WO2003098119A1 - Indoor unit for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

It is intended to ensure that even when refrigerant circuit parts, such as a motor operated valve (33a) that becomes a noise source, are installed in an indoor unit (93), the sound hardly leaks outside the indoor unit (93). The indoor unit (93) of the air conditioner, which performs air conditioning by condensation and expansion of the refrigerant, has an indoor heat exchanger and refrigerant circuit parts. The indoor heat exchanger, which is used for heat exchange between the refrigerant and air, has a front heat exchange section (41) and a rear heat exchange section (42). The rear heat exchange section (42) has a smaller effective length than the front heat exchange section (41). The refrigerant circuit parts, which are used to change the flow of the refrigerant, include the motor operated valve (33a) and a shunt (39). The refrigerant circuit parts are disposed in a space (SP) that results from the difference in effective length between the front and rear heat exchange sections (41, 42).

Description

 Description Indoor unit of air conditioner (Technical field)

 The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an indoor unit of an air conditioner that has a heat exchanger and refrigerant circuit components and performs air conditioning by condensing and expanding refrigerant.

(Background technology)

 Separate air conditioners, which are divided into indoor units and outdoor units, include a pair-type air conditioner that connects only one indoor unit to one outdoor unit, and one outdoor unit. On the other hand, there is a multi-type air conditioner that connects a plurality of indoor units in parallel. Figure 1 shows an external view of a pair-type air conditioner. In the air conditioner 81 shown here, one outdoor unit 82 is associated with one indoor unit 83, and the two units 82, 83 are connected by a connecting part 89 composed of refrigerant pipes and transmission lines Have been.

 As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit of the pair type air conditioner includes a fan rotor 3, a heat exchanger 4, an electrical component box 30, and the like. These components are arranged in a casing composed of a front grille assembly 10, a front panel 11, a bottom frame 12, and the like. The bottom frame 12 is mounted on an installation plate 15 fixed to the indoor wall, and is fixed to an indoor wall or the like. The upper surface of the front grille assembly 10 is provided with a slit-shaped upper suction port 10a, and the front panel 11 is also provided with a front suction port 11a above and to the side. An air filter 17 for purifying air is arranged inside these suction ports 1 O a and 11 a. Further, an outlet for blowing out the air flow generated by the fan rotor 3 is formed in a lower part of the front surface of the front grille assembly 10.

 The fan rotor 3 is disposed in a fan storage section 12 a formed in the bottom frame 12, and one end is attached to the bottom frame 12 via a bearing 13, and the other end is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 14. Be linked. The motor 14 is fixed to the bottom frame 12 by a motor fixing member 16.

The heat exchanger 4 surrounds the front, upper and rear upper portions of the fan rotor 3. And is divided into a front heat exchange section 141 and a rear heat exchange section 142 each having an effective length L. Each of the heat exchanging sections 14 1 and 14 2 is composed of a heat transfer tube bent multiple times at the left and right ends and a large number of radiating fins attached thereto. The air sucked from the front suction port 11a is passed to the fan rotor 3, and heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the air passing through the heat transfer tube. The heat exchanger 4 is connected to the refrigerant pipe from the outdoor unit via the refrigerant pipe. A drain pan assembly 18 including a front drain pan and blades for adjusting the direction of blown air is disposed below the front heat exchange section 141.

 Note that the effective lengths of the front heat exchange section and the rear heat exchange section of the heat exchanger do not necessarily have to be the same. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-187995, it is possible to make the effective length of the front heat exchange section and the rear heat exchange section of the heat exchanger different. is there.

 Indoor units used in a pair-type air conditioner indoor unit as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 above, and in a multi-type air conditioner that connects multiple indoor units in parallel to one outdoor unit Conventionally, each machine is designed separately. In response to this situation, attempts have recently been made to share parts between the pair-type indoor unit and the multi-type indoor unit. The specifications of the heat exchanger are often different between the pair type and the multi type, but it is conceivable to use a common casing part. However, unlike the pair type, the indoor unit of the multi-type air conditioner is often equipped with a motor-operated valve inside because it starts and stops and controls multiple indoor units individually. . This motor-operated valve plays a role in adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, and emits a relatively loud noise when the refrigerant in a liquid-gas mixed state expands.

If a noise source such as a motorized valve, which is a component unique to this multi-type indoor unit, is arranged in a normal pair-type casing, the heat in which the refrigerant pipe group is concentrated in the pair-type indoor unit is concentrated. It will be located in the space beside the exchanger. In this case, if the same casing is used, even if there is no noise in the case of a pair-type indoor unit, the noise from the motor-operated valve etc. leaks into the room in the case of a multi-type indoor unit. Is assumed. In this case, it is difficult to share parts such as casing for the pair-type indoor unit and the multi-type indoor unit.

(Disclosure of the Invention)

 An object of the present invention is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which sound hardly leaks out of the indoor unit even when refrigerant circuit components such as a motorized valve serving as a noise source are arranged in the indoor unit. It is in.

 An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1 is an indoor unit of an air conditioner that performs air conditioning by condensing and expanding a refrigerant, and includes a heat exchanger and a refrigerant circuit component. The heat exchanger causes heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air, and has a front heat exchange section and a rear heat exchange section. The effective length of the rear heat exchange section is shorter than that of the front heat exchange section. Refrigerant circuit components are components for changing the flow of the refrigerant, such as electric expansion valves and flow dividers. The refrigerant circuit components are arranged in a space created by a difference in effective length between the front heat exchange section and the rear heat exchange section.

 Here, first, the effective length of the rear heat exchange section is configured to be shorter than the effective length of the front heat exchange section to create a predetermined space on the rear side of the indoor unit. Refrigerant circuit components such as motorized valves and flow dividers that emit relatively loud noise when changing the flow of refrigerant are arranged in the space. As described above, since the refrigerant circuit components serving as noise sources are arranged in the space on the rear side inside the indoor unit, the amount of sound leaking to the front side of the indoor unit is reduced. Pleasant feeling is suppressed.

 The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 2 is the indoor unit according to claim 1, which is an indoor unit of an air conditioner having an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units. The refrigerant circuit component arranged in the space formed by making the effective length of the rear heat exchange unit shorter than that of the front heat exchange unit includes at least the motor-operated valve. The motor-operated valve is provided for adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing to the plurality of indoor units.

Here, a motor-operated valve, which is often built into the indoor unit of the multi-type air conditioner, is arranged in a space on the rear side inside the indoor unit, which easily traps noise. When adjusting the amount of refrigerant, the motor-operated valve may emit a relatively loud noise. Since it is located in the above space where sound does not easily leak out of the internal unit, people in the room will not hear loud noises.

 The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 3 is the indoor unit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a metal member that covers a space where the refrigerant circuit component is arranged. Parts are not only placed in the space on the back side inside the indoor unit to suppress the amount of sound leaking to the front side of the indoor unit, but also the above space is covered with metal members. For this reason, even if a large amount of abnormal noise leaks out of the indoor unit through the resinous casing and is generated from the refrigerant circuit components, the abnormal noise is produced by the noise insulation effect of the metal member. Leakage of sound to the outside of the indoor unit can be reduced.

 The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 4 is the indoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a fan rotor and a windproof member. The fan rotor sends the conditioned air into the room. The windbreak member is arranged between the space where the refrigerant circuit component is arranged and the fan rotor.

 If the effective length of the rear heat exchange section is configured to be shorter than the effective length of the front heat exchange section, the length of the fan rotor will be adjusted to the front heat exchange section, which has a longer effective length if considered normally. For this reason, the above-mentioned space (space generated by a difference in the effective length between the front heat exchange section and the rear heat exchange section) is adjacent to a part of the fan rotor. In this case, if nothing is provided between the space and the fan rotor, air may flow into the fan rotor directly from the space without passing through the heat exchanger.

 On the other hand, in the indoor unit according to claim 4, since the windbreak member is arranged between the space where the refrigerant circuit components are arranged and the fan rotor, air that does not pass through the heat exchanger flows into the fan rotor. Is suppressed.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 5 is the indoor unit according to claim 4, further comprising a drain pan for receiving drain water falling from the heat exchanger. The lower end of the windbreak member extends to the drain pan. The drain pan is disposed below the lower end of the front heat exchange section and below the lower end of the rear heat exchange section to receive drain water, and is widely used in conventional indoor units. In this case, since the lower end of the windbreak member extends to the drain pan, water dropped on the windbreak member from a heat exchanger or the like flows into the conventional drain pan. As a result, the problem of water dripping from the windbreak member to the fan rotor is suppressed. (Brief description of drawings)

 FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a conventional pair-type air conditioner.

 FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a conventional indoor unit.

 FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multi-type air conditioner including an indoor unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of the multi-type air conditioner.

 FIG. 5 is an internal perspective view of a motor-side portion of the indoor unit.

 FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the indoor unit.

(Best mode for carrying out the invention)

 <Overview of multi-type air conditioner>

 The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention is an indoor unit used in a multi-type air conditioner as shown in FIG. In the multi-type air conditioner 91, a plurality of indoor units 93 to 96 are connected to one outdoor unit 92. The outdoor unit 92 and the indoor units 93 to 96 are connected by connecting portions 99 a to 99 d formed by refrigerant pipes and transmission lines. The four indoor units 93 to 96 are arranged in separate rooms, for example, at home, in a building, or in a store.

 <Refrigerant circuit of multi-type air conditioner>

 FIG. 4 shows a refrigerant circuit 190 of the multi-type air conditioner 91. The refrigerant circuit 190 includes one outdoor unit 92, four indoor units 93 to 96 connected in parallel to the outdoor unit 92, and a refrigerant pipe.

The outdoor unit 92 includes a compressor 20, a four-way switching valve 21, an outdoor heat exchanger 22, an accumulator 23, and the like. A discharge pipe thermistor 24 for detecting the discharge pipe temperature on the discharge side of the compressor 20 is attached to the discharge side of the compressor 20. In addition, the outdoor unit 92 has an outdoor air thermistor 25 for detecting the outdoor air temperature and an outdoor heat exchange An outdoor heat exchange thermistor 26 for detecting the temperature of the vessel 22 is provided. Each of the indoor units 93 to 96 has the same configuration. Hereinafter, the indoor units 93 to 96 will be described using the indoor unit 93 as an example.

 The indoor unit 93 includes an indoor heat exchanger 4a and a motor-operated valve (expansion valve) 33a that are connected in series with each other. The motor-operated valve 33a is provided on the refrigerant outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 4a and adjusts the amount of refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 4a. The indoor unit 93 includes a room temperature thermistor 31a for detecting the indoor temperature and an indoor heat exchange thermistor 32a for detecting the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 4a. . A pipe between the indoor heat exchanger 4a and the electric valve 33a is provided with a liquid pipe thermistor 34 for detecting the temperature of the liquid pipe between the indoor heat exchanger 4a and the electric valve 33a. a is provided. On the gas pipe side (refrigerant inlet side) of the indoor heat exchanger 4a, a gas pipe thermistor 35a for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the inside is provided.

 The other indoor units 94, 95, and 96 have the same configuration as the indoor unit 93. In Fig. 4, the same symbols are assigned to the indoor heat exchanger, the motor-operated valve, and various thermistors. .

 Parts configuration and parts arrangement in indoor units>

 As described above, the indoor units 93 to 96 used in the multi-type air conditioner 91 incorporate the motor-operated valves 33a to 33d. Here, the indoor unit 93 will be described as an example, focusing on the arrangement of components of the indoor unit used in the multi-type air conditioner.

In the indoor unit 93, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the indoor heat exchanger 4a that covers a part of the front, upper, and rear sides of the fan rotor 3 mainly includes a front heat exchange unit 41 and a rear heat exchange unit 41. It consists of a side heat exchange section 42. The effective length of the rear heat exchange section 42 is shorter than that of the front heat exchange section 41, and the end 4 2b on the motor 14 side is more indoor unit than the end 4 1b of the front heat exchange section 41. It is located near the center in the width direction of 93 (see Fig. 5). As a result, a relatively large space SP is secured outside the rear heat exchange section 42 (on the side of the motor 14). The width dimension of the space SP is substantially the same as the difference in effective length between the front heat exchange section 41 and the rear heat exchange section 42, and is 100 mm to 150 mm. Also, the indoor unit 93 has a structure in which the upper end 41 a of the front heat exchange section 41 and the upper end 42 a of the rear heat exchange section 42 are slightly separated from each other. It is stretched. The connection plate 43 integrates the front heat exchange section 41 and the rear heat exchange section 42 as an indoor heat exchanger 4a, and also includes a fan rotor 3 from above the indoor heat exchanger 4a to below. This serves to prevent air from passing through without passing through the front heat exchange section 41 and the rear heat exchange section 42.

 And, in the indoor unit 93, the motorized valve 33a and the motorized valve 33a are connected to the space SP created by the difference in the effective length between the front heat exchange section 41 and the rear heat exchange section 42. And a flow divider 39 for diverting the refrigerant flowing out of the motorized valve 33a into each heat transfer flow path of the indoor heat exchanger 4a. As shown in Fig. 5, the motor-operated valve 33a is arranged horizontally to improve maintainability.

 Further, in the indoor unit 93, the space SP in which the motor-operated valve 33a and the like are arranged is surrounded by the metal cover 50, the upper and lower partition plates 44, and the left and right partition plates 45. The metal cover 50 includes a first cover part 51 covering the space SP and a second cover part 52 extending diagonally downward from the front end of the first cover part 51 along the front surface of the front heat exchange part 41. And a third cover part 53 extending obliquely downward from the rear end of the first cover part 51 and covering the rear of the space SP. The metal cover 50 is provided mainly for sound insulation. On the other hand, the upper and lower partition plates 44 and the left and right partition plates 45 are metal plate members provided to prevent the air flowing into the space SP from leaking to the fan rotor side. The upper and lower partitioning plates 44 are located above the fan port 3 and separate a space around the fan rotor 3 from a space SP in which the motor-operated valve 33 a and the like are arranged. The left partition plate 45 is a substantially triangular member that extends vertically forward from an end 4 2 b of the rear heat exchange section 42 on the space SP side of the rear heat exchange section 42, and each side is an end of the rear heat exchange section 42. The part 42b, the end of the connecting plate 43 on the space SP side, and the ends of the upper and lower partitioning plates 44 are orthogonal to each other.

A front drain pan 61 is arranged below the lower end of the front heat exchange section 41, and a rear drain pan 62 is arranged below the lower end of the rear heat exchange section 42. These drain pans 61 and 62 are formed on a bottom frame or a drain pan assembly having the same configuration as the conventional bottom frame 12 and drain pan assembly 18 in FIG. And plays a role of receiving drain water dripping from the indoor heat exchanger 4a or the like. Then, in the indoor unit 93, the upper and lower partitioning plates 44 and the left and right partitioning plates 45 surrounding the space SP, and the space SP side end 4 2b of the rear heat exchange section 42 from the crossing point. A drain path 63 is formed below the fan rotor 3 so that the drain water does not drop down. The drain path 63 is formed by a metal plate (a part of the upper and lower partition plates 44, a part of the left and right partition plates 45, or these (A separate member attached to the plates 44, 45) is curved to form a pocket-like cross section. As a result, the drain water flowing down from the end 4 2 b of the rear heat exchange section 42 through the left and right partition plates 45 and the upper and lower partition plates 44 through the gap from the space SP due to the pressure difference are formed. Drain water that has permeated to the fan rotor 3 side from the intersection with the left and right partition plates 45 is guided to the drain path 63 and flows into the drain pan 62 (see Fig. 6).

 Features of indoor units>

 [1]

 In the indoor unit 93, first, the effective length of the rear heat exchange unit 42 is configured to be shorter than the effective length of the front heat exchange unit 41, and a predetermined space SP is created on the rear side of the indoor unit 93. ing. Refrigerant circuit components such as the motor-operated valve 33a and the flow divider 1333 that emit relatively loud noise when changing the flow of the refrigerant are arranged in the space SP. As described above, since the noise source such as the motor-operated valve 33a can be arranged behind the indoor unit 93, the noise level that can be heard by people indoors can be determined based on the directivity of sound. Can be kept small.

 [2]

In the indoor unit 93, the refrigerant circuit components serving as a noise source such as the motorized valve 33a are arranged in the space SP on the rear side of the indoor unit 93 to suppress the amount of sound leaking to the front side of the indoor unit 93. Not only that, the space SP is covered with a metal cover 43. Therefore, even when the motor-operated valve 33a or the like generates a loud noise that leaks out of the indoor unit 93 through a casing that is often made of resin, the metal cover 43 is blocked. The effect suppresses the noise from leaking out of the indoor unit 93. It is desirable to use conventional sound insulation measures that cover the motorized valve 33a with putty or rubber.

 [3]

 In the indoor unit 93, since the effective length of the rear heat exchange section 42 is configured to be shorter than the effective length of the front heat exchange section 41, the fan corresponding to the effective length of the front heat exchange section 41 The length of the rotor 3 is longer than the rear heat exchange section 42. Thus, the space SP is located above a part of the fan rotor 3 on the motor 14 side.

 In this case, if nothing is provided between the space SP and the fan rotor 3, the fan rotor is directly passed from the space SP without passing through any of the heat exchange sections 41 and 42 of the indoor heat exchanger 4a. Air may flow into 3.

 On the other hand, in the indoor unit 93, since the upper and lower partitioning plates 44 and the left and right partitioning plates 45 are disposed between the space SP in which the motor-operated valves 33a and the like are disposed and the fan rotor 3, the indoor heat The problem that air that does not pass through the exchanger 4a flows into the fan rotor 3 is suppressed.

 [ Four ]

 In the indoor unit 93, the upper and lower partition plates 4 4 prevent air from flowing down from the space SP to the fan rotor 3, and the left and right partition plates 4 5 allow air to flow from the space SP to the front heat exchange section 4 1 and the rear side. The heat is prevented from flowing to the fan rotor 3 through the space between the heat exchanging part 42 and the end part 42 b. And, as shown in FIG. 6, since the lower ends of the upper and lower partition plates 44 and the left and right partition plates 45 are located above the drain pan 62, the end portions 42b of the rear heat exchange portion 42, etc. When water droplets flow into the partition plates 44, 45, the water also flows into the drain pan 62.

Also, the end 4 2 b of the rear heat exchange section 42, which is shorter than the fan rotor 3, and the drain that exits to the fan rotor 3 side through a gap due to a pressure difference or the like from the intersection of the two partition plates 44, 45. The water is guided to a drain pan 62 by a drain path 63. For this reason, even when the space SP is provided and the space SP is surrounded by the partition plates 44 and 45 as described above, the problem of drain water dripping down to the fan rotor 3 can be suppressed. [ Five ]

 The indoor unit 93 has the motor-operated valve 33a, and it is unlikely that the indoor unit 93 will be used as it is in a pair-type air conditioner such as a room air conditioner. However, the structure was designed so that the indoor heat exchanger 4a of the indoor unit 93 could be replaced with a pair-type indoor heat exchanger, and the caging part was common to the multi-type and pair-type. It is possible to achieve this.

 For example, if the casing is common, and in a multi-type indoor unit that is often used for business use, the effective length of the front heat exchange unit and the rear heat exchange unit as in indoor unit 93 above is limited. Different indoor heat exchangers can be set, and in a pair-type indoor unit, the indoor heat exchanger can be designed so that the effective length of the front heat exchange section and the rear heat exchange section are the same. .

(Industrial applicability)

 By using the heat exchanger unit according to the present invention, the effective length of the rear heat exchange unit is configured to be shorter than the effective length of the front heat exchange unit, and a predetermined space is created on the rear side of the indoor unit, Refrigerant circuit components such as motorized valves and flow dividers that emit relatively loud noise when changing the flow of refrigerant are arranged in the space, reducing the amount of noise leaking to the front of the indoor unit. Also, it is possible to prevent people in the room from feeling uncomfortable.

Claims

The scope of the claims 1.  An indoor unit of an air conditioner that performs air conditioning by condensing and expanding refrigerant, having a front heat exchange unit (41) and a rear heat exchange unit (42), and exchanging heat between refrigerant and air. Heat exchanger (4a)  Refrigerant circuit components (33a, 39) for changing the flow of the refrigerant; With  The rear heat exchange section (42) has a shorter effective length than the front heat exchange section (41),  The refrigerant circuit components (33a, 39) are arranged in a space (SP) generated by a difference in effective length between the front heat exchange section (41) and the rear heat exchange section (42). Indoor unit. 2.  An indoor unit of an air conditioner (91) having an outdoor unit (92) and a plurality of indoor units (93 to 96);  The refrigerant circuit component disposed in the space (SP) includes at least a motor-operated valve (33a) for adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing to the plurality of indoor units (93 to 96). The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1. 3.  A metal member (50) covering the space (SP); 3. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2. Four. A fan rotor (3) for sending air-conditioned air into the room, Windproof members (44, 45) arranged between the space (SP) and the fan rotor (3); The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: Five.  A drain pan (62) for receiving drain water falling from the heat exchanger (4a);  The windproof member (44, 45) has a lower end extending to the drain pan (62). An indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 4.