Patent Description:
As disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>, for example, an indoor unit for air conditioner configured such that a cross flow fan for forming an air flow is driven by a fan motor is adapted to hold the fan motor inside a holding case, incorporate the holding case inside the indoor unit, and fix a portion of the holding case on an opposite side of a motor shaft through screwing, for example. With this configuration, it is possible to easily perform an operation of attaching the fan motor to the inside of the indoor unit and to improve manufacturability of the indoor unit. In addition, it is also possible to easily perform an operation of detaching the fan motor from the inside of the indoor unit and to improve maintenance properties of the indoor unit.

<CIT> discloses an indoor unit for air conditioner according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, comprising a cross flow fan that forms an air flow of suctioning indoor air from an air inlet port and blowing out the air from an air outlet port; a fan motor that drives the cross flow fan; a holding case that holds the fan motor therein; a fitting portion to which the holding case holding the fan motor therein is fitted; a vibration damping member that is accommodated inside the holding case along with the fan motor and absorbs vibration generated when the fan motor is driven.

<CIT> discloses an air conditioner comprising an indoor unit exchanging heat with the indoor air. The indoor unit comprises a transverse flow fan distributing the air indoors, a fan motor driving the transverse flow fan, a motor installation space receiving the fan motor, and a ventilation space receiving the transverse flow fan. The fan motor comprises a shaft extending from the motor main body to the ventilation space and connected with the transverse fan received in the ventilation space, and a vibration control rubber disposed around the rotating shaft. A vibration control rubber fixing wall is further disposed to control the movement of the vibration control rubber.

However, although the fan motor is strongly fixed at the portion of the holding case on the opposite side of the motor shaft, the fan motor is not sufficiently fixed at a portion of the holding case on the side of the motor shaft in the configuration in the related art. There is thus a concern that vibration generated when the fan motor is driven cannot sufficiently be absorbed, and there is also a concern that noise generated due to the vibration of the fan motor cannot sufficiently be curbed.

Thus, the present embodiment provides an indoor unit for air conditioner capable of sufficiently curbing vibration and noise generated when a fan motor is driven. Solution to Problem.

An indoor unit for air conditioner according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM> and includes: a cross flow fan that forms an air flow of suctioning indoor air from an air inlet port and blowing out the air from an air outlet port; a fan motor that drives the cross flow fan; a holding case that holds the fan motor therein; a fitting portion to which the holding case holding the fan motor therein is fitted; a vibration damping member that is accommodated inside the holding case along with the fan motor and absorbs vibration generated when the fan motor is driven; and a compressing section that compresses the vibration damping member inside the holding case with the holding case holding the fan motor therein being fitted to the fitting portion. Finally, the compressing section comprises slits.

The dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to an indoor unit for air conditioner will be described with reference to the drawings. An indoor unit <NUM> for air conditioner illustrated as an example in <FIG> constitutes an air conditioner along with an outdoor unit provided outdoor, which is not illustrated. The indoor unit <NUM> includes a cross flow fan <NUM> and the like inside a rectangular indoor unit main body section <NUM> constituting an outline thereof. An air inlet port <NUM> is provided at an upper portion of the indoor unit main body section <NUM>, and an air outlet port <NUM> is provided at a lower portion of the indoor unit main body section <NUM>. Also, a blowing passage <NUM> is provided inside the indoor unit main body section <NUM> from the air inlet port <NUM> to the air outlet port <NUM>. An air filter, which is not illustrated, a heat exchanger, which is not illustrated, the cross flow fan <NUM>, a louver <NUM>, and the like are provided inside the blowing passage <NUM> from an upstream side, which is a side of the air inlet port <NUM>, toward a downstream side, which is a side of the air outlet port <NUM>.

The air filter captures foreign matters included in air suctioned from the air inlet port <NUM>. The heat exchanger performs heat exchange with the air suctioned from the air inlet port <NUM> and heats or cools the air. The cross flow fan <NUM> forms an air flow of suctioning indoor air from the air inlet port <NUM> and blowing out the air from the air outlet port <NUM> through the blowing passage <NUM>. The louver <NUM> adjusts a direction of the air blown out from the air outlet port <NUM>.

Also, a fan motor <NUM> for driving the cross flow fan <NUM> is included inside the indoor unit main body section <NUM>. In this case, the fan motor <NUM> is included inside a machine chamber <NUM> provided on the right side of the blowing passage <NUM> when seen from the front side of the indoor unit <NUM>, inside the indoor unit main body section <NUM>.

Next, a configuration example of the fan motor <NUM> will be described in detail. As illustrated as an example in <FIG> as well, the fan motor <NUM> includes a substantially columnar-shaped motor main body section <NUM> and a motor shaft <NUM>. A stator and a rotor, which are not illustrated, are accommodated inside the motor main body section <NUM>. The motor main body section <NUM> has a known configuration in which a columnar-shaped rotor is rotatably included inside the annular-shaped stator. The motor shaft <NUM> is included to rotate integrally with the rotor as a rotation center shaft of the rotor. The motor shaft <NUM> is configured to project from one end surface of the fan motor <NUM> in an axial direction, in this case, the end surface on the left side when seen from the front side of the indoor unit <NUM> but not to project from the other end surface of the fan motor <NUM> in the axial direction, in this case, the end surface on the right side when seen from the front side of the indoor unit <NUM>.

Also, as illustrated as an example in <FIG>, the fan motor <NUM> is adapted to be incorporated inside the machine chamber <NUM> in a state in which the fan motor <NUM> is held inside a holding case <NUM>. The entire holding case <NUM> is made of a resin material, for example. The holding case <NUM> has substantially a circular shape and accommodates the entire motor main body section <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM>. The holding case <NUM> is formed by a combination of a plurality of, in this case, two case forming members 201A and 201B.

At a part of the holding case <NUM> on one end side in the axial direction, in this case, the part on the left side when seen from the front side of the indoor unit <NUM>, a locking projection 202A provided at the case forming member 201A is locked at a locking frame portion 202B provided at the case forming member 201B. In this manner, a state in which the case forming member 201A and the case forming member 201B are assembled is maintained.

Also, at a part of the holding case <NUM> on the other end side in the axial direction, in this case, the part on the right side when seen from the front side of the indoor unit <NUM>, a screw hole portion 203A provided at the case forming member 201A and a screw hole portion 203B provided at the case forming member 201B are fastened together with a screw <NUM>. In this manner, the state in which the case forming member 201A and the case forming member 201B are assembled is maintained.

Also, a plurality of window portions <NUM> are provided in a circumferential surface of the holding case <NUM>. In this case, the window portions <NUM> are hole portions opened in a rectangular shape. Note that this can be implemented with the shape, the size, the number, and the like of the window portions <NUM> appropriately changed. The window portions <NUM> are in a state in which a side circumferential surface of the motor main body section <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM> is exposed therefrom. Therefore, the holding case <NUM> can discharge heat generated from the fan motor <NUM>, particularly from the motor main body section <NUM> at the time of driving to outside through the window portions <NUM>. Thus, the heat generated from the fan motor <NUM> is unlikely to be held inside the holding case <NUM>.

Also, a compressing section <NUM> is provided at a center location of one end surface of the holding case <NUM> in the axial direction, in this case, the end surface on the left side when seen from the front side of the indoor unit <NUM>. Preferably, the compressing section <NUM> is included integrally with the one end surface of the holding case <NUM> in the axial direction and projects in substantially a circular shape from the one end surface of the holding case <NUM> in the axial direction toward the left side. According to the invention, the compressing section <NUM> has a plurality slits. As in this case, four slits 206a in an outer edge portion thereof are provided. Preferably, the plurality of slits 206a are disposed at equal intervals at the outer edge portion of the compressing section <NUM>.

The compressing section 206a may have a plurality of, in this case, four compressing piece portions 206b between the slits 206a by having the plurality of slits 206a. The plurality of compressing piece portions 206b can be elastically deformed inward in the radial direction of the compressing section <NUM> in response to an application of external force. Also, pressing portions 206c for pressing vibration damping rubbers <NUM>, which will be described later, are provided at distal end portions of the plurality of compressing piece portions 206b. The plurality of pressing portions 206c are disposed in an annular shape around the motor shaft <NUM>.

Also, the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> are accommodated inside the holding case <NUM> along with the motor main body section <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM>. The vibration damping rubbers <NUM> are an example of the vibration damping member, and in this case, the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> are accommodated inside the compressing section <NUM> of the holding case <NUM>. The vibration damping rubbers <NUM> have an annular shape and are disposed inside the compressing section <NUM> to surround the motor shaft <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM>. The vibration damping rubbers <NUM> mainly have a function of absorbing vibration generated when the fan motor is driven.

Note that the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> are accommodated not only on the side of the motor shaft <NUM> but also on the opposite side of the motor shaft <NUM> inside the motor case <NUM>. In this case, the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> on the opposite side of the motor shaft <NUM> are formed of the same material as that of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> on the side of the motor shaft <NUM> and are formed into the same size, the same shape, and the same thickness. However, the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> on the opposite side of the motor shaft <NUM> may be formed of a different material from that of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> on the side of the motor shaft <NUM> or may be formed into a different size, a different shape, and a different thickness.

Also, as illustrated as an example in <FIG>, a partitioning wall section <NUM> that partitions the blowing passage <NUM> and the machine chamber <NUM> is provided inside the indoor unit main body section <NUM>. The partitioning wall section <NUM> is a wall section of multiple layers, in this case, double layers, and includes a blowing passage-side wall section 19A and a machine chamber-side wall section 19B. The blowing passage-side wall section 19A is provided with a shaft insertion hole 20A opened in a circular shape. The motor shaft <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM> is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 20A from the side of the machine chamber <NUM> toward the side of the blowing passage <NUM>. Then, a distal end portion of the motor shaft <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM> inserted into the shaft insertion hole 20A is coupled to the cross flow fan <NUM> inside the blowing passage <NUM>. In this manner, the fan motor <NUM> is configured to be able to rotate the cross flow fan <NUM> via the motor shaft <NUM>.

On the other hand, the machine chamber-side wall section 19B is provided with a fitting hole portion <NUM> opened in a circular shape. The fitting hole portion <NUM> is an example of the fitting portion. An opening diameter of the fitting hole portion <NUM> is larger than an opening diameter of the shaft insertion hole 20A. Also, the axial center of the fitting hole portion <NUM> is configured to conform to the axial center of the shaft insertion hole 20A. The compressing section <NUM> of the holding case <NUM> holding the motor main body section <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM> therein is fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>.

Here, as illustrated as an example in <FIG>, a size DA, that is, a diameter dimension DA of the fitting hole portion <NUM> is slightly smaller than a size DB of the compressing section <NUM> in a natural state in which the compressing section <NUM> is not fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>, in other words, the size DB, that is, the diameter dimension DB of the compressing section <NUM> in a state in which the plurality of compressing piece portions 206b are not elastically deformed. In this case, the size DA of the fitting hole portion <NUM> is at least slightly smaller than the size DB of the distal end portion of the compressing section <NUM> in the natural state. Note that it is only necessary for the size DA of the fitting hole portion <NUM> to be smaller than the diameter dimension of any site between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion of the compressing section <NUM> in the natural state.

With the aforementioned configuration, the plurality of compressing piece portions 206b are pressed against an inner circumferential surface of the fitting hole portion <NUM>, and the compressing piece portions 206b are elastically deformed inward in the radial direction, with the compressing section <NUM> of the holding case <NUM> being fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>. In this manner, the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> inside the compressing section <NUM> are pressed and compressed by the plurality of compressing piece portions 206b.

Also, a side circumferential surface of the compressing section <NUM>, that is, side surfaces of the plurality of compressing piece portions 206b may have a tapered shape that gradually becomes thinner toward the side of the fitting hole portion <NUM>, that is, from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion. Therefore, the plurality of compressing piece portions 206b are further elastically deformed inward in the radial direction with the compressing section <NUM> being fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>, and it is thus possible to further enhance compression strength of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM>.

According to the indoor unit <NUM> for air conditioner in the present embodiment, it is possible to compress the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> inside the compressing section <NUM> of the holding case <NUM> with the elastically deforming compressing section <NUM> with the compressing section <NUM> of the holding case <NUM> holding the motor main body section <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM> therein being fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to enhance fixing strength on the side of the motor shaft <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM> with the compressed vibration damping rubbers <NUM>. Therefore, according to the indoor unit <NUM>, it is possible to sufficiently fix the fan motor <NUM> not only at a part on the opposite side of the motor shaft <NUM> fixed with the screw <NUM> but also at a part of the holding case <NUM> on the side of the motor shaft <NUM> and to sufficiently curb vibration and noise generated when the fan motor <NUM> is driven, as compared with the configuration in the related art.

Also, according to the indoor unit <NUM>, the compressing section <NUM> may be included integrally with the holding case <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to fit the compressing section <NUM> into the fitting hole portion <NUM> at the same time with the attachment of the holding case <NUM> holding the motor main body section <NUM> of the fan motor <NUM> therein to the inside of the indoor unit main body section <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform the operation of attaching the fan motor <NUM> to the inside of the indoor unit main body section <NUM> and thus to improve manufacturability of the indoor unit <NUM>.

According to the indoor unit10 of the invention, the compressing section <NUM> has the plurality of slits 206a. With this configuration, it is possible to easily cause the compressing section <NUM> to be elastically deformed when the compressing section <NUM> is fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM> and to further efficiently perform the compression of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM>.

Also, according to the indoor unit <NUM>, the plurality of slits 206a may be disposed at equal intervals at the outer edge portion of the compressing section <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to uniformly perform the compression of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> with the compressing section <NUM> from the outer circumferential portions of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> and to perform absorption of vibration through the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> in an unbiased manner.

Also, according to the indoor unit <NUM>, the side circumferential surface of the compressing section <NUM>, that is, the surface abutting on the inner circumferential surface of the fitting hole portion <NUM> when the fan motor <NUM> is assembled may have a tapered shape that gradually becomes thinner toward the side of the fitting hole portion <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to enhance compression strength of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> with the compressing section <NUM> and to further reliably perform the compression of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> by the compressing section <NUM> being fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>.

Also, according to the indoor unit <NUM>, the size of the fitting hole portion <NUM> may be slightly smaller than the size of the compressing section <NUM> in the natural state in which the compressing section <NUM> is not fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to enhance compression strength of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> with the compressing section <NUM> and to further reliably perform the compression of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> by the compressing section <NUM> being fitted into the fitting hole portion <NUM>.

Note that the present embodiment is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment and can be variously modified or expanded without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the vibration damping member is not limited to the vibration damping rubbers configured of a rubber material, and various materials can be applied as long as the materials have a characteristic of absorbing vibration.

For example, it is only necessary for the compression of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> to be achieved by about <NUM> in a case in which the diameter of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> is <NUM>, for example. In this case, the compression rate of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> is <NUM>/<NUM>, which is about <NUM>%. Also, the compression rate of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM> can be set in some range, and for example, the compression rate is preferably set between about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%. In order to realize such a compression rate, it is only necessary to set a configuration of each component, such as the size and the shape of the compressing section <NUM>, the number and the interval of the slits 206a, the number, the shape, the size, and the disposition position of the compressing piece portions 206b, the size and the shape of the fitting hole portion <NUM>, and the size and the shape of the vibration damping rubbers <NUM>, for example.

Also, the number of the plurality of slits 206a provided at the compressing section <NUM> can be appropriately changed, and may be three or less, or may be five or more. Also, the intervals of the slits 206a may not be equal intervals, and a configuration in which intervals of the plurality of slits 206a are not uniform may also be employed. Moreover, the holding case <NUM> may be configured of a metal material, for example, at least as long as the compressing section <NUM> can be configured to be elastically deformable.

Also, the compressing section <NUM> is not limited to the circular shape and can be implemented with the shape appropriately changed to, for example, a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, an oval shape, or a polygonal shape. Also, the fitting hole portion <NUM> is not limited to the circular shape and can be implemented with the shape appropriately changed to, for example, a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, an oval shape, or a polygonal shape. In addition, the shapes of the compressing section <NUM> and the fitting hole portion <NUM> are not necessarily the same and may be different. Thus, a configuration in which a quadrangular compressing section <NUM> is fitted into a circular fitting hole portion <NUM>, for example, may be employed.

Claim 1:
An indoor unit (<NUM>) for air conditioner comprising:
a cross flow fan (<NUM>) configured to form an air flow of suctioning indoor air from an air inlet port (<NUM>) and blowing out the air from an air outlet port (<NUM>);
a fan motor (<NUM>) adapted to drive the cross flow fan (<NUM>);
a holding case (<NUM>) configured to hold the fan motor (<NUM>) therein;
a fitting portion (<NUM>) to which the holding case (<NUM>) holding the fan motor (<NUM>) therein is fitted;
a vibration damping member (<NUM>) that is accommodated inside the holding case (<NUM>) along with the fan motor (<NUM>) and adapted to absorb vibration generated when the fan motor (<NUM>) is driven;
a compressing section (<NUM>) that adapted to compress the vibration damping member (<NUM>) inside the holding case (<NUM>) with the holding case (<NUM>) holding the fan motor (<NUM>) therein being fitted to the fitting portion (<NUM>) ;
characterized in that
the compressing section (<NUM>) having slits (206a).