Patent Publication Number: US-11029058-B2

Title: Air conditioner

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. national stage application of International Application PCT/JP2016/063257, filed on Apr. 27, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an air conditioner. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As a conventional example of the air conditioner, a ceiling-embedded-type air conditioner is used. The ceiling-embedded-type air conditioner has an air outlet along the peripheral edge of a front panel. In the air outlet, an up-down deflector is disposed. The up-down deflector allows air with adjusted temperature and humidity to be discharged in the direction orthogonal to the peripheral edge of the front panel. The air, however, is not discharged in the left-right direction of the air outlet disposed along the peripheral edge of the front panel, possibly resulting in uneven temperature and thus reduced comfort in a space to be air-conditioned. 
     In this regard, a conventional ceiling-embedded-type air conditioner is disclosed for example in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-280684 (PTL 1). This air conditioner has left-right deflectors on an up-down deflector disposed in an air outlet. The up-down deflector and the left-right deflectors allow air to be discharged into a space not only in the orthogonal direction but also in the left-right direction so as to eliminate uneven temperature. 
     PATENT LITERATURE 
     
         
         PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-280684 
       
    
     For the air conditioner disclosed in the above-referenced publication, it is necessary to have an adequate space between an end of the left-right deflector and a wall surface of an outlet air path so as not to cause contact, while the up-down deflector is rotated in the up-down direction, between the wall surface of the outlet air path and the left-right deflector disposed on the up-down deflector. A resultant problem is leakage of airflow through the space between the end of the left-right deflector and the wall surface of the outlet air path. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention has been made in view of the problem above, and an object of the invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of suppressing leakage of airflow. 
     An air conditioner of the present invention has a casing and a wind direction changing device. The casing has an air inlet, an air outlet, a first flow path wall, and a second flow path wall. The air outlet has a first side and a second side. The second side extends along the first side and is located closer to the air inlet than the first side. The wind direction changing device is disposed between the first flow path wall and the second flow path wall of the casing. The wind direction changing device has a shaft and a deflector. The shaft extends in a direction along the second side. The deflector is connected to the shaft and configured to rotate about the shaft. The deflector extends from the shaft toward the first flow path wall. The deflector has a first end which faces the first flow path wall and has a first arc shape. 
     Regarding the air conditioner of the present invention, the first end facing the first flow path wall has the first arc shape. Therefore, while the deflector is rotated about the center, the space between the first flow path wall and the first end can be kept constant. Accordingly, leakage of airflow from the space between the first flow path wall and the first end can be suppressed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing an air conditioner in a first embodiment of the present invention in a state of being installed in a ceiling. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along line II-II in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view schematically showing a peripheral configuration of a wind direction changing device of the air conditioner in the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a portion P 1  in  FIG. 2  in an enlarged form. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing a portion, which corresponds to the portion in  FIG. 4 , of an air conditioner in a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing a portion, which corresponds to the portion in  FIG. 4 , of an air conditioner in a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing a portion, which corresponds to the portion in  FIG. 4 , of an air conditioner in a first modification of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing a portion, which corresponds to the portion in  FIG. 4 , of an air conditioner in a second modification of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing a portion, which corresponds to the portion in  FIG. 4 , of an air conditioner in a third modification of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing a portion, which corresponds to the portion in  FIG. 4 , of an air conditioner in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram showing a portion, which corresponds to the portion in  FIG. 4 , of an air conditioner in a modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner in a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described below based on the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference characters denote the same or corresponding parts. 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a configuration of an air conditioner  1  in a first embodiment of the present invention is described. Air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment is an indoor unit of a so-called packaged air conditioner. Air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment is an indoor unit of a so-called ceiling-embedded-type air conditioner. 
       FIG. 1  shows, from below, air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment, in the state of being installed in a ceiling  5 .  FIG. 2  laterally shows an internal structure of air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment.  FIG. 2  illustrates a condition that most of a case  3  of air conditioner  1  is embedded in the back side of ceiling  5  (the side opposite to a room), and a lower portion of case  3  faces the inside of the room. For the sake of visibility, the cross section is not hatched with oblique lines in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  shows, from the front side, an internal structure of a peripheral region of a wind direction changing device  10  in the first embodiment.  FIG. 4  shows a vertical cross section of one air outlet  9  and its peripheral region in the air conditioner in the first embodiment. In  FIG. 4 , the cross section except for ceiling  5  is not hatched with oblique lines. The same applies to  FIGS. 5 to 11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , air conditioner  1  in the present embodiment mainly includes a casing  2 , a wind direction changing device  10 , a centrifugal fan  17 , a heat exchanger  19 , a filter  23 , a fan motor  25 , and a bell mouth  27 . Casing  2  has a case  3  and a panel  21 . Casing  2  has at least one air inlet  7  and at least one air outlet  9 . At least one air inlet  7  and at least one air outlet  9  are disposed in a lower portion of casing  2 . Air conditioner  1  in the present embodiment has, by way of example, one air inlet  7  and four air outlets  9  in the lower portion of casing  2 . Air outlets  9  are each formed in a rectangular shape as seen in plan view. Air outlet  9  has a first side  9   a  and a second side  9   b . First side  9   a  extends along one side of air inlet  7 . Second side  9   b  extends along first side  9   a . Second side  9   b  is disposed in parallel with first side  9   a . Second side  9   b  is located closer to air inlet  7  than first side  9   a  is. 
     Further, case  3  has a wall  15  defining an outlet air path  14  having air outlet  9  as its outlet. In air outlet  9 , wind direction changing device  10  is disposed. Wind direction changing device  10  has an up-down deflector  41  distributing airflow from air outlet  9  in the up-down direction, and a left-right deflector  42  distributing airflow from air outlet  9  in the left-right direction. 
     Case  3  contains centrifugal fan  17  functioning as a blower which generates a flow of air taken from air inlet  7  into case  3  and discharged from air outlet  9  into a space to be air-conditioned (room), and a heat exchanger  19  disposed in such an air flow path. 
     By way of example, case  3  in the first embodiment has a top plate  3   a  in a rectangular shape as seen in plan view, and four side plates  3   b  extending downward from the four sides of top plate  3   a . In other words, case  3  is a box in the shape of a rectangular shell formed of four side plates  3   b  and top plate  3   a  closing the top face of the rectangular shell. At the bottom of case  3 , i.e., an open bottom face of the box, a panel  21  is attached detachably to case  3 . Panel  21  is a design panel (decorative panel). 
     A grill-type panel air inlet  21   b  is disposed in a substantially central region of panel  21 . A filter  23  removing dust from air passing through a grill portion of panel air inlet  21   b  is disposed downstream (at the top) of panel air inlet  21   b . By way of example, each of panel  21  and panel air inlet  21   b  in the first embodiment has an outer edge in a rectangular shape as seen in plan view. 
     In the region between the outer edge of panel  21  and the outer edge of panel air inlet  21   b , four panel air outlets  21   a  are disposed. In the first embodiment, as each of panel  21  and panel air inlet  21   b  has edges along the four sides, four panel air outlets  21   a  are disposed. Each of four panel air outlets  21   a  is arranged along a corresponding side of panel  21  and panel air inlet  21   b , except for the corners of panel  21 . Four panel air outlets  21   a  are located to surround panel air inlet  21   b.    
     In the first embodiment, panel air inlet  21   b  is aforementioned air inlet  7 , and four panel air outlets  21   a  are aforementioned four air outlets  9 . Panel air outlet  21   a  (air outlet  9 ) and outlet air path  14  extend along a corresponding side of panel  21  and panel air inlet  21   b , except for the corners of panel  21 . The direction in which they extend is defined herein as longitudinal direction and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is defined herein as lateral direction, as seen in plan view. By way of example, regarding panel air outlets  21   a  (air outlet  9 ) and outlet air paths  14  shown in  FIG. 2 , the left-right direction of the drawing in  FIG. 2  is the lateral direction and the direction of the depth extending backward from the drawing in  FIG. 2  is the longitudinal direction. 
     In a central region within case  3 , fan motor  25  is disposed. Fan motor  25  is supported on the lower surface of top plate  3   a  of case  3  (on the inner space side of case  3 ). Centrifugal fan  17  is attached to a rotation shaft, which extends downward, of fan motor  25 . Further, between centrifugal fan  17  and filter  23 , bell mouth  27  is disposed to form an air inlet flow path extending from panel air inlet  21   b  toward centrifugal fan  17 . Centrifugal fan  17  sucks air from panel air inlet  21   b  into case  3 , and discharges the air from panel air outlet  21   a  into the room which is a space to be air-conditioned. 
     Heat exchanger  19  is disposed radially outward of centrifugal fan  17 . In other words, heat exchanger  19  is disposed in an air flow path generated in case  3  by centrifugal fan  17  to exchange heat between air and refrigerant. 
     Heat exchanger  19  has a plurality of fins arranged at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction, and a heat transfer tube extending through these fins. The heat transfer tube is connected to a well-known outdoor unit (not shown) by a connection tube. Thus, cooled refrigerant or heated refrigerant is supplied to heat exchanger  19 . The configuration and/or the form of centrifugal fan  17 , bell mouth  27 , and heat exchanger  19  is not particularly limited, and those used for the first embodiment are well-known ones. 
     In such a configuration, rotation of centrifugal fan  17  causes indoor air to be sucked into panel air inlet  21   b  (air inlet  7 ) of panel  21 . The air from which dust is removed by filter  23  is guided by bell mouth  27  to be sucked into centrifugal fan  17 . The air sucked upward into centrifugal fan  17  is discharged horizontally and radially outward. While the discharged air is passed through heat exchanger  19 , heat is exchanged with the air and the humidity of the air is adjusted. After this, the direction of flow of the air is changed to the downward direction and the air is discharged from each of four panel air outlets  21   a  (air outlets  9 ) into the room. 
     Next, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a peripheral configuration of panel air outlet  21   a  is described in detail. 
     Wall  15  defining outlet air path  14  with its outlet located at air outlet  9  has an inner air path wall  15   a  and an outer air path wall  15   b . Namely, case  3  of casing  2  has inner air path wall  15   a  and outer air path wall  15   b . In the present embodiment, outer air path wall  15   b  is a first flow path wall, and inner air path wall  15   a  is a second flow path wall. Outer air path wall  15   b  is connected to first side  9   a  of air outlet  9 . Inner air path wall  15   a  is connected to second side  9   b  of air outlet  9 . 
     Inner air path wall  15   a  faces outer air path wall  15   b  with air outlet  9  located therebetween. Inner air path wall  15   a  is located on the inner side of wall  15  and outer air path wall  15   b  is located on the outer side of wall  15 . Specifically, inner air path wall  15   a  is located on the heat exchanger  19  side. Outer air path wall  15   b  is located on the panel  21 &#39;s peripheral edge side. Namely, inner air path wall  15   a  is disposed on air inlet  7  side located at a center. Outer air path wall  15   b  is disposed opposite to air inlet  7  with respect to inner air path wall  15   a.    
     Wind direction changing device  10  is disposed between inner air path wall  15   a  and outer air path wall  15   b . Wind direction changing device  10  mainly has an up-down rotation shaft (shaft)  41   a  and a deflector  40 . Up-down rotation shaft  41   a  extends in the direction along second side  9   b  of air outlet  9 . Up-down rotation shaft  41   a  extends in a direction crossing the direction in which inner air path wall  15   a  is opposite to outer air path wall  15   b . In other words, up-down rotation shaft  41   a  extends in the longitudinal direction of air outlet  9 . 
     Deflector  40  is connected to up-down rotation shaft  41   a  and rotates about up-down rotation shaft (shaft)  41   a . Deflector  40  extends from up-down rotation shaft  41   a  toward outer air path wall  15   b . Deflector  40  has an up-down deflector  41  and a left-right deflector  42 . Up-down deflector  41  is configured to distribute airflow from air outlet  9  in the up-down direction. Left-right deflector  42  is disposed on up-down deflector  41 . Left-right deflector  42  is configured to distribute airflow from air outlet  9  in the left-right direction (direction of the rotation shaft of up-down deflector  41 ). 
     Left-right deflector  42  has an up-down deflector-side end  42   b  facing up-down deflector  41 , and an outer air path wall-side end (first end)  42   c  facing outer air path wall  15   b . Namely, left-right deflector  42  has outer air path wall-side end  42   c  located opposite to up-down deflector  41 . 
     Outer air path wall-side end  42   c  has a curved shape bulging toward outer air path wall  15   b  as seen from up-down rotation shaft  41   a . In the present embodiment, the curved shape is an arc shape (first arc shape). 
     The center of up-down rotation shaft (shaft)  41   a  coincides with the center of curvature of the first arc shape of outer air path wall-side end  42   c . Therefore, the distance between the center of up-down rotation shaft  41   a  and the outer peripheral end of the first arc shape of outer air path wall-side end  42   c  is constant. Thus, because the curved shape of outer air path wall-side end  42   c  is an arc shape centered at up-down rotation shaft  41   a , the space between outer air path wall-side end  42   c  and outer air path wall  15   b  keeps a constant distance therebetween, regardless of the position to which up-down deflector  41  is driven in the range of wind direction control in the up-down direction. 
     The constant distance herein includes not only an exactly constant distance but also a substantially constant distance. In other words, this constant distance may be any of distances falling within a range that produces an equivalent effect on suppressing leakage of airflow. The shortest distance between outer air path wall-side end  42   c  and outer air path wall  15   b  as seen from up-down rotation shaft  41   a  is preferably 10% or less of the distance between up-down deflector  41  and outer air path wall  15   b.    
     Deflector  40  has at least one up-down deflector  41  and at least one left-right deflector  42 . In the present embodiment, wind direction changing device  10  has one up-down deflector  41  and a plurality of left-right deflectors  42 . A plurality of left-right deflectors  42  are arranged in parallel with each other. 
     Up-down rotation shaft  41   a  and a deflector side plate  41   b  are connected to up-down deflector  41 . Up-down rotation shaft  41   a  and deflector side plate  41   b  are disposed at each of the opposite ends, in the lateral direction, of up-down deflector  41 . Up-down rotation shaft  41   a  supports up-down deflector  41  in such a manner that enables up-down deflector  41  to rotate in the up-down direction. Deflector side plate  41   b  connects up-down rotation shaft  41   a  to up-down deflector  41 . Up-down rotation shaft  41   a  is rotatably connected to an up-down driving motor  43 . Up-down driving motor  43  is fixed to panel  21 . Driving power of up-down driving motor  43  rotates up-down rotation shaft  41   a  in the up-down direction to cause up-down deflector  41  to rotate in the up-down direction about up-down rotation shaft  41   a.    
     Each of a plurality of left-right deflectors  42  has a left-right rotation shaft  42   a . Left-right rotation shaft  42   a  is supported on up-down deflector  41  in such a manner that enables left-right deflector  42  to rotate in the left-right direction. These left-right deflectors  42  are each connected to a coupling plate  45 . Coupling plate  45  extends through respective rear ends of these left-right deflectors  42 . These left-right deflectors  42  are each connected to a left-right deflector motor  44  through coupling plate  45  and a driving mechanism Left-right deflector motor  44  is fixed to wind direction changing device  10 . Driving power of left-right deflector motor  44  moves coupling plate  45  in the left-right direction and thereby rotates left-right deflector  42  in the left-right direction about left-right rotation shaft  42   a . Coupling plate  45  may be a single coupling plate  45  driving all the left-right deflectors  42 . Alternatively, coupling plate  45  may divided, at the center in the left-right direction, into two coupling plates  45  each driving left-right deflector  42 . 
     Next, functions and effects of air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment are described. 
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment, outer air path wall-side end (first end)  42   c  facing outer air path wall (first flow path wall)  15   b  has a first arc shape. It is therefore possible, while deflector  40  is rotating about up-down rotation shaft  41   a , to keep constant the space between outer air path wall  15   b  and outer air path wall-side end  42   c . Accordingly, leakage of airflow from the space between outer air path wall  15   b  and outer air path wall-side end  42   c  can be suppressed. 
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment, the center of up-down rotation shaft (shaft)  41   a  coincides with the center of curvature of the first arc shape of outer air path wall-side end  42   c . Therefore, the distance between the center of up-down rotation shaft  41   a  and the outer end of the first arc shape of outer air path wall-side end  42   c  can be made constant. Accordingly, while deflector  40  is rotating about up-down rotation shaft  41   a , the space between outer air path wall  15   b  and outer air path wall-side end  42   c  can be kept constant. 
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the first embodiment, left-right deflector  42  disposed on up-down deflector  41  has outer air path wall-side end (first end)  42   c  located opposite to up-down deflector  41 . Thus, left-right deflectors  42  partition the air path between up-down deflector  41  and outer air path wall  15   b  in the left-right direction (the direction of the rotation shaft of up-down deflector  41 ). Leakage of airflow from the space between outer air path wall  15   b  and outer air path wall-side end  42   c  of left-right deflector  42  can be suppressed, and therefore, reduction of the force exerted in the left-right direction on the air can be suppressed. Accordingly, the outgoing airflow can be distributed in the left-right direction across a sufficient range. Uneven temperature in a space to be air-conditioned can therefore be suppressed. Further, because air can be moved in the left-right direction so as not to impinge directly against a user, discomfort due to the impinging air can be alleviated. Improved comfort can be achieved in this way. 
     Moreover, because separation of airflow due to leakage of airflow from left-right deflector  42  can be suppressed, loss is suppressed and accordingly reduction of efficiency can be suppressed. In the case of the ceiling-embedded-type air conditioner, because the air outlet and the air inlet are close to each other, hot and moist indoor air flowing toward the air inlet during a cooling operation is likely to be cooled at the air outlet, resulting in condensation. It is possible, because airflow separation is suppressed, to prevent hot and moist indoor air from being drawn into a vortex of separated air and thereby prevent resultant condensation. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 5 , an air conditioner in a second embodiment of the present invention is described. The second embodiment is similar to the above-described first embodiment except for the below-described features or limitations.  FIG. 5  is a diagram similar to  FIG. 4  relating to the first embodiment. 
     In the second embodiment, outer air path wall  15   b  has a curved outer air path wall surface  15   c  at a position where outer air path wall  15   b  faces left-right deflector  42 . Specifically, curved outer air path wall surface (first flow path wall)  15   c  has an arc shape (second arc shape) which is depressed along a circle of curvature centered at up-down rotation shaft  41   a.    
     Curved outer air path wall surface  15   c  is a cylindrical surface concentric with the arc of outer air path wall-side end  42   c  of left-right deflector  42 . Specifically, the arc shape (second arc shape) of curved outer air path wall surface  15   c  is located concentrically with the arc shape (first arc shape) of outer air path wall-side end  42   c . The “concentric” condition herein includes not only an exactly concentric condition but also a substantially concentric condition. In other words, this concentric condition may be any of concentric conditions within a range that forms a space producing an equivalent effect on suppressing leakage of airflow. 
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the second embodiment, curved outer air path wall surface (first flow path wall)  15   c  has an arc shape (second arc shape) which is depressed along a circle of curvature centered at up-down rotation shaft  41   a , and the arc shape (second arc shape) of curved outer air path wall surface  15   c  is located concentrically with the arc shape (first arc shape) of outer air path wall-side end  42   c . Therefore, the space between curved outer air path wall surface  15   c  and outer air path wall-side end  42   c  can be kept constant. It is therefore possible to increase the range in which the space between outer air path wall  15   b  and outer air path wall-side end  42   c  is kept constant. Accordingly, leakage of airflow can be suppressed more effectively. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, referring to  FIGS. 6 to 9 , a third embodiment of the present invention is described. The third embodiment is similar to the above-described first or second embodiment except for the below-described features or limitations.  FIGS. 6 to 9  are each a diagram similar to  FIG. 4  relating to the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in the third embodiment, deflector  40  extends from up-down rotation shaft  41   a  toward inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a . Deflector  40  has an inner air path wall-side surface (second end)  41   c  facing inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a . Inner air path wall-side surface (second end)  41   c  has an arc shape (third arc shape). 
     Specifically, at least a part of up-down deflector  41  is in proximity to inner air path wall  15   a , constantly keeping a predetermined distance to inner air path wall  15   a . Inner air path wall-side surface  41   c  of up-down deflector  41  has a curved surface bulging toward inner air path wall  15   a  as seen from up-down rotation shaft  41   a . This curved surface is a cylindrical surface centered at up-down rotation shaft  41   a . Thus, regardless of the orientation of up-down deflector  41 , at least a part of this curved surface is in proximity to inner air path wall  15   a , constantly keeping a predetermined distance to inner air path wall  15   a.    
     Inner air path wall  15   a  facing up-down deflector  41  is preferably a cylindrical surface concentric with the cylindrical surface of inner air path wall-side surface  41   c  of up-down deflector  41 . An outlet air path-side surface  41   h  of up-down deflector  41  is a flat surface or a curved surface depressed toward the air path. As up-down deflector  41  is rotated in the up-down direction to the position at the closest proximity to the outer air path wall, air outlet  9  is entirely closed. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 7 , a first modification of the third embodiment is described. According to the first modification of the third embodiment, up-down deflector  41  may be formed of a follow member having a predetermined thickness. Specifically, up-down deflector  41  is formed of a hollow member having an outer wall  41   k  and an internal space enclosed by outer wall  41   k.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , at least one of respective surfaces facing each other of up-down deflector  41  and inner air path wall  15   a  may have a groove  41   i  extending in the direction of up-down rotation shaft  41   a . More than one groove  41   i  may be provided. Groove  41   i  can promote formation of turbulent by airflow passing in the space between up-down deflector  41  and inner air path wall  15   a . Thus, the resistance can be increased to reduce airflow passing through this space. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , according to a second modification of the present embodiment, inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a  has a groove (first groove)  41   i   1  depressed in the opposite direction to wind direction changing device  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , according to a third modification of the present embodiment, up-down deflector  41  of deflector  40  has a groove (second groove)  41   i   2  depressed in the opposite direction to inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a . Grooves  41   i  in both inner air path wall  15   a  and up-down deflector  41  can form a labyrinth structure to further promote formation of turbulence flow. 
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the third embodiment, inner air path wall-side surface (second end)  41   c  facing inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a  has an arc shape (third arc shape). Therefore, while deflector  40  is rotated about up-down rotation shaft  41   a , the space between inner air path wall  15   a  and inner air path wall-side surface  41   c  can be kept constant. Accordingly, leakage of airflow from the space between inner air path wall  15   a  and inner air path wall-side surface  41   c  can be suppressed. 
     Therefore, most of the outgoing airflow passes between up-down deflector  41  and outer air path wall  15   b . Namely, most of the outgoing airflow passes between left-right deflectors  42 . It is thus possible to enhance the force exerted in the left-right direction on the air. Accordingly, the range across which air is distributed in the left-right direction can be increased. Therefore, uneven temperature in a space to be air-conditioned can be suppressed, and air can be moved so as not to impinge directly against a user. Further, because air outlet  9  can be entirely closed by up-down deflector  41  while operation is stopped, the appearance is improved. 
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the first modification of the third embodiment, up-down deflector  41  is formed of a hollow member. Therefore, the front side and the rear side of up-down deflector  41  are thermally insulated by air in the internal space. Even when up-down deflector  41  is cooled by cold air during a cooling operation, the cold air is hindered from being transferred to the surface opposite to outlet air path  14 . It is thus possible to suppress condensation resultant from contact with hot and moist indoor air. 
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the second modification of the third embodiment, inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a  has groove  41   i   1  (first groove). Therefore, it is possible to promote formation of turbulence by airflow passing in the space between up-down deflector  41  and inner air path wall  15   a . Thus, the resistance can be increased to reduce airflow passing through the space between up-down deflector  41  and inner air path wall  15   a.    
     Regarding air conditioner  1  in the third modification of the third embodiment, up-down deflector  41  has groove (second groove)  41   i   2  depressed in the opposite direction to inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a . Groove  41   i   2  can promote formation of turbulence by airflow passing in the space between up-down deflector  41  and inner air path wall  15   a . Thus, the resistance can be increased to reduce airflow passing through the space between up-down deflector  41  and inner air path wall  15   a . When condensation occurs to the surface of up-down deflector  41 , water droplets are held in groove  41   i   2 . It is therefore possible to prevent water droplets due to condensation from falling. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Next, referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described. The fourth embodiment is similar to the above-described first to third embodiments except for the below-described features or limitations.  FIGS. 10 and 11  are each a diagram similar to  FIG. 4  relating to the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , in the fourth embodiment, up-down deflector  41  includes a first up-down deflector  41   e  and a second up-down deflector  41   d . Between first up-down deflector  41   e  and second up-down deflector  41   d , left-right deflector  42  is sandwiched. First up-down deflector  41   e  and second up-down deflector  41   d  are disposed to face each other. 
     First up-down deflector  41   e  is disposed between left-right deflector  42  and outer air path wall (first flow path wall)  15   b . Second up-down deflector  41   d  is disposed between left-right deflector  42  and inner air path wall (second flow path wall)  15   a . First up-down deflector  41   e  has an outer air path wall-side end (first end)  42   c  located opposite to left-right deflector  42 . 
     First up-down deflector  41   e  is shorter in the length in the lateral direction than second up-down deflector  41   d . First up-down deflector  41   e  is fixed together with second up-down deflector  41   d  by deflector side plate  41   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) and rotationally driven together with second up-down deflector  41   d.    
     An outer air path wall-side surface  41   f  of first up-down deflector  41   e  has a curved surface bulging toward curved outer air path wall surface  15   c . This curved surface is a cylindrical surface centered at up-down rotation shaft  41   a . Regardless of the orientation of up-down deflector  41 , at least a part of this curved surface is in proximity to curved outer air path wall surface  15   c , constantly keeping a predetermined distance to curved outer air path wall surface  15   c . Curved outer air path wall surface  15   c  facing first up-down deflector  41   e  is preferably a cylindrical surface concentric with the cylindrical surface, on the outer air path wall side, of first up-down deflector  41   e . An outlet air path-side surface  41   j  of first up-down deflector  41   e  is a flat surface or a curved surface bulging toward the outlet air path. 
     The upstream-to-downstream length (length in the lateral direction) of first up-down deflector  41   e  is shorter than the upstream-to-downstream length of second up-down deflector  41   d . This can prevent reduction of the air path due to protrusion of first up-down deflector  41   e  into the outlet air path when the up-down direction in which air is to be discharged is set to the upward direction. Up-down rotation shaft  41   a  is disposed at the center of the cylindrical surface of second up-down deflector  41   d  and the center of the cylindrical surface of first up-down deflector  41   e.    
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , according to a modification of the present embodiment, an auxiliary up-down deflector  41   g  is disposed between first up-down deflector  41   e  and second up-down deflector  41   d . Auxiliary up-down deflector  41   g  is disposed in parallel with first up-down deflector  41   e  or second up-down deflector  41   d , and fixed to deflector side plate  41   b  (see  FIG. 3 ). The distance from the downstream end of auxiliary up-down deflector  41   g  to up-down rotation shaft  41   a  is preferably equal to or less than radius Ro of the cylindrical surface of second up-down deflector  41   d  that is in contact with the outer air path wall. The distance equal to or less than radius Ro makes it possible to prevent contact between auxiliary up-down deflector  41   g  and the outer air path wall while the plate is driven up and down, and to allow second up-down deflector  41   d  to be moved to and stay at the outer air path wall while stopped, to thereby leave no space in air outlet  9 , which improves the quality of design. 
     Left-right deflector  42  is disposed between first up-down deflector  41   e  and second up-down deflector  41   d , and fixed at a left-right rotation shaft which enables left-right deflector  42  to rotate in the left-right direction. First up-down deflector  41   e  and second up-down deflector  41   d  are fixed by deflector side plate  41   b  (see  FIG. 3 ). Regardless of the angle of up-down deflector  41 , a certain distance is constantly kept between first and second up-down deflectors  41   e  and  41   d . It is therefore possible to have a large distance between respective ends, facing each other, of first up-down deflector  41   e  and left-right deflector  42 , and the space can be partitioned all the time by left-right deflectors  42 . 
     For the wind direction set to the up-down direction that does not cause airflow discharged from the air outlet to reach the ceiling, preferably the angle formed between the ceiling surface and a tangent at the downstream end of outlet air path-side surface  41   j  of first up-down deflector  41   e  is 30° or more. Accordingly, no discharged airflow reaches the ceiling, which can prevent dirt on the ceiling surface due to smudging. 
     Regarding the fourth embodiment, air passes by left-right deflector  42  sandwiched between first up-down deflector  41   e  and second up-down deflector  41   d . It is therefore possible to improve the force exerted in the left-right direction on the air, expand the range across which airflow is distributed in the left-right direction, and alleviate uneven temperature in a space to be air-conditioned. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
       FIG. 12  is a configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus in a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to the fifth embodiment, a description is given of an air conditioning apparatus equipped with above-described air conditioner  1  (indoor unit  200 ). The air conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit  100  and an indoor unit  200 . The indoor and outdoor units are connected together by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant is to be circulated. The refrigerant pipe includes a gas pipe  300  in which refrigerant in the gaseous state (gas refrigerant) flows, and a liquid pipe  400  in which refrigerant in the liquid state (liquid refrigerant, or may be gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant) flows. 
     Outdoor unit  100  in the present embodiment includes a compressor  101 , a four-way valve  102 , an outdoor heat exchanger  103 , an outdoor blower  104 , and a throttle device (expansion valve)  105 . 
     Compressor  101  sucks and compresses refrigerant and discharges the resultant refrigerant. Compressor  101  has an inverter or the like for changing the operating frequency as required to thereby enable fine adjustment of the capacity (the amount of refrigerant discharged per unit time) of compressor  101 . Four-way valve  102  switches the direction of flow of refrigerant depending on whether the operation is cooling operation or heating operation, based on a command from a control device (not shown). 
     Outdoor heat exchanger  103  exchanges heat between refrigerant and air (outdoor air). For example, during a heating operation, outdoor heat exchanger  103  functions as an evaporator to cause heat exchange between air and low-pressure refrigerant flowing from liquid pipe  400 , and thereby evaporate and vaporize the refrigerant. During a cooling operation, outdoor heat exchanger  103  functions as a condenser to cause heat exchange between air and refrigerant flowing from four-way valve  102  and compressed by compressor  101 , and thereby condense and liquefy the refrigerant. For efficient heat exchange between refrigerant and air, outdoor heat exchanger  103  is equipped with outdoor blower  104  having a fan or the like. For outdoor blower  104  as well, an inverter may change the operating frequency of the fan to make fine adjustment of the rotational speed of the fan. Throttle device  105  is provided to change the degree of opening and thereby adjust pressure for example of refrigerant. 
     Indoor unit  200  includes a load heat exchanger  201  and a load blower  202 . Load heat exchanger  201  exchanges heat between refrigerant and air. For example, during a heating operation, load heat exchanger  201  functions as a condenser to cause heat exchange between air and refrigerant flowing from gas pipe  300  and thereby condense and liquefy the refrigerant (or convert the refrigerant into two phases of gas and liquid), and allow the refrigerant to flow toward liquid pipe  400 . During a cooling operation, load heat exchanger  201  functions as an evaporator to exchange heat between air and low-pressure refrigerant generated by throttle device  105  for example, so that heat is transferred from air to the refrigerant to cause the refrigerant to be evaporated and vaporized, and then flow to gas pipe  300 . Indoor unit  200  is also equipped with load blower  202  for adjusting flow of the air with which heat is exchanged. The operating speed of load blower  202  is determined by setting made by a user, for example. 
     As seen from the above, for the air conditioning apparatus in the fifth embodiment, air conditioner  1  described above in connection with the first to fourth embodiments may be used as outdoor unit  100 , and thus similar effects to those of the first to fourth embodiments can be produced. 
     In the foregoing, details of the present invention are described specifically with reference to the preferred embodiments. It is obvious, however, to those skilled to the art that a variety of variations may be incorporated based on the basic technical idea and teaching of the present invention. 
     It should be construed that embodiments disclosed herein are given by way of illustration in all respects, not by way of limitation. It is intended that the scope of the present invention is defined by claims, not by the description above, and encompasses all modifications and variations equivalent in meaning and scope to the claims.