AC INDOOR UNIT

Abstract

 It is a problem of the present invention to provide an air conditioning indoor unit that can reduce midway spreading of a rearward and downward airflow and generate a sufficient amount of the rearward and downward airflow. In an air conditioning indoor unit (10), outlet air traveling through an air passage space sandwiched between a front flap group (30) (a front flap (31) and an auxiliary front flap (32)) and a rear flap (40) proceeds along the air passage space in a state in which forward spreading of the outlet air is blocked by the front flap (31) until the outlet air reaches lower than a lowermost end of an air outlet (15), and when the outlet air leaves the air passage space, the outlet air becomes an airflow along a second surface (40b) of the rear flap (40), so an "unfelt airflow" heading toward a lower portion of a side wall is sufficiently generated.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning indoor unit.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In recent years, air conditioners that blow out outlet air toward the lower part of a wall surface on which an indoor unit is installed and cause the air to flow along the wall surface and the floor surface to regulate the temperature of a room for the purpose of further improving the comfort of an air conditioning target space have become widespread. For example, in the air conditioner disclosed in patent document 1 (JP-A No. 2004-218894), two horizontal louvers are disposed in an air outlet, and when a heating operation is started, conditioned air is delivered diagonally downward toward the wall surface by the two horizontal louvers. The conditioned air travels downward along the wall surface because of the Coanda effect, flows over the floor surface, and circulates in the room.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

<Technical Problem>

[0003] However, in the air conditioner disclosed in patent document 1, the conditioned air traveling between the two horizontal louvers spreads forward from the lower end of the frontside horizontal louver just after the conditioned air becomes a rearward and downward airflow, so there is the concern that the rearward and downward airflow cannot be sufficiently generated.

[0004] It is a problem of the present invention to provide an air conditioning indoor unit that can reduce midway spreading of a rearward and downward airflow and generate a sufficient amount of the rearward and downward airflow.

<Solution to Problem>

[0005] An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a first aspect of the invention is a wall-mounted air conditioning indoor unit that is installed on a side wall of an air conditioning target space and uses plural flaps to change the air direction of outlet air blown out from an air outlet, the air conditioning indoor unit comprising a front flap and a rear flap. The front flap adjusts the air direction of the outlet air. The rear flap adjusts the air direction of the outlet air in a position closer to the side wall than the front flap. The front flap has a first airflow surface. The first airflow surface allows the outlet air to flow along it when the outlet air travels through an air passage space sandwiched between the rear flap and the front flap. The rear flap has a second airflow surface. The second airflow surface allows the outlet air to flow along it when the outlet air travels through the air passage space. Furthermore, the front flap, when generating an airflow heading toward a lower portion of the side wall, has its lower end positioned lower than a lowermost end of the air outlet. Moreover, the rear flap, when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, adopts a predetermined posture. The predetermined posture is a posture in which its lower end is positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end so that the second airflow surface is inclined relative to a vertical plane.

[0006] In this air conditioning indoor unit, the outlet air traveling through the air passage space sandwiched between the front flap and the rear flap proceeds along the air passage space in a state in which forward spreading of the outlet air is blocked by the front flap until the outlet air reaches lower than the lowermost end of the air outlet, and when the outlet air leaves the air passage space, the outlet air becomes an airflow along the second airflow surface of the rear flap, so an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is sufficiently generated.

[0007] An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a second aspect of the invention is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the first aspect, wherein the second airflow surface has a curved surface that bulges forward in the predetermined posture.

[0008] In this air conditioning indoor unit, when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, the lower end of the rear flap already points toward the side wall and the curved surface of the second airflow surface bulges forward, so a tangent to the terminal end of the curved surface points even more toward the side wall than the direction of inclination of the rear flap.

[0009] Consequently, the outlet air after leaving the second airflow surface of the rear flap reliably becomes an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall.

[0010] An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a third aspect of the invention is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the second aspect, wherein the second airflow surface further has a flat surface. Furthermore, the flat surface and the curved surface are disposed in this order in the second airflow surface heading from the upper end toward the lower end of the rear flap.

[0011] In this air conditioning indoor unit, the outlet air flows along, and in the order of, the flat surface and the curved surface of the second airflow surface, so when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, the outlet air becomes a downward airflow along the flat surface and thereafter is drawn to the curved surface because of the Coanda effect and becomes an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall. Consequently, an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is easily generated.

[0012] An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a fourth aspect of the invention is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the second aspect or the third aspect, wherein the radius of the curved surface is equal to or greater than 200 mm. In this air conditioning indoor unit, an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is easily generated.

[0013] An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a fifth aspect of the invention is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the first aspect, wherein the front flap, when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, adopts a posture in which its lower end is positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end so that the first airflow surface is inclined relative to a vertical plane.

[0014] In this air conditioning indoor unit, the first airflow surface points more than 90° downward from the horizontal as a result of the front flap having its lower end positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end and becoming inclined relative to a vertical plane, so the outlet air can be deflected toward the side wall and an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is easily realized.

[0015] An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a sixth aspect of the invention is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the first aspect, wherein the front flap includes a small flap and a large flap. The large flap is larger than the small flap and positioned downstream, relative to the flow of the outlet air, of the small flap.

[0016] In this air conditioning indoor unit, the air that has been guided by the small flap flows along the large flap that is larger than the small flap, so the outlet air is guided in the intended direction without coming away midway.

[0017] An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a seventh aspect of the invention is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the sixth aspect, wherein the small flap and the large flap form two surfaces that form a predetermined angle between them.

[0018] In this air conditioning indoor unit, the outlet air is guided in a predetermined air direction by the two surfaces of the small flap and the large flap, so airflow control is easy.

<Advantageous Effects of Invention>

[0019] In the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the first aspect of the invention, the outlet air traveling through the air passage space sandwiched between the front flap and the rear flap proceeds along the air passage space in a state in which forward spreading of the outlet air is blocked by the front flap until the outlet air reaches lower than the lowermost end of the air outlet, and when the outlet air leaves the air passage space, the outlet air becomes an airflow along the second airflow surface of the rear flap, so an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is sufficiently generated.

[0020] In the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the second aspect of the invention, when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, the lower end of the rear flap already points toward the side wall and the curved surface of the second airflow surface bulges forward, so a tangent to the terminal end of the curved surface points even more toward the side wall than the direction of inclination of the rear flap. Consequently, the outlet air after leaving the second airflow surface of the rear flap reliably becomes an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall.

[0021] In the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the third aspect of the invention, the outlet air flows along, and in the order of, the flat surface and the curved surface of the second airflow surface, so when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, the outlet air becomes a downward airflow along the flat surface and thereafter is drawn to the curved surface because of the Coanda effect and becomes an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall. Consequently, an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is easily generated.

[0022] In the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the fourth aspect of the invention, an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is easily generated.

[0023] In the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the fifth aspect of the invention, the first airflow surface points more than 90° downward from the horizontal as a result of the front flap having its lower end positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end and becoming inclined relative to a vertical plane, so the outlet air can be deflected toward the side wall and an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is easily realized.

[0024] In the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the sixth aspect of the invention, the air that has been guided by the small flap flows along the large flap that is larger than the small flap, so the outlet air is guided in the intended direction without coming away midway.

[0025] In the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the seventh aspect of the invention, the outlet air is guided in a predetermined air direction by the two surfaces of the small flap and the large flap, so airflow control is easy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] 

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air conditioning indoor unit when in operation pertaining to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a front flap and a rear flap of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit when operation is stopped.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit at the time of a forward and downward airflow mode utilizing an auxiliary front flap.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap, the auxiliary front flap, and the rear flap of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit at the time of the forward and downward airflow mode not utilizing the auxiliary front flap.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit at the time of a circulation airflow mode.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit at the time of a middle airflow mode.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap, the auxiliary front flap, and the rear flap of the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a first example modification.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap, the auxiliary front flap, and the rear flap of the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a second example modification.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap, the auxiliary front flap, and the rear flap of the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a third example modification.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the neighborhood of the rear flap showing the positional relationship between the rear flap and an air outlet.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0027] An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It will be noted that the following embodiment is a specific example of the invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the invention.

(1) Configuration of Air Conditioning Indoor Unit 10

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air conditioning indoor unit 10 when in operation pertaining to the embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the air conditioning indoor unit 10 is a wall-mounted type. It will be noted that in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the air direction mode is set to a rearward and downward airflow mode that directs outlet air toward a lower portion of a side wall on which the air conditioning indoor unit 10 is installed.

[0029] The air conditioning indoor unit 10 has a body casing 11, an indoor heat exchanger 13, an indoor fan 14, a frame 17, and a control unit 50.

[0030] The body casing 11 has a top surface portion 11a, a front surface panel 11b, a back surface plate 11c, a sloping lower surface portion 11d, and a horizontal lower surface portion 11e, and houses the indoor heat exchanger 13, the indoor fan 14, the frame 17, and the control unit 50 inside.

[0031] The top surface portion 11a is positioned on the upper portion of the body casing 11, and an air inlet (not shown in the drawings) is provided in the top surface portion 11a in such a way as to extend from the front portion to the rear portion of the top surface portion 11a.

[0032] The front surface panel 11b configures a front surface portion of the indoor unit and has a flat shape, or a curved shape with a large curvature, with no air inlet. Furthermore, the upper end of the front surface panel 11b is supported by the top surface portion 11a in such a way that the front surface panel 11b may freely rotate, so that the front surface panel 11b can be operated in a hinged manner.

[0033] The indoor heat exchanger 13 and the indoor fan 14 are attached to the frame 17. The indoor heat exchanger 13 carries out heat exchange with air passing through it. Furthermore, the indoor heat exchanger 13 has an inverted V-shape in which both ends bend downward as seen in a side view, and the indoor fan 14 is positioned under the indoor heat exchanger 13. The indoor fan 14 is a cross-flow fan, causes air taken in from the room to be applied to and pass through the indoor heat exchanger 13, and blows out the air into the room.

[0034] An air outlet 15 is provided in the lower portion of the body casing 11. A rear flap 40 that changes the direction of the outlet air blown out from the air outlet 15 is attached to the air outlet 15 in such a way that the rear flap 40 may freely rotate. The rear flap 40 is driven by a motor (not shown in the drawings) and not only changes the direction of the outlet air but can also open and close the air outlet 15. Furthermore, the rear flap 40 can adopt plural postures whose angles of inclination are different.

[0035] Furthermore, a front flap 31 is provided in the neighborhood of the air outlet 15. The front flap 31 can adopt a posture in which it is inclined in the front and rear direction by a motor (not shown in the drawings), and, when operation is stopped, the front flap 31 is stowed in a stowage portion 130 provided in the sloping lower surface portion 11d between the lower end of the front surface panel 11b and the air outlet 15. The front flap 31 can adopt plural postures whose angles of inclination are different.

[0036] An auxiliary front flap 32 is rotatably disposed upstream, relative to the flow of the outlet air, of the front flap 31. In the present embodiment, the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the rear flap 40 generate a rearward and downward airflow. It will be noted that the front flap 31 and the auxiliary front flap 32 will collectively be called a front flap group 30.

[0037] Furthermore, the air outlet 15 is connected to the inside of the body casing 11 by an outlet air flow passage 18. The outlet air flow passage 18 is an air passage sandwiched between an upper scroll 171 and a lower scroll 172 of the frame 17.

[0038] Room air is sucked by the operation of the indoor fan 14 into the indoor fan 14 via the air inlet and the indoor heat exchanger 13, travels from the indoor fan 14 through the outlet air flow passage 18, and is blown out from the air outlet 15.

[0039] The control unit 50 is disposed in a space provided between a front drain pan 61 and an upper partition wall 161 of an air outlet forming wall 16. The control unit 50 carries out control of the rotational speed of the indoor fan 14 and control of the operation of the rear flap 40 and the front flap group 30.

[0040] The front drain pan 61 is positioned under the front lower portion of the indoor heat exchanger 13 and receives dew condensation water generated by the front portion of the indoor heat exchanger 13.

(2) Detailed Configuration

[0041] In the following description, the expressions "front end" and "rear end" relating to a given member will for the sake of convenience be changed to "lower end" and "upper end," respectively, when the member adopts a vertical posture or a posture approaching a vertical posture.

(2-1) Body Casing 11

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the body casing 11 has the top surface portion 11a that gently slopes downward heading from its rear side toward its front side. The air inlet (not shown in the drawings) is provided in the top surface portion 11a.

[0043] The front surface portion of the body casing 11 is configured by the front surface panel 11b. The front surface panel 11b extends from the front upper portion to the front lower portion of the body casing 11 while describing a gentle, circularly arcuate curved surface.

[0044] The front side of the lower portion of the body casing 11 is configured by the sloping lower surface portion 11d, which interconnects the lower end of the front surface panel 11b and the upper end of the air outlet 15. A region recessed toward the inside of the body casing 11 is formed in the sloping lower surface portion 11d. The recessed depth of this region is set to match the thickness dimension of the front flap 31, and the region forms the stowage portion 130 in which the front flap 31 is stowed. The surface of the stowage portion 130 is also a gentle, circularly arcuate curved surface.

[0045] The rear side of the lower portion of the body casing 11 is configured by the horizontal lower surface portion 11e, which extends from the rear end side of the air outlet 15 to the lower portion of the back surface.

(2-2) Air Outlet 15

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the air outlet 15 is formed in the lower portion of the body casing 11, and is an opening with a rectangular shape whose long sides lie along the transverse direction (the direction orthogonal to the surface of the page of FIG. 2). The outline of the air outlet 15 is formed by the air outlet forming wall 16.

[0047] The air outlet forming wall 16 includes an upper partition wall 161, which forms an upper surface of the air outlet 15, and a lower partition wall 162, which forms a lower surface of the air outlet 15. A front rib 15a that projects vertically downward from the front end position of the air outlet 15 is provided on the upper partition wall 161.

[0048] A stowage portion partition wall 131 is disposed on the opposite side of the upper partition wall 161 across the front rib 15a (in front of the front rib 15a). The stowage portion partition wall 131 is a wall that forms an upper surface of the stowage portion 130. The upper partition wall 161, the front rib 15a, and the stowage portion partition wall 131 are integrally molded.

[0049] Furthermore, a rear rib 15b that projects vertically downward from the rear end position of the air outlet 15 is provided on the lower partition wall 162. The lower partition wall 162 and the rear rib 15b are integrally molded.

(2-3) Frame 17

[0050] The frame 17 is a partition wall curved so as to face the indoor fan 14. The frame 17 includes the upper scroll 171 and the lower scroll 172. The upper partition wall 161 of the air outlet forming wall 16 is adjacent in a direction tangential to the terminal end of the upper scroll 171. Furthermore, the lower partition wall 162 of the air outlet forming wall 16 is adjacent in a direction tangential to the terminal end of the lower scroll 172.

[0051] Air traveling through the outlet air flow passage 18 proceeds along the upper scroll 171 and the lower scroll 172, is sent in a direction tangential to the terminal ends of the upper scroll 171 and the lower scroll 172, then proceeds along the upper partition wall 161 and the lower partition wall 162 of the air outlet forming wall 16, and is blown out from the air outlet 15.

(2-4) Vertical Air Direction Adjustment Plate 20

[0052] A vertical air direction adjustment plate 20 has plural blade pieces 201 disposed along the longitudinal direction of the air outlet 15 (the direction perpendicular to the surface of the page of FIG. 2). The vertical air direction adjustment plate 20 is disposed in the outlet air flow passage 18 in a position closer to the indoor fan 14 than the rear flap 40. The plural blade pieces 201 swing right and left about a state perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the air outlet 15 by horizontally reciprocating along the longitudinal direction of the air outlet 15.

(2-5) Front Flap 31

[0053] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap 31 and the rear flap 40 of FIG. 2. Furthermore, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit when operation is stopped. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the front flap 31 is stowed in the stowage portion 130 while air conditioning operations are stopped.

[0054] The front flap 31 moves away from the stowage portion 130 by rotating. A rotating shaft of the front flap 31 is set under the front rib 15a of the upper partition wall 161 of the air outlet forming wall 16, and the rear end of the front flap 31 and the rotating shaft are coupled to each other with a predetermined distance being maintained between them. Therefore, the front flap 31 rotates in such a way that as it rotates and moves away from the stowage portion 130, the height position of the rear end of the front flap 31 becomes lower.

[0055] By rotating in the counter-clockwise direction in-from the perspective of one looking directly at-FIG. 4, the front flap 31 moves away from the stowage portion 130 while both the front end and the rear end of the front flap 31 describe circular arcs. Furthermore, by rotating in the clockwise direction in-from the perspective of one looking directly at-FIG. 2, the front flap 31 moves toward the stowage portion 130 and eventually becomes stowed in the stowage portion 130.

[0056] The postures of the front flap 31 in an operating state include a posture in which the front flap 31 is stowed in the stowage portion 130 (see FIG. 4), a posture in which the front flap 31 rotates to become inclined forward and upward, a posture in which the front flap 31 rotates further to become substantially horizontal, a posture in which the front flap 31 rotates further to become inclined forward and downward, and a posture in which the front flap 31 rotates further to become inclined rearward and downward (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).

[0057] The front flap 31 has a first surface 31a that forms an outer surface of the front flap 31 and a second surface 31b that forms an inner surface of the front flap 31 when the front flap 31 is in the posture in which it is stowed in the stowage portion 130. The first surface 31a and the second surface 31b form a rear surface and a front surface, respectively, of the front flap 31 when the front flap 31 adopts the posture shown in FIG. 3 in which it is inclined rearward and downward.

[0058] A recessed portion 311, at which the dimension of the front flap 31 becomes smaller in the thickness direction thereof as shown in FIG. 3, is provided in the first surface 31a. The recessed portion 311 is positioned near the rotating shaft as seen from the center of the front flap 31.

[0059] Furthermore, the dimension of the front flap 31 in the longitudinal direction thereof (the direction perpendicular to the surface of the page of FIG. 2) is set so as to be the same as or greater than the dimension of the rear flap 40 in the longitudinal direction thereof. The reason is that, in a case where the air direction is upward, for example, all of the outlet air whose air direction has been adjusted by the rear flap 40 is received by the front flap 31, and the action and effect thereof is to prevent the outlet air blown out from the sides of the front flap 31 from short-circuiting.

(2-6) Auxiliary Front Flap 32

[0060] The auxiliary front flap 32 is a plate-like member positioned upstream, relative to the flow of the outlet air, of the front flap 31. The auxiliary front flap 32 is smaller than the front flap 31, but the auxiliary front flap 32 is set to a size sufficient to guide the air that has traveled through the outlet air flow passage 18 to the first surface 31a of the front flap 31.

[0061] When it is not used, the auxiliary front flap 32 is stowed in a stowage portion 16a provided in the upper partition wall 161 of the air outlet forming wall 16. The auxiliary front flap 32 has a first surface 32a that forms a lower surface of the auxiliary front flap 32 and a second surface 32b that forms an upper surface of the auxiliary front flap 32 when the auxiliary front flap 32 is in the posture in which it is stowed in the stowage portion 16a. The first surface 32a and the second surface 32b form a rear surface and a front surface, respectively, of the auxiliary front flap 32 when the auxiliary front flap 32 adopts the posture shown in FIG. 3.

[0062] The stowage portion 16a is formed by recessing the upper partition wall 161 of the air outlet forming wall 16 in its thickness direction. The depth of the stowage portion 16a is set in such a way that when the auxiliary front flap 32 is stowed in the stowage portion 16a, the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32 does not project beyond the surface of the upper partition wall 161 into the flow path.

[0063] Furthermore, when it is used, the auxiliary front flap 32 moves from the stowage portion 16a by rotating and projects beyond the surface of the upper partition wall 161 into the flow path. A rotating shaft of the auxiliary front flap 32 is set under the upstream-side end portion of the stowage portion 16a.

[0064] When, for example, the front flap 31 adopts a posture in which it is inclined rearward and downward as shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary front flap 32 rotates in such a way that its distal end enters the recessed portion 311 of the front flap 31. If at this time the entire auxiliary front flap 32 is away from the stowage portion 16a, the outlet air bypasses the air passage space sandwiched between the airflow guide surface 30a and the second surface 40b through a gap between the upper partition wall 161 and the auxiliary front flap 32, so to prevent this the rear end of the auxiliary front flap 32 remains in the stowage portion 16a to keep the gap between the upper partition wall 161 and the auxiliary front flap 32 from becoming larger.

[0065] After this, the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32 and the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 form an airflow guide surface 30a and, together with the rear flap 40, generate an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall.

(2-7) Rear Flap 40

[0066] The rear flap 40 has an area sufficient enough to be able to close off the air outlet 15 as shown in FIG. 4. The rear flap 40 has a first surface 40a that forms an outer surface of the rear flap 40 and a second surface 40b that forms an inner surface of the rear flap 40 when the rear flap 40 adopts the posture in which it closes the air outlet 15. The first surface 40a and the second surface 40b form a rear surface and a front surface, respectively, of the rear flap 40 when the rear flap 40 adopts the posture shown in FIG. 3 in which it is inclined rearward and downward.

[0067] The first surface 40a is, emphasizing design attractiveness, finished to a gentle circularly arcuate curved surface that projects outward. In contrast, the second surface 40b includes a flat surface 40ba and a curved surface 40bb, and, as shown in FIG. 3, the flat surface 40ba and the curved surface 40bb are disposed in this order in the second surface 40b heading from the upper end toward the lower end of the rear flap 40. Furthermore, in FIG. 3, the curved surface 40bb is a curved surface that bulges forward and has a radius equal to or greater than 200mm.

[0068] A rotating shaft of the rear flap 40 is set in a position adjacent to the rear rib 15b of the lower partition wall 162 of the air outlet forming wall 16. By rotating in the counter-clockwise direction in-from the perspective of one looking directly at-FIG. 4 about the rotating shaft, the rear flap 40 operates so as to move away from the front end of the air outlet 15 and opens the air outlet 15. Conversely, by rotating in the clockwise direction in-from the perspective of one looking directly at-FIG. 2 about the rotating shaft, the rear flap 40 operates so as to move toward the front end of the air outlet 15 and closes the air outlet 15.

[0069] In a state in which the rear flap 40 has opened the air outlet 15, the outlet air that has been blown out from the air outlet 15 flows generally along the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40.

(3) Controlling the Direction of the Outlet Air

[0070] The air conditioning indoor unit of the present embodiment adjusts the direction of the outlet air by changing the postures of the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the rear flap 40 according to each air direction mode as a means to control the direction of the outlet air. The air direction modes will be described below with reference to the drawings. It will be noted that the air direction modes can be controlled in such a way that they are changed automatically and can be selected via a remote controller or the like by the user.

(3-1) Rearward and Downward Airflow Mode

[0071] The rearward and downward airflow mode is a mode that directs the outlet air toward the lower portion of the side wall on which the air conditioning indoor unit 10 is installed. In the rearward and downward airflow mode, the outlet air travels from the lower portion of the side wall to the floor and then flows along the floor toward the opposing side wall. This airflow is also called an "unfelt airflow" because the airflow does not directly hit the occupant and it is difficult for the occupant to feel the flow of the air.

[0072] In the rearward and downward airflow mode, the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the rear flap 40 adopt the postures shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. In terms of FIG. 3, the auxiliary front flap 32 has its lower end positioned more forward than its upper end so that the auxiliary front flap 32 is inclined an angle α (0 to 10°) relative to a vertical plane.

[0073] Furthermore, the front flap 31 has its lower end positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end so that the front flap 31 is inclined an angle β (0 to 20°) relative to a vertical plane. Because of this, the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32 and the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 form the airflow guide surface 30a with the projecting shape that bulges forward.

[0074] The lower end of the front flap 31 at this time is positioned lower than the height position of the distal end of the "rear rib 15b that projects vertically downward from the rear end position of the air outlet 15." The distal end of the rear rib 15b is the lowermost end of the air outlet 15.

[0075] Meanwhile, the rear flap 40 has its lower end positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end so that the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40 is inclined relative to a vertical plane. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear flap 40 becomes inclined until the first surface 40a of the rear flap 40 contacts or is in close proximity to the distal end of the rear rib 15b.

[0076] In the present embodiment, the gap between the rear flap 40 and the rear rib 15b is equal to or less than a certain value (5 mm), so air resistance when the air flows through the gap is increased, and the outlet air avoids the gap and flows in an air passage space sandwiched between the airflow guide surface 30a and the second surface 40b which is a wider passage.

[0077] Consequently, the outlet air travels through the air passage space sandwiched between the airflow guide surface 30a and the second surface 40b. At that time, the outlet air that has been guided by the auxiliary front flap 32 flows along the front flap 31 that is larger than the auxiliary front flap 32. Because the front flap 31 has its lower end positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end so that the front flap 31 is inclined relative to a vertical plane, the outlet air can be guided to the lower portion of the side wall that is more than 90° downward from the horizontal.

[0078] Furthermore, the outlet air traveling through the air passage space sandwiched between the airflow guide surface 30a and the second surface 40b proceeds along the air passage space in a state in which forward spreading of the outlet air is blocked by the front flap 31 until the outlet air reaches lower than the height position of the distal end of the rear rib 15b (the lowermost end of the air outlet 15). The outlet air becomes an airflow along the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40 when the outlet air leaves the air passage space, so an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is sufficiently generated.

[0079] Moreover, the outlet air flows along, and in the order of, the flat surface 40ba and the curved surface 40bb of the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40. The curved surface 40bb is set to a radius equal to or greater than 200 mm so that it easily exhibits the Coanda effect, so the outlet air becomes a downward airflow along the flat surface 40ba and thereafter is drawn to the curved surface 40bb because of the Coanda effect and becomes an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall.

[0080] As described above, the front flap group 30-comprising the front flap 31 and the auxiliary front flap 32-and the rear flap 40 interact so that a rearward and downward airflow (unfelt airflow) heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is easily generated.

(3-2) Forward and Downward Airflow Mode

[0081] In the forward and downward airflow mode, a mode utilizing the auxiliary front flap 32 or a mode not utilizing the auxiliary front flap 32 is selected automatically or by the user.

(3-2-1) Mode Utilizing the Auxiliary Front Flap 32

[0082] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 at the time of the forward and downward airflow mode utilizing the auxiliary front flap 32. Furthermore, FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the rear flap 40 in FIG. 5.

[0083] In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, first, the front flap 31 rotates to adopt a posture in which the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 becomes inclined downward a predetermined angle x1 from the horizontal. It will be noted that in a case where it is difficult to establish a baseline for the angle because the first surface 31a is a circularly arcuate surface, a line joining both ends of the first surface 31a may also be used as a baseline for the angle as shown in FIG. 6.

[0084] Furthermore, the auxiliary front flap 32 also rotates to adopt a posture in which the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32 becomes inclined downward a predetermined angle y1 from the horizontal. If at this time the entire auxiliary front flap 32 is away from the stowage portion 16a, the outlet air bypasses the air passage space sandwiched between the airflow guide surface 30a and the second surface 40b through the gap between the upper partition wall 161 and the auxiliary front flap 32, so to prevent this the rear end of the auxiliary front flap 32 remains in the stowage portion 16a to keep the gap between the upper partition wall 161 and the auxiliary front flap 32 from becoming larger.

[0085] Moreover, the rear flap 40 also rotates to adopt a posture in which the flat surface 40ba of the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40 becomes inclined downward a predetermined angle z1 from the horizontal.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 6, when the front flap 31 and the auxiliary front flap 32 are viewed from the front in the horizontal direction, the front end portion of the auxiliary front flap 32 overlaps the rear end portion of the front flap 31 by a dimension L upstream, relative to the flow of the outlet air, of the front flap 31 and vertically lower than the rear end surface of the front flap 31.

[0087] The positional relationship between the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the gap between them becomes a relationship where the auxiliary front flap 32, the gap, and the front flap 31 are lined up in this order as seen from upstream relative to the flow of the outlet air, and the gap is hidden by the auxiliary front flap 32 that is upstream, so the air that has traveled through the outlet air flow passage 18 and has been guided by the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32 flows with the original momentum to the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 without wrapping around to the gap. As a result, even if there is the gap, the conditioned air is prevented from bypassing the air passage space sandwiched between the airflow guide surface 30a and the second surface 40b through that gap.

[0088] As described above, in the forward and downward airflow mode utilizing the auxiliary front flap 32, the auxiliary front flap 32 adopts a posture in which it blocks an airflow traveling through the gap between the upper partition wall 161 and the front flap 31, and the outlet air is prevented from flowing from the upper end of the front flap 31 along both surfaces of the front flap 31, so the upper end of the front flap 31 does not create air resistance. As a result, an increase in the energy consumed by the indoor fan 14 and a decrease in energy saving performance are prevented.

[0089] Furthermore, the forward and downward airflow mode utilizing the auxiliary front flap 32 is effective when generating forward and downward outlet air particularly in the cooling operation. The reason is that there is the effect of preventing dew condensation because air that has been cooled does not flow toward the second surface 31b of the first flap 31.

[0090] In the present embodiment, the auxiliary front flap 32 is used except when generating an upward airflow in the cooling operation.

(3-2-2) Mode Not Utilizing Auxiliary Front Flap 32

[0091] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 at the time of the forward and downward airflow mode not utilizing the auxiliary front flap 32. In FIG. 7, the auxiliary front flap 32 is stowed in the stowage portion 16a, and the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32 lies along an extension surface of the adjacent upper partition wall 161 and does not obstruct the flow of air along the upper partition wall 161.

[0092] In the forward and downward airflow mode not utilizing the auxiliary front flap 32, the auxiliary front flap 32 itself does not create air resistance. However, the auxiliary front flap 32 cannot block an airflow traveling through the gap between the upper partition wall 161 and the front flap 31, so it is undeniable that the upper end of the front flap 31 creates air resistance.

(3-3) Forward Airflow Mode

[0093] In the forward airflow mode, a circulation airflow mode that forcefully delivers the outlet air forward and a middle airflow mode that thickly delivers the outlet air forward are selected automatically or by the user.

(3-3-1) Circulation Airflow Mode

[0094] FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 at the time of the circulation airflow mode. In FIG. 8, the front flap 31 adopts a horizontal posture or a posture in which the front end of the front flap 31 is pointed horizontally forward. The auxiliary front flap 32 is stowed in the stowage portion 16a. The rear flap 40 adopts an inclined posture in which the flat surface 40ba of the second surface 40b lies along an extension of a tangent to the terminal end of the lower partition wall 162 of the air outlet forming wall 16. The lower partition wall 162 is also inclined so as to lie along an extension of a tangent to the terminal end of the lower scroll 172, so the lower scroll 172, the lower partition wall 162, and the flat surface 40ba become lined up as if to form one scroll wall, and the flow of air is guided on the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40 without being obstructed.

[0095] In the circulation airflow mode, the distance between the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 and the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40 is narrow, so the outlet air becomes restricted and increases in flow speed, is forcefully delivered forward, and stirs up the air in the air conditioning target space. As a result, stagnation of the air in the air conditioning target space can be eliminated.

(3-3-2) Middle Airflow Mode

[0096] FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 at the time of the middle airflow mode. In FIG. 9, the front flap 31 adopts a posture in which the front end of the front flap 31 is pointed upward from the horizontal. The auxiliary front flap 32 is stowed in the stowage portion 16a. The rear flap 40 adopts a posture in which the flat surface 40ba of the second surface 40b is inclined forward and downward.

[0097] At first glance it might seem that the outlet air would flow forward and downward along the flat surface 40ba of the rear flap 40, but because of the Coanda effect the outlet air that has exited the air outlet 15 is drawn to the first surface 31a of the front flap 31, becomes an airflow that is horizontal and a little more upward than horizontal, and is delivered.

[0098] Here, the Coanda effect is a phenomenon where, when there is a wall next to a flow of gas or liquid, the gas or liquid tends to flow in a direction along the wall surface even if the direction of the flow and the direction of the wall are different (Hosoku no jiten, Asakura Publishing Co., Ltd.).

[0099] In FIG. 9, the angle formed by the front flap 31 and the rear flap 40 needs to be equal to or less than a predetermined opening angle for the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 to produce the Coanda effect. The positional relationship between them is disclosed in a patent document (JP-A No. 2013-76530) filed on September 30, 2011, by the applicant, so description will be omitted here.

(4) Characteristics

(4-1)

[0100] In the air conditioning indoor unit 10, the outlet air traveling through the air passage space sandwiched between the front flap group 30 (the front flap 31 and the auxiliary front flap 32) and the rear flap 40 proceeds along the air passage space in a state in which forward spreading of the outlet air is blocked by the front flap 31 until the outlet air reaches lower than the lowermost end of the air outlet 15, and when the outlet air leaves the air passage space, the outlet air becomes an airflow along the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40, so an "unfelt airflow" heading toward the lower portion of the side wall is sufficiently generated.

(4-2)

[0101] In the air conditioning indoor unit 10, when generating a rearward and downward airflow (unfelt airflow), the lower end of the rear flap 40 already points toward the side wall and the curved surface 40bb of the second surface 40b bulges forward, so a tangent to the terminal end of the curved surface 40bb points even more toward the side wall than the direction of inclination of the rear flap 40. Consequently, the outlet air after leaving the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40 reliably becomes a rearward and downward airflow.

(4-3)

[0102] In the air conditioning indoor unit 10, the outlet air flows along, and in the order of, the flat surface 40ba and the curved surface 40bb of the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40, so when generating a rearward and downward airflow, the outlet air becomes a downward airflow along the flat surface 40ba and thereafter is drawn to the curved surface 40bb because of the Coanda effect and becomes an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall. Consequently, a rearward and downward airflow is easily generated.

(4-4)

[0103] In the air conditioning indoor unit 10, the first surface 31a points more than 90° downward from the horizontal as a result of the front flap 31 having its lower end positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end and becoming inclined relative to a vertical plane, so a rearward and downward airflow can be easily realized.

(4-5)

[0104] In the air conditioning indoor unit 10, the air that has been guided by the auxiliary front flap 32 flows along the front flap 31 that is larger than the auxiliary front flap 32, so airflow control is easy.

(5) Example Modifications

(5-1) First Example Modification

[0105] In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioning indoor unit 10 has a configuration where the recessed portion 311 is provided in the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 and where the distal end of the auxiliary front flap 32 enters the recessed portion 311. However, the air conditioning indoor unit 10 is not limited to this, and a recessed portion may also be provided in the auxiliary front flap 32.

[0106] FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the rear flap 40 of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 pertaining to a first example modification. In FIG. 10, a recessed portion 321 at which the dimension of the auxiliary front flap 32 becomes smaller in the thickness direction from the second surface 32b side of the auxiliary front flap 32 is formed in the auxiliary front flap 32.

[0107] In the first example modification, when the air direction mode is the rearward and downward airflow mode, the front flap 31 and the auxiliary front flap 32 adopt a posture in which they overlap each other, but in this case the upper end corner portion of the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 fits into the recessed portion 321 of the auxiliary front flap 32, so the step that arises between the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 and the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32 becomes smaller and airflow turbulence is reduced.

(5-2) Second Example Modification

[0108] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and the first example modification shown in FIG. 10, the lower end part of the auxiliary front flap 32 overlaps the front flap 31 from the first surface 31a side. However, the air conditioning indoor unit 10 is not limited to this, and the lower end part of the auxiliary front flap 32 may also overlap the front flap 31 from the second surface 31b side.

[0109] FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the rear flap 40 of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 pertaining to a second example modification. In FIG. 11, the position of the auxiliary front flap 32 is moved forward compared to the position shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 10. Together with this, the position and the shape of the stowage portion 16a are also changed.

[0110] When the auxiliary front flap 32 rotates in the counter-clockwise direction in-from the perspective of one looking directly at-FIG. 11 about the rotating shaft set on the rear end side, the lower end part of the auxiliary front flap 32 overlaps the front flap 31 from the second surface 31b side.

[0111] The first surface 32a-excluding the overlapping part-of the auxiliary front flap 32 and the first surface 31a of the front flap 31 form the airflow guide surface 30a that projects forward, so just after the outlet air becomes deflected forward and downward by the first surface 32a of the auxiliary front flap 32, the outlet air becomes deflected rearward and downward by the first surface 31a of the front flap 31.

[0112] As a result, the outlet air flows through the air passage space sandwiched between the airflow guide surface 30a and the second surface 40b of the rear flap 40 and becomes a rearward and downward airflow.

(5-3) Third Example Modification

[0113] In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the auxiliary front flap 32 has a configuration where it is stowed in the stowage portion 16a with the recessed shape provided in the upper partition wall 161 of the air outlet forming wall 16 and projects into the flow path by rotating. However, the auxiliary front flap 32 is not limited to this and may also have a configuration where it projects into the flow path by linearly moving.

[0114] FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the front flap 31, the auxiliary front flap 32, and the rear flap 40 of the air conditioning indoor unit 10 pertaining to a third example modification. In FIG. 12, the stowage portion 16a, which is a space that allows the auxiliary front flap 32 to pass through it and deeply accommodates the auxiliary front flap 32, is formed in the upper partition wall 161.

[0115] When it is not used, the auxiliary front flap 32 moves inside the stowage portion 16a until the front end of the auxiliary front flap 32 becomes hidden by the upper partition wall 161. Additionally, in the forward and downward airflow mode in which the auxiliary front flap 32 is used, the auxiliary front flap 32 projects into the flow path by linearly moving.

(6) Other

[0116] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the neighborhood of the rear flap 40 showing the positional relationship between the rear flap 40 and the air outlet 15. In FIG. 13, the upper end of the rear flap 40 forms a circular arc with a radius D2, and the center of that circular arc and the rotational center of the rear flap 40 substantially coincide with each other.

[0117] The rear flap 40, by rotating, has its lower end (its front end when in a horizontal posture) moved rearward and downward from horizontally in front. While rotating, the circularly arcuate surface of the upper end of the rear flap 40 maintains a fixed gap D1 between itself and the rear rib 15b that projects vertically downward from the rear end position of the air outlet 15. In the present embodiment, the gap D1 is set equal to or less than 5 mm.

[0118] The outlet air traveling past the upper end of the rear flap 40 flows toward the second surface 40b without traveling through the gap D1 because, even if the outlet air tries to flow through the gap D1, air resistance is too large compared to the other air passage.

[0119] As described above, the gap D1 is set equal to or less than a certain value, so the outlet air does not travel through the gap D1 and flow toward the first surface 40a. For that reason, in the present embodiment, the first surface 40a of the rear flap 40 can be handled as part of the design of the body casing 11 without involving it in air direction control.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0120] 

10

Air Conditioning Indoor Unit

15

Air Outlet

30

Front Flap Group (Front Flap)

30a

Airflow Guide Surface (Airflow Surface)

31

Front Flap (Large Flap)

32

Auxiliary Front Flap (Small Flap)

40

Rear Flap

40b

Second Surface (Airflow Surface)

40ba

Flat Surface

40bb

Curved Surface

CITATION LIST

<Patent Literature>

[0121] Patent Document 1: JP-ANo. 2004-218894

Claims

1. A wall-mounted air conditioning indoor unit (10) that is installed on a side wall of an air conditioning target space and uses plural flaps to change the air direction of outlet air blown out from an air outlet (15), the air conditioning indoor unit comprising:

a front flap (30) that adjusts the air direction of the outlet air; and

a rear flap (40) that adjusts the air direction of the outlet air in a position closer to the side wall than the front flap (30),

wherein

the front flap (30) has a first airflow surface (30a) that allows the outlet air to flow along it when the outlet air travels through an air passage space sandwiched between the rear flap (40) and the front flap (30),

the rear flap (40) has a second airflow surface (40b) that allows the outlet air to flow along it when the outlet air travels through the air passage space,

the front flap (30), when generating an airflow heading toward a lower portion of the side wall, has its lower end positioned lower than a lowermost end of the air outlet (15), and

the rear flap (40), when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, adopts a predetermined posture in which its lower end is positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end so that the second airflow surface (40b) is inclined relative to a vertical plane.

2. The air conditioning indoor unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the second airflow surface (40b) has a curved surface (40bb) that bulges forward in the predetermined posture.

3. The air conditioning indoor unit (10) according to claim 2, wherein
the second airflow surface (40b) further has a flat surface (40ba), and
the flat surface (40ba) and the curved surface (40bb) are disposed in this order in the second airflow surface (40b) heading from the upper end toward the lower end of the rear flap (40).

4. The air conditioning indoor unit (10) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the radius of the curved surface (40bb) is equal to or greater than 200 mm.

5. The air conditioning indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the front flap (30), when generating an airflow heading toward the lower portion of the side wall, adopts a posture in which its lower end is positioned more toward the side wall than its upper end so that the first airflow surface (30a) is inclined relative to a vertical plane.

6. The air conditioning indoor unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the front flap (30) includes a small flap (32) and a large flap (31) that is larger than the small flap (32) and positioned downstream, relative to the flow of the outlet air, of the small flap (32).

7. The air conditioning indoor unit (10) according to claim 6, wherein the small flap (32) and the large flap (31) form two surfaces that form a predetermined angle between them.

Drawing