Patent Description:
As a ceiling embedded air conditioner of this type, there is conventionally known a ceiling embedded air conditioner <NUM> that is made up, as shown in <FIG>, of a casing <NUM> and a decoration panel <NUM> provided at a bottom surface of the casing <NUM> and including a plurality of air outlet vents <NUM>, an air inlet vent <NUM>, and air direction deflector plates <NUM> (refer to, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>, that is, <CIT>).

<FIG> is a partially cross-sectional view of the conventional ceiling embedded air conditioner described in the patent document described above taken along a line X-X' in <FIG>, showing a portion near an air outlet vent, which is in use, in the decoration panel. <FIG> is a partially cross-sectional view of the conventional ceiling embedded air conditioner described in the patent document described above taken along the line X-X' in <FIG>, showing a portion near an air outlet vent, which is not in use, in the decoration panel.

As shown in <FIG>, an internal air path 102a, an outlet air cut-off member <NUM>, which is provided on an upstream side of the air outlet vent <NUM> which is not in use, and a substantially flat air direction deflector plate <NUM>, which is provided near a surface of the decoration panel <NUM> at the air outlet vent <NUM> so as to close totally the air outlet vent <NUM> when it is not in use, are provided near each of the air outlet vents <NUM> in the decoration panel <NUM>, whereby whether the air outlet vents <NUM> are in use or not can easily be determined from an external appearance of the decoration panel <NUM>, and the direction of air can be adjusted at each of the air outlet vents <NUM>. Thus, the comfortableness for a person and a place can be improved.

In the conventional configuration described above, however, in a partial cross section near the air outlet vent <NUM>, which is in use, in the decoration panel <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, when the air direction deflector plate <NUM> opens at a small angle, since an air flow W that passes through the internal air path 102a does not flow along a surface Z (a front surface portion) of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> that is seen from an interior of a room but flows separate from the surface Z, for example, when a cooling operation is performed, there is caused a problem in that condensation is generated on the surface Z due to a difference in temperature between a temperature of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> that is cooled by cold air and inside air W of high temperature and high humidity.

Patent Literature <NUM> (<CIT>) discloses an air conditioning machine having a main body, accommodated in a ceiling, and a panel on which an air outlet port and an air suction port are disposed close to each other. A projection is provided on the inside surface of the air outlet port of a chamber so as to blockade <NUM>% or more of a width of an outlet passage across the whole area of lengthwise direction of the outlet passage.

Patent Literature <NUM> (<CIT>) discloses an air conditioner installed on a ceiling and having an indoor unit provided with a plurality of supply openings composed of an inner air trunk wall and an outer air trunk wall, and faced to a lower face, and a suction opening. The air conditioner further comprises vanes respectively mounted on the supply openings for deflecting the direction of the air supplied indoors and having a bent portion bent in the direction separating from the inner air trunk wall at upstream-side portion cassette embedded air conditioner for preventing dew condensation on an outlet at a time of cooling operation by improving a vane (wind deflector) shape and an outlet shape.

With a view to solving the problem inherent in the related art ceiling embedded air conditioner, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ceiling embedded air conditioner as defined in claim <NUM>, including, inter alia, an air outlet vent, and in the ceiling embedded air conditioner, the air outlet vent includes an inner air path and an outer air path, the inner air path is made up of a flat surface portion on an upstream side and a curved surface portion on a downstream side, and a plurality of projections are provided at an end portion of the curved surface portion.

As a result, an air flow colliding with the projection at the air outlet vent generates a longitudinal vortex and flows along a front surface portion (a lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate.

Consequently, as in the ceiling embedded air conditioner, an air flow flowing in a substantially vertical direction from an upstream of the air outlet vent is allowed to let out while being guided from the inner air path in the air outlet vent towards the air direction deflector plate.

Thus, even though an opening area opened by the air direction deflector plate in the air outlet vent is small, that is, the air direction deflector plate opens at a small angle, the air is allowed to flow without separating from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate.

With the ceiling embedded air conditioner of the present invention, even though the air direction deflector plate opens at a small angle during a cooling operation, the air is allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by air flowing separate from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate during such a cooling operation.

The invention provides a ceiling embedded air conditioner as defined in appended claim <NUM>.

As a result, the air flow colliding against the projection at the air outlet vent generates a longitudinal vortex and flows along the surface of the air direction deflector plate.

Consequently, as in the ceiling embedded air conditioner, an air flow flowing in a substantially vertical direction from an upstream of the air outlet vent is allowed to let out while being guided from the inner air path in the air outlet vent towards the air direction deflector plate, and even though an opening area opened by the air direction deflector plate in the air outlet vent is small, that is, the air direction deflector plate opens at a small angle, the air is allowed to flow without separating from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate.

Consequently, even though the air direction deflector plate opens at a small angle during a cooling operation, the air is allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by air flowing separate from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate during such a cooling operation.

According to the present invention as defined in claim <NUM>, a surface of each of the plurality of projections includes a plurality of irregular portions that are smaller than the plurality of projections.

As a result, resistance generated when the air flow collides against the projection is reduced, and a fine vortex generated near a wall surface of the projection keeps the air flow flowing along the projection, whereby the longitudinal vortex generated on the upstream side is prevented from being combined with a longitudinal vortex generated adjacent thereto.

Consequently, in particular, even though an air velocity is fast, the longitudinal vortex generated at the projection is ensured to arrive at the air direction deflector plate while reducing the resistance generated by the projection to thereby generate an air flow that flows towards the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate.

Thus, in particular, even though the air velocity is fast, the air flow is allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by the air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate during a cooling operation.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of projections has an oval shape in which a major axis constitutes a flowing direction when the projection is seen from a normal direction thereof.

As a result, by adopting the oval shape in which the major axis constitutes the flowing direction, compared with a circular shape, a smaller scaled longitudinal vortex is generated when the air flow collides against the projection, and the air flow is guided by the major axis of the projection.

Consequently, in particular, even with a low air volume in which a longitudinal vortex is hardly generated, the longitudinal vortex generated at the projection is ensured to be conveyed to the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate.

Thus, even though the air direction deflector plate opens at a small angle during a cooling operation particularly with air flowing weakly at a low air velocity, the air is still allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by the air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate during a cooling operation.

Hereinafter, referring to drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The present invention is not limited by those embodiments.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a ceiling embedded air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the ceiling embedded air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along a line A-A' in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a partially sectional perspective view and a partially enlarged view of an air outlet vent, which is in use, of the ceiling embedded air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

<FIG> shows a partially sectional perspective view and a partially enlarged view near the air outlet vent in a decoration panel of the ceiling embedded air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the cross section, taken along the line A-A' in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, a ceiling embedded air conditioner <NUM> includes a casing <NUM> and a decoration panel <NUM> provided at a bottom surface of the casing <NUM> and including a plurality of air outlet vents <NUM>, an air inlet vent <NUM>, and air direction deflector plates <NUM>.

In addition, in <FIG>, installed in an interior of the ceiling embedded air conditioner <NUM> are a centrifugal air blower <NUM>, a motor <NUM> for driving the centrifugal air blower <NUM>, the air inlet vent <NUM> made up of a grille 4a and a filter 4b, an orifice <NUM> configured to induct air flows W flowing in from the air inlet vent <NUM> into the centrifugal air blower <NUM>, a heat exchanger <NUM> installed in such a manner as to surround the centrifugal air blower <NUM>, a drain pan <NUM> supporting the heat exchanger <NUM> and forming parts of internal air paths 3a in the air outlet vents <NUM> on a side of the casing <NUM>, and an internal insulation material <NUM> installed on an inner surface of the casing <NUM> and forming parts of the internal air paths 3a in the air outlet vents <NUM>.

The ceiling embedded air conditioner <NUM> is installed in a recessed portion on a ceiling <NUM> in such a manner as to be suspended from the ceiling <NUM> with suspension bolts <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the air outlet vent <NUM> includes an inner air path <NUM>, an outer air path <NUM>, the air direction deflector plate <NUM>, and a motor <NUM> for rotating the air direction deflector plate <NUM>, and the inner air path <NUM> is made up of a flat surface portion 13a on an upstream side and a curved surface portion 13b on a downstream side. Then, a plurality of projections <NUM> are provided at an end portion of the curved surface portion 13b, and each projection <NUM> has a substantially oval shape in which a major axis constitutes a flowing direction of the air flow W and includes irregular portions 15a provided on a surface thereof, the irregular portions 15a being smaller than the projection <NUM>.

Then, as shown in <FIG>, the air direction deflector plate <NUM> is made up of a front surface portion 5a, a rear surface portion 5b, and a rotational shaft portion 5c to which the motor <NUM> is connected.

An operation and a function of the ceiling embedded air conditioner configured as described above will be described as follows.

At first, as shown in <FIG>, when the centrifugal air blower <NUM> is rotated by a motor <NUM>, an air flow W is generated by a difference in pressure between an inside of a room (the atmospheric pressure) and an interior of the ceiling embedded air conditioner <NUM>, and the air flow is inducted into the centrifugal air blower <NUM> by flowing sequentially through the grille 4a, the filter 4b and the orifice <NUM> in that order. Thereafter, the air flow W let out from the centrifugal air blower <NUM> is heated by the heat exchanger <NUM> for a heating operation and is cooled by the heat exchanger <NUM> for a cooling operation, whereafter the air flow W passes through the internal air path 3a to be let out into the inside of the room from the air outlet vent <NUM> that is opened as a result of the rotation of the air direction deflector plate <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the air direction deflector plate <NUM> changes not only an opening area in the air outlet vent <NUM> but also an air blowing direction as a result of the motor <NUM> being rotated in a rotational direction C.

Then, when the opening area opened by the air direction deflector plate <NUM> is small as in a cooling operation, an air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by then is changed into an air flow flowing along the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by increasing an air flow flowing near the curved surface portion 13b by generating a longitudinal vortex at each projection <NUM>.

Thus, as has been described above, in this embodiment, as a result of the plurality of projections <NUM> being provided at the end portion of the curved surface portion 13b, when the opening area opened by the air direction deflector plate <NUM> is small, an air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by then is changed into an air flow flowing along the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by increasing an air flow flowing near the curved surface portion 13b by generating a longitudinal vortex at each projection <NUM>.

Thus, even though the air direction deflector plate <NUM> opens at a small angle during a cooling operation, the air flow is allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate <NUM>, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by separation of the air flow from the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> during a cooling operation.

Additionally, since force necessary to change the direction of the air flow W is proportional to flow velocity, a flow velocity Vw in this embodiment becomes in the order of Vw = <NUM> to <NUM> for a width L of the air outlet vent <NUM> in <FIG>.

Consequently, the projection <NUM> in this embodiment is given a substantially oval shape in which a major axis constitutes a flowing direction, and for the width L of the air outlet vent <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a size of the projection <NUM> becomes such that a major axis L1 is <NUM> to <NUM>, a minor axis L2 is <NUM> to <NUM>, a height h is <NUM> to <NUM>, and an interval P at which the projections <NUM> are provided in a width direction of the air outlet vent <NUM> is <NUM> to <NUM> for the width L of the air outlet vent <NUM>, whereby the flowing direction of the air flow is changed so that the air flow is allowed to flow along the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by increasing the air flow flowing near the curved surface portion 13b by generating a longitudinal vortex by the projection <NUM> without increasing excessively the resistance of the air flow by the projection <NUM>.

In the invention, since the plurality of irregular portions 15a that are smaller than the plurality of projections are provided on the surface of the projection <NUM>, resistance generated when the air flow collides against the projection <NUM> is reduced, and the air flow is kept flowing along the projection <NUM> by a fine vortex generated in the vicinity of a wall surface of the projection <NUM>, whereby a longitudinal vortex generated on an upstream side is prevented from being combined with a longitudinal vortex generated adjacent thereto.

Consequently, in particular, even when the air velocity is fast, the longitudinal vortex generated at the projection <NUM> is ensured to arrive at the air direction deflector plate <NUM> while reducing the resistance by the projection <NUM>, whereby an air flow is generated which flows towards the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM>.

Thus, in particular, even when air flows quickly at a fast air velocity, an air flow is allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate <NUM>, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by the separation of the air flow from the front surface portion (a lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> during a cooling operation.

Additionally, in this embodiment, the projection <NUM> is given the substantially oval shape in which the major axis constitutes the flowing direction, whereby compared with a circular shape, a smaller scaled vortex is generated when the air flow collides against the projection <NUM>, and the air flow is guided by the major axis.

Consequently, in particular, even with a low air volume in which a longitudinal vortex is hardly generated, the longitudinal vortex generated at the projection <NUM> is ensured to be conveyed to the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the intervals P at which the projections <NUM> are provided are made to be irregular intervals, whereby longitudinal vortexes generated by the projections <NUM> are made uneven, and a peak in a specific frequency band of noise generated at the air outlet vent <NUM> is suppressed, thereby making it possible to reduce the noise.

In this embodiment, the number of projections <NUM> is not particularly limited, provided that the intervals P are maintained, and longitudinal vortexes are generated at the projections <NUM> by an amount of air let out from the air outlet vent <NUM> to increase an air flow flowing in the vicinity of the curved surface portion 13b without increasing excessively a pressure loss of an air flow at each of the projections <NUM>, and the number of air flows whose flowing directions are changed so as to flow along the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> is changed.

<FIG> shows a partially sectional perspective view and a partially enlarged view of an air outlet vent, which is in use, of a ceiling embedded air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Like reference signs will be given to like or corresponding portions to those of the first embodiment, so that part of a description of the second embodiment is omitted.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of projections <NUM> are provided at intervals P at an end portion of a curved surface portion 13b over a distance of <NUM> or smaller from opposite sides of an air outlet vent <NUM>.

When an opening area opened by an air direction deflector plate <NUM> is small as in a cooling operation and an air velocity is slow, the Coanda effect (inertial force along a curved surface) at the curved surface portion 13b becomes weak, whereby an air flow flowing along a front surface portion (a lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> is hardly generated.

Then, the flowing direction of the air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by then is changed in such a way that the air flow flows along the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by increasing an air flow flowing in the vicinity of the curved surface portion 13b by generating longitudinal vortexes at the projections <NUM> provided on the curved surface portion 13b to lie near both the ends of the air outlet vent <NUM>.

Thus, as has been described heretofore, in this embodiment, since the projections <NUM> are provided at the intervals P at the end portion of the curved surface portion 13b over the distance of <NUM> or smaller from the opposite sides of the air outlet vent <NUM>, a negative pressure area is generated in an area where the air velocity is slow, whereby an air flow is generated which flows towards the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM>.

Thus, in particular, even when an air flow is weak with a slow air velocity, the air flow is allowed to flow along the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM>, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by the air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> as in a cooling operation.

Additionally, since force necessary to change the direction of the air flow W is proportional to flow velocity, a flow velocity Vw in this embodiment becomes in the order of Vw = <NUM> to <NUM> for the width L of the air outlet vent <NUM> in <FIG>.

Consequently, the projection <NUM> in this embodiment is given a substantially oval shape in which a major axis constitutes a flowing direction, and for the width L of the air outlet vent <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a size of the projection <NUM> becomes such that a major axis L1 is <NUM> to <NUM>, a minor axis L2 is <NUM> to <NUM>, a height h is <NUM> to <NUM>, and an interval P at which the projections <NUM> are provided in a width direction of the air outlet vent <NUM> is <NUM> to <NUM> for the width L of the air outlet vent <NUM>, whereby the flowing direction of the air flow is changed so that the air flow is allowed to flow along the front surface portion 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> by increasing the air flow flowing in the vicinity of the curved surface portion 13b by generating a longitudinal vortex by the projection <NUM> without increasing excessively the resistance of the air flow by the projection <NUM>.

In this embodiment, since a plurality of irregular portions 15a that are smaller than the plurality of projections are provided on the surface of the projection <NUM>, the air flow is kept flowing along the projection <NUM> by a fine vortex generated in the vicinity of a wall surface of the projection <NUM>, whereby a longitudinal vortex generated on an upstream side is prevented from being combined with a longitudinal vortex generated adjacent thereto.

Consequently, the longitudinal vortex generated at the projection <NUM> is ensured to arrive at the air direction deflector plate <NUM> while reducing the resistance by the projection <NUM>, whereby an air flow is generated which flows towards the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM>.

Thus, the air flow is allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate <NUM>, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by the air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM> during a cooling operation.

In this embodiment, since the projection <NUM> is given the substantially oval shape in which the major axis constitutes the flowing direction, compared with a circular shape, a smaller scaled vortex is generated when the air flow collides against the projection <NUM>, and the air flow is guided by the major axis of the projection.

Consequently, in particular, even with a low air amount which hardly generates a longitudinal vortex, the longitudinal vortex generated at the projection <NUM> is ensured to be conveyed to the front surface portion (the lower surface side) 5a of the air direction deflector plate <NUM>.

Thus, in particular, even when the air flow is weak at a slow air velocity with the air direction deflector plate <NUM> opening at a small angle as in a cooling operation, the air flow is allowed to flow along the air direction deflector plate, whereby the generation of condensation can be prevented which would otherwise be caused by the air flow flowing separate from the front surface portion (the lower surface side) of the air direction deflector plate as in a cooling operation.

Claim 1:
A ceiling embedded air conditioner comprising a casing (<NUM>) embedded in a ceiling, a decoration panel (<NUM>) provided at a bottom surface of the casing, an air inlet vent (<NUM>) provided in the decoration panel to let inside air in an inside of a room into an interior of the casing, an air outlet vent (<NUM>) configured to let the air into the interior of the casing from the air inlet vent out into the inside of the room, and an air direction deflector plate (<NUM>) provided at the air outlet vent, configured to rotate around a rotational shaft (5c) at an end of the air direction deflector plate to control a direction of the air,
wherein the air outlet vent includes an inner air path (<NUM>) and an outer air path (<NUM>),
wherein the inner air path is made up of a flat surface portion (13a) on an upstream side and a curved surface portion (13b) on a downstream side, and
wherein a plurality of projections (<NUM>) are provided at an end portion of the curved surface portion so that an air flow colliding with the plurality of projections generates a longitudinal vortex and flows along a front surface portion (5a) which is provided to the air direction deflector plate at a lower surface side of the air direction deflector plate,
characterized in that
a surface of each of the plurality of projections comprises a plurality of irregular portions (15a) that are smaller than the plurality of projections.