BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an air conditioner, more particularly, to a structure for
attaching wind directing plates to an air outlet of, for example, a ceiling-mounted air
conditioner
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A ceiling-mounted air conditioner is mainly used to be mounted on a ceiling in
a wide space, such as in offices and shops, and structurally larger than, for example,
a wall-mounted air conditioner.
An example of conventional structure will be explained below with reference
to Fig. 10 to Fig. 12 of the drawings accompanying the specification. Such an air
conditioner has, as a whole, a flat box type housing 1 mounted on the ceiling in a
room. Incidentally, in Fig. 10, the middle portion of the housing 1 is omitted for the
purpose of illustration.
An air inlet 2 is provided on one end of the bottom of the housing 1. An air
outlet 3 is formed on a corner, opposite to the air inlet 2, of the housing 1. The air
inlet 2 and the air outlet 3 communicate through an air channel in the housing 1. In
the air channel, an air fan 4 and a heat exchanger 5 are placed. Under the heat
exchanger 5, a drain pan 6 is placed.
ine air ouuet o nas an opening arranged diagonally downward from the
ceiling to the room. The air outlet 3 is provided therein with a flap 7 for directing
wind in a vertical direction and a louver 8 for directing wind in a lateral direction. The
flap 7 is rotatable in a vertical direction about a horizontal rotation axis X. The louver
8 is rotatable in a lateral direction about a rotation axis Y extending in a plane
orthogonal to the horizontal rotation axis X of the flap 7.
In this conventional example, two flaps 7 are used. Fig. 10 shows only one
louver 8, but in the actual air conditioner, a plurality of louvers 8 are provided at
predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the drawing. Herein, a set of
all louvers 8 is referred to as a group of louvers.
The flap 7 and the louvers 8 are provided in the air outlet 3 by attaching them
on a base frame 9. As shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, the base frame 9 is composed
of a plastic frame having an elongated box shape, including an upper plate 9a, a
lower plate 9b, and side plates 9c which are provided at both ends of the upper and
lower plates. The air outlet 3 is substantially formed by the base frame 9.
Such a ceiling-mounted air conditioner is larger compared to a wall-mounted
air conditioner, so that the air outlet 3 is also made larger, and accordingly provided
with larger wind directing plates 7 and 8 than those used in the wall-mounted type.
For supporting the louver 8 with enough strength, rotating shafts 8a and 8b are
provided on the top side and the bottom side of the louver 8 to support the plate 8 at
the toD and bottom.
More specifically, the base frame 9 is formed in a rectangular box shape as
described above. Bearing holes 10a and 10b are provided on the upper plate 9a
and the lower plate 9b. The upper rotating shaft 8a and the lower rotating shaft 8b
are inserted into the bearing holes 10a and 10b through bearing bushes 11a and
11 b, respectively.
In this case, an arm 12 is provided in conjunction with each of the bearing
bushes 11a for the upper rotating shaft 8a as shown in Fig. 11. The arms 12 are
connected with each other through a coupling rod 13 which is reciprocally moved by
a motor 14 (see Fig. 10). Each of the louvers 8 is driven in the right and left
directions within predetermined angles by the motor 14.
The flap 7 is attached to the base frame 9 in a vertically movable manner by
inserting the rotating shaft 7a into a bearing hole 15 which is provided on the side
plate 9c of the base frame 9. In this case, because of the flap 7 being lengthy,
supporting plates 16 are provided at predetermined intervals between the upper
plate 9a and the lower plate 9b of the base frame 9. The supporting plate 16 is
provided with a hinge 16a which supports the middle of the rotating shaft 7a of the
flaD7.
The flap 7 and the louver 8 are attached to the base frame 9 as above, and
then the assembly is installed in the air outlet 3. These processes entail the
following problems.
It is difficult to adhere a heat insulation material on the inside of the'base"
frame 9 in a rectangular box shape, because a number of bearing holes 10a and .
10b are provided on the upper plate 9a and the lower plate 9b.
Thus condensation created on the inside surface of the base frame 9 often
gathers to drop from the air outlet 3. This problem could be resolved by adhering a
heat insulation material on the inside of the base frame 9, but its process needs a lot
of time and labour, resultinq in inferior productivity and hiqher cost.
The base frame 9 is a resin molding and has a structure in a rectangular
shape, which requires a plurality of molds with increased cost. Moreover, in order to
attach the base frame 9 into the air outlet 3 with good appearance, careful and
elaborate finishing is required, and this further causes increase in cost.
The louver 8 is rotatably supported at top and bottom points, so that a lower
bearing bush 11b is required, which could be omitted in case of a cantilever support.
The lower bearing bush 11b is quite small with many of them used, resulting in that
the assembly operation adds further difficulties.
Moreover, the supporting plates 16 provided in the base frame 9 for
supporting the middle of the flap 7 again will cost for the assembly operation and
parts therefor. Besides, the presence of the supporting plate 16 could cause a wind
noise and be detrimental to the design of the air outlet 3
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is aimed at resolving these disadvantages. It is an
object of the invention to provide a ceiling-mounted type air conditioner with a
simplified structure for installing wind direction plates relative to an air outlet,
allowing production at lower cost, and causing deposition of condensation in less
area.
In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides an air
conditioner having a ceiling-mounted type housing having an air inlet and air outlet
communicating through an air channel inside thereof, provided with a heat
exchanger having a drain pan thereunder and an air fan inside the air channel, and
provided inside the air outlet with at least one flap plate rotatable upward an^U
downward around a horizontal rotating axis (X) and a group of louver plated, said
group including a plurality of louver Dlates^ rotatable right and left around rotating
axes (Y) lying in planes orthogonal to the horizontal rotating axis, characterized by :
a rotating shaft formed in a predetermined length, extending upward along the
rotating axis (Y) from the top side of said louver plate ; a supporting base disposed
on a top plate of the housing forming an upper portion of the air outlet, and having
bearing cylinders into which the rotating shafts of the; louver plate^ are inserted ; and
said; louver plates b,eing supported in a cantilever manner relative to the supporting
base through said rotating shafts and said bearinq cylinders.
Preferably, in this case, a first and a second bearing bushes are provided on
the upper end and the bottom end of the bearing cylinder, whereby the rotating shaft
is securely supported at two points, namely, the first bush at the upper end and the
second bush at the bottom end.
It is also one of the characteristics that the first and the second bushes are
nolded from a self-lubricating synthetic resin. One of such resins is polyacetal resin,
and a grade containing wax component is preferable among them.
When the louver plate is formed from a self-lubricating synthetic resin, the
number of parts can be reduced by integrally forming the second bush with the
rotating shaft.
It is also characteristic of the present invention that arms provided in
conjunction with said first bushes are connected with each other through a coupling
rod, and the louver plates are connected with each other through said arms of the
first bushes and the coupling roc
It is preferable for facilitating assembly operation that a plurality of coupling
holes are formed at predetermined intervals on the coupling rod, and the arm is
provided with a coupling pin which fits into the coupling hole, and a flexible holding
piece for holding the coupling rod fitted with the coupling pin in a detachable
manner.
In order to improve the assembly operation, it is also advisable to provide on
the upper portion of the rotating shaft with at least a pair of engaging pieces which
are inserted into the first bush while elastically reducing in diameter relative to the
first bush, and has a hook engageable with the top edge of the first bush, and to
connect the rotating shaft integrally with the first bush through the engaging pieces
so that no relative deviation in rotation occurs between the rotating shaft and the first
bush.
The present invention is characterized in that a heat insulation material in a
predetermined thickness is adhered to the supporting base on its side facing the air
outlet. Since the supporting base is made of a board having a simple shape, the
heat insulating material can be easily adhered.
It is preferable that the bearing cylinder is provided to the supporting base
such that the bearing cylinder passes through the heat insulating material. Thereby,
the bearing cylinder can be made longer taking advantage of the thickness of the
heat insulation material, so that the rotating shaft of the louver plate is more securely
supported.
According to the present invention, a storage recess is formed in the heat
insulation material for accommodating means for driving the group of the ilouver
plates\ so that a limited space in the housing can be effectively used.
According to the present invention, at least one hinge can be provided on the
drain pan for supporting a rotating shaft provided in the middle of the flap plate. The
hinge is attached to the drain pan in a cantilever manner, so that the hinge will not
cause any wind noise, nor impair the design of the air outlet, because the hinge
does not intersect the whole air outlet as in the case of prior art.
The hinge is preferably formed from a self-lubricating synthetic resin, so that a
bearing bush for the rotating shaft of the'flap plate can be omitted.
In the present invention, it is preferable that means for driving the flap plate is
provided on an outside surface of a side wall of the air outlet, and a heat insulation
Viaterial is adhered to an inside surface of the side wall, so that condensation will be
produced in less area
Another characteristic of the present invention lies in that a lowest portion of
the bottom sides of the_ louver plate is placed over the drain pan, so that
condensation on every/iouver plated drops on the drain pan. Therefore, even when
condensation is created oh the louver plates, it will be collected within the drain pan
and will not drop down from the air outlet.
In this case, it is preferable that, with respect to the direction of air blow at the
air outlet, an intersecting point of an upstream side and the bottom side of the louver
plate is placed at a lowest position, so that any conventional drain pan can be used
without requiring change in the shape of the drain pan.
The present invention is further characterized in that, with respect to an
imaginary reference line orthogonal to the rotation axis of the louver plate, both
shoulders on the top side thereof are cut off at a predetermined angle from the root
of the rotating shaft of the louver plate.
Thus, even if the heat insulation material adhered to the supporting base sags
causing a reduced clearance to the louver plate, there is no harmful influence to the
rotation of the louver plate, since only a part around the rotating shaft contacts with
the heat insulating material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described in detail by the preferred
embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings are as follows :
Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of an air conditioner of
a first embodiment according to the present invention ;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing a supporting structure
of a louver plate in the first embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view showing the supporting structure of
the louver plate ;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view showing a supporting structure of a
flap plate of the first embodiment;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of an air conditioner of
a second embodiment according to the present invention
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a supporting structure of a
louver plate in the second embodiment;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a lower portion of the
supporting structure of the louver plate of the second embodiment;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of an upper portion of the
supporting structure of the louver plate of the second embodiment;
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of still another embodiment of the
present invention, which is applied to the second embodiment;
Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of an air conditioner
of a conventional example ;
Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of an air outlet of the
conventional example ; and
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a base frame placed in the air outlet of the
conventional example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 show a first embodiment, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of
a ceiling-mounted air conditioner 20 of the first embodiment and shows the entire
structure. Similar in appearance to the conventional example described above, the
air conditioner 20 has an entirely flat, box shaped housing 21 mounted on the ceiling
face of a room.
The bottom surface of the housing 21, seen from the floor, is a front panel 22.
On one portion of the front panel 22, an air inlet 23 is provided. On a corner,
opposite to the air inlet 23, of the housing 21, an air outlet 24 is provided. The air
inlet 23 is provided with a decorative grill 231 and a dust filter 232.
The air inlet 23 and the air outlet 24 communicate through an air channel 25
inside the housing 21. An air fan 26 is provided in the air channel 25 adjacent to the
air inlet 23 and surrounded by a fan casing 261. An electrical equipment box 263 is
placed adjacent to the fan casing 261 in the housing 21.
In the air channel 25, a heat exchanger 27 is placed opposite to an air
discharge 262 of the fan casing 261. Under the heat exchanger 27, a drain pan 271
is provided for collecting condensation dropping from the heat exchanger 27.
In the first embodiment, a top plate 28 of the housing 21 facing the ceiling of
the room (not shown) includes a main top plate 281, directly attached onto the
ceiling face, and a secondary top plate 282 secured by a screw 283 to extend in a
downward diagonal direction from the main top plate 281. A heat insulation material
29 is adhered to an inner face of the main top plate 281 which confronts the heat
exchanger 27. The secondary top plate 282 and the front panel 22 form a part of the
air outlet 24.
The air outlet 24 is provided therein with a louver plate 30 and a flap plate 40.
The flap plate 40 is rotatable in an up-down direction about a horizontal rotation axis
X. The louver plate 30 is rotatable in a right-left direction about a rotation axis Y
lying in a plane orthogonal to the horizontal rotation axis X of the flap plate 40.
In the first embodiment, the flap plate 40 is single. The wind flap plate 40 is
composed of a strip as large as approximately half the opening of the air outlet 24.
The flap plate 40 is selectively rotated from a first position at which the bottom of the
opening is closed as shown in Fig. 1 and clockwise to a second position at which the
front of the opening is closed.
Fig. 1 shows only one louver plate 30, but actually, as shown in plan view of
Fig. 3, a plurality of louver pTaTeS 30 "are provided as a group of plates at
predetermined intervals in a direction perpendicular to the drawing of Fig. 1. All
louver plates 30 have a same structure, thus one of them will be described below.
As shown in a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of Fig. 2, the louver plate
30 has a rotating shaft 31 extending from a top side 301 of the plate upward along
the rotation axis Y. The rotating shaft 31 has a post of a roughly square cross-
section (not shown).
At the head of the rotating shaft 31, a pair of engaging pieces 31 land 311
are provided being bifurcated so that the head will elastically shrink in diameter.
Arrowhead shaped hooks 312 and 312 are formed at the tips of the engaging pieces
311 and 311.
A supporting base (louver base) 50 for supporting said group of the louver
plates 30 is provided on the secondary top plate 282. Also referring to Fig. 3, the
supporting base 50 has a main base 51 in strip form having a surface orthogonal to
the rotation axis Y of the louver plate 30, and side plates 52, 52 which are bent
toward the secondary top plate 282 from both sides of the main base 51. The side
plates 52 and 52 are attached to the secondary top plate 282 with screws 284 and
284.
A bearing cylinder 511 is formed in the main base 51. The rotating shaft 31 of
the louver plate 30 is inserted into the bearing cylinder 511. In more detail, bearing
bushes 53, 54 are fitted into the upper portion and the lower portion of the bearing
cylinder 511 respectively, and the louver plate 30 is rotatably supported in a
cantilever fashion by the bearing cylinder 511 at the points of the bearing bushes 53
and 54.
Though not shown in detail, roughly square shaped insert holes are formed in
the bearing bushes 53, 54 to conform with the rotation shaft 31 of the louver plate
30, whereby the bearing bushes 53, 54 integrally turn with the rotation shaft 31. The
engaging pieces 311, 311 of the rotation shaft 31 are inserted through the upper
bearing bush 53 while elastically shrinking the head of the rotation shaft in diameter,
and the arrowhead shaped hooks 312 and 312 engage with the top edge of the
bearing bush 53 when the engaging pieces 311, 311 come out of the insert hole.
Thus, the rotation shaft 31 is securely held in the bearing cylinder 511.
In the first embodiment, the bearing bushes 53 and 54 are molded from a
self-lubricating synthetic resin. As for such a resin, for example, polyacetal series
resins are available. Among them, a grade containing wax component is preferable.
An arm 55 is integrally formed in the upper bearing bush 53 extending
therefrom in parallel with the main base 51, and a coupling pin 551 is provided to the
arm 55. A coupling rod 56 is attached to the coupling pins 551 for coupling with the
louver plates 30. That is, the coupling rod 56 has a length over the louver plates 30
and has coupling holes 561 to which the coupling pins 551 are fitted at same
intervals as intervals between the respective louver plates.
At the end of the arm 55, a holding portion 552 is folded in a U-shape to
extend across the coupling pin 551. The holding portion 552 is provided with a hole
553 which loosely fits around the coupling pin 551. The holding portion 552 can be
elastically deformed and is warped back upward by fingers when the coupling rod 56
is attached to and detached from the coupling pin 551. It prevents the coupling rod
56 from being detached from the coupling pin 551 in a normal state.
As shown in Fig. 3, one end of the coupling rod 56 is connected through a link
plate 57 to a motor 58 for driving the louver plate. The motor 58 consists of a
reversibly rotatable motor, for instance, a stepping motor, and reciprocally rotates
within a predetermined angle. This rotating movement is transmitted to every louver
plate 30 through a link plate 57, the coupling rod 56, the arm 55 and the bearing
bush 53, thereby every louver plate 30 performs an oscillation movement in unison.
A heat insulation material 291 is adhered to an inner surface of the supporting
base 50, namely, an inner surface on the side of the air outlet with a double-sided
adhesive tape, for instance. The heat insulation material 291 is adhered before
each louver plate 30 is installed on the supporting base 50 and the bearing cylinder
551 passes through the heat insulation material 291.
As shown in Fig. 1, a stepped recess 292 is formed on the heat insulation
material 291, and a motor 58 for driving the louver plates is accommodated in the
stepped recess 292. Incidentally, in the first embodiment, another heat insulation
material 293 is adhered to the secondary top plate 282 and positioned in front of the
heat insulation material 291 as seen from the air outlet 24. The heat insulation
material 291 and 293 may be in one piece
Though only a half of the flap plate 40 is shown in Fig. 4, it is provided on both
sides thereof with the rotating shaft 41 which is coaxial with a horizontal rotating axis
X. One of side plates 241 of the air outlet 24 as shown in the drawing has on its
backside a motor supporting frame 242 and a motor 42 for driving the flap plate and
an output gear 422 which is connected to a drive gear 421.
To the inside surface of the side plate 241, a heat insulation material 243 is
adhered. An output shaft 423 of the output gear 422 is protruded in the air outlet 24
through the heat insulation material 243, and one of the rotating shafts 41 of the flap
plate 40 is connected to the output shaft 423. The other rotating shaft is fitted and
held into a bearing hole on the other side plate, not shown, and a heat insulation
material is adhered in like manner to the inside surface of the other side plate.
Several rotating shafts 411 are provided at predetermined intervals on the
middle of the flap plate 40. In this embodiment, each middle rotating shaft 411 is
integrally formed with a rib plate 43 which stands on the back of the flap plate 40, so
that it is coaxial with the rotating shafts 41 on both sidei
A hinge 44 for supporting the middle rotating shaft 411 in a rotatable manner
is provided on an edge of a drain pan 271 beside the air outlet 24. The hinge 44 is
formed of a triangular board whose base is attached to the drain pan 271 and vertex
is a portion of the rotating shaft 411, and a U-shaped bearing slot 441 is provided at
the vertex. It is preferable to mold the hinge from a self-lubricating synthetic resin
likewise the bearing bushes 53 and 54.
In this structure, the, louver plates 30\and the flap plate 40 are assembled as
follows. First, each louver plate 30 is attached to the supporting base 50 to which
the heat insulation material 291 is adhered in advance. Then, after the motor 58
and each louver plate 30 are connected through the coupling rod 56 on the main
base 51, the supporting base 50 is attached to the secondary top plate 282.
As to the flap plate 40, the hinge 44 is attached to the edge of the drain pan
271 beside the air outlet 24, then the rotating shafts 41, 41 on both sides of the flap
plate 40 are attached to the output shaft 423 of the motor and a bearing hole
provided on a side plate (not shown), and each middle rotating shaft 411 is fitted into
a bearing slot 441 of the hinge 44.
A second example of the present invention will be explained referring to Fig. 5
to Fig. 8. As the second embodiment also serves as a supplementary explanation
on the structure of the first embodiment, same reference numerals will be used to
designate same or similar components as those in the first embodiment.
In a sectional view of Fig 5 showing an entire structure, a ceiling-mounted
type air conditioner 20A also has a similar housing 21 as in the first embodiment.
This housing 21 differs from that of the first embodiment in that the heat insulation
material 291, which is provided in the inside surface of the top plate 28, is molded in
one piece extending from the top of the heat exchanger 27 to the air outlet 24, and
that a light-receiving unit 221 is added to the front panel 22 for receiving infrared
signal from a remote controller.
Since the structure of the'Tlap plate 40, the motor 42 as driving means, and
the output gear 422 are substantially similar to those in the first embodiment,
explanation tfnarann >* "m|tt°^
In the second embodiment, a louver plate 30A is different in shape from the
one in the first embodiment. That is, the lowest portion of its bottom sides 302 of the
louver plate 30A is positioned above the drain pan 271, so that condensation on the
louver plate 30A drops on the drain pan 271.
Specifically, in the second embodiment, with respect to the air blowing
direction of the air outlet 24, an intersecting point C of an upstream side 303 and the
bottom side 302 of the louver plate 30A is placed at a lowest position thereof, and
the intersecting point C is positioned above the drain pan 271. Accordingly, the drain
pan does not need to be particularly changed in shape, so that a conventional drain
pan can be used
In the second embodiment, the louver plate 30A is made of a self-lubricating
synthetic resin, and as shown in Fig. 7, a bearing bush 54A which corresponds to
the lower bearing bush 54 is integrally formed on the base portion of the rotating
shaft 31 of the louver plate 30A for reduction of the parts.
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of some components incorporated in
the supporting base 50, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are enlarged fragmentary perspective
views of Fig. 6, with the structure being substantially same as that in the first
embodiment. Referring to these figures, a coupling structure for each louver plate
30A (30) and the assembly process will be explained.
In both first and second embodiments, the heat insulation material 291 is
made of a molding of, for instance, a foamed synthetic resin with a number of holes
294 pierced therethrough into which the bearing cylinders 511 are inserted in
addition to the stepped recess 292 for housing the motor. The motor 58 is
accommodated in the stepped recess 292 and after a wiring cable 582 is brought out
through a hole 245 of the side plate 241, the heat insulation material 291 is attached
to the supporting base 50 with, for instance, a double-sided adhesive tape.
Then, each louver plate 30Als inserted into the bearing cylinder 511, a pair of
engaging pieces 311, 311 are engaged with the upper bearing bush 53, thereby the
louver plate 30A and the bearing bush 53 are integrated. While every louver plate
30A is oriented in a same direction, with the holding portion 552 opened upward with
fingers, each coupling hole 561 of the coupling rod 56 is coupled into the coupling
pin 551 and louver plates 30A are connected with each other through the coupling
rod 56.
Meanwhile the link plate 57 is fitted in advance to a driving shaft 581 of the
motor 58. A coupling hole 562 provided on an end of the coupling rod 56 is fitted to
a coupling pin 571 of the link plate 57. Then, a tension coil spring 61 is set between
an engaging pin standing on an end of the supporting base 50 and the link plate 57.
This coil spring 61 is to restore each louver plate 30A always to a same original
position.
Now, the installing of each louver plate 30A to the supporting base 50 is
completed, and by attaching the assembled supporting base 50 on the top plate of
the air outlet 24, each louver plate 30A is set inside the air outlet 24 as shown in Fig.
5.
The heat insulation material 291 is adhered to the supporting base 50 with a
double-sided adhesive tape. In the case of the second embodiment, however, when
the supporting base 50 is attached on the top plate with screws, since both sides of
the heat insulation material 291 are pressed against the top plate, the middle of the
heat insulation material 291 tends to sag. This may cause contact of the louver
plate 30A with the heat insulation material 291, resulting in a failure in the normal
rotating movement.
One way for resolving this problem is to make the heat insulation material 291
thinner, so that the clearance to the louver plate 30A is made wider. The other way
is to make the tension of the return coil spring 61 greater. But in the former case,
the heat insulating effect is impaired. Besides, the latter is not preferable because
the load on the motor 58 is increased.
Therefore, in this invention, as shown in Fig. 9, with reference to a line Z
orthogonal to the rotation axis Y of the rotating shaft 31, both shoulders of the top
side 301 of the louver plate 30A is cut off at a predetermined angle from the root of
the rotating shaft 31. The cut off angle is preferably about 5 degrees.
Accordingly, even if the heat insulation material 291 sags to reduce the
clearance between the louver plate 30A, since only a part around the rotating shaft
31 contacts with the heat insulating material 291, no harmful influence will be
exerted upon the rotation of the louver plate 30A. This solution can be applied to the
louver plate 30 in the first embodiment as well.
An air conditioner of each embodiment described above is a ceiling-mounted
type. By changing the shape of the drain pan or the arrangement thereof, the
present invention can be applied again to a wall-mounted type or a floor type air
conditioner.
As above, the present invention is explained in detail using specific
embodiments, it will be easy for those skilled in the art who understand the above
description to think of any change, modification or equivalent thereof. Therefore, the
scope of the present invention should be appreciated according to the appended
claims and equivalents thereof.
WE CLAIM :
1. An air conditioner (20) having a ceiling-mounted type housing (21) having an
air inlet (23) and air outlet (24) communicating through an air channel inside thereof,
provided with a heat exchanger (27) having a drain pan (271) thereunder and an air
fan (26) inside the air channel, and provided inside the air outlet with at least one
flap plate (40) rotatabje,jjpward and downward around a horizontal rotating axis (X)
and a group of louver plates (30) )said group including a plurality of louver plates
(30) rotatable right and left around rotating axes (Y) lying in planes orthogonal to the
horizontal rotating axis, characterized by :
a rotating shaft (31) formed in a predetermined length, extending upward
along the rotating axis (Y) from the top side of saidilouver plate (30)
a supporting base (50) disposed on a top plate (282) of the housing forming
an upper portion of the air oytleUandJiaving bearing cylinders (511) into which the
rotating shafts (31) of the(louver plates (30)^are inserted ; and
said fpuver plates (30) being supported in a cantilever manner relative to the
supporting base (50) through said rotating shafts (31) and said bearing cylinders
(511).
2. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1,
wherein an upper end and a bottom end of the bearing cylinder (511) are
provided with first and second bearing bushes (53, 54); and
wherein said rotating shaft (31) is supported by the first bush (53) at the upper
end and the second bush (54) at the bottom end.
3. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second
bushes (53, 54) are molded from self-lubricating synthetic resin.
4. The air conditioner/as claimed in claim 2 or 3,
wherein saidflouver plate (30)\is formed from a self-lubricating synthetic resin ;
and
wherein said second bush (54) is integrally formed with said rotating shaft
(31).
5. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 2 or 3,
wherein arms (55) are provided in conjunction with said first bushes (53) and
connected with each other through a coupling rod (56); and
wherein saidv louver plates (30) are connected with each other through said
arms (55) on the first bushes (53) and the coupling rod (56).
6. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 5,
wherein said coupling rod (56) has a plurality of coupling holes (561) formed
thereon at predetermined intervals ; and
wherein said arm (55) is provided with a coupling pin (551) fitted into the
coupling hole (561), and a flexible holding piece (552) for detachably holding the
coupling rod (56) fitted with the coupling pin (551).
7. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 5,
wherein an upper portion of said rotating shaft (31) is provided with at least a
pair of engaging pieces (311) inserted into the first bush (53) while elastically
shrinking in diameter relative to the first bush and has a hook (312) engageable with
the top edge of the first bush (53); and
wherein said rotating shaft (31) and said first bush (53) are integrally
connected through the engaging pieces (311) so that no relative deviation in rotation
occurs between the rotating shaft and the first bush.
8. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a heat insulating material
(291) in a predetermined thickness is adhered to the supporting base (50) on its side
facing the airnntle
9. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 8, wherein said bearing cylinder (511)
is provided to the supporting base (50) such that the bearing cylinder (511) passes
through the heat insulation material (291).
10. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 8, wherein a storage recess (292) is
formed in the heat insulation material for accommodating driving means (58) of said
group of the louver plates.
11. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a hinge (44) is
provided on the drain pan (271) for supporting a rotating shaft (411) provided in the
middle of said flap plate (40).
12. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 11, wherein said hinge (44) is molded
from a self-lubricatina svnthetic resin
13. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1,
wherein means for driving said flap plate (40) is provided on an outside
surface of a side wall (241) of the air outlet; and
wherein a heat insulation material (243) is adhered to an inside surface of the
side wall f241).
14. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lowest portion of bottom
side (302) of a louver plate (30A) is positioned over the drain pan (271) so thai
condensation deposited on each louver plate drops in the drain pan (271).
15. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 14, wherein, with respect to the
direction of air blow at the air outlet, an intersecting point (C) of an upstream side
(303) and the bottom side (302) of the louver plate (30A) is placed at a lowest
position,
16. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 8, wherein, with respect to an,
imaginary reference line (Z) orthogonal to the rotation axis (Y) of the louver plate
(30), both shoulders on the top side (301) are cut off at a predetermined angle from
the root portion of the rotating shaft (31) of the louver plate (30).
17. An air conditioner, substantially as herein described, particularly with
reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

For an air conditioner such as a ceiling-mounted type, reduction of cost is
planned by simplifying a structure for attaching a group of wind directing plates in an
air outlet. The invention also aims at reducing condensation. In order to achieve the
objects, a bearing cylinder 511, through which a rotating shaft 31 of a louver plate 30
is inserted, is provided on a supporting base 50 attached to a top plate of the air
outlet 24, and the supporting base 50 supports each louver plate 30 in a cantilever
manner while a heat insulation material 291 is adhered to the supporting base 50.