U.S. patent application number 11/629174 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dalkin Industries, ltd. Invention is credited to Makoto Fujii, Yoshiaki Fukumura.
Application Number | 20070227172 11/629174 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35777624 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227172 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fukumura; Yoshiaki ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Air Conditioner
Abstract
An air conditioner is disposed with partition members that
partition a space on an upstream side of a heat exchanger from
spaces on both sides of the heat exchanger where refrigerant pipes
are installed.
Inventors: |
Fukumura; Yoshiaki; (Osaka,
JP) ; Fujii; Makoto; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLOBAL IP COUNSELORS, LLP
1233 20TH STREET, NW, SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-2680
US
|
Assignee: |
Dalkin Industries, ltd
Umeda Center Bldg., 4-12 Nakazaki-nishi 2-chome, Kita-ku
Osaka-shi
JP
530-8323
|
Family ID: |
35777624 |
Appl. No.: |
11/629174 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
June 23, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP05/11504 |
371 Date: |
December 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/298 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/298 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/02 20060101
F24F001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 24, 2004 |
JP |
2004-186669 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a fan unit that forms a flow of
air; a heat exchanger disposed in a middle of the flow of air
formed by the fan unit and configured to perform heat exchange
between a refrigerant and the air; and a partition member arranged
to partition a space on an upstream side of the heat exchanger in
the flow of the air from a space where a pipe through which the
refrigerant flows is disposed.
2. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
partition member is disposed so as to partition the space on the
upstream side of the heat exchanger in the flow of the air formed
by the fan unit from the space where wiring, pipes, and electrical
parts are installed.
3. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, further comprising
a casing configured to house the fan unit, the heat exchanger, and
the partition member, the casing including an open panel that
allows the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the
flow of the air formed by the fan unit to be exposed for performing
maintenance of the heat exchanger.
4. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
partition member is disposed in a vicinity of a fin disposed on an
end portion of plural fins disposed on a surface of the heat
exchanger.
5. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 4, wherein the
partition member is disposed in a vicinity of fins disposed on both
ends of plural fins disposed on the surface of the heat
exchanger.
6. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, further comprising
a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger and configured to
receive drain water generated in the heat exchanger.
7. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, further comprising
a casing configured to house the fan unit, the heat exchanger, and
the partition member, the casing including an open panel that
allows the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the
flow of the air formed by the fan unit to be exposed for performing
maintenance of the heat exchanger.
8. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
partition member is disposed in a vicinity of a fin disposed on an
end portion of plural fins disposed on a surface of the heat
exchanger.
9. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, further comprising
a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger and configured to
receive drain water generated in the heat exchanger.
10. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
partition member is disposed in a vicinity of a fin disposed on an
end portion of plural fins disposed on a surface of the heat
exchanger.
11. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 3, further comprising
a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger and configured to
receive drain water generated in the heat exchanger.
12. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 7, wherein the
partition member is disposed in a vicinity of a fin disposed on an
end portion of plural fins disposed on a surface of the heat
exchanger.
13. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 4, further comprising
a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger and configured to
receive drain water generated in the heat exchanger.
14. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 5, further comprising
a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger and configured to
receive drain water generated in the heat exchanger.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner disposed
with a heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant pipe.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, an air conditioner disposed with a heat
exchanger that handles a sensible heat load and a latent heat load
present in a room space in order to keep the room space in a
comfortable environment has been proposed.
[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, a floor-placed air
conditioner indoor unit disposed with a fan and a heat exchanger
inside is disclosed.
[0004] In this air conditioner indoor unit, the heat exchanger is
disposed such that it cuts across a flow of air formed by the fan
at the rear side of a front panel, and is attached inside in a
state where it is slanted downward from the front side toward the
deep side. Additionally, a flow of air is formed when the fan
begins running, and heat exchange is performed between the air
passing through the heat exchanger and refrigerant flowing through
the heat exchanger. Thus, the air conditioner indoor unit can
provide air-conditioned air to the inside of the room.
[0005] <Patent Document 1> [0006] JP-A No. 11-304177
(published on Nov. 5, 1999)
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Problem That the Invention Is To Solve
[0007] However, the above-described conventional air conditioner
indoor unit has the following problem.
[0008] That is, in the above-described air conditioner indoor unit,
the heat exchanger can be exposed when the front panel is removed.
However, there is the problem that, because the refrigerant pipe
connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger has a small
diameter and its structure is complex, dirt easily accumulates and
it is difficult to clean the refrigerant pipe. Further, when water
is applied to try to clean the heat exchanger, the water also
becomes applied to electrical parts and the like disposed on the
side of the heat exchanger, and there is the potential for
drawbacks such as insulation failure to occur. For this reason, the
heat exchanger cannot be cleaned with water even when the heat
exchanger is dirty. Thus, it is difficult to say that the heat
exchanger can always be kept clean.
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an air
conditioner capable of always keeping clean the internal
configuration of a heat exchanger and the like.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0010] An air conditioner pertaining to a first invention comprises
a fan unit, a heat exchanger, and a partition member. The fan unit
forms a flow of air. The heat exchanger is disposed in the middle
of the flow of air formed by the fan unit and performs heat
exchange between refrigerant and the air. The partition member
partitions a space on an upstream side of the heat exchanger in the
flow of the air from a space where a pipe through which the
refrigerant flows is disposed.
[0011] Here, the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger
and the space where the refrigerant pipe is disposed are
partitioned from each other by the partition member.
[0012] Thus, even when the space on the upstream side of the heat
exchanger is opened, it is difficult for the refrigerant pipe
connected to the side of the heat exchanger to become dirty because
the refrigerant pipe is separated from the space outside. For this
reason, the refrigerant pipe connected to the side of the heat
exchanger whose structure is complex and where it is easy for dirt
to accumulate can be kept from becoming dirty.
[0013] An air conditioner pertaining to a second invention
comprises the air conditioner of the first invention, wherein the
partition member is disposed so as to partition the space on the
upstream side of the heat exchanger in the flow of the air formed
by the fan unit from the space where wiring, pipes, and electrical
parts are installed.
[0014] Here, the partition member is disposed so as to partition,
in addition to the space where the refrigerant pipe is disposed,
the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger from the space
where electrical parts are installed. Thus, occurrences of
drawbacks such as insulation failure resulting from electrical
parts and the like becoming wet can be avoided even when the heat
exchanger is cleaned with water.
[0015] An air conditioner pertaining to a third invention comprises
the air conditioner of the first or second invention, further
comprising a casing that houses inside the fan unit, the heat
exchanger, and the partition member. Additionally, the casing
includes an open panel that allows the space on the upstream side
of the heat exchanger in the flow of the air formed by the fan unit
to be exposed for performing maintenance of the heat exchanger
[0016] Here, the casing that houses inside the fan unit, the heat
exchanger, and the partition member includes an open panel for
performing maintenance of the heat exchanger.
[0017] Thus, the heat exchanger can be easily cleaned by opening
the open panel and applying water to the heat exchanger.
[0018] An air conditioner pertaining to a fourth invention
comprises the air conditioner of any one of the first to third
inventions, wherein the partition member is disposed in the
vicinity of a fin disposed on an end portion of plural fins
disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger.
[0019] Here, the partition member is disposed in the vicinity of a
fin disposed on an end portion of plural fins that the heat
exchanger includes.
[0020] Thus, occurrences of drawbacks resulting from a refrigerant
pipe and the like becoming wet with water can be avoided even when
the heat exchanger is cleaned by applying water to the heat
exchanger.
[0021] An air conditioner pertaining to a fifth invention comprises
the air conditioner of the fourth invention, wherein the partition
member is disposed in the vicinities of fins disposed on both ends
of plural fins disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger.
[0022] Here, the partition member is disposed in the vicinities of
fins disposed on both ends of the heat exchanger.
[0023] Thus, the space where the refrigerant pipe and electrical
wiring connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger are
installed and the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger
can be reliably partitioned from each other, and occurrences of
drawbacks can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned
with water.
[0024] An air conditioner pertaining to a sixth invention comprises
the air conditioner of any one of the first to fifth inventions,
further comprising a drain pan that is disposed below the heat
exchanger and receives drain water generated in the heat
exchanger.
[0025] Here, a drain pan is disposed below the heat exchanger.
[0026] For this reason, the heat exchanger, which is particularly
easy to become dirty, and the drain pan can be easily cleaned by
cleaning them with water.
Effects of the Invention
[0027] According to the air conditioner pertaining to the first
invention, it becomes possible to keep the refrigerant pipe, whose
structure is complex and which is difficult to clean, from becoming
dirty.
[0028] According to the air conditioner pertaining to the second
invention, occurrences of drawbacks such as insulation failure
resulting from electrical parts becoming wet can be avoided even
when the heat exchanger is cleaned with water.
[0029] According to the air conditioner pertaining to the third
invention, the heat exchanger can be easily cleaned by opening the
open panel and applying water to the heat exchanger.
[0030] According to the air conditioner pertaining to the fourth
invention, occurrences of drawbacks resulting from the refrigerant
pipe and the like becoming wet with water can be avoided even when
the heat exchanger is cleaned by applying water to the heat
exchanger.
[0031] According to the air conditioner pertaining to the fifth
invention, the space where the refrigerant pipe and electrical
wiring connected to the side of the heat exchanger are installed
and the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger can be
reliably partitioned from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks
can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned with
water.
[0032] According to the air conditioner pertaining to the sixth
invention, the heat exchanger, which is particularly easy to become
dirty, and the drain pan can be easily cleaned by cleaning them
with water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal configuration of
an air conditioner indoor unit pertaining to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal configuration of
the air conditioner indoor unit of FIG. 1.
[0035] FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the configuration of the
air conditioner indoor unit of FIG. 1.
[0036] FIG. 4 (a) is a perspective view showing members around a
heat exchanger with which the air conditioner indoor unit of FIG. 1
is disposed. (b) is a front view thereof.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an attachment structure
of a partition plate installed inside the air conditioner indoor
unit of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0038] 1 Casing [0039] 2 Heat Exchanger [0040] 2a Refrigerant Pipe
[0041] 3 Fan (Fan Device) [0042] 4 Side Plate [0043] 5 Front Plate
[0044] 6 Rear Plate [0045] 7 Top Plate [0046] 8 Bottom Plate [0047]
9 Air Inlet [0048] 10 Maintenance Panel [0049] 11 Air Outlet [0050]
12 Duct [0051] 13 Lower Frame [0052] 14 Upper Frame [0053] 15 Lock
Portion [0054] 16 Attachment Plate [0055] 17 Fan Casing [0056] 17a
Discharge Opening [0057] 17b Intake Opening [0058] 18 Fan Motor
[0059] 19 Belt [0060] 20a Rotating Shaft [0061] 21 Pulley [0062] 22
Drain Pan [0063] 30a Partition Plate [0064] 30b Partition Plate
[0065] 31 Middle Plate [0066] 32 Refrigerant Pipe, Electrical
Wiring Through Portion [0067] 32a Through Hole [0068] 33 Fixing
Member [0069] 34 Fixing Member [0070] 40 Refrigerant Pipe [0071] 41
Electrical Wiring Through Pipe [0072] 50 Air Conditioner Indoor
Unit (Air Conditioner) [0073] A Space on Upstream Side of Heat
Exchanger [0074] B Refrigerant Pipe, Electrical Wiring Installation
Space [0075] C Refrigerant Pipe Installation Space [0076] F Fin
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0077] An air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment of the
present invention is as follows when described using FIG. 1 to FIG.
5.
<Configuration of Entire Air Conditioner>
[0078] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the air conditioner pertaining
to the embodiment of the present invention is an air conditioner
indoor unit (air conditioner) 50 that is placed on a floor, and is
disposed with a rectangular parallelepiped casing 1, a heat
exchanger 2 disposed such that it cuts across an air path inside
the casing 1, and a fan 3 disposed above the heat exchanger 2.
[0079] It will be noted that the air conditioner indoor unit 50 is
connected via a refrigerant pipe (reference numeral 40, etc., in
FIG. 3) to an unillustrated air conditioner outdoor unit disposed
outdoors, and a compressor and the like that configure a
refrigerant circuit are housed in the air conditioner outdoor
unit.
[0080] The casing 1 is configured by a pair of side plates 4 and 4,
a front plate 5 that is attached between the front ends of the side
plates 4 and 4, a rear plate 6 that is attached between the rear
ends of the side plates 4 and 4, a top plate 7, and a bottom plate
8. Further, glass wool covered by an aluminum sheet is installed as
a heat insulator on the inner surfaces of the side plates 4 and 4,
the rear plate 6, and a later-described maintenance panel (open
panel) 10. The inside of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 can be
easily cleaned by a method such as spraying the inside with water
and then wiping the water off with a cloth because the heat
insulator absorbs virtually no water and has excellent resistance
to abrasion.
[0081] As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 2 is disposed at the
rear side of the later-described maintenance panel 10 such that the
heat exchanger 2 cuts across the flow of air formed by the fan 3.
Further, the heat exchanger 2 is attached inside the casing 1 in a
state where the heat exchanger 2 is slanted downward toward the
deep side from the front side of an opening that appears when the
maintenance panel 10 is removed. A lower frame 13 for supporting
the heat exchanger 2 is locked to lock portions 15 and 15 formed on
both rear ends of the side plates 4 and 4. An upper frame 14 is
fixed by screws in a state where it has been locked to an
attachment plate 16 formed in the vicinity of both front end edges
of the side plates 4 and 4. Moreover, the heat exchanger 2
includes, at both its left and right end portions, partition plates
(partition members) 30a and 30b disposed so as to partition a space
A on an upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 in the air path
formed by the fan 3 (this will be referred to simply as the
upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 below) from a later-described
refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B and a
refrigerant pipe installation space C (see FIG. 4(b)). The
partition plates 30a and 30b will be described in detail at a later
stage.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the fan 3 is attached to the
upper portion of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 and includes a
scroll-type fan casing 17, a fan motor 18, a belt 19, a pulley 21
(drive unit), and an unillustrated fan rotor (sirocco fan).
[0083] The fan casing 17 includes discharge openings 17a, which
discharge air in the direction of the top plate 7 (a duct 12), and
intake openings 17b, which take in air from both sides in the
direction of a rotating shaft 20a of the fan rotor. Additionally,
the fan 3 transmits the rotational drive force of the fan motor 18
to the rotating shaft 20a via the pulley 21 and the belt 19, causes
the fan rotor housed in the fan casing 17 to rotate, and discharges
from the discharge openings 17a the air taken in from the intake
openings 17b.
[0084] The pair of side plates 4 form an outer enclosure at the
sides of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 and support the fan
motor 18 and the rotating shaft 20a of the fan 3 from both sides.
Further, the side plates 4 include the lock portions 15 that are
formed as a result of the rear end portion edges of the side plates
4 being cut inward.
[0085] An air inlet 9 is formed in the middle portion, with respect
to the vertical direction, of the front plate 5, and the
maintenance panel 10, whose lower end portion serves as a pivot
center, is disposed such that it covers the air inlet 9 and may be
freely opened and closed. The maintenance panel 10 is opened when
performing maintenance and the like such as cleaning the heat
exchanger 2.
[0086] The rear plate 6 ordinarily forms an outer enclosure at the
side disposed near a wall when the air conditioner indoor unit 50
is installed.
[0087] An air outlet 11 is formed in the top plate 7. The air
outlet 11 is connected to a duct 12 that guides the air-conditioned
air such that the air is blown out from a desired place.
[0088] An unillustrated electromagnetic valve attached to a
refrigerant pipe 40 connected to the heat exchanger, various
electrical parts, and a lower drain pan are placed on the bottom
plate 8 between the bottom plate 8 and a middle plate 31 that forms
the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2.
[0089] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a drain pan 22 for collecting
drain water falling down from the heat exchanger 2 is disposed
below the heat exchanger 2 with a slanted orientation such that the
front side of the drain pan 22 is positioned high and such that the
rear side of the drain pan 22 is positioned low. Additionally, the
air conditioner indoor unit 50 is disposed with a drain guide pipe
23, which guides the drain water from the lower end portion of the
heat exchanger 2 to the drain pan 22, and a drain discharge opening
24, through which the drain water is discharged to the
outdoors.
<Configuration Around Space On Upstream Side of Heat
Exchanger>
[0090] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the partition plate 30a is disposed
such that it partitions the space A on the upstream side of the
heat exchanger 2 inside the casing 1 from the refrigerant
pipe/electrical wiring installation space B where a refrigerant
pipe 2a on the side surface of the heat exchanger 2 and where the
refrigerant pipe 40 and an electrical wiring through pipe 41 that
penetrate a later-described refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring
through portion 32 are installed. Additionally, the partition plate
30a is disposed upright from the middle plate 31 toward the
vicinity of an endmost fin of plural fins F attached to the surface
of the heat exchanger 2.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the partition plate 30b is disposed
parallel to the partition plate 30a and upright from the middle
plate 31 toward the vicinity of an end portion (end portion
opposite from the partition plate 30a) of the fins F attached to
the surface of the heat exchanger 2, such that the partition plate
30b partitions the space A on the upstream side of the heat
exchanger 2 from the space C where the refrigerant pipe 2a exposed
at the side surface of the heat exchanger 2 is disposed (this space
will be called the refrigerant pipe installation space C
below).
[0092] Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the partition plates 30a and
30b are fixed with respect to the middle plate 31 using fixing
members 33 and are fixed by screws with respect to the heat
exchanger 2 using fixing members 34. The fixing members 33 and 34
are L-shaped members, and plural screw holes are formed therein.
Additionally, the partition members 30a, 30b are fixed with respect
to the middle plate 31 and the heat exchanger 2 by screwing screws
into these screw holes. Further, the fixing member 33 that fixes
the partition member 30a disposed on the right when seen from the
maintenance panel 10 is attached in an L-shaped state, and the
fixing member 33 that fixes the partition member 30b disposed on
the left side is attached in an inverted L-shaped state.
[0093] The middle plate 31 is a member for partitioning the space
where the heat exchanger 2 is installed from the space therebelow
where electrical parts and the like are installed, and an
unillustrated temperature sensor is disposed on the middle plate 31
in the vicinity of the center portion of the space A on the
upstream side of the heat exchanger 2.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the refrigerant pipe/electrical
wiring through portion 32 forms the refrigerant pipe/electrical
wiring installation space B together with the partition member 30a
and the side plate 4, and through holes 32a that allow the
refrigerant pipe 40 and the electrical wiring through pipe 41 to be
passed therethrough are formed in the refrigerant pipe/electrical
wiring through plate 32. It will be noted that the refrigerant
pipe/electrical wiring through plate 32 is a portion further to the
right side of the middle plate 31 than the partition plate 30a when
seen from the maintenance panel 10.
<Characteristics of Present Air Conditioner Indoor Unit>
(1)
[0095] In the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present
embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 is exposed to the front when the
maintenance panel 10 is removed. Additionally, the space A on the
upstream side of the exposed heat exchanger 2 and the spaces B and
C on the sides of the heat exchanger 2 are partitioned from each
other by the partition members 30a and 30b.
[0096] Ordinarily, it is preferable to clean a heat exchanger of
this configuration by applying water to it because the heat
exchanger can be cleaned extremely efficiently and the applied
water can be discharged to the outside via a drain pan installed
below the heat exchanger. However, in this case, when water is
applied to the heat exchanger, there has been the potential for
electrical parts and the like around the heat exchanger to become
wet and for drawbacks to occur. For this reason, conventionally, it
has been difficult to clean the heat exchanger by applying water to
it.
[0097] Given this, the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the
present embodiment is disposed with the partition members 30a and
30b that partition the space A on the upstream side of the heat
exchanger 2 from the spaces B and C on both sides of the heat
exchanger 2 where electrical parts and the like are installed, so
that occurrences of drawbacks in electrical parts and the like may
be avoided even when the heat exchanger 2 is cleaned using
water.
[0098] Thus, it becomes possible to clean the heat exchanger 2 by
applying water to the heat exchanger 2 because the water applied to
the heat exchanger 2 can be prevented from being applied to the
electrical parts and the like.
[0099] Further, in regard to the refrigerant pipes 2a and 40
connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger 2, although it
is easy for dirt to accumulate because pipes with small diameters
are incorporated therein and their structures are complex, it can
be made difficult for dirt to accumulate on the refrigerant pipes
2a and 40 because the partition members 30a and 30b are disposed
and their edges with the outside are cut.
(2)
[0100] The air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment
is disposed with the maintenance panel that allows the heat
exchanger 2 to be exposed to the outside as part of the casing 1
configuring the outer enclosure.
[0101] Thus, the heat exchanger 2 can be easily cleaned in a state
where the maintenance panel 10 has been removed to expose the heat
exchanger 2.
(3)
[0102] In the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present
embodiment, the partition members 30a and 30b are attached in the
vicinities of both ends of the fins F plurally attached to the
surface of the heat exchanger 2.
[0103] Thus, the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger
2 and the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B
and the refrigerant pipe installation space C can be partitioned
from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks resulting from water
being applied to the refrigerant pipes 2a and 40 can be avoided
even when the heat exchanger 2 is cleaned with water.
(4)
[0104] In the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present
embodiment, the drain pan 22 is disposed below the heat exchanger 2
that is cleaned with water.
[0105] Thus, water applied in order to clean the heat exchanger 2
can be discharged to the outside via the drain pan 22. Thus,
cumbersome work such as wiping off water after the heat exchanger 2
has been cleaned with water becomes unnecessary.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
[0106] An embodiment of the present invention has been described
above, but the present invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible
within a range that does not depart from the gist of the
invention.
(A)
[0107] In the above-described embodiment, an example was described
where the partition plates 30a and 30b were disposed on both the
left and right ends of the heat exchanger 2. However, the present
invention is not limited to this.
[0108] For example, just the partition plate 30a may be disposed
without disposing the partition plate 30b.
[0109] However, it is preferable to dispose the partition plates
30a and 30b at both the left and right ends of the heat exchanger
because, when the partition plates 30a and 30b are disposed at both
the left and right ends as in the above-described embodiment, water
can be prevented from being applied to the refrigerant pipe
installation space C also in addition to the refrigerant
pipe/electrical wiring installation space B.
(B)
[0110] In the above-described embodiment, an example was described
where the partition members 30a and 30b were disposed in the
vicinities of the end portions of the fins F of the heat exchanger
2. However, in regard to the disposition of the partition members
30a and 30b, the present invention is not limited to this.
[0111] For example, the partition members 30a and 30b may also be
disposed further inward than the end portions of the heat exchanger
2. However, in consideration of cleaning the entire heat exchanger
2 with water, it is preferable for the partition members 30a and
30b to be disposed at both the left and right ends of the heat
exchanger 2, that is, in the vicinities of the end portions of the
fins F.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0112] The air conditioner of the present invention provides the
effect that a heat exchanger can be cleaned with water without
adversely affecting refrigerant pipes and electrical parts, so it
is widely applicable with respect to an air conditioner including
an open portion that allows the heat exchanger to be exposed.
* * * * *