Indoor unit of air conditioner

In an indoor unit of an air conditioner that moves a front panel, a coupling member suppresses a reduction of heat exchange performance of the indoor unit. A heat exchanger has a U-shaped pipe that returns refrigerant flowing in a longitudinal direction. A panel drive unit generates a driving force that moves the front panel by a movement of the panel drive unit itself. The coupling member is disposed behind the front panel, couples the front panel and the panel drive unit, and transmits the driving force from the panel drive unit to the front panel. At least a part of the coupling member is disposed in front of the U-shaped pipe so as to overlap the U-shaped pipe as viewed from the front.

TECHNICAL FIELD

An indoor unit of an air conditioner with a moving front panel.

BACKGROUND ART

Examples of a conventional indoor unit of an air conditioner include, as described in Patent Literature 1 (JP 2000-234760 A), an indoor unit in which a front panel of a casing moves in a vertical direction and includes a panel drive unit that drives the front panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

In the indoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1, when a coupling member that transmits a driving force of the panel drive unit is disposed at a position where the coupling member interferes with air flowing into a heat exchanger in the compact indoor unit, heat exchange performance is reduced.

In this way, in an indoor unit of an air conditioner that moves a front panel, there is a need to address a problem how to prevent a reduction of heat exchange performance of the indoor unit caused by a coupling member.

Solution to Problem

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first aspect includes a casing that has a front panel at a front of the casing and a back surface on a rear of the casing, the back surface being fixed to a wall, a heat exchanger that is housed in the casing and has a U-shaped pipe that returns refrigerant flowing in a longitudinal direction, a panel drive unit that is housed in the casing and generates a driving force that moves the front panel by a movement of the panel drive unit itself, and a coupling member that is disposed behind the front panel, couples the front panel and the panel drive unit, and transmits the driving force from the panel drive unit to the front panel, in which the coupling member is disposed in front of the U-shaped pipe so as to at least partially overlap the U-shaped pipe as viewed from a front.

In the indoor unit of the air conditioner, at least a part of the coupling member is disposed so as to overlap the U-shaped pipe as viewed from the front, and a space in front of the U-shaped pipe that hardly contributes to heat exchange performance is effectively utilized. As a result, a reduction of the heat exchange performance of the indoor unit can be suppressed.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second aspect is the indoor unit according to the first aspect, in which the U-shaped pipe includes a first U-shaped pipe disposed at a first end in the longitudinal direction, and a second U-shaped pipe disposed at a second end in the longitudinal direction, and the coupling member includes a first coupling member disposed in front of the first U-shaped pipe so as to at least partially overlap the first U-shaped pipe as viewed from the front, and a second coupling member disposed in front of the second U-shaped pipe so as to at least partially overlap the second U-shaped pipe as viewed from the front. In such a configuration, two spaces in front of the first U-shaped pipe and the second U-shaped pipe are effectively utilized. This can enhance the effect of suppressing the reduction of the heat exchange performance of the indoor unit.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third aspect is the indoor unit of the first or second aspect, in which the panel drive unit includes at least one gear disposed in front of a refrigerant pipe extending from the heat exchanger, and the coupling member rotates in accordance with a movement of the gear. This configuration allows a space in front of the refrigerant pipe to be effectively utilized. The compactness of the indoor unit1can be achieved.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth aspect is the indoor unit according to the third aspect, in which the gear is disposed at a position where at least a part of the gear does not overlap the heat exchanger as viewed from a side. This configuration makes it easy to design an arrangement of the panel drive unit and the refrigerant pipe.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fifth aspect is the indoor unit according to the third or fourth aspect, in which the gear configures a planetary gear mechanism. With this configuration, when a driving force is generated by a motor, for example, a moving part is easily concentrated near an extension line of a shaft to achieve the compactness of the indoor unit easily.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a sixth aspect is the indoor unit according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, further including an electric component box that is housed in the casing and electrically connected to the panel drive unit, in which the gear has a center of the longitudinal direction of the gear, the center being disposed between a center of the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger and a center of the longitudinal direction of the electric component box. This configuration can make the indoor unit more compact in the longitudinal direction than a configuration in which the center of the gear is disposed on the opposite side of the heat exchanger with the electric component box interposed therebetween.

An indoor unit of an air conditioner of a seventh aspect is the indoor unit of any one of the first to sixth aspects, in which the coupling member is a component member of a crank mechanism that converts a rotational movement of the panel drive unit into a reciprocating movement of the front panel that reciprocates between an upper front position and a rear lower position. This configuration allows a use of a small actuator that rotates, such as a motor, for the panel drive unit. Therefore, the compactness can be achieved at a low cost.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

(1) Overall Configuration

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, an indoor unit1of an air conditioner includes a casing10, a heat exchanger20, a coupling member40, and a panel drive unit50. The heat exchanger20and the panel drive unit50are housed in the casing10. The indoor unit1is wall-mounted, and a back surface10bon a rear of the indoor unit1is fixed to a wall.

FIGS. 1 and 2show the indoor unit1that is stopped.FIG. 3shows the indoor unit1preparing for operation.FIG. 4shows the indoor unit1in operation.FIGS. 1 and 2are cross-sectional views of the indoor unit1cut at different positions along a plane extending in a front-and-rear direction and in an upper-and-lower direction.

The casing10has a movable front panel11and a fixed upper panel12at a front of the casing.FIGS. 5 and 6respectively show an appearance of the indoor unit1that is stopped and an appearance of the indoor unit1in operation. As can be seen fromFIGS. 1 to 6, when the indoor unit1is stopped, the front panel11is closed, or in other words, the front panel11is in a rear lower position. On the other hand, when the indoor unit1is preparing or operating, the front panel11is opened, or in other words, the front panel11is in an upper front position.FIG. 7shows a configuration around the coupling member40with the front panel11removed from the indoor unit1. The coupling member40is disposed behind the front panel11.

FIG. 8shows the heat exchanger20and the panel drive unit50that are attached to a bottom frame16. The heat exchanger20has a U-shaped pipe25that returns refrigerant flowing in a longitudinal direction (left and right direction) of the indoor unit1at both left and right ends of the heat exchanger20.FIG. 9shows the coupling member40in addition to the configuration shown inFIG. 8. As can be seen by comparingFIGS. 8 and 9, the coupling member40is disposed in front of the U-shaped pipe25so as to at least partially overlap the U-shaped pipe25as viewed from the front.

The panel drive unit50includes a motor51and a gear52(seeFIG. 11). The motor51generates a driving force that moves the front panel11by a rotational movement of the motor itself. The rotational movement of the motor51is transmitted to the coupling member40through the gear52as the driving force for movement.

(2) Detailed Configuration

As shown inFIG. 1, when the indoor unit1is stopped, the front panel11is disposed on substantially the same plane as the upper panel12. The front panel11that is in the rear lower position when the indoor unit1is stopped moves to the upper front position shown inFIG. 3when the indoor unit1is in preparation for operation, whereby the upper panel12and the front panel11overlap each other as viewed from the front. After the front panel11moves to the upper front position, a first horizontal flap13that configures a bottom surface10dof the casing10when the indoor unit1is stopped rotates and moves to an upper front position as shown inFIG. 4.

As can be seen fromFIG. 5, the casing10has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the left and right direction. In the indoor unit1shown inFIG. 5, the front panel11is closed, or in other words, the front panel11is in the rear lower position. On the other hand, in the indoor unit1shown inFIG. 6, the front panel11is opened, or in other words, the front panel11is in the upper front position. A suction port4includes not only an upper suction port4A (seeFIG. 7) formed on a top surface10cof the casing10, but also a front suction port4B (seeFIG. 3) that is opened by the movement of the front panel11to the upper front position when the indoor unit1is in operation.

The casing10houses a filter15disposed between the heat exchanger20and the suction port4. Dust is removed, by the filter15, from indoor air that enters the suction port4and passes through the filter15. The indoor air that has passed through the filter15flows into the heat exchanger20. The casing10houses a fan90on a downstream side of the heat exchanger20. The fan90is, for example, a cross-flow fan that extends to left and right along the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger20. A blow-out passage17is formed on the downstream side of the fan90. InFIG. 1and other drawings, a plurality of blades disposed on a circumference of a partition plate is not shown because the cross-flow fan is cut at the partition plate of the cross-flow fan.

A plurality of vertical flaps19arranged in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction) is attached to the blow-out passage17. The first horizontal flap13and a second horizontal flap14are attached downstream of the vertical flap19. An outlet of the blow-out passage17is a blow-out port5. The blow-out passage17and the bottom surface10dof the casing10are configured by the bottom frame16made of resin.

FIG. 8shows the heat exchanger20and the electric component box70that are disposed in the casing10. The electric component box70is disposed on the right of the heat exchanger20, or in other words, closer to the right in the casing10. The electric component box70incorporates a control unit (not shown) that controls the motor51, the fan90, and the like.

As shown inFIG. 1, the heat exchanger20can be divided into a front heat exchange section21and a rear heat exchange section22. An upper part of the front heat exchange section21and an upper part of the rear heat exchange section22are connected to each other. Due to such a structure of the heat exchanger20, the heat exchanger20has a Λ shape as viewed from a side.

The heat exchanger20includes a plurality of metal heat transfer fins23disposed side by side in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of metal heat transfer tubes24that extends in the longitudinal direction through the plurality of heat transfer fins23, the metal U-shaped pipe25that connects two of the heat transfer tubes in order to return and flow the refrigerant at an end of the heat exchanger20. The U-shaped pipe25includes a first U-shaped pipe25adisposed on the right as viewed from the front and a second U-shaped pipe25bdisposed on the left as viewed from the front. Further, a plurality of refrigerant pipes26is connected to the heat exchanger20. The refrigerant flows into the heat exchanger20from the outside through the refrigerant pipes26, and the refrigerant flows from the heat exchanger20to the outside through the refrigerant pipes26.

As shown inFIG. 7, the coupling member40includes a first upper crank31, a first lower crank32, a first link33, a second upper crank34, a second lower crank35, and a second link36. The first upper crank31, the first lower crank32, and the first link33are a first coupling member41, and configure a first parallel crank mechanism. The second upper crank34, the second lower crank35, and the second link36are a second coupling member42and configure a second parallel crank mechanism.

As shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the first upper crank31, the first lower crank32, and the first link33that configure the first parallel crank mechanism of the coupling member40do not overlap the heat transfer fins23of the heat exchanger20at all as viewed from the front. The first upper crank31, the first lower crank32, and the first link33are in a range in which the first U-shaped pipe25ais disposed, in the longitudinal direction as viewed from the front. The second upper crank34, the second lower crank35, and the second link36that configure the second parallel crank mechanism partially overlap the heat transfer fins23of the heat exchanger20as viewed from the front. The second upper crank34, the second lower crank35, and the second link36also partially overlap the second U-shaped pipe25bas viewed from the front.

Therefore, the first upper crank31, the first lower crank32, and the first link33that configure the first coupling member41of the coupling member40do not disturb a flow of the indoor air flowing to the heat transfer fins23of the heat exchanger20. Further, the second upper crank34, the second lower crank35and the second link36that configure the second coupling member42partially overlap the heat transfer fins23but protrude toward the second U-shaped pipe25bas viewed from the front. This suppresses disturbing the flow of the indoor air flowing to the heat transfer fins23at a left end of the heat exchanger20. In particular, when the front panel11is opened, most of the second upper crank34and the second lower crank35are away from the heat transfer fins23. Sufficient indoor air flows to the heat transfer fins23on the left end of the heat exchanger20similarly to the other parts.

FIG. 10mainly shows the second parallel crank mechanism. The second upper crank34of the second parallel crank mechanism is bent in an L shape as viewed from the side. A joint portion34ais formed with a square coupling hole34binto which a metal shaft100(seeFIG. 8) having a square cross section is fitted. When the motor51rotates, the rotational movement of the motor51is transmitted to the metal shaft100via the gear52. Further, the rotational movement of the metal shaft100is transmitted to the joint portion34a. An inner arm34cextends from the joint portion34a. The inner arm34chas a relatively short arm length so as not to collide with the upper panel12of the casing10, the heat exchanger20, and the like in a rotation range of the inner arm34c. A direction in which a panel side arm34dextends outward from the inner arm34cis bent upward by about 90 degrees with respect to a direction in which the inner arm34cextends as viewed from the side. The panel side arm34dhas an arm length longer than the arm length of the inner arm34cin order to increase a moving distance of the front panel11. A shaft34eis provided at a panel side tip of the panel side arm34d.

The shaft34eof the second upper crank34is fitted into a bearing36aprovided at an upper end of the second link36. The shaft34ecan rotate in the bearing36a. A main portion36bof the second link36extending downward from the bearing36aalso serves as an attachment plate to which the front panel11is attached. The front panel11is fixed to the main portion36bwith a pressure sensitive adhesive and/or an adhesive. A bearing36cis provided at a lower end of the second link36.

A shaft35aof the second lower crank35is fitted into the bearing36cof the second link36. The shaft35acan rotate in the bearing36c. An arm35bextends from the shaft35aof the second lower crank35toward a casing body10gin the back. The casing body10gis a part of the casing10excluding the front panel11. A shaft35cis provided at the other end of the arm35b. The shaft35cof the second lower crank35is fitted into a bearing10jof the casing body10g. The shaft35cof the second lower crank35can rotate in the bearing10j. That is, the casing body10gserves as a fixed link of the second parallel crank mechanism.

FIG. 2mainly shows the first parallel crank mechanism. The first upper crank31of the first parallel crank mechanism is bent in an L shape as viewed from the side. A joint portion31ais formed with a square coupling hole31binto which the metal shaft100(seeFIG. 8) having a square cross section is fitted. A plurality of teeth31fmeshed with the gear52is formed on an outer periphery of the joint portion31a. When the motor51rotates, the rotational movement of the motor51is transmitted to the plurality of teeth31fvia the gear52, and then the first upper crank31rotates. At this time, the rotational movement of the first upper crank31is transmitted to the metal shaft100, and the rotational movement of the metal shaft100is transmitted to the joint portion31a. An inner arm31cextends from the joint portion31a. The inner arm31chas a relatively short arm length so as not to collide with the upper panel12of the casing10, the heat exchanger20, and the like in a rotation range of the inner arm31c. A direction in which a panel side arm31dextends outward from the inner arm31cis bent upward by about 90 degrees with respect to a direction in which the inner arm31cextends as viewed from the side. The panel side arm31dhas an arm length longer than the arm length of the inner arm31cin order to increase a moving distance of the front panel11. In this way, the first upper crank31has the inner arm31cand the panel side arm31dhaving substantially the same shapes as the shapes of the inner arm34cand the panel side arm34dof the second upper crank34described above. A shaft31eis provided at a panel side tip of the panel side arm31d.

The shaft31eof the first upper crank31is fitted into a bearing33aprovided at an upper end of the first link33. The shaft31ecan rotate in the bearing33a. A main portion33bof the first link33extending downward from the bearing33aalso serves as an attachment plate to which the front panel11is attached. The front panel11is fixed to the main portion33bwith a pressure sensitive adhesive and/or an adhesive. A bearing33cis provided at a lower end of the first link33.

A shaft32aof the first lower crank32is fitted into the bearing33cof the first link33. The shaft32acan rotate in the bearing33c. An arm32bextends from the shaft32aof the first lower crank32toward the casing body10gin the back. A shaft (not shown) is provided at the other end of the arm32b. The shaft of the first lower crank32is fitted into a bearing (not shown) of the casing body10g. The shaft of the first lower crank32can rotate in the bearing of the casing body10g. That is, the casing body10galso serves as a fixed link of the first parallel crank mechanism.

FIG. 11shows the panel drive unit50that has been disassembled. The panel drive unit50includes a motor51, the gear52, and a gear box53. The gear shown inFIG. 11configures a planetary gear mechanism. The planetary gear mechanism shown inFIG. 11is a planetary type. The gear box53includes a motor support53aand a gear support53b. The motor51and the gear52are fixed to the casing10by the gear box53.FIG. 12shows the panel drive unit50that has been assembled.

The motor51is fixed to the motor support53aof the gear box53by screws (not shown) or the like. A sun gear52ais fixed to a shaft51aof the motor51. Three planetary gears52bare disposed around the sun gear52a, and all the three planetary gears52bare meshed with the sun gear52a.FIG. 13shows the motor51, the motor support53a, the sun gear52a, and the three planetary gears52bbeing assembled.

The three planetary gears52bare meshed with an internal gear52cformed inside the gear support53b. The internal gear52cis fixed, and the three planetary gears52brevolve around the sun gear52ain accordance with a rotation of the sun gear52a. Carriers54aand54bare attached to the three planetary gears52b. The carriers54aand54brotate in accordance with the revolution of the three planetary gears52b. A gear52dis fixed to the carrier54a. Thus, the gear52drotates in accordance with the revolution of the three planetary gears52b. A center axis of the gear52dcoincides with a center axis of the internal gear52c, a center axis of the sun gear52a, and the shaft51aof the motor51. Due to such a structure, the moving gear52can be concentrated near an extension line of the shaft51athat generates the driving force by the motor51. Therefore, the gear52can be disposed in a narrow space in front of the refrigerant pipes26of the compact indoor unit1. The gear52dis meshed with the teeth31fdisposed on the outer periphery of the joint portion31aof the first upper crank31.

As shown inFIG. 8, the gear box53is disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26extending from the heat exchanger20. That is, the refrigerant pipes26and the gear box53overlap each other as viewed from the front. In this embodiment, the gear box53is disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26, and all the plurality of gears52is disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26. Further, the two-dot chain lines indicated by reference signs CL1, CL2, and CL3inFIG. 8represent a center of the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger20, a center of the longitudinal direction of the electric component box70, and a center of the longitudinal direction of the plurality of gears52, respectively. As can be seen fromFIG. 8, the center CL3of the longitudinal direction of the gears52is disposed between the center CL1of the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger20and the center CL2of the longitudinal direction of the electric component box70. Further, as shown inFIG. 2, all the gears52are disposed at positions where the gears52do not overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side.

In this way, the gears52are disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26, and the space in front of the refrigerant pipes26is effectively utilized by the gears52. As a result, the compactness of the indoor unit1can be achieved. The space that is in front of the refrigerant pipes26and does not overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side is a triangular prism-shaped space at an upper front corner of the casing10. In this embodiment, all the gears52are disposed at the positions where the gears52do not overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side. However, when at least a part of the gears52is disposed at a position where the part of the gears52does not overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side, there is an effect of the easy designing although the degree of the effect is varied. When the gears52partially overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side, it is easy to make the indoor unit1compact.

For example, as described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9, in the indoor unit1described above, at least a part of the coupling member40is disposed so as to overlap the U-shaped pipe25as viewed from the front. In this way, the space in front of the U-shaped pipe25is effectively utilized for the arrangement of the coupling member40. The space in front of the U-shaped pipe25that hardly contributes to heat exchange performance is effectively utilized by the coupling member40. The flow of the indoor air sucked into the heat exchanger20from the front suction port4B is suppressed from being blocked by the coupling member40. As a result, a reduction of the heat exchange performance of the indoor unit1can be suppressed.

The coupling member40disposed so as to at least partially overlap the U-shaped pipe25as viewed from the front includes the first upper crank31, the first lower crank32, the first link33as the first coupling member41, and the second upper crank34, the second lower crank35, and the second link36as the second coupling member42. At least a part of the first coupling member41is disposed in front of the first U-shaped pipe25aso as to overlap the first U-shaped pipe25aas viewed from the front. Further, at least a part of the second coupling member42is disposed in front of the second U-shaped pipe25bso as to overlap the second U-shaped pipe25bas viewed from the front. The two spaces in front of the first U-shaped pipe25aand the second U-shaped pipe25bare effectively utilized on both sides of the heat exchanger20. This can enhance the effect of suppressing the reduction of the heat exchange performance of the indoor unit1.

In the panel drive unit50of the above embodiment, the space in front of the refrigerant pipes26is effectively utilized by all the gears52disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26extending from the heat exchanger20. The compactness of the indoor unit1can be achieved. In this embodiment, all the gears52are disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26. However, when a part of the gear52is disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26, the compactness of the indoor unit1can be achieved although the degree of the effect is varied.

In the above embodiment, all the gears52are disposed at positions where the gears52do not overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side. Thus, the refrigerant pipes26need not to be arranged to avoid the gears52. This makes it easy to design the arrangement of the panel drive unit50and the refrigerant pipes26in the compact indoor unit1. In this embodiment, all the gears52are disposed at the positions where the gears52do not overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side. However, when a part of the gears52is disposed at a position where the part of the gears52does not overlap the heat exchanger20as viewed from the side, the easy designing of the arrangement of the panel drive unit50and the refrigerant pipes26can be achieved although the degree of the effect is varied.

The gears52of the above embodiment configure the planetary gear mechanism, and thus the gears52as a moving part are concentrated near the extension line of the shaft51aof the motor51to achieve the compactness of the indoor unit1. In particular, the center CL3of the longitudinal direction of the gears52disposed in front of the refrigerant pipes26is disposed between the heat transfer fins23of the heat exchanger20and the center CL2of the longitudinal direction of the electric component box70. Therefore, the effect of the compactness is enhanced.

As described with reference toFIG. 8, the center CL3of the longitudinal direction of the gears52is disposed between the center CL1of the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger20and the center CL2of the longitudinal direction of the electric component box70. Thus, the indoor unit1can be made more compact in the longitudinal direction of the indoor unit1than a configuration in which the center of the gears52is disposed on the opposite side of the heat exchanger20with the electric component box70interposed therebetween.

The coupling member40is a component member of a parallel crank mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the panel drive unit50into a reciprocating movement of the front panel that reciprocates between the upper front position and the rear lower position. With the coupling member40configured as above, a small actuator that rotates such as the motor51can be used for the panel drive unit50. Therefore, the compactness can be achieved at a low cost.

In the description of the above embodiment, the planetary gear mechanism configured by the gears52of the panel drive unit50is the planetary type. The planetary gear mechanism, however, is not limited to the planetary type, but may be, for example, a solar type or a star type. Further, the mechanism configured by the gears52of the panel drive unit50is not limited to the planetary gear mechanism.

In the description of the above embodiment, the coupling member40is a component member of the parallel crank mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the panel drive unit50into the reciprocating movement of the front panel11that reciprocates between the upper front position and the rear lower position. The coupling member40, however, may be a component member of another crank mechanism, and is not limited to the parallel crank mechanism.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it will be understood that various changes in forms and details can be made without departing from the gist and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2000-234760 A