.

[0052] Above, although the embodiment of the invention is described in detail above, it is possible to make some design changes within a range not departing from the technical idea of the invention. For example, in the embodiment, the configuration of the opening and closing link mechanism 24 may use another link mechanism as long as the operation capable of opening and closing the suction port 17 by the inlet panel 22 is obtained by the inlet panel 22. For example, although the slider 38 is driven by the rack gear 51 and the pinion gear 52, if the slider 38 can slide along the slide rail 34, the slider 38 may be driven by another driving mechanism. In addition, instead of the mechanism of the rack and pinion, a mechanism having a cylinder may be used.

[0053] In addition, the inlet panel 22 is not limited to covering the entire front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11 and may be provided at another position such as the upper surface. Furthermore, the opening and closing direction of the inlet panel 22 is not limited to the above-described case and the opening and closing direction may be set according to the shape and the position of the suction port 17.

[0054] In the above description, the inlet base 21 and the inlet panel 22 have the same contour as the front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11, but may have a shape different from the front surface of the air-conditioning main body 11.

[0055] In addition, contrary to the above case, the hook receiving portion 31 may be provided in the inlet panel 22 and the hooking hook 32 may be provided in the inlet base 21.

[0056] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and shown above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

[0057] 

D1

lateral direction

D2

forward and rearward direction

D3

upward and downward direction

10

indoor unit

11

air-conditioning main body

12

driving mechanism

13

heat exchanger

14

blower fan

15

blowout port

16

flap

17

suction port

20

inlet opening and closing mechanism

21

inlet base

22

inlet panel

22a

receiving portion

23

link case

24

opening and closing link mechanism

26

through opening

27

attaching hole

28

locking claw (locking portion)

29

hinge portion

31

hook receiving portion (hook portion)

32

hooking hook (hook portion)

33

groove

34

slide rail

36

flange

37

locking hole (locking portion)

38

slider

41

upper link

42

lower link

43

intermediate link

44

fixed pivot portion

46

upper pivot portion

47a, 47b

movable pivot portion

48

lower pivot portion

49

intermediate pivot portion

51

rack gear

52

pinion gear

100

air conditioner

S1

opening and closing link assembling step

S2

connecting step

S3

link attaching step

S4

assembling step

Claims

1. An indoor unit (10) of an air conditioner (100), comprising:

an air-conditioning main body (11);

an inlet base (21) that is provided on a front surface of the air-conditioning main body (11) to form a suction port (17) of air and is a member separate from the air-conditioning main body (11);

an inlet panel (22) that is provided on a front surface of the inlet base (21) to cover the suction port (17);

an opening and closing link mechanism (24) that connects the inlet base (21) and the inlet panel (22) to each other to allow the suction port (17) to be openable and closable by the inlet panel (22);

a link case (23) that is capable of attaching to the inlet base (21) in a state where the opening and closing link mechanism (24) is accommodated in or attached to the link case (23), and the opening and closing link mechanism (24) is connected to the inlet panel (22); and

a driving mechanism (12) that is provided in the air-conditioning main body (11) to operate the link mechanism (24).

2. The indoor unit (10) of an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1,
wherein locking portions that lock and fix the link case (23) and the inlet base (21) to each other are provided in the link case (23) and the inlet base (21).

3. The indoor unit (10) of an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the opening and closing link mechanism (24) includes a slide rail (34) that is provided in the link case (23) so as to extend in an upward and downward direction (D3),
a slider (38) that is slidably mounted on the slide rail (34),
an upper link (41) that is connected to the inlet panel (22) and the link case (23) so as to rotate in the upward and downward direction (D3),
a lower link (42) that is disposed below the upper link (41) and is connected to the slider (38) and the inlet panel (22) so as to rotate in the upward and downward direction (D3), and
an intermediate link (43) that is connected to the slider (38) and an intermediate position of the upper link (41) so as to rotate in the upward and downward direction (D3), and
wherein the driving mechanism (12) is capable of moving the slider (38) in the upward and downward direction (D3).

4. The indoor unit (10) of an air conditioner (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein hook portions (31, 32), which are always locked to each other so as to be displaceable, are provided in the inlet base (21) and the inlet panel (22).

5. A method of assembling the indoor unit (10) of an air conditioner (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the method comprising:

a connecting step (S2) of connecting the opening and closing link mechanism (24) to the inlet panel (22);

a link attaching step (S3) of overlapping the inlet base (21) and the inlet panel (22) and thereby attaching the link case (23) to the inlet base (21) after the connecting step (S2); and

an assembling step (S4) of assembling the inlet base (21) and the inlet panel (22) to the air-conditioning main body (11) after the link attaching step (S3).

Drawing