Patent Description:
A floor-standing air conditioner provided with blow-out ports in upper end portion and a lower end portion of a housing is known (see, for example, <CIT>). Such a floor-standing air conditioner includes an upper fan that sends air to the blow-out port located at the upper end portion of the housing and a lower fan that sends air to the blow-out port located at the lower end portion of the housing. An upper damper can open or close an air flow path between the blow-out port at the upper end portion of the housing and the upper fan. On the other hand, a lower damper can open or close an air flow path between the blow-out port located at the lower end of the housing and the lower fan.

In the floor-standing air conditioner having the above-described configuration, when air is blown toward an upper side of a room, the upper fan is driven with the upper damper open and the lower damper closed. On the other hand, when air is blown toward a lower side of the room, the lower fan is driven with the upper damper closed and the lower damper open. <CIT> discloses a floor-standing air conditioner having a discharge flow path conversion device for varying the direction of the air discharged. <CIT> is directed to an air conditioner to make the temperature in the airconditioned room uniform by setting the appropriate outlet positions. Such air conditioner is of the floor-standing type and has two fans, two dampers and two blow-out ports. <CIT> is directed to a ventilation control method to prevent generation of abnormal sound upon switching fans. The air conditioner disclosed therein has two fans, two blow-out ports, but no dampers.

In the above-described known floor-standing air conditioner, however, in order to switch from the air blowing to the upper side of the room to the air blowing to the lower side of the room, the lower fan is driven after the lower damper is opened, for example. Therefore, during the operation of opening the lower damper, the lower fan cannot send air to the blow-out port located at the lower end portion of the housing. This in turn makes an air blowing capacity lower during the blow-out port switching.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a floor-standing air conditioner capable of preventing an air blowing capacity from decreasing during blow-out port switching.

The present invention provides, as a solution to the above-described problems, a floor-standing air conditioner including a casing including a first flow path connected to a first blow-out port positioned at an upper portion and a second flow path connected to a second blow-out port positioned at a lower portion, a fan that blows out air from at least one of the first blow-out port and/or the second blow-out port, a first member that opens or closes the first flow path, a second member that opens or closes the second flow path, and a control unit that controls the fan, the first member, and the second member, in which the control unit is configured to perform a first blowing process of blowing out air from the first blow-out port with the first flow path opened by the first member and the second flow path closed by the second member, and a second blowing process of blowing out air from the second blow-out port with the first flow path closed by the first member and the second flow path opened by the second member, and perform a blow-out port switching process of blowing out air from both the first blow-out port and the second blow-out port during switching between the first blowing process and the second blowing process.

This configuration makes it possible to prevent an air blowing capacity from decreasing during blow-out port switching.

The air blowing out from the second blow-out port during the second blowing process is preferably larger in maximum airflow volume than the air blowing out from the first blow-out port during the first blowing process.

This configuration makes it possible to blow out conditioned air far along a floor when the volume of air blowing from the second blow-out port increases.

The blow-out port switching process is preferably made lower in number of rotations of the fan than the first blowing process or the second blowing process.

This configuration makes it possible to prevent airflow noise from being generated by the first member or the second member.

The first member or the second member is preferably a damper that rotates between an open position on an upstream side of an air flow and a closed position on a downstream side of the air flow.

This configuration makes it possible to keep the damper in the closed state with pressure produced by the air blowing out toward the first blow-out port or the second blow-out port of the casing.

The control unit is preferably configured to start to move the first member or the second member from the closed position to the open position after reducing the number of rotations of the fan.

This configuration makes it possible to reduce air resistance which the first member or the second member receives. This allows the first member or the second member easy to move. Furthermore, the configuration makes it possible to prevent airflow noise from being generated.

The control unit is preferably configured to perform the blow-out port switching process of changing the number of rotations of the fan from low output to high output upon completion of movement of the first member or the second member to the open position.

This configuration makes it possible to prevent the first member and the second member from receiving large air resistance during opening or closing of the first member. This allows the second member to prevent the opening or closing operation from being obstructed.

Note that the following description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, applications of the present invention, or uses of the present invention. In addition, all the drawings give schematic illustrations in which dimensional ratios and the like are different from actual ratios.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant circuit RC provided in an air conditioner of an embodiment of the present invention. This air conditioner is of a type in which an outdoor unit <NUM> is paired one-to-one with an indoor unit <NUM>. Note that the air conditioner of the present embodiment is an example of a floor-standing air conditioner.

The air conditioner includes: a compressor <NUM>; a four-way switching valve <NUM> having one end connected to a discharge side of the compressor <NUM>; an outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> having one end connected to the other end of the four-way switching valve <NUM>; an electric expansion valve <NUM> having one end connected to the other end of the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>; an indoor heat exchanger <NUM> having one end connected to the other end of the electric expansion valve <NUM> via a shutoff valve V1 and a connection pipe L1; and an accumulator <NUM> having one end connected to the other end of the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> via a connection pipe L2, a shutoff valve V2, and the four-way switching valve <NUM>, and the other end connected to an intake side of the compressor <NUM>.

The compressor <NUM>, the four-way switching valve <NUM>, the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, the electric expansion valve <NUM>, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and the accumulator <NUM> each constitute a part of the refrigerant circuit RC of the air conditioner. This refrigerant circuit RC is filled with an R32 refrigerant.

The compressor <NUM>, the four-way switching valve <NUM>, the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, the electric expansion valve <NUM>, the accumulator <NUM>, and an outdoor fan <NUM> are mounted on the outdoor unit <NUM>. The outdoor unit <NUM> includes an outdoor control device <NUM> that controls the compressor <NUM>, the electric expansion valve <NUM>, the outdoor fan <NUM>, and the like.

On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> and a turbo fan <NUM> are mounted on the indoor unit <NUM>. The indoor unit <NUM> includes an indoor control device <NUM> that controls the turbo fan <NUM> and the like on the basis of a signal from a remote controller (not illustrated) or an indoor temperature sensor <NUM>. Note that the indoor control device <NUM> is an example of a control unit, and the turbo fan <NUM> is an example of a fan.

The air conditioner switches the four-way switching valve <NUM> to a switching position indicated by a solid line and activates the compressor <NUM> for the heating operation, and switches the four-way switching valve <NUM> to a switching position indicated by a dotted line and activates the compressor <NUM> for the cooling operation and dehumidifying operation. Note that a direction of the solid arrow indicates a direction in which the R32 refrigerant flows during the heating operation. A direction of the dotted arrow indicates a direction in which the R32 refrigerant flows during the cooling operation and dehumidifying operation.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the indoor unit <NUM> of the floor-standing air conditioner. A horizontal flap <NUM> that is an example of a first member has rotated to an open position. <FIG> is a front view of the indoor unit <NUM> of <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> includes a casing <NUM> that accommodates the turbo fan <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) and the like. The casing <NUM> includes a bottom frame <NUM>, a front frame <NUM>, and an intake panel <NUM>.

The front frame <NUM> is attached to the bottom frame <NUM> and is located on a front side of the bottom frame <NUM>. The front frame <NUM> includes an approximately rectangular opening (not illustrated) on its front surface. On a top surface of the front frame <NUM>, an upper blow-out port 22a through which conditioned air blows toward a ceiling of a room is provided. The horizontal flap <NUM> is rotatably attached to an upper portion of the front frame <NUM>. The horizontal flap <NUM> controls a vertical airflow direction of conditioned air blown out from the upper blow-out port 22a. More specifically, the horizontal flap <NUM> is rotated to adjust an angle between a blow-out direction of the conditioned air at the upper blow-out port 22a and a horizontal plane. A fan guard <NUM> is provided below the horizontal flap <NUM>. Note that the upper blow-out port 22a is an example of a blow-out port. The horizontal flap <NUM> is an example of a horizontal blade.

On a front surface of a lower portion of the front frame <NUM>, a lower blow-out port 22b is provided. Conditioned air blown out from the lower blow-out port 22b flows along a floor surface of the room. Note that a vertical airflow direction of the conditioned air at the lower blow-out port 22b is not adjustable.

The intake panel <NUM> is attached to the front frame <NUM> so as to cover the opening of the front frame <NUM> and so as not to cover the lower blow-out port 22b of the front frame <NUM>. The intake panel <NUM> includes a plurality of front intake ports 23a provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. A space between each side of the intake panel <NUM> and the front frame <NUM> serves as a side intake port <NUM> (only one side intake port <NUM> between a right side of the intake panel <NUM> and the front frame <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>). When the turbo fan <NUM> is driven, indoor air is taken in the casing <NUM> through the front intake ports 23a and the side intake ports <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top view of the indoor unit <NUM> with the horizontal flap <NUM> in a closed state.

When the horizontal flap <NUM> is in the closed state, the upper blow-out port 22a is smaller in opening area than when the horizontal flap <NUM> is in an open state. The horizontal flap <NUM> in the closed state has a gap from a peripheral edge of the upper blow-out port 22a.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of <FIG> taken along a line V-V.

The indoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the turbo fan <NUM> are disposed in the casing <NUM>.

The indoor heat exchanger <NUM> is disposed above a drain pan <NUM>, and includes first and second heat exchange units 15a, 15b. The indoor air from the front intake ports 23a and the side intake ports <NUM> passes through the first and second heat exchange units 15a, 15b, so as to be adjusted in temperature and the like to become conditioned air. On a front side and lower side of the drain pan <NUM>, a first heat insulating material <NUM> is disposed.

The turbo fan <NUM> is driven by a motor <NUM> to rotate. At this time, the conditioned air from the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> is taken in the turbo fan <NUM> through the space in a bell mouth <NUM>, and then blown out from the turbo fan <NUM> to the upper blow-out port 22a that is a first blow-out port and the lower blow-out port 22b that is a second blow-out port. In the present embodiment, the motor <NUM> can change, stepwise at a plurality of levels, an airflow volume of the conditioned air blown out from the inside of the casing <NUM> to the outside of the casing <NUM> by the rotation of the turbo fan <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> is fixed to an approximately center of the bottom frame <NUM> so as to make a shaft of the motor <NUM> parallel to a front-rear direction. A second heat insulating material <NUM> is attached to a back surface of the bottom frame <NUM>.

A damper <NUM> that is an example of a second member is disposed in a blow-out passage <NUM> that is a second flow path located in a lower portion of the casing <NUM>. The damper <NUM> receives a driving force of a damper drive unit <NUM> including a motor and the like to rotate about a shaft 56a connected to a lower end of the damper <NUM>. The shaft 56a is located near a lower member that constitutes a part of the blow-out port. When an upper end of the damper <NUM> comes into contact with an upper member (here, resin with which the first heat insulating material <NUM> is coated) constituting a part of the blow-out port, the blow-out passage <NUM> is closed, and the lower blow-out port 22b does not blow out the conditioned air. At this time, when the damper <NUM> is rotated so as to separate the upper end of the damper <NUM> from the first heat insulating material <NUM>, the blow-out passage <NUM> is opened to allow the lower blow-out port 22b to blow out the conditioned air. Note that the damper drive unit <NUM> is controlled by the indoor control device <NUM>.

The indoor control device <NUM> selects any one of upward-downward blowing control, upward blowing control, or downward blowing control during the air conditioning operation. Under the upward-downward blowing control, the upper blow-out port 22a and the lower blow-out port 22b both blow out the conditioned air. Under the upward blowing control, only the upper blow-out port 22a blows out the conditioned air. Under the downward blowing control, only the lower blow-out port 22b blows out the conditioned air. In particular, during the foot heating operation to be described later, the indoor control device <NUM> performs a first blowing process of blowing air from the upper blow-out port 22a, a second blowing process of blowing air from the lower blow-out port 22b, and a blow-out port switching process of blowing air from both the blow-out ports when switching from the upper blow-out port 22a to the lower blow-out port 22b is made.

<FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an upper portion of <FIG> taken along a line VI-VI.

The horizontal flap <NUM> includes a flap main body <NUM> and support portions <NUM> (only a left support portion <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>) provided on both sides of the flap main body <NUM>. Each support portion <NUM> is provided with a shaft (not illustrated) protruding laterally, and the shaft is rotatably attached to the upper portion of the front frame <NUM>. The horizontal flap <NUM> receives a driving force of a flap drive unit <NUM> including a motor and the like to rotate about the shaft between the open position where the upper blow-out port 22a is fully open and a closed position where the upper blow-out port 22a is fully closed (for example, a rotation position of the horizontal flap <NUM> may be determined stepwise at a plurality of positions between the open position and the closed position). Note that the flap drive unit is controlled by the indoor control device <NUM>.

A duct <NUM> that is a first flow path provided in an upper portion of the casing <NUM> guides the conditioned air, which the turbo fan <NUM> blew out, to the upper blow-out port 22a. The duct <NUM> includes a front wall <NUM> extending from a front edge of the upper blow-out port 22a into the casing <NUM>, and a rear wall <NUM> extending from a rear edge of the upper blow-out port 22a into the casing <NUM>.

The fan guard <NUM> is elastically deformable and is disposed in the duct <NUM>. The fan guard <NUM> includes a front end 40a, a rear end 40b, and a bent portion 40c. The front end 40a and the rear end 40b are disposed so as to be closer to the upper blow-out port 22a than the bent portion 40c. The fan guard <NUM> is bent in an approximately V-shape as viewed from a side.

A plurality of perpendicular flaps <NUM> (only one is illustrated in <FIG>) that control a horizontal airflow direction of the conditioned air are disposed upstream of the conditioned air relative to the fan guard <NUM>. The plurality of perpendicular flaps <NUM> are arranged at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction in the upper portion of the casing <NUM>. A plurality of perpendicular flaps <NUM> facing each other in a left half region of the upper blow-out port 22a are coupled to each other with a first coupling rod (not illustrated). On the other hand, a plurality of perpendicular flaps <NUM> facing each other in a right half region of the upper blow-out port 22a are coupled to each other with a second coupling rod (not illustrated). Note that each perpendicular flap <NUM> is an example of a perpendicular blade.

Each perpendicular flap <NUM> includes a flap main body <NUM> and an attachment portion <NUM> rotatably attached to a lower end of the front wall <NUM> of the duct <NUM>. One of the plurality of perpendicular flaps <NUM> facing each other in the left half region of the upper blow-out port 22a includes an operation portion <NUM>. One of the plurality of perpendicular flaps <NUM> facing each other in the right half region of the upper blow-out port 22a also includes an operation portion (not illustrated). Such operation portions <NUM> each extend from the front portion of the flap main body <NUM> along the front wall <NUM> of the duct <NUM> toward the upper blow-out port 22a.

In the air conditioner having the above-described configuration, when an operation button (not illustrated) (including a remote controller) is operated to select the heating operation, the compressor <NUM> is driven. Then, switching the four-way switching valve <NUM> as indicated by the solid line in <FIG> causes the R32 refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> to circulate through the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, the electric expansion valve <NUM>, and the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> to return to the compressor <NUM>.

The present embodiment is characterized by the air blowing control applied to a case where the foot heating operation (floor warming mode) is selected while air is blowing only from the upper blow-out port 22a after the start of the heating operation. Hereinafter, the air blowing control will be described with reference to the timing chart of <FIG> according to the flowcharts of <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, under the air-conditioning control in a case where the foot heating operation is selected during the first blowing process of blowing air only from the upper blow-out port 22a, the second blowing process (step S300) is performed after the first blowing process (step S100) and the blow-out port switching process (step S200).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the motor <NUM> is driven to rotate the turbo fan <NUM> (step S101). As illustrated in <FIG>, the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM> is a first number of rotations at which a set airflow volume is obtained. For example, the airflow volume may be selected with an operation button, or may be obtained by calculation based on a set temperature, an indoor temperature, or the like. A determination is made as to whether the horizontal flap <NUM> is in the open position and the damper <NUM> is in the closed position (step S102). If the horizontal flap <NUM> is not in the open position, the flap drive unit <NUM> is driven to rotate the horizontal flap <NUM> to the open position, and if the damper <NUM> is not in the closed position, the damper drive unit <NUM> is driven to rotate the damper <NUM> to the closed position (step S103). The horizontal flap <NUM> and the damper <NUM> are subjected to the opening or closing operation at the same time.

The rotation of the turbo fan <NUM> causes the indoor air to be taken in the casing <NUM> through the front intake ports 23a and the side intake ports <NUM>. The indoor air taken in the casing <NUM> passes through the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> to be heated, so as to become the conditioned air. Since the damper <NUM> is in the closed position and the horizontal flap <NUM> is in the open position, the conditioned air is blown into the room only from the upper blow-out port 22a.

When a switch (not illustrated) or the like is operated to select the foot heating operation, the blow-out port switching process is performed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the flap drive unit <NUM> is driven to rotate the horizontal flap <NUM> from the open position toward the closed position (indicated by a time t1 in <FIG>) (step S201). Then, the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM> is gradually decreased from the initial first number of rotations (step S202).

A determination is made as to whether the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM> has decreased to a preset second number of rotations (step S203). For example, this determination may be made on the basis of an elapsed time from the start of the decrease in the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM>. When the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM> decreases to the second number of rotations (indicated by a time t2 in <FIG>), the damper drive unit <NUM> is driven to rotate the damper <NUM> from the closed position toward the open position (step S204). This causes the opening area of the blow-out passage <NUM> in the lower portion of the casing <NUM> to gradually increase. The damper <NUM> rotates clockwise about the shaft 56a against the flow of the conditioned air through the blow-out passage <NUM> in <FIG>. This causes the conditioned air flowing through the blow-out passage <NUM> to generate airflow noise at the damper <NUM>. It is difficult for the damper <NUM> to rotate due to air resistance. As described above, however, the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM> is decreased to the second number of rotations to reduce a flow velocity of the conditioned air flowing through the blow-out passage <NUM>. This makes it possible to prevent the airflow noise from being generated and reduce resistance applied when the damper <NUM> rotates.

While the damper <NUM> is rotating, the horizontal flap <NUM> is also rotating toward the closed position, and the opening area at the upper blow-out port 22a gradually decreases. Then, the horizontal flap <NUM> moves to the closed position (indicated by a time t4 in <FIG>), but the damper <NUM> continues to move to the open position even after the horizontal flap <NUM> moves to the closed position. Therefore, a determination is made as to whether the damper <NUM> has rotated to the open position (step S205). When the movement of the damper <NUM> to the open position is completed (indicated by the time t3 in <FIG>), the switching from the upper blow-out port 22a to the lower blow-out port 22b is completed. While the damper <NUM> is rotating from the closed position toward the open position, the upper blow-out port 22a is open, so that air can be blown out from both the upper blow-out port 22a and the lower blow-out port 22b.

After the movement of the damper <NUM> to the open position is completed, the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM> is increased from the second number of rotations to a third number of rotations greater than the first number of rotations. The damper <NUM> rotates, the damper <NUM> is disposed along the inner surface of the blow-out passage <NUM> and does not obstruct the flow of the conditioned air flowing through the blow-out passage <NUM> (of course, the rotation of the damper <NUM> is not obstructed). Therefore, even when the number of rotations of the turbo fan <NUM> is increased to make the airflow volume in the blow-out passage <NUM> larger, airflow noise is not generated by the damper <NUM>. The second blowing process is made larger in maximum airflow volume than the first blowing process. This allows the conditioned air heated by the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> to sufficiently blow out into the room from the lower blow-out port 22b. As a result, the warm air supplied to the lower side of the room spreads upward while flowing far along the floor, and the room can be effectively heated.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the following effects can be produced.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

In the above embodiment, the blow-out port switching is performed during the foot heating operation, but, for example, the blow-out port switching may be performed during a normal heating operation or a cooling operation, or a dehumidifying operation or a blowing operation as necessary. Switching from the upper blow-out port 22a to the lower blow-out port 22b and switching from the lower blow-out port 22b to the upper blow-out port 22a can be appropriately performed as necessary.

The timing chart of <FIG> shows a case where the blow-out port switching is performed by manual operation made by the user, such as operation of an operation button provided on the remote controller (not illustrated) or the casing <NUM>. The rotation operation of the horizontal flap <NUM> and the rotation operation of the damper <NUM> are controlled basically at the same timing as in the above embodiment, but the rotation of the turbo fan <NUM> is different in that the rotation is made with either high output or low output.

Specifically, when switching from the upper blow-out port 22a to the lower blow-out port 22b is performed (time <NUM>), the turbo fan <NUM> is switched from the high output to the low output, and the damper <NUM> starts to rotate to the open position while the horizontal flap <NUM> is rotating to the closed position (time t2). The damper <NUM> continues to rotate even when the horizontal flap <NUM> has finished rotating to the closed position (time t3), and the turbo fan <NUM> is switched from the low output to the high output when the damper <NUM> has rotated to the open position (time t4). Specifically, when switching from the lower blow-out port 22b to the upper blow-out port 22a is performed (t5), the turbo fan <NUM> is switched from the high output to the low output, and the damper <NUM> starts to rotate to the closed position while the horizontal flap <NUM> is rotating to the open position (time t6). The damper <NUM> continues to rotate even when the horizontal flap <NUM> has finished rotating to the open position (time t7), and the turbo fan <NUM> is switched from the low output to the high output when the damper <NUM> has rotated to the closed position (time t8).

As described above, in either the switching from the upper blow-out port 22a to the lower blow-out port 22b or the switching from the lower blow-out port 22b to the upper blow-out port 22a, when the opening area of one blow-out port is decreased, the opening area of the other blow-out port is increased after the airflow volume is reduced. It is therefore possible to make the damper <NUM> less susceptible to airflow resistance during rotation to smoothly rotate the damper <NUM>, and also reduce airflow noise.

Claim 1:
A floor-standing air conditioner comprising:
a casing (<NUM>) including a first flow path (<NUM>) connected to a first blow-out port (22a) positioned at an upper portion and a second flow path (<NUM>) connected to a second blow-out port (22b) positioned at a lower portion;
a fan (<NUM>) that blows out air from at least one of the first blow-out port (22a) and/or the second blow-out port (22b);
a first member (<NUM>) that opens or closes the first flow path (<NUM>);
a second member (<NUM>) that opens or closes the second flow path (<NUM>);
characterized in that it comprises:
a control unit (<NUM>) that controls the fan (<NUM>), the first member (<NUM>), and the second member (<NUM>), wherein
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to
perform a first blowing process of blowing out air from the first blow-out port (22a) with the first flow path (<NUM>) opened by the first member (<NUM>) and the second flow path (<NUM>) closed by the second member (<NUM>), and
a second blowing process of blowing out air from the second blow-out port (22b) with the first flow path (<NUM>) closed by the first member (<NUM>) and the second flow path (<NUM>) opened by the second member (<NUM>), and
perform a blow-out port switching process of blowing out air from both the first blow-out port (22a) and the second blow-out port (22b) during switching between the first blowing process and the second blowing process.