Patent Description:
For example, <CIT> describes an air conditioner including an outdoor unit provided with a power source configured to supply AC voltage. The power source is connected with a functional component such as a fan configured to operate in cooperation with the outdoor unit, to allow supply of AC voltage from the power source to the functional component.

<CIT> discloses an air conditioner with a service power supply.

<CIT> discloses an air conditioner equipped with solar cells that generate electricity. The solar cells are controlled so that the electrical power may be either AC power or direct current power.

<CIT> discloses a DC outlet. In a modification, an AC/DC converter is further provided for the adapter to configure an AC compatible adapter that can be connected to the current AC outlet.

In a case where the functional component is connected to the power source configured to supply AC voltage and is configured to be actuated by AC voltage, there may be demands for replacement of the functional component with a different functional component configured to be actuated by DC voltage. It is necessary to prepare a dedicated conversion circuit configured to convert AC voltage to DC voltage in this case, failing to allow easy replacement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner and a method of replacing a functional component, which allow easy connection of the functional component configured to be actuated by DC voltage to a power source unit configured to supply AC voltage.

According to the method of replacing the functional component thus configured, the second functional component configured to be actuated by DC voltage can be connected via the general-purpose converter to the wiring plug-in coupler when the first functional component configured to be actuated by AC voltage is replaced with the wiring plug-in coupler. The second functional component configured to be actuated by DC voltage can thus be easily connected to the power source unit configured to supply AC voltage.

An embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to the embodiment. An air conditioner <NUM> principally includes a chiller unit <NUM> and a fan coil unit (indoor unit) <NUM>. The chiller unit <NUM> is disposed outdoors and is configured to cool or heat a heating medium. The fan coil unit <NUM> is of a ceiling embedded type to be installed in an indoor ceiling wall <NUM>.

The fan coil unit <NUM> causes heat exchange between the heating medium cooled or heated in the chiller unit <NUM> and indoor air to adjust indoor temperature and the like. The fan coil unit <NUM> is of an indoor power receiving type, and is supplied with voltage from an AC power source (not depicted) installed indoors. The fan coil unit <NUM> includes a case <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, a heat exchanger <NUM>, and an electric component box <NUM>.

The case <NUM> is disposed to penetrate the ceiling wall <NUM>. The case <NUM> accommodates the fan <NUM> and the heat exchanger <NUM>. The case <NUM> has a lower surface provided with an intake port 5a allowing indoor air to be imported into the case <NUM>, and a blow-out port 5b allowing air obtained after heat exchange to blow indoors.

The fan <NUM> is disposed in the case <NUM> and above the intake port 5a. The fan <NUM> includes a driving fan motor 6a. When the fan motor 6a is driven, the fan <NUM> generates an air flow of importing indoor air from the intake port 5a into the case <NUM>. When the fan motor 6a is driven, the fan <NUM> generates an air flow of blowing out, from the blow-out port 5b, indoor air that has been imported into the case <NUM> and has passed the heat exchanger <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> causes heat exchange between indoor air imported into the case <NUM> by the fan <NUM> and the heating medium.

The electric component box <NUM> is provided outside the case <NUM>. The electric component box <NUM> accommodates a printed circuit board <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> is equipped with a power source circuit <NUM> connected to the AC power source, and a control circuit <NUM> (see <FIG>). The power source circuit <NUM> functions as a power source unit configured to supply AC voltage. The control circuit <NUM> will be described in detail later.

The fan coil unit <NUM> is provided with a functional component configured to operate in cooperation with the air conditioner <NUM>. The present embodiment provides a drain pump <NUM> as the functional component disposed in the case <NUM>. The drain pump <NUM> discharges drain water generated in the heat exchanger <NUM> during cooling operation of the air conditioner <NUM>. The drain pump <NUM> is actuated upon detection by a first float switch <NUM> or a second float switch <NUM> to be described later. The drain pump <NUM> is actuated by DC voltage. The drain pump <NUM> has rated voltage of <NUM> V or the like.

<FIG> is a circuit diagram of the power source circuit <NUM>. The power source circuit <NUM> includes AC wiring <NUM> that is supplied with AC voltage of <NUM> V or <NUM> V from the AC power source. The AC wiring <NUM> is constituted by a first line 11p and a second line 11n. The AC power source is connected to right ends in <FIG> of the first line 11p and the second line 11n. The first line 11p and the second line 11n interpose a first relay coil <NUM>, a second relay coil <NUM>, a contact point (b contact point) <NUM> of the first relay coil <NUM>, and a contact point (b contact point) <NUM> of the second relay coil <NUM>, each of which is connected in parallel.

A contact point (b contact point) <NUM> of the first float switch <NUM> is connected between the first line 11p and the first relay coil <NUM>. The first float switch <NUM> detects a state where a drain pan <NUM> (see <FIG>) configured to receive drain water generated in the heat exchanger <NUM> has a water level having reached a predetermined reference water level. A contact point (b contact point) <NUM> of the second float switch <NUM> is connected between the first line 11p and the second relay coil <NUM>. The second float switch <NUM> detects a state where the water level of the drain pan <NUM> has reached an abnormal water level higher than the reference water level.

An electrical outlet <NUM> as a wiring plug-in coupler is connected between a joint portion P1 of the first relay coil <NUM> and a joint portion P2 of the contact point <NUM> on the second line 11n. For example, the electrical outlet <NUM> is connected to a closed-end connection terminal or a terminal block (not depicted) provided on the second line 11n. The electrical outlet <NUM> is provided for supply of voltage to the drain pump <NUM>. The electrical outlet <NUM> is configured to receive AC voltage from the power source circuit <NUM> and supply AC voltage of AC <NUM> V or AC <NUM> V.

The electrical outlet <NUM> is connected with a converter <NUM> configured to covert AC voltage to DC voltage. <FIG> depicts the electrical outlet <NUM> and the converter <NUM> separately from each other for convenience. The converter <NUM> is a general-purpose AC-DC converter that is commercially available. The converter <NUM> includes an input terminal 21a configured to receive AC voltage, and an output terminal 21b configured to output DC voltage. The input terminal 21a is constituted by a plug to be inserted to the electrical outlet <NUM>. The output terminal 21b is constituted by an output port of the universal serial bus (USB) standard as a general-purpose connection standard.

The output terminal 21b of the converter <NUM> is connected with a power source connector <NUM> of the drain pump <NUM>. <FIG> depicts the output terminal 21b and the power source connector <NUM> separately from each other for convenience. The power source connector <NUM> is constituted by a connector according to the USB standard.

In this configuration, the first float switch <NUM> is in a non-detecting state of not detecting the reference water level if the water level of the drain pan <NUM> is less than the reference water level during cooling operation of the air conditioner <NUM>. When the first float switch <NUM> is in the non-detecting state, the contact point <NUM> of the first float switch <NUM> is on and the first relay coil <NUM> is excited, so that the contact point <NUM> of the first relay coil <NUM> is kept off. In this state, the electrical outlet <NUM> is not supplied with AC voltage, and the drain pump <NUM> is thus not actuated.

When the water level of the drain pan <NUM> reaches the reference water level, the first float switch <NUM> detects the reference water level to turn off the contact point <NUM> of the first float switch <NUM>. When the contact point <NUM> is turned off, the first relay coil <NUM> is degaussed to turn on the contact point <NUM> of the first relay coil <NUM>. When the contact point <NUM> is turned on, the electrical outlet <NUM> is supplied with AC voltage, so that the drain pump <NUM> is supplied with DC voltage via the converter <NUM>. Accordingly, the drain pump <NUM> is actuated to discharge drain water in the drain pan <NUM>.

The second float switch <NUM> detects the state where the water level of the drain pan <NUM> reaches the abnormal water level if the drain pump <NUM> is not actuated due to malfunction or the like of the first float switch <NUM> when the water level of the drain pan <NUM> reaches the reference water level. Upon detection by the second float switch <NUM>, the contact point <NUM> of the second float switch <NUM> is turned off. When the contact point <NUM> is turned off, the second relay coil <NUM> is degaussed to turn on the contact point <NUM> of the second relay coil <NUM>. When the contact point <NUM> is turned on, the electrical outlet <NUM> is supplied with AC voltage, so that the drain pump <NUM> is supplied with DC voltage via the converter <NUM>. Accordingly, the drain pump <NUM> is actuated to discharge drain water in the drain pan <NUM>.

The control circuit <NUM> is exemplarily constituted by a bimetal thermostat and a relay. The control circuit <NUM> functions as a control unit configured to start or stop supply of AC voltage to the electrical outlet <NUM> in cooperation with the air conditioner <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> according to the present embodiment functions as a control unit configured to start or stop supply of AC voltage to the electrical outlet <NUM> in cooperation with control of the fan <NUM> in the fan coil unit <NUM>.

Specifically, the control circuit <NUM> controls driving of the fan motor 6a, and starts supply of AC voltage to the electrical outlet <NUM> when driving the fan motor 6a. The control circuit <NUM> stops supply of AC voltage to the electrical outlet <NUM> when stopping driving of the fan motor 6a.

<FIG> is a circuit diagram of the power source circuit <NUM> not provided with the electrical outlet <NUM>. The power source circuit <NUM> depicted in <FIG> is provided with a drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by AC voltage. The drain pump <NUM> is connected between the joint portion P1 and the joint portion P2 on the second line 11n. For example, the drain pump <NUM> is connected to the closed-end connection terminal or the terminal block (not depicted) provided on the second line 11n.

The power source circuit <NUM> provided with the drain pump <NUM> (a first functional component) configured to be actuated by AC voltage is often included in the existing fan coil unit <NUM>. The drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by AC voltage is lower in pump efficiency than the drain pump (a second functional component) <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage. Accordingly, in the existing fan coil unit <NUM>, the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by AC voltage is replaced with the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage in some cases for improvement in pump efficiency. Described hereinafter is a method of replacing the drain pump.

From a state depicted in <FIG>, the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by AC voltage is replaced with the electrical outlet <NUM>. Specifically, after the drain pump <NUM> connected to the second line 11n is detached, the electrical outlet <NUM> is disposed at a site having been provided with the drain pump <NUM>, and the electrical outlet <NUM> is connected to the second line 11n as depicted in <FIG>.

Subsequently, the input terminal 21a of the converter <NUM> configured to convert AC voltage to DC voltage is connected to the electrical outlet <NUM> as depicted in <FIG>. Thereafter, the power source connector <NUM> of the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage is connected to the output terminal 21b of the converter <NUM>. The drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by AC voltage and provided on the power source circuit <NUM> in the existing fan coil unit <NUM> can thus be replaced with the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage.

In the air conditioner <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the electrical outlet <NUM> is connected to the power source circuit <NUM> configured to supply AC voltage, and the general-purpose converter <NUM> configured to convert AC voltage to DC voltage can thus be connected to the electrical outlet <NUM>. The converter <NUM> can be connected with the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage. The drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage can thus be easily connected to the power source circuit <NUM> configured to supply AC voltage via the electrical outlet <NUM> and the converter <NUM>.

The control circuit <NUM> in the fan coil unit <NUM> starts or stops supply of AC voltage to the electrical outlet <NUM> on the power source circuit <NUM> in cooperation with the fan <NUM>. When the drain pump <NUM> is connected to the electrical outlet <NUM> via the converter <NUM>, the drain pump <NUM> can thus be actuated in cooperation with the fan <NUM>.

The electrical outlet <NUM> can be connected with the converter <NUM> including the output terminal 21b according to the USB standard as the general-purpose connection standard. The drain pump <NUM> can thus be easily connected to the electrical outlet <NUM> via the output terminal 21b according to the USB standard, in the converter <NUM>.

In the method of replacing the drain pump according to the present embodiment, the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by AC voltage is replaced with the electrical outlet <NUM> on the power source circuit <NUM>. The electrical outlet <NUM> thus having replaced the drain pump <NUM> is connected with the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage via the general-purpose converter <NUM>. The drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage can thus be easily connected to the power source circuit <NUM> configured to supply AC voltage via the electrical outlet <NUM> and the converter <NUM>. Accordingly, the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by AC voltage and exerting relatively low pump efficiency can be easily replaced with the drain pump <NUM> configured to be actuated by DC voltage and exerting relatively high pump efficiency.

The embodiment described above provides the air conditioner <NUM> including the chiller unit <NUM> and the fan coil unit <NUM>. The present invention may alternatively provide an air conditioner including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit configured to adjust indoor temperature and the like through vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation. In this case, a functional component configured to supply DC voltage may operate in cooperation with the indoor unit or may operate in cooperation with the outdoor unit.

Examples of the functional component configured to operate in cooperation with the indoor unit include a drain pump, a louver motor, and an air quality sensor. Examples of the functional component configured to operate in cooperation with the outdoor unit include a GPS communication device. The control circuit (control unit) may be configured to start or stop supply of AC voltage to the wiring plug-in coupler in cooperation with control of the outdoor unit. With the functional component configured to operate in cooperation with the outdoor unit, the control circuit (control unit) may be configured to start or stop supply of AC voltage to the wiring plug-in coupler in cooperation with control of the outdoor unit. The control circuit should not be limited to the configuration according to the above embodiment, and may alternatively be constituted by a microcomputer including a CPU, a memory, and the like. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit may be of the indoor power receiving type or an outdoor power receiving type.

The wiring plug-in coupler should not be limited to the electrical outlet <NUM>, and may alternatively be an attachment plug, a code connector body, a multiple power strip, or the like.

Claim 1:
An air conditioner comprising:
a power source unit (<NUM>) configured to supply AC voltage;
a second functional component (<NUM>) configured to be actuated by DC voltage in cooperation with the air conditioner (<NUM>);
a wiring plug-in coupler (<NUM>) connected to the power source unit (<NUM>) for supply of voltage to the second functional component (<NUM>) configured to be actuated by DC voltage in cooperation with the air conditioner (<NUM>);
characterized in that:
the air conditioner (<NUM>) includes a converter (<NUM>) configured to convert AC voltage to DC voltage and supply the second functional component (<NUM>) with the DC voltage,
the wiring plug-in coupler (<NUM>) is configured to be connected with an input terminal (21a) of the converter (<NUM>), and
the wiring plug-in coupler (<NUM>) is connected to a portion of the power source unit (<NUM>) and is adapted for replacing a first functional component (<NUM>) configured to be actuated by AC voltage in cooperation with the air conditioner (<NUM>).