[Name of Document]

DESCRIPTION

[Title of Invention]

AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS

[Technical Field]

[0001]

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus that includes an inverted V-shaped heat exchanger having a front portion of greater mass than a back portion thereof, and a component disposed on a side of the heat exchanger and capable of not only securing a back housing that supports the heat exchanger but also closing a gap between the heat exchanger and the back housing.

[Background Art]

[0002]

For an inverted V-shaped heat exchanger having a front portion of greater mass than a back portion thereof, there is a technique for reducing forward falling of the heat exchanger. Specifically, the heat exchanger is provided with a pair of right and left support plates that protrude from a back housing to cover both sides of the heat exchanger. One of the support plates has a small prismatic protrusion longer in a direction perpendicular to the back housing than the other direction, and the other of the support plates has a rectangular hole longer in a direction horizontal to the back housing than the other direction. One end plate of the heat exchanger has a rectangular hole corresponding to the protrusion of the support plate, and the other end plate of the heat exchanger has a protrusion corresponding to the rectangular hole of the support plate. By fitting each protrusion into the corresponding rectangular hole, forward falling of the heat exchanger is reduced (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).

[0003]

There is another technique for reducing forward falling of a heat exchanger. Specifically, after side plates at both ends of a front heat exchanger portion and a rear heat exchanger portion are placed on the corresponding support plates, a front wind-shielding member and a rear wind-shielding member of an attachment are attached to respective bent portions of the heat exchanger. Then, screws are inserted into respective screw insertion holes of connecting members of the attachment, and screwed into respective screw holes of the support plates. The front heat exchanger portion and the rear heat exchanger portion are secured to the support plates, and thus forward falling of the heat exchanger is reduced (see, e.g., Patent Literature 2).

[Citation List]

[Patent Literature]

[0004]

[Patent Literature 1]

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-179931 (see, e.g., and Fig. 1)[0015]

[Patent Literature 2]

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-277043 (see, e.g., and Fig. 2)[0014]

[Summary of Invention]

[Technical Problem]

[0005]

In the technique described in Patent Literature 1, the movement of the heat exchanger in an up-down direction parallel to the back housing is reduced on one side, and the movement of the heat exchanger in a direction perpendicular to the back housing is reduced on the other side, so that forward falling of the heat exchanger is reduced. Therefore, if the heat exchanger falls forward, a rotational motion is produced about each fitting portion, and the resulting rotational force causes torsion and moment.

The occurrence of torsion and moment may produce unnecessary stress on pipes, which are components of the heat exchanger, and may affect the heat exchange.

Additionally, since the torsion creates a gap between the heat exchanger and the back housing, air which is not heat-exchanged may intrude into the air-conditioning apparatus without passing through the heat exchanger and adversely affect the heat exchange. That is, the resulting difference in temperature between heat-exchanged air and the air which is not heat-exchanged may cause condensation which cannot be collected.

[0006]

In the technique described in Patent Literature 2, where the heat exchanger is secured to the support plates by screwing the attachment to the support plates, the heat exchanger is prevented from falling forward. However, this technique not only increases costs by adding screw components and the screwing step, but also requires an increased strength of the back housing and an additional space for screwing.

[0007]

The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above. An object of the present invention is to provide an air-conditioning apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of torsion and moment without any screwing operation, and can also prevent condensation from forming in places where it cannot be collected.

[Solution to Problem]

[0008]

An air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes a back housing hung on an installation plate secured in place; a front housing mounted on a front side of the back housing; an inverted V-shaped heat exchanger having a front portion of greater mass than a back portion thereof, the heat exchanger being housed in the front housing; a heat exchanger mounting plate attached to at least one side of the heat exchanger; and a protruding plate protruding from the back housing to be in contact with inside of the heat exchanger mounting plate. The heat exchanger mounting plate has at least two first fitting portions. The protruding plate has second fitting portions fitted into the respective first fitting portions or into which the respective first fitting portions are fitted when the heat exchanger is placed in the front housing.

[Advantageous Effects of Invention]

[0009]

With the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce forward falling of the heat exchanger without requiring additional steps and workers for assembly, without increasing the number of securing components, and without affecting assembly workability. Even if the heat exchanger falls forward, since the occurrence of torsion and moment can be prevented, it is possible to reduce the impact on heat exchange and to prevent condensation from forming in places where it cannot be collected.

[Brief Description of Drawings]

[0010]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention (with a front design panel in an open state).

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention (with the front design panel in a closed state).

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an upper-right perspective view of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention, with a heat exchanger and a back housing assembled together.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 provides perspective views and a cross-sectional view of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention, with the heat exchanger and the back housing assembled together and held by a side cover.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an upper-right perspective view of the heat exchanger in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an upper-left perspective view of the heat exchanger in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a general perspective view of the heat exchanger in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Embodiments]

[0011]

Embodiment

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention (with a front design panel in an open state). Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention (with the front design panel in a closed state).

Fig. 3 is an upper-right perspective view of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention, with a heat exchanger and a back housing assembled together. Fig. 4 provides perspective views and a cross-sectional view of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention, with the heat exchanger and the back housing assembled together and held by a side cover. Fig. 5 is an upper-right perspective view of the heat exchanger in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5.

[0012]

The exterior of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment is formed by attaching a front housing 1 to a box-shaped back housing 3 which is open on the front side thereof, and attaching an openable and closable front design panel 2 to the front side of the front housing 1. The entire air-conditioning apparatus is supported by hanging the back housing 3 on an installation plate secured, for example, to a wall or a column. A top of the front housing 1 is provided with air inlets 1A. Inside the front design panel 2, there is a filter 20 that extends from the top to the front side of the front housing 1. A lower part of the front side of the front housing 1 is provided with an air outlet 4 and an up-down wind direction changing plate 6. The air outlet 4 is internally provided with a right-left wind direction changing plate 5. Inside the front housing 1, there is a heat exchanger 30 and a fan 7, by which air heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 30 is discharged through the air outlet 4 to the indoor space. The heat exchanger 30 is an inverted V-shaped unit placed around part of the fan 7, the inverted V-shaped unit having a front portion of greater mass than a back portion thereof.

[0013]

A heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 is assembled to a right side of the heat exchanger 30. The heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 has a first hole fitting portion 31A and a second hole fitting portion 31B, each being a fitting portion having a hole.

A protruding plate 3D that protrudes from the back housing 3 to be in contact with the inside of the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 has a first protrusion fitting portion 3A and a second protrusion fitting portion 3B, each being a fitting portion protruding in a right-left direction parallel to the back housing 3. The protruding plate 3D is disposed between a right side of the fan 7 and the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 and configured to hold the heat exchanger 30. The protruding plate 3D may be of any shape, size, and thickness as long as it can hold the heat exchanger 30.

A back-side heat exchanger mounting plate 32 is assembled to an inclined portion on the back side of the heat exchanger 30. The back housing 3 has a rib shape fitting portion 3C that covers a back-side protruding portion 32A which is part of the back-side heat exchanger mounting plate 32.

[0014]

Fitting the first protrusion fitting portion 3A into the first hole fitting portion 31A reduces movement of the heat exchanger 30 in a direction perpendicular to the back housing 3. Fitting the second protrusion fitting portion 3B into the second hole fitting pprtion 31B reduces movement of the heat exchanger 30 in an up-down direction parallel to the back housing 3. By reducing the movement of the heat exchanger 30 in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the back housing 3 at the two fitting points described above, the forward falling of the heat exchanger 30 is reduced on the right side.

The back-side protruding portion 32A, which is part of the back-side heat exchanger mounting plate 32, is fitted into the rib shape fitting portion 3C such that the back-side protruding portion 32A is covered with the rib shape fitting portion 3C. Additionally, a side cover 10 is assembled to a side of the heat exchanger 30 to cover the first hole fitting portion 31A and the first protrusion fitting portion 3A. Thus, movement of the heat exchanger 30 is reduced in a right-left direction parallel to a wall to which the installation plate for hanging the back housing 3 is secured.

[0015]

As described above, the movement of the heat exchanger 30 in the right-left direction parallel to the wall can be reduced by fitting the back-side protruding portion 32A into the rib shape fitting portion 3C such that the back-side protruding portion 32A is covered with the rib shape fitting portion 3C and by assembling the side cover 10 to the side of the heat exchanger 30.

At positions like those of the first protrusion fitting portion 3A and the second protrusion fitting portion 3B spaced apart as illustrated in Fig. 3, the protruding plate 3D protruding from the back housing 3 to be in contact with the inside of the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 has at least two fitting portions protruding in the right-left direction parallel to the back housing 3. At positions corresponding to those of the fitting portions of the protruding plate 3D, the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 has fitting portions each having a hole or a recess. By fitting the fitting portions of the protruding plate 3D into the respective fitting portions of the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31, it is possible to reduce the movement of the heat exchanger 30 in the direction perpendicular to the back housing 3 and in the up-down direction parallel to the back housing 3.

By reducing the movement of the heat exchanger 30 in the direction perpendicular to the back housing 3 and in the up-down direction parallel to the back housing 3, it is possible to reduce not only forward falling of the heat exchanger 30, but also floating of the heat exchanger 30 from the back housing 3.

[0016]

When a protruding fitting portion (3A) that reduces movement of the heat exchanger 30 in the up-down direction parallel to the back housing 3 and a protruding fitting portion (3B) that reduces movement of the heat exchanger 30 in the direction perpendicular to the back housing 3 are provided on the same side (plate), no rotational motion occurs about each fitting portion even if the heat exchanger 30 falls forward. It is thus possible to prevent turning of the heat exchanger 30 and occurrence of torsion and moment. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation where air which has not passed through the heat exchanger 30 and is not heat-exchanged intrudes into the air-conditioning apparatus and adversely affects the heat exchange, and the resulting difference in temperature between heat-exchanged air and the air which is not heat-exchanged causes condensation.

Moreover, since no screwing operation is required, there are no costs involved in adding screw components and the screwing step, and it is not necessary to either increase the strength of the back housing 3 or to secure a space for screwing.

Thus, it is possible to obtain a forward falling prevention mechanism in an air conditioning apparatus to reduce forward falling of the heat exchanger 30 in the air-conditioning apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of torsion and moment without any screwing operation and can also prevent condensation from forming in places where it cannot be collected.

[0017]

In Embodiment, the protruding plate 3D protruding from the back housing 3 has the first protrusion fitting portion 3A and the second protrusion fitting portion 3B, and the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 has the first hole fitting portion 31A and the second hole fitting portion 31B. This is for workability in assembling the heat exchanger 30 to the back housing 3 and because of the structure of a mold for forming the back housing 3. If there are no problems with the workability and the structure of the mold, protrusion portions, such as the first protrusion fitting portion 3A and the second protrusion fitting portion 3B, and hole portions, such as the first hole fitting portion 31A and the second hole fitting portion 31B, may be provided in any of a resin component, a sheet-metal component, the back housing 3, and the heat exchanger mounting plate.

For example, in reverse of Embodiment, hole portions may be provided at the locations of the first protrusion fitting portion 3A and the second protrusion fitting portion 3B, and protrusion portions may be provided at the locations of the first hole fitting portion 31A and the second hole fitting portion 31B.

Although the protrusion portions and the hole portions in Embodiment are equal in number (which is two), their numbers may be different as long as they are two or more.

[0018]

Although the protrusion portions and the hole portions in Embodiment are provided on the right side of the heat exchanger 30, they may be provided on the left side or on both the right and left sides. Note that if they are to be provided on both the right and left sides, it is necessary that they be symmetrically positioned right and left. This is because if the heat exchanger 30 falls forward when they are not symmetrically positioned right and left, the resulting rotational motion of the heat exchanger 30 produces torsion and moment, causes unnecessary stress on pipes, and leads to problems such as poor heat exchange and the occurrence of condensation in places where it cannot be collected.

[0019]

Fig. 6 is an upper-left perspective view of the heat exchanger 30 in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a general perspective view of the heat exchanger 30 in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present invention.

In Embodiment, the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 assembled to the right side of the heat exchanger 30 requires welding of pipes for convenience in the process of manufacturing the heat exchanger 30, and thus is made of sheet metal, not resin which may melt by heat. A heat exchanger mounting plate (left) 33 assembled to the left side of the heat exchanger 30 may be made of sheet metal, but may be made of resin, because it does not require welding of pipes. With resin, it is possible to form more complex shapes than with sheet metal, and to secure the heat exchanger mounting plate (left) 33 to the back housing 3 with screws. Thus, on the left side of the heat exchanger 30, the movement of the heat exchanger 30 in the direction parallel to the wall and the forward falling of the heat exchanger 30 can be reduced more effectively than on the right side where the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 is made of sheet metal.

[0020]

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, when the rib shape fitting portion 3C and its surrounding part of the back housing 3 is modified to a boss shape which allows screwing, and the back-side protruding portion 32Aand its surrounding part of the back-side heat exchanger mounting plate 32 and a part near the first hole fitting portion 31A or the second hole fitting portion 31B of the heat exchanger mounting plate (right) 31 are modified to a hole or a receiving shape which allows screwing, the heat exchanger 30 and the back housing 3 can be secured to each other with screws. Thus, the heat exchanger 30 can be mounted on the back housing as firmly as in the case of securing the heat exchanger mounting plate (left) 33 and the back housing 3 with screws.

[0021]

However, adding such screws may lead to increased costs due to increases in the number of components, the number of steps in the production line, and the number of workers. Also, the screwing operation in the production line may be difficult, because the screwing position may be a blind spot for the workers. Therefore, it is necessary to take costs and manufacturing convenience into account in determining whether to add screws.

[Reference Signs List]

[0022]

1 front housing, 1Aair inlet, 2 front design panel, 3 back housing, 3A first protrusion fitting portion, 3B second protrusion fitting portion, 3C rib shape fitting portion, 3D protruding plate, 4 air outlet, 5 right-left wind direction changing plate, 6 up-down wind direction changing plate, 7 fan, 10 side cover, 20 filter, 30 heat exchanger, 31 heat exchanger mounting plate (right), 31A first hole fitting portion, 31B second hole fitting portion, 32 back-side heat exchanger mounting plate, 32A back¬side protruding portion, and 33 heat exchanger mounting plate (left).

[Name of Document]

CLAIMS

[Claim 1]

An air-conditioning apparatus comprising:

a back housing hung on an installation plate secured in place;

a front housing mounted on a front side of the back housing;

an inverted V-shaped heat exchanger having a front portion of greater mass than a back portion thereof, the heat exchanger being housed in the front housing;

a heat exchanger mounting plate attached to at least one side of the heat exchanger; and

a protruding plate protruding from the back housing to be in contact with inside of the heat exchanger mounting plate,

wherein the heat exchanger mounting plate has at least two first fitting portions; and

the protruding plate has second fitting portions fitted into the respective first fitting portions or into which the respective first fitting portions are fitted when the heat exchanger is placed in the front housing.

[Claim 2]

The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fitting portions are each in a shape of a hole or a recess; and

the second fitting portions are each in a shape of a protrusion to be fitted into the corresponding hole or recess.

[Claim 3]

The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fitting portions are each in a shape of a protrusion; and

the second fitting portions are each in a shape of a hole or a recess into which the corresponding protrusion is to be fitted.

[Claim 4]

The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the heat exchanger mounting plate is attached to each side of the heat exchanger, the at least two first fitting portions and the corresponding second fitting portions are positioned on each side to be symmetrical.