U.S. patent application number 16/975236 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Invention is credited to Tomonobu IZAKI, Koichi OBARA, Keisuke OISHI, Kosuke SATO.
Application Number | 20200400320 16/975236 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005072903 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200400320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OBARA; Koichi ; et
al. |
December 24, 2020 |
INDOOR UNIT OF AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS
Abstract
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a first
heat exchanger inclined forward and downward, a second heat
exchanger provided below the first heat exchanger, a drain pan
provided below the second heat exchanger, and a blocking member
covering an area between the first heat exchanger and the second
heat exchanger and also a part of the first heat exchanger from a
front side. The first heat exchanger has at least one heat
exchanging unit. An upper edge of the blocking member is higher
than a front edge at a lower end of the heat exchanging unit
disposed at a front-most side.
Inventors: |
OBARA; Koichi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; IZAKI; Tomonobu; (Tokyo, JP) ; SATO;
Kosuke; (Tokyo, JP) ; OISHI; Keisuke; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005072903 |
Appl. No.: |
16/975236 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
March 20, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2018/011045 |
371 Date: |
August 24, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20130101;
F24F 13/30 20130101; F24F 1/0063 20190201; F24F 13/222
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/0063 20060101
F24F001/0063; F24F 13/20 20060101 F24F013/20; F24F 13/22 20060101
F24F013/22; F24F 13/30 20060101 F24F013/30 |
Claims
1. An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, the indoor unit
comprising: a first heat exchanger inclined forward and downward; a
second heat exchanger provided below the first heat exchanger; a
drain pan provided below the second heat exchanger; and a blocking
member covering an area between the first heat exchanger and the
second heat exchanger and also a part of the first heat exchanger
and also a part of the second heat exchanger from a front side, the
first heat exchanger having at least one heat exchanging unit, the
heat exchanging unit including a plurality of first heat-transfer
fins arranged apart from each other in a left-right direction, and
a plurality of first heat-transfer pipes extending through the
plurality of first heat-transfer fins, an upper edge of the
blocking member being higher than a front edge at a lower end of
the heat exchanging unit disposed at a front-most side and being
higher than a first heat-transfer pipe disposed at a lowest
position among the plurality of first heat-transfer pipes in the
heat exchanging unit disposed at the front-most side, the second
heat exchanger including a plurality of second heat-transfer fins
arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction, and a
plurality of second heat-transfer pipes extending through the
plurality of second heat-transfer fins, the blocking member
including a claw unit for securing the blocking member, the claw
unit being hooked to at least two of the plurality of first
heat-transfer pipes and the plurality of second heat-transfer
pipes.
2-4. (canceled)
5. The indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the blocking member is made of at least one of resin and
metal.
6. The indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein a part including the upper edge of the blocking member is
inclined and extends rearward as the part extends upward.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to indoor units of
air-conditioning apparatuses that prevent dripping of
condensate.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus is equipped
with an indoor heat exchanger in a housing. With regard to this
indoor heat exchanger, various configurations are proposed from the
standpoint of, for example, the layout in the housing. For example,
some indoor heat exchanger in the related art includes a first heat
exchanger disposed above a fan and a second heat exchanger disposed
in front of the fan (see Patent Literature 1). In detail, the first
heat exchanger is provided above the fan in the diagonally forward
direction from the fan and is inclined forward and downward. The
second heat exchanger is provided in front of the fan and below the
first heat exchanger. Furthermore, the indoor unit described in
Patent Literature 1 is also provided with a seal member that covers
an area between the first heat exchanger and the second heat
exchanger and also a part of the second heat exchanger from the
front side. The seal member of the indoor unit described in Patent
Literature 1 adjusts the air volume to the second heat
exchanger.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2005-214561
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] When the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator,
indoor air suctioned into the housing by the fan is cooled by
refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger. In this
case, the moisture in the indoor air condenses on the indoor heat
exchanger, causing condensate to adhere to the indoor heat
exchanger. Normally, in the above-described indoor unit equipped
with the indoor heat exchanger including the first heat exchanger
and the second heat exchanger, the condensate adhering to the first
heat exchanger flows down along the first heat exchanger to the
second heat exchanger and adheres to the second heat exchanger.
Then, the condensate adhering to the second heat exchanger flows
down along the second heat exchanger and is discharged to a drain
pan disposed below the second heat exchanger. The condensate
discharged to the drain pan is discharged outdoors via, for
example, a pipe.
[0005] For example, the degree of water repellency of the indoor
heat exchanger may sometimes increase because of an environmental
factor, such as the use of a large amount of spray having a water
repelling function, such as hair spray, inside a room where the
indoor unit is installed. In such a case, in the above-described
indoor unit in the related art equipped with the indoor heat
exchanger including the first heat exchanger and the second heat
exchanger, the degree of water repellency of the first heat
exchanger increases, causing an increase in the speed of the
condensate flowing down along the first heat exchanger. Thus, the
condensate flowing down along the first heat exchanger drops
forward of the second heat exchanger without being able to reach
the second heat exchanger. The condensate dropping forward of the
second heat exchanger cannot be received by the drain pan.
Therefore, in the above-described indoor unit in the related art
including the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger,
the condensate dropping forward of the second heat exchanger drips
indoors. This is problematic in that a phenomenon called dripping
of condensate occurs.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the
aforementioned problem, and an object of the present disclosure is
to obtain an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that can
prevent dripping of condensate in the above-described indoor unit
of the air-conditioning apparatus including the first heat
exchanger and the second heat exchanger, as compared with the
related art, even when the degree of water repellency of the first
heat exchanger increases.
Solution to Problem
[0007] An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first heat
exchanger inclined forward and downward, a second heat exchanger
provided below the first heat exchanger, a drain pan provided below
the second heat exchanger, and a blocking member covering an area
between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and
also a part of the first heat exchanger from a front side. The
first heat exchanger has at least one heat exchanging unit. An
upper edge of the blocking member is higher than a front edge at a
lower end of the heat exchanging unit disposed at a front-most
side.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] In the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, even when the
degree of water repellency of the first heat exchanger increases
and the condensate flowing down along the first heat exchanger is
about to drop forward of the second heat exchanger, the condensate
that is about to drop forward of the second heat exchanger collides
with the blocking member. Then, the condensate colliding with the
blocking member flows down along the blocking member to the second
heat exchanger and adheres to the second heat exchanger. The
condensate adhering to the second heat exchanger then flows down
along the second heat exchanger and is discharged to the drain pan
disposed below the second heat exchanger. Consequently, the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure can prevent dripping of condensate more
than that in the related art even when the degree of water
repellency of the first heat exchanger increases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure, as viewed from the front side.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure, as viewed from the front side, and illustrates a state
where a front part of a housing has been removed.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of an internal structure of the indoor
unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of
the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a blocking member in the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, as viewed from the front
side.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the blocking member in the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, as viewed from the rear
side.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first claw unit of the
blocking member and the vicinity of the first claw unit, as viewed
from the front side, and illustrates a state where the blocking
member is secured to an indoor heat exchanger in the indoor unit of
the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the
present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a side view of a second claw unit of the blocking
member and the vicinity of the second claw unit and illustrates a
state where the blocking member is secured to the indoor heat
exchanger in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining condensate discharging
operation in an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus
equipped with a seal member in the related art.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining condensate discharging
operation in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a side view of an internal structure of an indoor
unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of
the present disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] In each of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 below, an example
of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the
present disclosure will be described. A wall-mounted indoor unit to
be mounted to a wall of a room that is an air-conditioned space
will be described below as an example of the indoor unit of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Embodiment 1
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure, as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is a perspective
view of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according
to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, as viewed from the front
side, and illustrates a state where a front part of a housing has
been removed. FIG. 3 is a side view of an internal structure of the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 3, the left side of
the drawing is the front side of an indoor unit 100.
[0021] The indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus
includes, for example, a substantially cuboid housing 1. The upper
surface of the housing 1 is provided with an air inlet 2. A lower
part of the front surface of the housing 1 is provided with an air
outlet 3. The housing 1 accommodates, for example, a fan 4 and an
indoor heat exchanger 5.
[0022] In Embodiment 1, a cross-flow fan is used as the fan 4. The
fan 4 is surrounded by a casing 6. The casing 6 has an opening
provided from the front to an upper part of the casing 6, and also
has an opening provided at a lower part of the casing 6. The
opening at the lower part of the casing 6 communicates with the air
outlet 3 mentioned above. When the fan 4 rotates, indoor air is
suctioned into the housing 1 through the air inlet 2. The indoor
air suctioned into the housing 1 is suctioned into the casing 6
through the opening provided from the front to the upper part of
the casing 6. The indoor air suctioned into the casing 6 travels
through the opening at the lower part of the casing 6 and is blown
indoors through the air outlet 3. Alternatively, the fan 4 used may
be a fan other than a cross-flow fan.
[0023] In a side view, the indoor heat exchanger 5 surrounds the
fan 4 at a location upstream of the fan 4 in the flowing direction
of airflow in the housing 1 produced by the rotation of the fan 4.
The indoor heat exchanger 5 includes a first heat exchanger 10 and
a second heat exchanger 20. The first heat exchanger 10 is provided
above the fan 4 in the diagonally forward direction from the fan 4
and is inclined forward and downward. The second heat exchanger 20
is provided in front of the fan 4 and below the first heat
exchanger 10. A drain pan 7 that receives condensate produced in
the first heat exchanger 10 and the second heat exchanger 20 is
provided below the second heat exchanger 20. The indoor heat
exchanger 5 according to Embodiment 1 also includes a third heat
exchanger 30. The third heat exchanger 30 is provided above the fan
4 in the diagonally rearward direction from the fan 4 and is
inclined rearward and downward.
[0024] The first heat exchanger 10 has at least one heat exchanging
unit. In Embodiment 1, the first heat exchanger 10 has a first heat
exchanging unit 11 and a second heat exchanging unit 12. The second
heat exchanging unit 12 is disposed in front of the first heat
exchanging unit 11. Specifically, in Embodiment 1, the second heat
exchanging unit 12 is the heat exchanging unit disposed at the
front-most side of all the heat exchanging units included in the
first heat exchanger 10. Alternatively, the first heat exchanger 10
may have a single heat exchanging unit, or the first heat exchanger
10 may include three or more heat exchanging units arranged in the
front-rear direction. In a case where the first heat exchanger 10
has a single heat exchanging unit, the single heat exchanging unit
is considered as the heat exchanging unit disposed at the
front-most side of all the heat exchanging units included in the
first heat exchanger 10.
[0025] In Embodiment 1, the first heat exchanging unit 11 and the
second heat exchanging unit 12 are fin-tube-type heat exchanging
units. In detail, the first heat exchanging unit 11 and the second
heat exchanging unit 12 each include a plurality of first
heat-transfer fins 15 and a plurality of first heat-transfer pipes
16 through which refrigerant flows. The plurality of first
heat-transfer fins 15 are arranged apart from each other in the
left-right direction. The plurality of first heat-transfer pipes 16
are arranged in the left-right direction and extend through the
plurality of first heat-transfer fins 15. Alternatively, the first
heat exchanging unit 11 and the second heat exchanging unit 12 may
be heat exchanging units of a type other than a fin-tube type.
[0026] In Embodiment 1, the second heat exchanger 20 is a
fin-tube-type heat exchanger. In detail, the second heat exchanger
20 includes a plurality of second heat-transfer fins 21 and a
plurality of second heat-transfer pipes 22 through which
refrigerant flows. The plurality of second heat-transfer fins 21
are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction. The
plurality of second heat-transfer pipes 22 are arranged in the
left-right direction and extend through the plurality of second
heat-transfer fins 21. Alternatively, the second heat exchanger 20
may be a heat exchanger of a type other than a fin-tube type.
Moreover, as an alternative to Embodiment 1 in which the second
heat exchanger 20 has a single heat exchanging unit, the second
heat exchanger 20 may include two or more heat exchanging
units.
[0027] Furthermore, the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1
includes a blocking member 50 that covers an area between the first
heat exchanger 10 and the second heat exchanger 20 and also a part
of the first heat exchanger 10 from the front side. In detail, the
blocking member 50 includes a plate-like blocking section 51
having, for example, a substantially rectangular shape. The
blocking section 51 covers an area between the first heat exchanger
10 and the second heat exchanger 20 and also a part of the first
heat exchanger 10 from the front side. The width of the blocking
section 51 corresponds to the length that covers the range in which
the first heat-transfer fins 15 are arranged in the first heat
exchanger 10. An upper edge 52 of the blocking section 51 is
positioned higher than a front edge 14 at a lower end 13 of the
second heat exchanging unit 12 of the first heat exchanger 10. In
other words, the upper edge 52 of the blocking section 51 is
positioned higher than the front edge 14 at the lower end 13 of the
heat exchanging unit disposed at the front-most side of all the
heat exchanging units included in the first heat exchanger 10. As
will be described later, the indoor unit 100 according to
Embodiment 1 includes the blocking member 50 having this
configuration so that dripping of condensate, that is, a phenomenon
where condensate drips indoors, can be prevented more than that in
the related art.
[0028] In the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1, noise is
reduced more than that in the related art by the blocking member
50. Thus, in Embodiment 1, the upper edge 52 of the blocking
section 51 is positioned higher than the first heat-transfer pipe
16 disposed at the lowest position in the second heat exchanging
unit 12 of the first heat exchanger 10. In other words, the upper
edge 52 of the blocking section 51 is positioned higher than the
first heat-transfer pipe 16 disposed at the lowest position in the
heat exchanging unit disposed at the front-most side of all the
heat exchanging units included in the first heat exchanger 10. In
FIG. 3, the first heat-transfer pipe 16 disposed at the lowest
position in the second heat exchanging unit 12 is defined as a
first heat-transfer pipe 16a.
[0029] In Embodiment 1, the heat exchanging units of the first heat
exchanger 10 and the second heat exchanger 20 are fin-tube-type
heat exchangers. Therefore, in Embodiment 1, the blocking member 50
is secured as follows by using heat-transfer pipes.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the blocking member in the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, as viewed from the front
side. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the blocking member in the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, as viewed from the rear
side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first claw unit of the
blocking member and the vicinity of the first claw unit, as viewed
from the front side, and illustrates a state where the blocking
member is secured to the indoor heat exchanger in the indoor unit
of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the
present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a side view of a second claw unit of
the blocking member and the vicinity of the second claw unit and
illustrates a state where the blocking member is secured to the
indoor heat exchanger in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In
FIG. 7, the left side of the drawing is the front side of the
indoor unit 100.
[0031] The blocking member 50 includes a claw unit 55 that secures
the blocking member 50 by being hooked to at least two of the
plurality of first heat-transfer pipes 16 in the first heat
exchanger 10 and the plurality of second heat-transfer pipes 22 in
the second heat exchanger 20. In Embodiment 1, the claw unit 55
includes a first claw unit 56 and a second claw unit 57.
[0032] The first claw unit 56 includes a claw 56a and a claw 56b.
The claw 56a is hooked to a first heat-transfer pipe 16 of the
first heat exchanger 10 outside of the range in which the first
heat-transfer fins 15 are arranged in the first heat exchanger 10.
In other words, the claw 56a is hooked to the first heat-transfer
pipe 16 of the first heat exchanger 10 outside of the first
heat-transfer fin 15 disposed at the outermost side in the
left-right direction. The claw 56b is hooked to a second
heat-transfer pipe 22 of the second heat exchanger 20 outside of
the range in which the second heat-transfer fins 21 are arranged in
the second heat exchanger 20. In other words, the claw 56b is
hooked to the second heat-transfer pipe 22 of the second heat
exchanger 20 outside of the second heat-transfer fin 21 disposed at
the outermost side in the left-right direction.
[0033] The second claw unit 57 includes a claw 57a and a claw 57b.
The claw 57a is hooked to a first heat-transfer pipe 16 of the
first heat exchanger 10 between neighboring first heat-transfer
fins 15 of the first heat exchanger 10. The claw 57b is hooked to a
second heat-transfer pipe 22 of the second heat exchanger 20
between neighboring second heat-transfer fins 21 of the second heat
exchanger 20.
[0034] If a claw of the claw unit 55 is hooked to only a single
heat-transfer pipe, the blocking member 50 cannot be secured as the
blocking member 50 may rotate about the heat-transfer pipe used as
a rotation axis. In contrast, by hooking claws of the claw unit 55
to two or more heat-transfer pipes, the blocking member 50 can be
secured.
[0035] The following description relates to condensate discharging
operation performed when condensation is produced in the first heat
exchanger 10 of the indoor heat exchanger 5 in the indoor unit 100
according to Embodiment 1. To facilitate the recognition of the
condensate-dripping prevention effect of the blocking member 50,
condensate discharging operation performed when a seal member 150
in the related art is provided in place of the blocking member 50
in the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1 will first be
described below. Then, the condensate discharging operation in the
indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the condensate
discharging operation in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus equipped with the seal member in the related art. The
indoor unit illustrated in FIG. 8 is obtained by removing the
blocking member 50 from the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment
1 and attaching the seal member 150 in the related art in place of
the blocking member 50. FIG. 8 is a side view of an internal
structure of the indoor unit. In FIG. 8, the left side of the
drawing is the front side of the indoor unit.
[0037] Similar to the blocking member 50, the seal member 150 in
the related art covers an area between the first heat exchanger 10
and the second heat exchanger 20 and also a part of the first heat
exchanger 10 from the front side. However, an upper edge 152 of the
seal member 150 in the related art is positioned lower than the
upper edge 52 of the blocking member 50. In detail, the upper edge
152 of the seal member 150 in the related art is positioned lower
than the front edge 14 at the lower end 13 of the second heat
exchanging unit 12 of the first heat exchanger 10.
[0038] When the indoor heat exchanger 5 is used as an evaporator,
indoor air suctioned into the housing 1 by the fan 4 is cooled by
refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 5. In this
case, the moisture in the indoor air condenses on the indoor heat
exchanger 5, causing condensate 60 to adhere to the indoor heat
exchanger 5. Normally, the condensate 60 adhering to the first heat
exchanger 10 flows down along the first heat exchanger 10 to the
second heat exchanger 20 and adheres to the second heat exchanger
20. Then, the condensate 60 adhering to the second heat exchanger
20 flows down along the second heat exchanger 20 and is discharged
to the drain pan 7 disposed below the second heat exchanger 20. The
condensate 60 discharged to the drain pan 7 is discharged outdoors
via, for example, a pipe, which is not illustrated.
[0039] For example, the degree of water repellency of the indoor
heat exchanger 5 may sometimes increase because of an environmental
factor, such as the indoor use of a large amount of spray having a
water repelling function, such as hair spray. In such a case, the
degree of water repellency of the first heat exchanger 10
increases, causing an increase in the speed of the condensate 60
flowing down along the first heat exchanger 10. Thus, the
condensate 60 flowing down along the first heat exchanger 10 is
about to drop forward of the second heat exchanger 20 without being
able to reach the second heat exchanger 20.
[0040] In this case, as the upper edge 152 of the seal member 150
in the related art is located at a low position, the condensate 60
flowing down along the first heat exchanger 10 passes over the
second heat exchanger 20 and the seal member 150, as indicated with
a dashed arrow in FIG. 8. Then, the condensate 60 dropping forward
of the second heat exchanger 20 and the seal member 150 cannot be
received by the drain pan 7. Therefore, the condensate 60 dropping
forward of the second heat exchanger 20 and the seal member 150
drips indoors, thus causing dripping of condensate to occur. It may
be possible for the drain pan 7 to receive the condensate 60
dropping forward of the second heat exchanger 20 and the seal
member 150 if the drain pan 7 is made larger in the front-rear
direction. However, if the drain pan 7 is made larger in the
front-rear direction, the dimension of the housing 1 in the
front-rear direction also increases. As the size of the housing 1
is limited, it is not practical to make the drain pan 7 larger in
the front-rear direction for preventing dripping of condensate.
[0041] In contrast, in the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment
1 equipped with the blocking member 50, the condensate 60 adhering
to the first heat exchanger 10 is discharged as follows.
[0042] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the condensate
discharging operation in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG.
9 is a side view of an internal structure of the indoor unit 100
according to Embodiment 1. In FIG. 9, the left side of the drawing
is the front side of the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment
1.
[0043] As mentioned above, when the degree of water repellency of
the first heat exchanger 10 increases, the condensate 60 flowing
down along the first heat exchanger 10 is about to drop forward of
the second heat exchanger 20. In this case, the condensate 60
flowing down along the first heat exchanger 10 drops from the lower
end of the first heat exchanger 10. Thus, of all the condensate 60
dropping from the first heat exchanger 10, the condensate 60
dropping from the highest position is the condensate 60 dropping
from the highest location at the lower end of the first heat
exchanger 10. Specifically, of all the condensate 60 dropping from
the first heat exchanger 10, the condensate 60 dropping from the
highest position is the condensate 60 dropping from the front edge
14 at the lower end 13 of the second heat exchanging unit 12.
[0044] As mentioned above, the upper edge 52 of the blocking
section 51 is positioned higher than the front edge 14 at the lower
end 13 of the second heat exchanging unit 12 of the first heat
exchanger 10. Specifically, the upper edge 52 of the blocking
section 51 is positioned higher than the condensate 60 dropping
from the highest position of all the condensate 60 dropping from
the first heat exchanger 10. Thus, in the indoor unit 100 according
to Embodiment 1, even when the condensate 60 flowing down along the
first heat exchanger 10 is about to drop forward of the second heat
exchanger 20, the condensate 60 that is about to drop forward of
the second heat exchanger 20 collides with the blocking member 50,
as indicated with a dashed arrow in FIG. 9.
[0045] Then, the condensate 60 colliding with the blocking member
50 flows down along the blocking member 50 to the second heat
exchanger 20 and adheres to the second heat exchanger 20. Then, the
condensate 60 adhering to the second heat exchanger 20 flows down
along the second heat exchanger 20 and is discharged to the drain
pan 7 disposed below the second heat exchanger 20. Consequently,
the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1 can prevent dripping
of condensate more than that in the related art even when the
degree of water repellency of the first heat exchanger 10
increases.
[0046] In view of the size of the condensate 60, it is more
preferable that the upper edge 52 of the blocking section 51 be
positioned higher than the front edge 14 at the lower end 13 of the
second heat exchanging unit 12 of the first heat exchanger 10 by an
extent greater than or equal to the size of the condensate 60. For
example, the size of the condensate 60 is defined to be 5 mm. In
this case, it is more preferable that the upper edge 52 of the
blocking section 51 be positioned higher than the front edge 14 at
the lower end 13 of the second heat exchanging unit 12 of the first
heat exchanger 10 by 5 mm or more. Accordingly, the condensate 60
can be captured more reliably by the blocking member 50 so that
dripping of condensate can be further prevented.
[0047] Furthermore, in the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment
1, the upper edge 52 of the blocking section 51 of the blocking
member 50 is positioned higher than the first heat-transfer pipe 16
disposed at the lowest position in the second heat exchanging unit
12 of the first heat exchanger 10. Therefore, in the indoor unit
100 according to Embodiment 1, noise coming from the fan 4 can be
reduced more than that in the related art.
[0048] In detail, when airflow with uneven air-volume distribution
enters the fan 4, the noise coming from the fan 4 increases. In the
case of the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1, an area
indicated with an arrow A in FIGS. 8 and 9 only has the first heat
exchanging unit 11 in the direction of the airflow caused by the
rotation of the fan 4 to pass through the first heat exchanger 10.
In other words, the airflow passing through the area indicated with
the arrow A in FIGS. 8 and 9 travels through a heat exchanger
having two rows of first heat-transfer pipes 16 arranged in the
direction of the airflow. On the other hand, an area indicated with
an arrow B in FIGS. 8 and 9 has the first heat exchanging unit 11
and the second heat exchanging unit 12 in the direction of the
airflow caused by the rotation of the fan 4 to pass through the
first heat exchanger 10. In other words, the airflow passing
through the area indicated with the arrow B in FIGS. 8 and 9
travels through a heat exchanger having three rows of first
heat-transfer pipes 16 arranged in the direction of the airflow.
Specifically, the area indicated with the arrow A has lower air
resistance than that in the area indicated with the arrow B.
[0049] As mentioned above, the upper edge 152 of the seal member
150 in the related art is located at a low position. Therefore, as
illustrated in FIG. 8, in the case where the seal member 150 in the
related art is provided, the airflow passes through the area
indicated with the arrow A. In this case, as the area indicated
with the arrow A has lower air resistance than that in the area
indicated with the arrow B, the speed of the air flowing through
the area indicated with the arrow A is higher than the speed of the
air flowing through the area indicated with the arrow B. Thus, the
flow rate of air flowing through the area indicated with the arrow
A becomes greater than the flow rate of air flowing through the
area indicated with the arrow B. Consequently, in the case where
the seal member 150 in the related art is provided, the air that
has passed through the area indicated with the arrow A and the air
that has passed through the area indicated with the arrow B flow
into the fan 4. Thus, in the case where the seal member 150 in the
related art is provided, airflow with uneven air-volume
distribution enters the fan 4, thus causing the noise coming from
the fan 4 to increase.
[0050] In contrast, the upper edge 52 of the blocking section 51 of
the blocking member 50 according to Embodiment 1 is positioned
higher than the first heat-transfer pipe 16 disposed at the lowest
position in the second heat exchanging unit 12 of the first heat
exchanger 10. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the blocking
section 51 of the blocking member 50 according to Embodiment 1 is
configured to cover the area indicated with the arrow A from the
front. Thus, in the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1, the
air that has passed through the area indicated with the arrow B
flows into the fan 4. Therefore, in the indoor unit 100 according
to Embodiment 1, airflow with air-volume distribution that is more
even than that in the related art enters the fan 4, so that the
noise coming from the fan 4 can be reduced more than that in the
related art.
[0051] In a case where the air resistance of the first heat
exchanger 10 and the air resistance of the second heat exchanger 20
are different from each other, the air tends to flow more to the
heat exchanger with the lower air resistance. For example, in the
case of Embodiment 1, the second heat exchanger 20 has the second
heat-transfer pipes 22 arranged in two rows in the direction of the
airflow caused by the rotation of the fan 4 to pass through the
second heat exchanger 20. On the other hand, in the range in which
the first heat exchanging unit 11 and the second heat exchanging
unit 12 are arranged in parallel, the first heat exchanger 10 has
the first heat-transfer pipes 16 arranged in three rows in the
direction of the airflow caused by the rotation of the fan 4 to
pass through the first heat exchanger 10. Therefore, in the case of
Embodiment 1, the air resistance of the second heat exchanger 20 is
lower than the air resistance of the first heat exchanger 10.
Consequently, the air tends to flow more to the second heat
exchanger 20 than to the first heat exchanger 10.
[0052] Therefore, because of a difference between the flow rate of
air flowing through the second heat exchanger 20 and the flow rate
of air flowing through the first heat exchanger 10, airflow with
uneven air-volume distribution may enter the fan 4, sometimes
causing the noise coming from the fan 4 to increase. In this case,
as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 9, the blocking member 50 may cover a
part of the second heat exchanger 20 from the front side so that
air is less likely to flow to the second heat exchanger 20.
Consequently, unevenness in the air-volume distribution of the air
flowing into the fan 4 can be reduced, and the noise coming from
the fan 4 can be reduced more than that in the related art. The
required range for covering the second heat exchanger 20 for
reducing unevenness in the air-volume distribution of the air
flowing into the fan 4 varies depending on the capacity of the fan
4. Thus, the position of a lower edge 53 of the blocking section 51
of the blocking member 50 varies depending on the capacity of the
fan 4.
[0053] The material of the blocking member 50 is not particularly
limited, but is preferably of a type that does not deform in
response to airflow caused by the rotation of the fan 4. A
preferred example of the material of the blocking member 50 is
resin or metal. Specifically, the blocking member 50 is preferably
made of at least one of resin and metal.
[0054] As described above, the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 includes the
first heat exchanger 10, the second heat exchanger 20, the drain
pan 7, and the blocking member 50. The first heat exchanger 10 is
inclined forward and downward. The second heat exchanger 20 is
provided below the first heat exchanger 10. The drain pan 7 is
provided below the second heat exchanger 20. The blocking member 50
covers an area between the first heat exchanger 10 and the second
heat exchanger 20 and also a part of the first heat exchanger 10
from the front side. The first heat exchanger 10 has at least one
heat exchanging unit. The upper edge 52 of the blocking member 50
is higher than the front edge at the lower end of the heat
exchanging unit disposed at the front-most side of all the heat
exchanging units of the first heat exchanger 10.
[0055] In the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus
according to Embodiment 1, even when the degree of water repellency
of the first heat exchanger 10 increases and the condensate 60
flowing down along the first heat exchanger 10 is about to drop
forward of the second heat exchanger 20, the condensate 60 collides
with the blocking member 50. Then, the condensate 60 colliding with
the blocking member 50 flows down along the blocking member 50 to
the second heat exchanger 20 and adheres to the second heat
exchanger 20. The condensate 60 adhering to the second heat
exchanger 20 then flows down along the second heat exchanger 20 and
is discharged to the drain pan 7 disposed below the second heat
exchanger 20. Consequently, the indoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 can prevent
dripping of condensate more than that in the related art even when
the degree of water repellency of the first heat exchanger 10
increases.
Embodiment 2
[0056] The shape of the blocking member 50 is not limited to the
shape shown in Embodiment 1. For example, the blocking member 50
may have a shape as shown in Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 2, items
not described in particular are identical to those in Embodiment 1,
and functions and components identical to those in Embodiment 1 are
described with the same reference signs.
[0057] FIG. 10 is a side view of an internal structure of the
indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to
Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 10, the left side
of the drawing is the front side of the indoor unit 100.
[0058] In Embodiment 2, a part including the upper edge 52 of the
blocking section 51 of the blocking member 50 is inclined and
extends rearward as the part extends upward. Specifically, an upper
part of the blocking section 51 of the blocking member 50 is
inclined and extends rearward as the upper part extends upward. For
example, the part including the upper edge 52 of the blocking
section 51 of the blocking member 50 is inclined and extends
rearward as the part extends upward, in such a manner that the part
extends along the front surface of the first heat exchanger 10.
[0059] In a case where the blocking member 50 is configured in this
manner, the condensate 60 flowing down along the first heat
exchanger 10 flows under the upper part of the blocking section 51
before dropping from the first heat exchanger 10. Therefore, as
compared with the blocking member 50 described in Embodiment 1, the
blocking member 50 according to Embodiment 2 can further prevent
the condensate 60 dropping from the first heat exchanger 10 from
passing over the blocking member 50. Consequently, the indoor unit
100 according to Embodiment 2 can prevent dripping of condensate
more than that in Embodiment 1.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0060] 1 housing 2 air inlet 3 air outlet 4 fan 5 indoor heat
exchanger 6 casing 7 drain pan 10 first heat exchanger 11 first
heat exchanging unit 12 second heat exchanging unit 13 lower end 14
front edge 15 first heat-transfer fin 16 first heat-transfer pipe
20 second heat exchanger 21 second heat-transfer fin 22 second
heat-transfer pipe 30 third heat exchanger 50 blocking member 51
blocking section 52 upper edge 53 lower edge 55 claw unit 56 first
claw unit 56a claw 56b claw 57 second claw unit 57a claw 57b claw
60 condensate 100 indoor unit 150 seal member (related art) 152
upper edge (related art)
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