Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses an indoor unit for a duct type air conditioner capable of sufficiently cooling electrical components.

In this indoor unit, a partition plate that divides inside of a housing into left and right is provided, one end of the partition plate is fixed to the back side of a front plate, a heat exchange side plate is placed on a piping outlet side of a heat exchanger to hold the heat exchanger in a vertical posture, and one end of the heat exchange side plate is fixed to a back plate. Also, in this indoor unit, the other end of the heat exchange side plate and the other end of the partition plate are fixed to each other to vertically provide the heat exchange side plate and the partition plate in a row, thereby forming a dividing wall. On one side divided with the dividing wall, a blower chamber is formed in which a blower device and the heat exchanger are placed, and on the other side divided with the dividing wall, an electrical component chamber is formed. Then, in this indoor unit, an air passage is formed through which air is guided from inside of a frame of a safety drain pan into the electrical component chamber and is further guided from the electrical component chamber into the blower chamber.

According to <CIT>, in order to adopt a flammable refrigerant, it is necessary to install a gas sensor that detects the refrigerant when the refrigerant leaks and further relates to solving the problem of selecting an installation location of the gas sensor. A gas sensor is installed above a drain pan in a side view, and a height from an upper end of the drain pan to the gas sensor is set to satisfy a relational expression represented by L•W {C1•H1/Q + C2•H/(Q - C3•L•H ^ (<NUM>/<NUM>))} ≤ <NUM>. In the above relational expression, constant C1: <NUM>, constant C2: <NUM>, constant C3: <NUM>, L [m]: a length of a first wall surface of the drain pan, W [m]: a length of a wall surface of the drain pan intersecting with the first wall surface, H1 [m]: a depth of the drain pan, and Q [m ^ <NUM>/s]: a refrigerant leakage flow rate.

<CIT> relates to a refrigeration cycle device comprising a casing that constitutes an outer part, a heat exchanger that is provided inside the casing and has refrigerant piping through which a refrigerant flows, and a refrigerant leak sensing means that is disposed opposing the refrigerant piping. The refrigerant leak sensing means has a refrigerant-sensing sensor for sensing the refrigerant, and a holder member in which the refrigerant-sensing sensor is accommodated, the refrigerant- sensing sensor being disposed opposing the refrigerant piping and being attached to the casing via a holder-retaining member attached to the holder member.

<CIT> relates to detecting refrigerant leaking from an indoor unit without using a closed space that restricts the layout of piping or a large number of sensors. An indoor unit houses a heat exchanger and a blower fan inside a housing, and is divided into a blower space and a blower space through which airflow passing through the heat exchanger flows. Piping connections connected to the inter-unit piping are provided at the ends of the refrigerant pipes that are drawn out to the piping area and further pulled out from the piping area to the outside of the casing. An opening is formed in the left side wall at a position below the piping connections, and a refrigerant sensor is arranged near the opening.

The present invention provides an indoor unit capable of placing a refrigerant sensor in a limited space.

The present invention provides an indoor unit including a housing that houses inside a heat exchanger including a refrigerant pipe, and a blower fan, the heat exchanger includes a piping connecting portion that connects, to each other, refrigerant pipings (pipes) through which a refrigerant flows, in the housing, a placement space in which the piping connecting portion is placed, and a front wall are provided, the front wall facing the placement space, the front wall extending along a longitudinal direction of the housing, and on the front wall, a refrigerant sensor that detects the refrigerant is provided.

According to the present invention, a refrigerant sensor is provided on a side wall extending along a longitudinal direction of a housing. Therefore, the refrigerant sensor can be placed in a limited space of the housing.

At the time when the inventors came to conceive the present invention, in an indoor unit of an air conditioner, including a housing in which an electrical box and a blower chamber are provided, there was a technique of providing, in the housing, an air passage to guide air from the electrical box to the blower chamber, thereby enabling effective cooling of heating parts present in the electrical box. This indoor unit includes the housing, and a dividing wall that divides inside of this housing. In the housing, the blower chamber in which a blower device and a heat exchanger are placed is provided on one side of the dividing wall, and a space in which the electrical box and a piping connecting portion of the heat exchanger are placed is provided on the other side of the dividing wall.

In this indoor unit, a refrigerant sensor that detects a refrigerant may be provided in the space in which the piping connecting portion is placed. This refrigerant sensor is provided, together with the electrical box, a drain pump and the like, on a side surface of the housing in which the piping connecting portion is placed, the side surface being located in a longitudinal direction of the housing.

However, in such an indoor unit, the inventors have found a problem that there is concern that a space to provide the refrigerant sensor on the side surface of the housing is limited when a size of the housing is to be reduced or when a size of the electrical box increases and have constituted the subject matter of the present disclosure to solve the problem.

Therefore, the present invention provides an indoor unit capable of placing a refrigerant sensor in a limited space of a housing.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments will be described in detail. However, more detailed description than necessary may not be made. For example, detailed description of already well-known matter or duplicate description of about the same configuration may not be made. This is intended to avoid the following description that is more redundant than necessary and to facilitate understanding of a person skilled in the art.

Note that the accompanying drawings and following description are provided for any person skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

Hereinafter, Embodiment <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. In addition, reference character FR shown in each drawing indicates front of an indoor unit in a horizontal suspending state, reference character UP indicates an upper part of the indoor unit, and reference character LH indicates a left side of the indoor unit. In the following description, each direction follows each direction of the indoor unit.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an indoor unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment seen from front.

An air conditioner includes the indoor unit <NUM> of the present embodiment. The air conditioner includes a refrigeration cycle formed by connecting a heat exchanger <NUM> (<FIG>) housed in the indoor unit <NUM>, a compressor housed in an outdoor unit, a decompressing device such as an electronic expansion valve, an outdoor heat exchanger and others via refrigerant piping. In the air conditioner, the refrigerant is circulated in this refrigeration cycle, thereby performing air conditioning of a predetermined space to be conditioned.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerant for use in the air conditioner including the indoor unit <NUM> is, for example, a refrigerant having a slightly flammable or flammable property, such as R32.

The indoor unit <NUM> is a duct type indoor unit installed in a ceiling space, in a wall, under a floor, or the like. The indoor unit <NUM> is formed in a changeable manner of a placing direction of an air outlet <NUM> out of which air to be conditioned is blown so that a blowing direction can be changed depending on an installing location. For this reason, for example, when horizontally blowing, as shown in <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> is installed in a so-called horizontal suspending state where the air outlet <NUM> is located on the side. Further, when blowing upward, the indoor unit <NUM> is installed in a so-called vertical suspending state where a blower port is located above.

In the following description, an up-down direction means an up-down direction when the indoor unit <NUM> is installed in the horizontal suspending state.

As shown in <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> includes a box-shaped housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a longitudinal direction extends along a left-right direction.

The housing <NUM> includes a front wall 101a located in front, a back wall 101b located rearward, a left wall 101c located in the left direction, and a right wall 101d located in the right direction, and these walls form four side walls of the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes a top panel 101e forming a top surface, and a bottom panel 101f forming a bottom surface.

In the housing <NUM>, fixing brackets 101n are provided. The indoor unit <NUM> is fixed to a ceiling via the fixing brackets 101n.

<FIG> is a front view of the indoor unit <NUM>. <FIG> does not show a decorative panel <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the front wall 101a, the air outlet <NUM> is provided. The air outlet <NUM> is a rectangular opening extending along the left-right direction of the front wall 101a. The indoor unit <NUM> performs the air conditioning of the space to be conditioned by blowing the air to be conditioned out of the air outlet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the indoor unit <NUM> includes the decorative panel <NUM> that covers the front wall 101a. The decorative panel <NUM> is a panel provided facing the air to be conditioned for improving appearance. In the indoor unit <NUM>, the air to be conditioned blown out of the air outlet <NUM> is sent out to the space to be conditioned through a panel air outlet 102a.

<FIG> and <FIG> are perspective views showing an internal configuration of the indoor unit <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> do not show the decorative panel <NUM> and the top panel 101e.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a partition plate <NUM> is provided inside the housing <NUM>. The partition plate <NUM> is a flat plate-shaped member having a predetermined length dimension extending along the left-right direction of the housing <NUM>.

An internal space of the housing <NUM> is divided, by the partition plate <NUM>, into a blower chamber <NUM> located in front of the housing <NUM> and a heat exchanger chamber <NUM> located at the rear of the housing <NUM>. The partition plate <NUM> has opposite ends coupled to the left wall 101c and the right wall 101d, respectively.

In the blower chamber <NUM>, two blowers <NUM> are provided. Each blower <NUM> of the present embodiment is a sirocco fan. Each blower <NUM> includes a blower fan <NUM>. Each blower fan <NUM> is coupled to a fan motor <NUM> via a drive shaft <NUM> and is rotated when driven with the fan motor <NUM>.

When each blower fan <NUM> is driven, each blower <NUM> blows air in the blower chamber <NUM> flowing into the heat exchanger chamber <NUM> through a plurality of vent ports 103a provided in the partition plate <NUM>. At this time, air flows from outside of the housing <NUM> into the blower chamber <NUM> through a suction port <NUM> provided in the bottom panel 101f. This air passes through a suction duct coupled to the suction port <NUM> and flows inside from the space to be conditioned, outdoors or the like.

The configuration of the blower chamber <NUM> in the present embodiment is one example, and the number of the blowers <NUM> and the number of the fan motors <NUM> are not limited to the above configuration.

The heat exchanger chamber <NUM> is the internal space of the housing <NUM> in which the heat exchanger <NUM> is housed.

In each of the front wall 101a, the left wall 101c, and the right wall 101d, a heat insulating material is provided in a location facing the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>. The heat insulating material is formed of, for example, Styrofoam or the like and molded in a shape that does not interfere with various members, piping, and the like housed in the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>.

A drain pan <NUM> is provided in an entire location of the bottom panel 101f that faces the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>. The drain pan <NUM> is a flat plate-shaped member that functions as a water receiving unit to receive drain water generated in the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>. The drain pan <NUM> is formed of, for example, Styrofoam or the like. The drain pan <NUM> and a location of the bottom panel 101f in which the drain pan <NUM> is provided are both provided removably from the housing <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> is a utilization side heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit, or a condenser that condenses the refrigerant.

The heat exchanger <NUM> of the present embodiment is a so-called fin tube type heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger <NUM> is entirely formed into a long flat plate shape by joining a plurality of metal fins to a copper refrigerant pipe.

The heat exchanger <NUM> is placed in a longitudinal direction extending along the left-right direction of the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> placed in this way has an upper edge supported on the heat insulating material provided in the front wall 101a and the top panel 101e, and the heat exchanger <NUM> has a lower edge supported on a location of the drain pan <NUM> that is located on a partition plate <NUM> side. For this reason, the heat exchanger <NUM> is placed in a tilted state from a front wall 101a side toward the partition plate <NUM> side as being from the upper edge toward the lower edge.

Specifically, the heat exchanger <NUM> is placed in the up-down direction that is diagonal relative to the up-down direction of the partition plate <NUM> in a side view of the indoor unit <NUM>. For this reason, the heat exchanger <NUM> is placed with one flat surface facing the partition plate <NUM> and each vent port 103a and the other flat surface facing the air outlet <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> performs heat exchange between air sent from the blower chamber <NUM> and the refrigerant flowing inside from external piping for refrigerant via a refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM>. Thereby, the heat exchanger <NUM> functions as the evaporator during a cooling operation of the indoor unit <NUM>, and functions as the condenser during a heating operation of the indoor unit <NUM>. The air that exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger <NUM> passes through the air outlet <NUM> and is blown to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

The drain pan <NUM> is provided to cover a substantially entire lower surface of the heat exchanger <NUM> and receives drain water generated in the heat exchanger <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a vent portion <NUM> seen from above.

As shown in <FIG>, the vent portion <NUM> is provided in an end portion of the heat exchanger <NUM> that is located on a right wall 101d side.

The vent portion <NUM> is a piping connecting portion formed by bending the refrigerant pipe included in the heat exchanger <NUM> and connecting pipe ends to each other by welding or the like. The vent portion <NUM> is provided entirely in the up-down direction of the heat exchanger <NUM>. Specifically, the heat exchanger <NUM> includes respective piping connecting portions at opposite ends of the heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction.

The vent portion <NUM> on the front wall 101a side is covered with a mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger. The mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger is a plate-shaped member that covers the heat exchanger <NUM> entirely in the up-down direction in the end portion of the heat exchanger <NUM> so as to cover the whole vent portion <NUM>. The mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger has an upper edge supported on a heat insulating material provided in the front wall 101a and the top panel 101e and a lower edge supported on the drain pan <NUM>. Further, the mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger is coupled to a fin placed in an end portion of the heat exchanger <NUM> that is located on the right wall 101d side and supports the heat exchanger <NUM> from the front wall 101a side.

The vent portion <NUM> on the right wall 101d side is covered with a heat exchanger support plate <NUM> provided on the right wall <NUM> d. The heat exchanger support plate <NUM> is a plate-shaped member that covers the heat exchanger <NUM> entirely in the up-down direction in the end portion of the heat exchanger <NUM> so as to cover the whole vent portion <NUM>. Also, an edge portion of the heat exchanger support plate <NUM> that is located on the front wall 101a side is entirely coupled to the mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger. Thereby, the vent portion <NUM> is placed in a space surrounded with the mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger support plate <NUM>. The vent portion <NUM> is surrounded with the mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger support plate <NUM> and is thereby partitioned from the front wall 101a side inside the housing <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the space, which is formed by being surrounded with the mounting plate <NUM> in the end portion of the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger support plate <NUM> and in which the vent portion <NUM> is placed, will be referred to as a placement space S1.

On the heat exchanger support plate <NUM>, a refrigerant sensor <NUM> that detects the refrigerant is provided. The refrigerant sensor <NUM> includes a sensor body housed in a box body. The refrigerant sensor <NUM> is placed inside the placement space S1.

Thereby, in the indoor unit <NUM>, when the refrigerant leaks in the vent portion <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can detect the leaked refrigerant.

In general, the refrigerant has a larger specific gravity than air, and hence it is desirable that the refrigerant sensor <NUM> is placed below the heat exchanger support plate <NUM>, that is, at a position close to the drain pan <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of the indoor unit <NUM> seen from above, and <FIG> is a plan view of the indoor unit <NUM> seen from below. <FIG> does not show the top panel 101e, and <FIG> does not show the bottom panel 101f.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the end portion of the heat exchanger <NUM> that is located on the right wall 101d side in the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>, the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> is provided, which is the piping connecting portion connecting the heat exchanger <NUM> and external refrigerant piping of the indoor unit <NUM>.

The refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> includes a liquid connection pipe <NUM> and a gas connection pipe <NUM>. Each of the liquid connection pipe <NUM> and the gas connection pipe <NUM> forms the refrigerant piping. The liquid connection pipe <NUM> is also connected to liquid refrigerant piping outside the indoor unit <NUM>, and the gas connection pipe <NUM> is connected to gas refrigerant piping outside the indoor unit <NUM>. Each of the liquid connection pipe <NUM> and the gas connection pipe <NUM> is branched in the heat exchanger chamber <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and connected to the heat exchanger <NUM>.

Hereinafter, in the internal space of the housing <NUM>, a space in which the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> is placed will be referred to as a placement space S2.

The placement space S2 is provided in a corner portion surrounded with the front wall 101a and the left wall 101c in the housing <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the left wall 101c is formed by a board support plate <NUM> and a side plate <NUM>.

The board support plate <NUM> is a plate-shaped member that straddles the left wall 101c from the back wall 101b to the partition plate <NUM> and extends to the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>. The board support plate <NUM> includes a support portion 131a along a front-rear direction of the indoor unit <NUM>, and bent portions 131b bent in an outside direction of the housing <NUM> in opposite end portions of the support portion 131a in the front-rear direction. To the support portion 131a, a board <NUM> is mounted.

Further, the board support plate <NUM> is covered with an electrical cover <NUM> shown with a two-dot chain line in <FIG>, to form an electrical box <NUM>. Specifically, the board support plate <NUM> forms a bottom surface of the electrical box <NUM>. The board support plate <NUM> is located on an inner side of the housing <NUM> than the side plate <NUM>. Therefore, the electrical box <NUM> is prohibited from bulging outward from the side plate <NUM>, and space in the indoor unit <NUM> can be saved.

Also, the support portion 131a of the board support plate <NUM> is located on a left side compared with a left end of the heat exchanger <NUM>. Specifically, the blower chamber <NUM> is provided to a left side compared with the left end of the heat exchanger <NUM>.

The side plate <NUM> is a plate-shaped member being connected to the board support plate <NUM> and extending to the front wall 101a. The side plate <NUM> includes a side plate main body <NUM> along the front-rear direction of the indoor unit <NUM> and a bent portion <NUM> bent in two stages. The side plate main body <NUM> of the side plate <NUM> is located on an outer side of the housing <NUM> than the support portion 131a of the board support plate <NUM>.

The bent portion <NUM> is provided in a rear end portion of the side plate main body <NUM>. The bent portion <NUM> includes an inner bent portion 154a bent inward from the side plate main body <NUM> in the left-right direction, and a rear bent portion 154b bent rearward from the inner bent portion 154a. The inner bent portion 154a has a surface in contact with each bent portion 131b, and the rear bent portion 154b has a surface in contact with the support portion 131a.

The rear bent portion 154b is coupled to a left end of the partition plate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a front view of the left wall 101c, and <FIG> is a perspective view of the side plate <NUM> seen from left front. <FIG> does not show a drain pump support plate <NUM> and a piping support plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the bent portion 131b at a front end of the board support plate <NUM> includes a first opening 131c, and the inner bent portion 154a of the side plate <NUM> includes a second opening 154c. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first opening 131c and the second opening 154c overlap with each other and form an opening A. The opening A communicates between the inside of the electrical box <NUM> and the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>. A wiring <NUM> connected to the board <NUM> is inserted into the opening A and thereby drawn into the heat exchanger chamber <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a cutout <NUM> that is an opening is provided in the side plate main body <NUM>. The liquid connection pipe <NUM> and the gas connection pipe <NUM> extend from the cutout <NUM> outside the housing <NUM>. The cutout <NUM> includes a first pressing portion 153c and a second pressing portion 153d each of which is a semicircular recess. In the cutout <NUM>, the drain pump support plate <NUM> shown with a dashed line in the drawing and the piping support plate <NUM> shown with a one-dot chain line in the drawing are mounted. In addition, a lower part of the cutout <NUM> is covered with a side plate lower panel 152a mounted to the side plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the drain pump support plate <NUM> includes a drain pump support portion <NUM> and a drain water discharge portion <NUM>. The drain pump support portion <NUM> (dashed line in the drawing) supports a drain pump <NUM> (one-dot chain line in the drawing) inside the heat exchanger chamber <NUM> via the cutout <NUM>.

The drain pump <NUM> pumps up drain water received by the drain pan <NUM>. The pumped-up drain water flows sequentially through a drain piping <NUM> (two-dot chain line in the drawing) and the drain water discharge portion <NUM> and is discharged from the outside of the housing <NUM> via a drain hose coupled to the drain water discharge portion <NUM>.

The drain pump support plate <NUM> is mounted removably from the side plate main body <NUM>. Specifically, when the drain pump support plate <NUM> is removed from the side plate main body <NUM>, the drain pump <NUM> supported on the drain pump support plate <NUM> can be removed. In the indoor unit <NUM>, the drain pump <NUM> can be easily inspected and replaced.

Also, in the indoor unit <NUM>, an operator can easily access the placement space S2 via the cutout <NUM> by removing the drain pump support plate <NUM>.

Also, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the piping support plate <NUM> includes a third pressing portion <NUM> and a fourth pressing portion <NUM>. Each of the third pressing portion <NUM> and the fourth pressing portion <NUM> is a semicircular recess.

The side plate <NUM> and the drain pump support plate <NUM> hold the liquid connection pipe <NUM> between the first pressing portion 153c and the third pressing portion <NUM>. Further, the side plate <NUM> and the drain pump support plate <NUM> support the gas connection pipe <NUM> between the second pressing portion 153d and the fourth pressing portion <NUM>.

The front wall 101a has a front panel <NUM> in a connecting portion to the left wall 101c.

As shown in <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> includes a front portion <NUM>, a mounting hole <NUM>, a mounting plate <NUM>, and a heat exchanger support portion <NUM>.

The front portion <NUM> faces the front of the housing <NUM> and is provided adjacent to the air outlet <NUM> on a left wall 101c side. The mounting hole <NUM> is a rectangular hole formed in the front portion <NUM>. The mounting plate <NUM> is mounted to the front portion <NUM> by screw fastening so as to cover the mounting hole <NUM>. The mounting plate <NUM> is provided removably from the front portion <NUM>.

The heat exchanger support portion <NUM> is a triangular region formed by bending rearward the front portion <NUM> on an air outlet <NUM> side. The heat exchanger support portion <NUM> has an upper edge portion coupled to a left end front surface of the heat exchanger <NUM>. Thereby, the heat exchanger support portion <NUM> supports the left end of the heat exchanger <NUM> from the front wall 101a side.

The placement space S2 is surrounded with the partition plate <NUM>, the board support plate <NUM>, the side plate <NUM>, the front portion <NUM>, the mounting plate <NUM>, and the heat exchanger support portion <NUM>.

The placement space S2 between the heat exchanger support portion <NUM> and the left wall 101c has a width dimension in the left-right direction that is determined by a width dimension of the heat exchanger <NUM> in the left-right direction. In addition, the heat exchanger support portion <NUM> is provided independently of the board support plate <NUM>. Therefore, the width dimension of the placement space S2 in the left-right direction and a width dimension of the blower chamber <NUM> in the left-right direction that is determined by the placement of the board support plate <NUM> can be designed independently of each other. Thereby, in the indoor unit <NUM>, securing of the placement space S2 is easily compatible with highly efficient air conditioning achieved by widening the blower chamber <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the indoor unit <NUM> seen from behind.

As shown in <FIG>, a refrigerant sensor <NUM> and a sterilization unit <NUM> are mounted inside the mounting plate <NUM>, that is, to the surface of the mounting plate <NUM> that is located inside the housing <NUM>. The mounting plate <NUM> is placed facing the placement space S2, and hence the refrigerant sensor <NUM> and the sterilization unit <NUM> are placed in the placement space S2. The refrigerant sensor <NUM> and the sterilization unit <NUM> can be removed from the housing <NUM> by removing the mounting plate <NUM> from the front portion <NUM>.

The refrigerant sensor <NUM> is a sensor that detects the refrigerant in the same manner as in the refrigerant sensor <NUM>, and the refrigerant sensor <NUM> has a sensor body housed in a box body. The refrigerant sensor <NUM> is connected to the wiring <NUM> and connected to the board <NUM> via the wiring <NUM>.

The refrigerant sensor <NUM> is mounted to a lower part of the surface of the mounting plate <NUM> inside the housing <NUM>.

On the surface of the mounting plate <NUM> inside the housing <NUM>, a protruding piece <NUM> protruding from the mounting plate <NUM> is provided. The protruding piece <NUM> has a flat surface, and the flat surface is placed facing the drain pan <NUM>. In addition, a threaded hole is provided in this flat surface.

In the refrigerant sensor <NUM>, a mounting piece <NUM> is provided. The mounting piece <NUM> has a flat surface provided with a threaded hole.

The refrigerant sensor <NUM> is fixed to the mounting plate <NUM> by screwing a screw member <NUM> that is a fastening member into the threaded holes the flat surfaces have, in a state where the flat surface the mounting piece <NUM> has is in contact with the flat surface the protruding piece <NUM> has. As described above, since the flat surface of the protruding piece <NUM> faces the drain pan <NUM>, the screw member <NUM> that fixes the refrigerant sensor <NUM> to the mounting plate <NUM> has a threaded head placed facing the drain pan <NUM> or the top panel 101e. In the present embodiment, the threaded head of the screw member <NUM> is placed facing the drain pan <NUM>.

Thereby, in the indoor unit <NUM>, when the bottom panel 101f and the drain pan <NUM> are removed to mount and remove the refrigerant sensor <NUM> from below the housing <NUM>, the operator can easily mount and remove the screw member <NUM>.

The sterilization unit <NUM> includes an electrostatic atomization device and a board for the electrostatic atomization device. The electrostatic atomization device is a device that generates mist containing charged particulate water. The mist containing the charged particulate water can suppress viruses, molds, substances that cause allergies, bacteria, and the like in air, and deodorize air. The charged particulate water contains active ingredients such as radicals that exhibit a sterilizing action, deodorizing action, or the like. The mist generated by the electrostatic atomization device of the sterilization unit <NUM> flows to the air outlet <NUM> and flows to the outside of the housing <NUM>, together with air blown out of the air outlet <NUM>.

The board for the electrostatic atomization device is a board for controlling the electrostatic atomization device. The electrostatic atomization device is connected to the wiring <NUM> and connected to the board <NUM> via the wiring <NUM>.

In the mounting plate <NUM> mounted to the front portion <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> is mounted below the sterilization unit <NUM>, that is, at a position close to the drain pan <NUM>.

Thereby, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can more reliably detect the refrigerant having the larger specific gravity than air. Also, in the indoor unit <NUM>, when the leakage of the refrigerant occurs in the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can detect the leaked refrigerant.

Description will be made as to an operation of the indoor unit <NUM> including the above configuration.

When the indoor unit <NUM> performs an air conditioning operation, each of a gas refrigerant during the heating operation and a liquid refrigerant during the cooling operation flows into the heat exchanger <NUM> through the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM>.

In the blower chamber <NUM>, the blower <NUM> suctions air outside the housing <NUM> through the suction port <NUM>, and the suctioned air flows into the heat exchanger chamber <NUM> through the vent port 103a.

Here, as described above, the blower chamber <NUM> is formed with a width in the left-right direction increasing to a left side from the left end of the heat exchanger <NUM>. Therefore, in the blower chamber <NUM>, outside air can be easily suctioned through the suction port <NUM>.

The air flowing into the heat exchanger chamber <NUM> performs heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger <NUM> and is heated during the heating operation and cooled during the cooling operation. Thereafter, the air is blown out of the air outlet <NUM> to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

At this time, the sterilization unit <NUM> provided on the mounting plate <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> generates the mist containing the charged particulate water. The generated mist is carried to the space to be conditioned by the flow of air blown out of the air outlet <NUM> and exerts a sterilization effect in the space to be conditioned.

On the side plate <NUM> facing the placement space S2 and the left wall 101c having the side plate <NUM>, the drain pump <NUM>, the electrical box <NUM> and others are provided. In the indoor unit <NUM>, when the housing <NUM> has a size reduced or the electrical box <NUM> has a size increased, there is concern that a space in which another member is mounted to the side plate <NUM> is limited.

In the present embodiment, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> is mounted to the front panel <NUM> of the front wall 101a. Therefore, even when the space of the side plate <NUM> is limited, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can be provided in the placement space S2.

Further, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> is provided on the mounting plate <NUM> that can be removed from the front panel <NUM>, and hence the operator can easily remove the refrigerant sensor <NUM> from the housing <NUM>, to perform an operation such as inspection or replacement.

In the present embodiment, the indoor unit <NUM> includes the decorative panel <NUM> that covers the front wall 101a. However, this is not limited, and an air supply duct may be mounted to the front wall 101a. This air supply duct may cover the whole front wall 101a, that is, up to the front panel <NUM>.

Even in this case, in the indoor unit <NUM>, the operator can access the refrigerant sensor <NUM> from below the housing <NUM> by removing the bottom panel 101f and the drain pan <NUM>. For this reason, the operator can easily mount and remove the refrigerant sensor <NUM>. Further, the threaded head of the screw member <NUM> that fixes the refrigerant sensor <NUM> to the mounting plate <NUM> is placed facing the drain pan <NUM>. For this reason, in the indoor unit <NUM>, the operator can easily mount and remove the screw member <NUM>.

Specifically, the indoor unit <NUM> is formed so that the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can be accessed from three directions relative to the refrigerant sensor <NUM> on the front wall 101a side, a bottom panel 101f side and the left wall 101c side.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the heat exchanger <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM> includes the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> that connects, to each other, refrigerant pipings through which the refrigerant flows. In the housing <NUM>, the placement space S2 in which the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> is placed, and the front wall 101a are provided, the front wall surrounding the placement space S2, the front wall extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing <NUM>. Then, on the front wall 101a, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> that detects the refrigerant is provided.

Thereby, even when the space of the side plate <NUM> is limited, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can be provided inside the placement space S2. For this reason, in the indoor unit <NUM>, the refrigerant leaked in the placement space S2 can be detected.

As in the present embodiment, at a position of the front wall 101a that corresponds to the placement space S2, the mounting plate <NUM> removable from the front wall 101a may be provided, and the refrigerant sensor <NUM> may be provided on the mounting plate <NUM>.

Thereby, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> is provided removably from the front panel <NUM>, together with the mounting plate <NUM>. For this reason, the operator can easily remove the refrigerant sensor <NUM> from the housing <NUM> and perform the operation, such as the inspection or replacement.

As in the present embodiment, on the mounting plate <NUM>, the sterilization unit <NUM> may be provided, and the refrigerant sensor <NUM> may be provided below the sterilization unit <NUM>.

Thereby, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can more reliably detect the refrigerant having a larger specific gravity than air. For this reason, in the indoor unit <NUM>, when the leakage of the refrigerant occurs in the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can detect the leaked refrigerant.

As in the present embodiment, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> may be provided removably from a bottom surface side of the housing <NUM>.

Thereby, in the indoor unit <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can be mounted and removed from below the housing <NUM> by removing the bottom panel 101f and the drain pan <NUM>. Therefore, in the indoor unit <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can be accessed from three directions on the front wall 101a side, the bottom panel 101f side and the left wall 101c side.

As in the present embodiment, in the heat exchanger <NUM>, the vent portion <NUM> and the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> are provided, and in the housing <NUM>, a plurality of placement spaces S1, S2 are provided in which the vent portion <NUM> and the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> are placed. Then, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> may be provided in the placement space S1, and the refrigerant sensor <NUM> may be provided in the placement space S2, respectively.

Thereby, in the indoor unit <NUM>, when the leakage of the refrigerant occurs in each of the vent portion <NUM> and the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> provided on opposite sides of the heat exchanger <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> and the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can detect the leaked refrigerant. For this reason, in the indoor unit <NUM>, the leakage of the refrigerant can be detected at a plurality of locations in the heat exchanger <NUM>.

Hereinafter, Embodiment <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

An indoor unit <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> is different from the indoor unit <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> in that at least the refrigerant sensor <NUM> is not provided and a piping member <NUM> is provided.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the indoor unit <NUM> according to the second embodiment. In <FIG>, the same part as in <FIG> is denoted with the same reference signs and is not described.

As shown in <FIG>, in a heat exchanger chamber <NUM> of a housing <NUM>, the piping member <NUM> is provided. The piping member <NUM> is a tubular member being made of a flexible resin and having both ends open.

One end portion <NUM> of the piping member <NUM> is placed in the placement space S1.

The piping member <NUM> extending from the placement space S1 is disposed on an edge portion of a drain pan <NUM>, pulled around along a right wall 101d, and then pulled around along a left-right direction of a partition plate <NUM>. Then, another end portion <NUM> of the piping member <NUM> is placed in a placement space S2.

Thereby, the placement space S1 and the placement space S2 communicate by means of the piping member <NUM>.

In addition, a blower <NUM> is a sirocco fan, and hence a volume of air increases on an upper edge side of a suction port <NUM>. For this reason, it is desirable that the piping member <NUM> is placed so as to pass below the suction port <NUM>.

The other end portion <NUM> of the piping member <NUM> may be coupled to a box body of a refrigerant sensor <NUM>.

Description will be made as to an operation of the indoor unit <NUM> including the above configuration. An operation similar to the operation of the indoor unit <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM> is not described.

In the present embodiment, the piping member <NUM> that communicates between the placement space S1 and the placement space S2 is provided.

Thereby, air in the placement space S1 is supplied through the piping member <NUM> to the placement space S2. For this reason, when leakage of a refrigerant occurs in the placement space S1, air containing the leaked refrigerant in the placement space S1 is supplied to the placement space S2, and the refrigerant sensor <NUM> can detect the refrigerant. Specifically, in the indoor unit <NUM>, one refrigerant sensor <NUM> can detect the leakage of the refrigerant that occurs not only in a refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> but also in a vent portion <NUM>.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the heat exchanger <NUM>, the vent portion <NUM> and the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> are provided. Then, in the housing <NUM>, a plurality of placement spaces S1, S2 in which the vent portion <NUM> and the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> are placed, and the piping member <NUM> are provided, the piping member communicating in a plurality of placement spaces S1, S2.

Thereby, air in the placement space S1 is supplied through the piping member <NUM> to the placement space S2. For this reason, when leakage of the refrigerant occurs in the placement space S1, the leaked refrigerant is supplied through the piping member <NUM> to the placement space S2. Then, in the indoor unit <NUM>, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> detects the refrigerant, so that the leakage of the refrigerant occurring not only in the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> but also in the vent portion <NUM> can be detected. Specifically, in the indoor unit <NUM>, even when the leakage of the refrigerant occurs in each of the vent portion <NUM> and the refrigerant piping connecting portion <NUM> provided on opposite sides of the heat exchanger <NUM>, the leakage of the refrigerant can be detected.

As described above, Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> have been described as illustrations of a technique disclosed in the present application. However, the technique in the present disclosure is not limited and is also applicable, for example, to a modified, replaced, added or omitted embodiment. The respective components described above in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> may be combined to constitute a new embodiment.

Therefore, other embodiments will be illustrated below.

According to Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM>, in the indoor unit <NUM>, <NUM>, the heat exchanger chamber <NUM> is provided on the front wall 101a side, and the air outlet <NUM> is provided in the front wall 101a. However, this is not limited, and the blower chamber <NUM> may be provided on the front wall 101a side, and the heat exchanger chamber <NUM> may be provided on the back wall 101b side. In this case, the refrigerant sensor <NUM> is provided on the back wall 101b.

Since the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technique in the present disclosure, various changes, replacements, additions, omissions or the like can be performed within the scope of the claims or the equivalent.

Claim 1:
An indoor unit comprising a housing (<NUM>) that houses inside a heat exchanger (<NUM>) comprising a refrigerant pipe, and a blower fan (<NUM>), wherein
the heat exchanger (<NUM>) comprises a piping connecting portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) that connects, to each other, refrigerant pipings through which a refrigerant flows,
in the housing (<NUM>), a placement space (S1, S2) in which the piping connecting portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is placed, and a front wall (101a) are provided, the front wall (101a) being provided with an air outlet (<NUM>), facing the placement space (S1, S2), the front wall (101a) extending along a longitudinal direction of the housing (<NUM>),
characterized in that
on the front wall (101a), a refrigerant sensor (<NUM>) that detects the refrigerant is provided,
at a position of the front wall (101a) that corresponds to the placement space (S1, S2), a mounting plate (<NUM>) removable from the front wall (101a) is provided,
the refrigerant sensor (<NUM>) is provided on an inner side of the mounting plate (<NUM>),
on the mounting plate (<NUM>), a sterilization unit (<NUM>) is provided, and
the refrigerant sensor (<NUM>) is provided below the sterilization unit (<NUM>).