Patent Publication Number: US-9903600-B2

Title: Wind direction adjusting device of air-conditioning apparatus and air-conditioning apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an air flow direction adjusting device of an air-conditioning apparatuses and an air-conditioning apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A known air flow direction adjusting device includes a plurality of air flow direction adjusting members disposed at an air outlet of an air-conditioning apparatus so as to change the direction of air flow blowing from the air outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus. For example, an air flow direction adjusting device of Patent Literature 1 includes an air flow direction adjusting member with a movable operation unit and an air flow direction adjusting member with no movable operation unit. Orientations of these air flow direction adjusting members are adjusted by operating the movable operation unit, and thereby, the direction of air blowing from the air outlet of the air-conditioning apparatus is adjusted. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-196457 (page 4,  FIG. 1 ) 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, since the air flow direction adjusting device of Patent Literature 1 includes the air flow direction adjusting member with the movable operation unit and the air flow direction adjusting member with no movable operation unit, and these air flow direction adjusting members have different structures, manufacturing and assembly processes are complex, and an increased burden is placed on managing components. In the assembly process, for example, it is necessary to determine the part to which a selected one of the air flow direction adjusting members is to be attached. Consequently, the manufacturing process is complicated. 
     The present invention has been made in view of problems as described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air flow direction adjusting device of an air-conditioning apparatus including commonalizes air flow direction adjusting members so that a manufacturing process and an assembly process are simplified and the burden placed on managing components is reduced. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An air flow direction adjusting device of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes: a base member including a plurality of attachment shafts projecting from an air passage surface forming an air passage of the air-conditioning apparatus; a plurality of air flow direction adjusting members individually attached to the attachment shafts such that the plurality of air flow direction adjusting members are allowed to rotate; and a link plate configured to connect the plurality of air flow direction adjusting members to one another such that the plurality of air flow direction adjusting members rotate in an interlocked manner, wherein at least one of the plurality of air flow direction adjusting members includes a rotation shaft attachment portion attached to the corresponding one of the attachment shafts, a link plate engagement portion engaged with the link plate, and an operation member attachment portion to which a manual operation member for manually adjusting orientation of the air flow direction adjusting members is attached, and the manual operation member is not attached to at least one of the plurality of air flow direction adjusting members. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     Since the air flow direction adjusting device of the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention includes commonalized the air flow direction adjusting members, the manufacturing processes and the assembly process are simplified and the load of managing the components is reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a vertical cross section of the indoor unit illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view illustrating part of an air flow direction adjusting device shown in  FIG. 2  in an enlarged manner. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating the air flow direction adjusting member shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating a manual operation member shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a process of attaching the air flow direction adjusting members to a base member shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a process of attaching a link plate to the air flow direction adjusting members attached to the base member shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a process of attaching the manual operation member to the air flow direction adjusting member to which the link plate shown in  FIG. 7  is attached. 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates part of the air flow direction adjusting device assembled through the processes shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 . 
         FIG. 10  schematically illustrates the entire air flow direction adjusting device shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  schematically illustrates a center blowoff state of the air flow direction adjusting device. 
         FIG. 12  schematically illustrates a right blowoff state of the air flow direction adjusting device. 
         FIG. 13  schematically illustrates part of an air flow direction adjusting device according to Embodiment 2. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements, and description thereof is not repeated or is simplified. The dimensions and locations of components illustrated in the drawings can be appropriately modified within the scope of the invention. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an indoor unit  100  of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a vertical cross section of the indoor unit  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The indoor unit  100  of Embodiment 1 is installed on, for example, the wall of a room in order to cool or heat the inside of the room. 
     The indoor unit  100  includes a front casing  1  and a rear casing  3 . The rear casing  3  is attached to an installation member (not shown) fixed to the wall, a pole, or the like, and supports the entire indoor unit  100 . The front casing  1  is attached to the rear casing  3 , and a front design panel  2  is attached to the front surface of the front casing  1  so as to cover the front surface of the indoor unit  100  such that the front design panel  2  can be freely opened and closed. The front design panel  2  is attached to the front casing  1  such that the front design panel  2  can freely rotate. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in the indoor unit  100 , a filter  6 , a heat exchanger  7 , a fan  8 , and a drain pan  10 , for example, are housed in an internal space covered with the front casing  1  and the rear casing  3 . The fan  8  draws in air from the room through an air inlet  1 A formed in an upper portion of the front casing  1 , and blows out air into the room through an air outlet  4  formed in a lower portion of the front surface of the front casing  1 . 
     The filter  6  is disposed between the air inlet  1 A and the heat exchanger  7  and is used to remove dust or the like contained in air drawn in through the air inlet  1 A. The heat exchanger  7  is disposed between the air inlet  1 A and the air outlet  4  and performs heat exchange with air drawn in the air inlet  1 A. Air subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger  7  blows out from the air outlet  4 . The drain pan  10  is disposed below the heat exchanger  7  near the front design panel  2  of the heat exchanger  7 , for example, and is used to receive condensed water dripping from the heat exchanger  7 . 
     At the rear of the rear casing  3 , a storage space  3 A is disposed outside the indoor unit  100 . In the storage space  3 A, a heat insulator  12  is disposed inside the indoor unit  100 , and a drain hose  13 , a pipe  14 , and a power cord (not shown), for example, are disposed between the storage space  3 A and the inside of the indoor unit  100  with a heat insulator  12  interposed therebetween. 
     At the air outlet  4 , a vertical air flow direction adjusting device  5  for adjusting the direction of air flow vertically and an air flow direction adjusting device  50  for adjusting the direction of air flow laterally are disposed. A protective cover  30  is disposed over the front surface of the air flow direction adjusting device  50  such that it does not inhibit rotation of air flow direction adjusting members  9  of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the air flow direction adjusting device  50  of Embodiment 1 includes an air flow direction adjusting device  50 A on the left of the inside of the air outlet  4  and an air flow direction adjusting device  50 B on the right of the inside of the air outlet  4 . Each of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A and the air flow direction adjusting device  50 B includes a manual operation member  20  housed in a housing  22 . A user operates the manual operation member  20 , causes the air flow direction adjusting members  9  to rotate, and adjusts the direction of air blowing from the air outlet  4 . The air flow direction adjusting device  50 A and the air flow direction adjusting device  50 B have similar configurations, and thus, the following description is directed only at the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A, and detailed description of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 B is omitted. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view illustrating part of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A shown in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A includes a base member  15 , air flow direction adjusting members  9 , a link plate  16 , and a manual operation member  20 . The base member  15  is located below the drain pan  10 . The base member  15  is composed of, for example, components different from the front casing  1  and the drain pan  10 , and is fixed to the front casing  1  or the drain pan  10 . The base member  15  may be integrated with the front casing  1  or the drain pan  10 . 
     The air flow direction adjusting members  9  (see  FIG. 10 ) are attached to the base member  15  such that the air flow direction adjusting members  9  can freely rotate. Orientation of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  can be adjusted by operating the manual operation member  20  attached to the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the housing  22  includes a recess that provides a clearance for attachment of the manual operating member  20  to an air flow direction adjusting member  9 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating the air flow direction adjusting member  9  shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating a manual operation member  20  shown in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the air flow direction adjusting member  9  includes a rotation shaft attachment portion  91 , a link plate engagement portion  92 , an operation member attachment portion  93 , a first base  94 , a second base  95 , and a plate  96 , which are integrated as a single unit by using, for example, a synthetic resin. The air flow direction adjusting members  9  may be made of different materials and connected to one another. 
     An attachment hole  91 A is formed in the rotation shaft attachment portion  91 . The first base  94  includes a first guide flat plane  94 A intersecting the rotation axis of the rotation shaft attachment portion  91 , and the second base  95  includes a second guide flat plane  95 A facing the first guide flat plane  94 A. The air flow direction adjusting member  9  has a notch  97  on its outer rim. The link plate engagement portion  92  has a cylindrical portion  92 A projecting from the first guide flat plane  94 A toward the notch  97  and a conical portion  92 B located at a tip of the cylindrical portion  92 A and having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion  92 A. The operation member attachment portion  93  is formed between the first guide flat plane  94 A and the second guide flat plane  95 A. The operation member attachment portion  93  includes a cutout vertical edge  93 A of the notch  97 . The width (thickness) of the operation member attachment portion  93  gradually increases from a midpoint thereof toward the cutout vertical edge  93 A. 
     The manual operation member  20  has a handle  201  at one end and a clip  203  at the other end. The handle  201  and the clip  203  are connected to each other at a coupling portion  202  such that the handle  201  and the clip  203  are disposed at different locations with regard to height direction (i.e., vertical direction in  FIG. 5 ) and width (lateral direction in  FIG. 5 ). The manual operation member  20  is formed as a single unit by using a synthetic resin, for example. 
     The clip  203  holds the operation member attachment portion  93  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The clip  203  is guided by the first guide flat plane  94 A of the first base  94  and the second guide flat plane  95 A facing the first guide flat plane  94 A and is attached to the operation member attachment portion  93 . Once the manual operation member  20  is attached to the air flow direction adjusting member  9 , the clip  203  of the manual operation member  20  is supported by the first guide flat plane  94 A and the second guide flat plane  95 A. The clip  203  includes, at an end thereof, a nail  203 A to be engaged with the cutout vertical edge  93 A illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 to 9 , an example of an assembly process of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A is described.  FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a process of attaching the air flow direction adjusting members  9  to the base member  15  shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a process of attaching the link plate  16  to the air flow direction adjusting members  9  attached to the base member  15  shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a process of attaching the manual operation member  20  to the air flow direction adjusting member  9  to which the link plate  16  shown in  FIG. 7  is attached.  FIG. 9  schematically illustrates part of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A assembled through the processes shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 .  FIG. 10  schematically illustrates the entire air flow direction adjusting device  50 A shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     First, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the air flow direction adjusting members  9  are individually attached to the attachment shafts  19  projecting from the base member  15  toward the air passage. Specifically, the attachment shafts  19  are inserted into the attachment holes  91 A (see  FIG. 4 ) of the rotation shaft attachment portion  91 , and the air flow direction adjusting members  9  are attached to the attachment shafts  19 . 
     Next, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the link plate  16  is attached to the air flow direction adjusting members  9  attached to the attachment shafts  19 . Specifically, the link plate engagement portions  92  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  are engaged with projection engaging holes  17  in the link plate  16 . 
     The link plate  16  is a plate-like member used to connect the multiple air flow direction adjusting members  9  such that the air flow direction adjusting members  9  can rotate in an interlocked manner. The projection engaging holes  17  are arranged in the link plate  16  at the same interval as the attachment shafts  19 . Slits are formed at both sides in the longitudinal direction of the link plate  16  of the projection engaging holes  17  so as to facilitate press fitting of the link plate engagement portion  92  into the projection engaging holes  17 . The link plate  16  also includes rotation regulating projections  24 A and  24 B projecting outward from the outer edges of the link plate  16 . Once the link plate  16  is attached to the air flow direction adjusting members  9 , the rotation regulating projection  24 A located to the side of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  projects toward the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . The link plate  16  may be attached to the air flow direction adjusting members  9  such that the rotation regulating projection  24 B located to the side of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  projects toward the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . The rotation regulating projection  24 A is disposed to the side of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  to which the manual operation member  20  is not attached. 
     The inner diameter of the projection engaging holes  17  is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion  92 A of the link plate engagement portion  92  illustrated in  FIG. 4  and is smaller than the outer diameter of the bottom surface of the conical portion  92 B of each of the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . Thus, when the cylindrical portions  92 A of the link plate engagement portions  92  are press fitted into the projection engaging holes  17 , the bottom surfaces of the conical portions  92 B are locked at the perimeters of the projection engaging holes  17 , and thus, the link plate engagement portions  92  are not detached from the projection engaging holes  17 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the manual operation member  20  is attached to the air flow direction adjusting members  9  connected to one another by the link plate  16 . The clip  203  of the manual operation member  20  is housed in the housing  22  formed as a recess, and the manual operation member  20  is attached only to one of the air flow direction adjusting member  9  at the location corresponding to the housing  22 . Portions of the base member  15 , except a portion where the housing  22  is formed, serve as attachment-inhibiting portions  22 A that inhibit attachment of the manual operation member  20 . Specifically, at locations corresponding to the air flow direction adjusting members  9  to which the manual operation member  20  is not attached, the attachment-inhibiting portions  22 A inhibit attachment of the manual operation member  20 . A projecting attachment-inhibiting portion may be provided in the housing formed as a flat plane. 
     As described above, the base member  15 , the air flow direction adjusting members  9 , the link plate  16 , and the manual operation member  20  are assembled to form the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . Lateral operation of the manual operation member  20  causes the air flow direction adjusting member  9  to which the manual operation member  20  is attached and the air flow direction adjusting members  9  connected to one another by the link plate  16  to rotate in an interlocked manner. 
     An example of operation of the manual operation member  20  is described.  FIG. 11  schematically illustrates a center blowoff state of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A.  FIG. 12  schematically illustrates a right blowoff state of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A. 
     In the center blowoff state of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a user operates the manual operation member  20  to the right so that the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A is adjusted to the right blowoff state, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In the center blowoff state illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a gap is formed between the air flow direction adjusting members  9  and the rotation regulating projection  24 A, and the direction of air flow can be laterally adjusted. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , when a lateral blowoff angle (a right blowoff angle) reaches its rotation limit amount, the rotation regulating projection  24 A comes into contact with the cutout vertical edges  93 A of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  so that clockwise rotation of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  is restricted. The rotation regulating projection  24 A is formed at the left of at least one of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  so that counterclockwise rotation of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  is restricted. 
     As described above, in the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A of Embodiment 1, the air flow direction adjusting members  9  are commonalized. Thus, the manufacturing process and the assembly process are simplified, and the burden placed on managing components is reduced. 
     In addition, in Embodiment 1, the manual operation member  20  is attached to the air flow direction adjusting member  9  while being housed in the housing  22 . Thus, the attachment location of the manual operation member  20  is clearly determined. Further, at locations corresponding to the air flow direction adjusting members  9  to which the manual operation member  20  is not attached, the attachment-inhibiting portions  22 A inhibit attachment of the manual operation member  20 , thereby ensuring attachment of the manual operation member  20  to a desired location. 
     Moreover, in Embodiment 1, the link plate engagement portions  92  to which the link plate  16  is to be engaged are provided at the inner side of the notches  97  formed in the air flow direction adjusting members  9 , and the link plate  16  is disposed at the inner side of the notches  97 . The cutout vertical edge  93 A of the operation member attachment portion  93  to which the manual operation member  20  is fixed is formed at the inner side of the notch  97 . At the inner side of the notch  97 , a mechanism composed of the cutout vertical edge  93 A and the rotation regulating projection  24 A on the link plate  16  and defining the rotation limit amount of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  is provided. In this manner, in Embodiment 1, the above-described configuration is obtained by using the notches  97  formed in the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . Thus, the limited space of air passage of the indoor unit  100  can be efficiently utilized. 
     Embodiment 1 is not limited to the examples described above. For example, in the foregoing description, the link plate  16  is attached to the air flow direction adjusting members  9  and then the manual operation member  20  is attached to one of the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . Alternatively, the air flow direction adjusting member  9  to which the manual operation member  20  is attached may be attached to the base member  15  before attachment of the link plate  16 . 
     In the foregoing description, two air flow direction adjusting devices  50  ( 50 A and  50 B) are disposed at the air outlet  4  of the indoor unit  100 . Alternatively, one or three or more air flow direction adjusting devices  50  may be provided. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Embodiment 1 provides an example in which the manual operation member  20  attached to the air flow direction adjusting member  9  is operated so as to rotate the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . Compared with Embodiment 1, in an air flow direction adjusting device  50 C according to Embodiment 2, no manual operation member  20  is provided, and air flow direction adjusting members  9  connected to one another by a link plate  16  automatically rotate by means of a driving mechanism (driving means)  40 . In the foregoing description, description of components already described in Embodiment 1 is not repeated. 
       FIG. 13  schematically illustrates part of the air flow direction adjusting device  50 C of Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 2, the driving mechanism  40 , not shown, is connected in the longitudinal direction to at least one end of a link plate  16 A. The driving mechanism  40  adjusts orientation of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  attached to the link plate  16 A by moving the link plate  16 A in a substantially longitudinal direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the link plate  16 A of Embodiment 2 includes an attachment inhibiting projection  26  located at a position corresponding to a housing  22  and projecting toward the air flow direction adjusting members  9 . The attachment inhibiting projection  26  inhibits attachment of a manual operation member  20 . When the manual operation member  20  is to be attached to the air flow direction adjusting member  9  while being housed in the housing  22 , an end of a clip  203  of the manual operation member  20  comes into contact with the attachment inhibiting projection  26  so that attachment of the manual operation member  20  to the air flow direction adjusting member  9  is inhibited. 
     As described above, in Embodiment 2, the automatic air flow direction adjusting device  50 C can be obtained only by replacing the link plate  16  of Embodiment 1 with the link plate  16 A. Thus, the components can be commonalized between the automatic air flow direction adjusting device and the manual air flow direction adjusting device. 
     The present invention is not limited to Embodiments described above and can be variously modified within the scope of the invention. Specifically, the configuration of Embodiments may be appropriately modified, and at least part of the configurations may be replaced by other configurations. In addition, components whose locations are not specifically described are not limited to the locations described in Embodiments, and may be disposed at any location at which the functions thereof are obtained. 
     For example, the air flow direction adjusting device  50 A of Embodiment 1 may include driving means for automatically rotating the air flow direction adjusting members  9  in addition to the manual operation member  20 . That is, in this case, the driving means is connected to the link plate of Embodiment 1, and the driving means adjusts orientation of the air flow direction adjusting members  9  attached to the link plate by moving the link plate. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1 : front casing,  1 A: air inlet,  2 : front design panel,  3 : rear casing,  3 A: storage space,  4 : air outlet,  5 : vertical air flow direction adjusting device,  6 : filter,  7 : heat exchanger,  8 : fan,  9 : air flow direction adjusting member,  10 : drain pan,  12 : heat insulator,  13 : drain hose,  14 : pipe,  15 : base member,  16 : link plate,  16 A: link plate,  17 : projection engaging hole,  19 : attachment shaft,  20 : manual operation member,  22 : housing,  22 A: attachment-inhibiting portion,  24 A: rotation regulating projection,  24 B: rotation regulating projection,  26 : attachment inhibiting projection,  30 : protective cover,  40 : driving mechanism,  50 : air flow direction adjusting device,  50 A: air flow direction adjusting device,  50 B: air flow direction adjusting device,  50 C: air flow direction adjusting device,  91 : rotation shaft attachment portion,  91 A: attachment hole,  92 : link plate engagement portion,  92 A: cylindrical portion,  92 B: conical portion,  93 : operation member attachment portion,  93 A: cutout vertical edge,  94 : first base,  94 A: first guide flat plane,  95 : second base,  95 A: second guide flat plane,  96 : plate,  97 : notch,  100 : indoor unit,  201 : handle,  202 : coupling portion,  203 : clip,  203 A: nail