FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
INDOOR UNIT AND AIR CONDITIONER
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
[DESCRIPTION]
[Technical Field]
[0001]
The present invention relates to an indoor unit and an air conditioner.
[Background Art]5
[0002]
A wall-mounted indoor unit that is mounted on a wall, and includes a filter, as
shown in Patent Document 1 for example, is known.
[Citation List]
[Patent Document]10
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
2011-058719
[Summary of Invention]
[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION]15
[0004]
In an indoor unit such as the aforementioned, a front surface panel is provided so
as to freely rotate between open and close, and in order to conduct cleaning or the like or
conduct maintenance work on the filter the front surface panel needs to be opened. For
such reason, increased time and workload required for conducting filter maintenance20
work was a problem.
[0005]
The present disclosure has been made in order to address the problem above,
and an object is to provide an indoor unit which has a configuration that requires reduced
time and workload for filter maintenance work, and to provide an air conditioner that25
3
includes such an indoor unit.
[MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM]
[0006]
An indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is
the indoor unit of an air conditioner, and that is a wall-mounted type which is mounted5
on a wall, the indoor unit includes: a heat exchange device; a blower; a housing that has
an intake port, and that houses the heat exchange device and the blower therein, and a
filter that is disposed between the intake port and the heat exchange device, wherein the
housing has an insertion port through which the filter is inserted, the insertion port opens
to a front, and the filter is attached to the housing so as to be detachable from an outside10
of the housing via the insertion port.
[0007]
An embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present disclosure may
include the aforementioned indoor unit, and the aforementioned outdoor unit.
[EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION]15
[0008]
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce time and workload
required for filter maintenance work of an indoor unit of an air conditioner.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0009]20
[FIG. 1] A schematic diagram that shows a general configuration of an air
conditioner in an embodiment.
[FIG. 2] A perspective view that shows an indoor unit in an embodiment.
[FIG. 3] A cross-sectional view that shows the indoor unit in an
embodiment, taken along a cross-section III-III in FIG. 2.25
4
[FIG. 4] An exploded perspective view that shows an outer shell member
and a filter in an embodiment.
[FIG. 5] A perspective view that shows a portion of the outer shell
member in an embodiment.
[FIG. 6] A perspective view that shows a portion of the outer shell5
member and the filter when being inserted inside an insertion port out of insertion ports
in an embodiment.
[FIG. 7] A cross-sectional view that shows a portion of the indoor unit,
and shows a first protrusion in an embodiment.
[FIG. 8] A cross-sectional view that shows a portion of the indoor unit,10
and shows a second protrusion in an embodiment.
[FIG. 9] A perspective view that shows the filter in an embodiment.
[FIG. 10] A cross-sectional view that shows a part of procedures for
attaching the filter to a housing in an embodiment.
[FIG. 11] A cross-sectional view that shows an example of a conventional15
indoor unit.
[FIG. 12] A cross-sectional view that shows a portion of procedures for
attaching the filter to the housing in the example of the conventional indoor unit.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0010]20
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are explained with reference
to the drawings. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments
below, and it is possible to apply changes as necessary within the technical scope of the
present disclosure. In the drawings below, quantities and scales of various components
below are chosen to facilitate understanding of the drawings, and there are cases where25
5
the quantities and scales of the various components may differ from actual quantities and
scales thereof.
[0011]
The drawings show an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis where appropriate. The X
axis shows a side out of sides of a horizontal direction. The Y axis shows another side5
out of sides of the horizontal direction. The Z axis shows a vertical direction. In the
explanation below, a horizontal direction along the X axis is referred to as a “front-rear
direction X”, and a horizontal direction along the Y axis is referred to as a “left-right
direction Y”. A vertical direction is referred to as a “vertical direction Z”. The
front-rear direction X, the left-right direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are mutually10
orthogonal directions. In the explanation below, a side out of sides of the vertical
direction Z in which an arrow of the Z axis faces (+Z side) is a top side. The other side
out of sides of the vertical direction Z which faces an opposite side the arrow of the Z
axis faces is a bottom side (-Z side). A side out of sides of the front-rear direction X in
which an arrow of the X axis faces (+X side) is a “front side”. The other side out of15
sides of the front-rear direction X which faces an opposite side the arrow of the X axis
faces (-X side) is a “rear side”. The left-right direction Y is a left-right direction of an
indoor unit in the embodiment below as seen from the front (+X direction). In other
words, a side out of sides of the left-right direction Y in which an arrow of the Y axis
faces (+Y side) is a “right side”. The other side out of sides of the left-right direction Y20
which faces an opposite side the arrow of the Y axis faces (-Y side) is a “left side”.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram that shows a general configuration of an air
conditioner 100 in a present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100
includes an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, and a circulation pathway 18. The25
6
outdoor unit 10 is disposed on an outside of a room. The indoor unit 20 is disposed on
an inside of the room. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are each connected by
the circulation pathway 18 that circulates a refrigerant 19.
[0013]
By having the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18, and5
the indoor unit 20 conduct heat exchange with the air indoors, it is possible for the air
conditioner 100 to adjust a temperature of the air indoors. A refrigerant such as a
fluorine based refrigerant with a low global warming potential (GWP: Global Warming
Potential), or a hydrocarbon based refrigerant or the like may be mentioned as examples
of the refrigerant 19.10
[0014]
The outdoor unit 10 includes a housing 11, a compressor 12, a heat exchange
device 13, a flow adjustment valve 14, a blower 15, a four-way valve 16, and a control
portion 17. The compressor 12, the heat exchange device 13, the flow adjustment valve
14, the blower 15, the four-way valve 16, and the control portion 17 are housed on an15
inner portion of the housing 11.
[0015]
Out of the circulation pathway 18, the compressor 12, the heat exchange device
13, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the four-way valve 16 are provided on a portion
located on the inside portion of the housing 11. Out of the circulation pathway 18, the20
compressor 12, the heat exchange device 13, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the
four-way valve 16 are connected by a portion located on the inside portion of the housing
11.
[0016]
Out of the circulation pathway 18, the four-way valve 16 is provided on a25
7
portion that is connected to a discharge of the compressor 12. By exchanging a part of
the circulation pathway 18, it is possible for the four-way valve 16 to reverse a direction
of flow of the refrigerant 19 within the circulation pathway 18. When the path
connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path of the four-way valve 16 that is shown by
solid lines in FIG. 1, the refrigerant 19 within the circulation pathway 18 flows in the5
direction shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 1. On the other hand, when the path
connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path of the four-way valve 16 that is shown by
dashed lines in FIG. 1, the refrigerant 19 flows within the circulation pathway 18 in the
direction shown by the dashed line arrow in FIG. 1.
[0017]10
The indoor unit 20 includes a housing 21, a heat exchange device 22, a blower
23, and a control portion 24. The housing 21 houses the heat exchange device 22, the
blower 23, and the control portion 24 on an inside portion thereof. It is possible for the
indoor unit 20 to have a cooling operation where the air of the room the indoor unit 20 is
disposed in is cooled, and to have a heating operation where the air of the room the15
indoor unit 20 is disposed in is heated.
[0018]
When the indoor unit 20 is operated in the cooling operation, the refrigerant 19
that flows within the circulation pathway 18 flows in the direction shown by the solid
line in FIG. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is operated in the cooling20
operation, the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18 circulates so as
to return to the compressor 12 after passing through the compressor 12, the heat
exchange device 13 of the outdoor unit 10, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the heat
exchange device 22 of the indoor unit 20 in such an order. During the cooling operation,
the heat exchange device 13 of the outdoor unit 10 functions as a condenser, and the heat25
8
exchange device 22 of the indoor unit 20 functions as an evaporator.
[0019]
On the other hand, when the indoor unit 20 is operated in the heating operation,
the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18 flows in the direction
shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is operated5
in the heating operation, the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18
circulates so as to return to the compressor 12 after passing through the compressor 12,
the heat exchange device 22 of the indoor unit 20, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the
heat exchange device 13 of the outdoor unit 10 in such an order. During the heating
operation, the heat exchange device 13 of the outdoor unit 10 functions as the evaporator,10
and the heat exchange device 22 of the indoor unit 20 functions as the condenser.
[0020]
Next, the indoor unit 20 is explained in further detail. FIG. 2 is a perspective
view that shows the indoor unit 20. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view that shows the
indoor unit 20, taken along a cross-section III-III in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2 the15
indoor unit 20 is wall-mounted indoor unit that is mounted on an indoor wall surface WS.
The indoor unit 20 is a long roughly rectangular shape in the left-right direction Y.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, the blower 23 housed inside the housing 21 of the indoor
unit 20 is a cross flow fan. Although omitted from the drawings, the blower 23 extends20
in the left-right direction Y. The blower 23 rotates around a rotation axis R that extends
in the left-right direction Y.
[0022]
The heat exchange device 22 in the present embodiment has a first heat
exchange device 22a, a second heat exchange device 22b, and a third heat exchange25
9
device 22c. The first heat exchange device 22a is located in front of the blower 23.
The second heat exchange device 22b and the third heat exchange device 22c are located
above the blower 23. The second heat exchange device 22b extends to the top and to an
inclined rear direction from an upper end portion of the first heat exchange device 22a, as
seen in the left-right direction Y. The third heat exchange device 22c is located in a rear5
of the second heat exchange device 22b. The third heat exchange device 22c extends to
the bottom and to the inclined rear direction from an upper end portion of the second heat
exchange device 22b, as seen in the left-right direction Y.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 21 of the indoor unit 20 has an outer shell10
member 30, and an air pathway member 21a. The outer shell member 30 is a member
that configures a part of an outer shell of the housing 21. The outer shell member 30 is
a design panel that improves an outer design of the indoor unit 20. The outer shell
member 30 is a roughly box-like rectangular shape that opens to a rear of the outer shell
member 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening in the rear of the outer shell member 30 is15
blocked by the air pathway member 21a.
[0024]
The air pathway member 21a is a member that configures a part of an air
pathway through which air that is taken into an inside of the housing 21 by the blower 23
passes. In the present embodiment, the air pathway through which air that is taken into20
the inside of the housing 21 by the blower 23 passes is configured of the air pathway
member 21a and the outer shell member 30. The air pathway member 21a is fixed to
the wall surface WS by being hooked on to an installation plate not shown in the
drawings. As such, the indoor unit 20 is fixed to the wall surface WS.
[0025]25
10
The outer shell member 30 in the present embodiment is integrally molded. In
other words, the outer shell member 30 in the present embodiment does not have a
detachable part therefrom. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view that shows the outer
shell member 30 and filters 40 to be mentioned later on. As shown in FIG. 4, the outer
shell member 30 has an upper wall portion 31, a front wall portion 32, a pair of side wall5
portions 33a and 33b, and a bottom wall portion 34. The various wall portions that
configure the outer shell member 30 in the present embodiment are plate shaped.
[0026]
The upper wall portion 31 is a wall portion that is located on top out of wall
portions that configure the housing 21. The upper wall portion 31 extends in the10
left-right direction Y. The upper wall portion 31 in the present embodiment roughly
configures an entirety of an outer shell in a top side out of the outer shell of the housing
21. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer shell in the top side out of the outer shell
of the housing 21 is configured by an upper end portion of the upper wall portion 31 and
the air pathway member 21a. The upper end portion of the air pathway member 21a15
roughly configures an entirety of an edge portion out of outer shells of a top side of the
housing 21 in a rear side thereof.
[0027]
The upper wall portion 31 has an upper wall main body portion 31a, and an
upper wall inclined portion 31b. The upper wall main body portion 31a is a rear side20
part of the upper wall portion 31. A top surface of the upper wall main body portion
31a roughly orthogonal to the vertical direction Z. The upper wall inclined portion 31b
is a front side part of the upper wall portion 31. The upper wall inclined portion 31b
protrudes to the front and in an inclined bottom direction from a front end portion of the
upper wall main body portion 31a. In other words, the upper wall inclined portion 31b25
11
is located to the bottom as the upper wall inclined portion 31b heads towards the front.
A top surface of the upper wall inclined portion 31b faces the top as well as an inclined
front direction. A dimension of the upper wall inclined portion 31b in the front-rear
direction X is smaller than a dimension of the upper wall main body portion 31a in the
front-rear direction X. A connecting part between a top surface of the upper wall5
portion 31 and the top surface of the upper wall inclined portion 31b is rounded. Since
the upper wall portion 31 has the upper wall inclined portion 31b, cornered portion of
rectangular shapes in an upper end portion of the housing 21 become shapes such as
shapes that have been chamfered.
[0028]10
The front wall portion 32 is a wall portion that configures an outer shell out of
outer shells of the housing 21 in a front side thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the front wall
portion 32 is located in front of the heat exchange device 22. Specifically, the front wall
portion 32 is located in front of the first heat exchange device 22a and the second heat
exchange device 22b. An upper end portion of the front wall portion 32 is connected to15
a front end portion of the upper wall portion 31.
[0029]
The front wall portion 32 has a front wall main body portion 32a and a front
wall inclined portion 32b. The front wall main body portion 32a is a part that includes a
top side part of the front wall portion 32. An upper end portion of the front wall main20
body portion 32a is connected to a front end portion of the upper wall inclined portion
31b. The front wall main body portion 32a is located in front of the first heat exchange
device 22a and the second heat exchange device 22b. A front surface of the front wall
main body portion 32a is roughly orthogonal to the front-rear direction X. Specifically,
the front surface of the front wall main body portion 32a is slightly located to the rear as25
12
the front wall main body portion 32a heads towards the bottom.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 4, the front wall inclined portion 32b is a part of a bottom side
part of the front wall portion 32. A dimension of the front wall inclined portion 32b in
the vertical direction Z is smaller than a dimension of the front wall main body portion5
32a in the vertical direction Z. The front wall inclined portion 32b protrudes to the
bottom and the inclined rear direction from a bottom end portion of the front wall main
body portion 32a. In other words, the front wall inclined portion 32b is located to the
rear as the front wall inclined portion 32b heads towards the bottom. A front surface of
the front wall inclined portion 32b faces the front as well as the inclined bottom direction.10
Since the front wall portion 32 has the front wall inclined portion 32b, cornered portions
of rectangular shapes in a bottom end portion of the housing 21 become shapes such as
shapes that have been chamfered.
[0031]
The pair of the side wall portions 33a and 33b individually configure an outer15
shell of each side out of the outer shells of the housing 21 in the left-right direction Y. A
side wall portion 33a configures the outer shell on a right side (+Y side) out of the outer
shells of the housing 21. A side wall portion 33b configures the outer shell on the left
side (-Y side) out of the outer shells of the housing 21. A right surface of the side wall
portion 33a and a left surface of the side wall portion 33b are orthogonal to the left-right20
direction Y. The pair of the side wall portions 33a and 33b each protrude to the rear
from both end portions of the front wall portion 32 in the left-right direction Y. The side
wall portion 33a protrudes to the rear from a right end portion of the front wall portion 32.
The side wall portion 33b protrudes to the rear from a left end portion of the front wall
portion 32. An upper end portion of the side wall portion 33a is connected to a right25
13
end portion of the upper wall portion 31. An upper end portion of the side wall portion
33b is connected to a left end portion of the upper wall portion 31.
[0032]
The bottom wall portion 34 configures an outer shell of a bottom side out of the
outer shells of the housing 21. The bottom wall portion 34 protrudes to the rear from a5
bottom end portion of the front wall portion 32. Specifically, the bottom wall portion 34
protrudes to the rear side from a bottom end portion of the front wall inclined portion 32b.
As shown in FIG. 3, a bottom surface of the bottom wall portion 34 is roughly orthogonal
to the vertical direction Z. Specifically, the bottom surface of the bottom wall portion
34 is slightly located to the bottom as the bottom wall portion 34 heads towards the rear.10
As shown in FIG. 4, a connecting part between the front end portion on the bottom
surface of the bottom wall portion 34 and the bottom end portion on the front surface of
the front wall inclined portion 32b is rounded.
[0033]
The housing 21 has intake port 20a and exhaust port 20b. In the present15
embodiment, the intake port 20a and the exhaust port 20b are formed by the outer shell
member 30. The intake port 20a is formed into the upper wall portion 31. The exhaust
port 20b is formed into the front wall inclined portion 32b of the front wall portion 32.
[0034]
The intake port 20a is open to the top. A plurality of intake ports 20a are20
provided in the present embodiment. The plurality of intake ports 20a are disposed so
as to be aligned in a matrix shape in the front-rear direction X and in the left-right
direction Y. In other words, the intake port 20a is provided in such a manner as to have
a plurality of rows align in the left-right direction Y, and a plurality of rows align in the
front-rear direction X. In the present embodiment, six rows of intake ports 20a that25
14
align in the left-right direction Y, and three rows that align in the front-rear direction X
are provided. The row of the intake ports 20a located rear most out of the
aforementioned three rows is formed into the upper wall main body portion 31a. The
row of the intake ports 20a located in a center in the front-rear direction X out of the
aforementioned three rows is formed so as to straddle the upper wall main body portion5
31a and the upper wall inclined portion 31b. The row of the intake ports 20a located
front most out of the aforementioned three rows is formed into the upper wall inclined
portion 31b. Air is taken into the housing 21 from the plurality of intake ports 20a by
the operation of the blower 23.
[0035]10
The exhaust port 20b is open to the front and to the bottom. The exhaust port
20b extends in the left-right direction Y. A dimension of the exhaust port 20b in the
left-right direction Y is larger than half a dimension of the housing 21 in the left-right
direction Y. Air taken into the housing 21 by the blower 23 is discharged from the
exhaust port 20b. As shown in FIG. 3, a wind direction adjusting unit 25 that allows the15
exhaust port 20b to be openable is disposed in the exhaust port 20b. A direction of the
wind being blown into the room from the exhaust port 20b is adjusted by the wind
direction adjusting unit 25.
[0036]
The housing 21 has an insertion port 50 to insert a filter 40 that is mentioned20
later on. The insertion port 50 is open to the front. The insertion port 50 is exposed to
the front of the indoor unit 20. The insertion port 50 in the present embodiment is
formed into a top side part of the housing 21. Specifically, the insertion port 50 is
formed into the upper wall inclined portion 31b in the upper wall portion 31 of the outer
shell member 30. The insertion port 50 is open to the front and open to the top. As25
15
shown in FIG. 4, the insertion port 50 in the present embodiment is aligned and disposed
in front of the plurality of intake ports 20a aligned in a matrix shape. The insertion port
50 extends in the left-right direction Y. The insertion port 50 is a long roughly
rectangular shape that extend in the left-right direction Y as seen from the front.
[0037]5
It is possible to insert the filter 40 to be mentioned later on from an outer portion
of the housing 21 into the insertion port 50. A dimension of the insertion port 50 in the
left-right direction Y is larger than a dimension of the filter 40 in the left-right direction Y.
The dimension of the insertion port 50 in the left-right direction Y in the present
embodiment is roughly the same as the dimension of the filter 40 in the left-right10
direction Y. A dimension of the insertion port 50 in the vertical direction Z is larger
than a dimension of a filter 40 in the vertical direction Z. In the present embodiment,
two insertion ports 50 are provided side by side in the left-right direction Y.
[0038]
In the embodiment, the plurality of intake ports 20a and the two insertion ports15
50 are formed by having a through hole 31c formed in the upper wall portion 31 be
partitioned by a plurality of first beam portions 31d and a plurality of second beam
portions 31e. The through hole 31c penetrates the upper wall portion 31 in the vertical
direction Z. The through hole 31c is a long roughly rectangular shaped hole in the
left-right direction Y as seen from the top. A center of the through hole 31c in the20
left-right direction Y is located more to the left side (-Y side) than a center of the upper
wall portion 31 in the left-right direction Y. A dimension of the through hole 31c in the
left-right direction Y is larger than half the dimension of the housing 21 in the left-right
direction Y. The dimension of the through hole 31c in the left-right direction Y is the
same as the dimension of the exhaust port 20b in the left-right direction Y. An edge25
16
portion of the through hole 31c in the front side is located on an edge portion of the upper
wall portion 31 in the front side. The edge portion of the through hole 31c in the front
side forms edge portions of the two insertion ports 50 in the front side. Edge portions of
the through hole 31c in the rear side are located on edge portions of the upper wall
portion 31 in the rear side.5
[0039]
The plurality of first beam portions 31d extend in the left-right direction Y.
The plurality of first beam portions 31d are disposed at intervals in the front-rear
direction X. Three of the plurality of first beam portions 31d are disposed. Both end
portions of the plurality of first beam portions 31d in the left-right direction Y are each10
connected to parts out of inner edges of the through hole 31c located on both sides in the
left-right direction Y.
[0040]
The plurality of second beam portions 31e extend in the front-rear direction X as
seen from the top. The plurality of second beam portions 31e are disposed at intervals15
in the left-right direction Y. Five second beam portions 31e are provided. Each of the
second beam portions 31e connects the plurality of the first beam portions 31d to one
another. Rear end portions of the plurality of second beam portions 31e are connected
to parts out of the inner edges of the through hole 31c located on a rear side. A second
beam portion 31e located in a center out of the plurality second beam portions 31e in the20
left-right direction Y is a center beam portion 31f. A front end portion of the center
beam portion 31f is connected to a part out of the inner edges of the through hole 31c
located on a front side. The two insertion ports 50 are partitioned in the left-right
direction Y by the center beam portion 31f. Front end portions of the second beam
portions 31e other than the center beam portion 31f are connected to the first beam25
17
portions 31d out of the plurality of first beam portions 31d located front most. The
center beam portion 31f protrudes to the bottom more than the other second beam
portions 31e.
[0041]
In the explanation below, a part located in the right direction (+Y direction)5
more than the center beam portion 31f out of the through hole 31c is referred to as a
“right through hole 31g”. A part located in the left direction (-Y direction) more than
the center beam portion 31f out of the through hole 31c is referred to as a “left through
hole 31h”.
[0042]10
FIG. 5 is a perspective view that shows a part of the outer shell member 30.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view that shows a part of the outer shell member 30 and the filter
40 when being inserted inside an insertion port 50 out of the insertion ports 50. FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional view that shows a part of the indoor unit 20, and shows a first
protrusion 42c to be mentioned later on. FIG. 8 is cross-sectional view that shows a15
part of the indoor unit 20, and shows a second protrusion 36 to be mentioned later on.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 21 has a mounting portion 37 that is provided
on an edge portion of the insertion port 50 in the front side. The mounting portion 37
protrudes to the rear from the edge portion of the insertion port 50 in the front side. The20
mounting portion 37 extends in the left-right direction Y. The mounting portion 37 is a
long roughly rectangular shaped plate in the left-right direction Y. A plate surface of the
mounting portion 37 is orthogonal to the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. 4, the
mounting portion 37 extends from a right end portion to a left end portion of the through
hole 31c. The front end portion of the center beam portion 31f is connected to the25
18
mounting portion 37.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 6, the mounting portion 37 has a recess portion
37a that recesses to the front from an edge portion of a rear side of the mounting portion
37. A plurality of recess portions 37a are provided at intervals in the left-right direction5
Y. Six recess portions 37a are provided in the present embodiment. Three recess
portions 37a out of the six recess portions 37a are formed in parts out of the mounting
portion 37 that are located more to the right direction (+Y direction) than the center beam
portion 31f. Remaining three recess portions 37a out of the six recess portions 37a are
formed in parts out of the mounting portion 37 that are located more to the left direction10
(-Y direction) than the center beam portion 31f. As shown in FIG. 7, the first protrusion
42c to be mentioned later on is inserted through to the vertical direction Z from the top,
on an inside of the recess portion 37a.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 6, the housing 21 has a pair of guide portions 35a and 35b.15
Each of the pair of the guide portions 35a and 35b is provided on parts located on both
sides out of inner edges of the right through hole 31g in the left-right direction Y. A
guide portion 35a is provided on an edge portion out of the inner edge portions located
on the left side (-Y side) of the right through hole 31g. An edge portion located on a left
side of the inner edge portions of the right through hole 31g is an edge portion of the20
right side (+Y side) of the center beam portion 31f. A guide portion 35b is provided on
an edge portion out of the inner edge portions located on the right side of the right
through hole 31g. Each of the pair of the guide portions 35a and 35b protrudes from
each edge portion of the right through hole 31g so as to come closer to one another in the
left-right direction Y. The guide portion 35a and the guide portion 35b are disposed so25
19
as to be symmetrical in the left-right direction Y. As such, in the explanations
hereinafter, there are cases where an explanation of the pair of the guide portions 35a and
35b is represented by an explanation of one of the pair, the guide portion 35a, with the
explanation of the other of the pair, the guide portion 35b being abbreviated.
[0046]5
The guide portion 35a extends in the front-rear direction X as seen from the top.
A front end portion of the guide portion 35a is connected to the mounting portion 37. A
rear end portion of the guide portion 35a is connected to an edge portion located on a rear
side out of the inner edges of the right through hole 31g. The guide portion 35a has a
guide wall portion 35e and an opposing wall portion 35f. The guide wall portion 35e is10
a long thin plate shape that extends in the front-rear direction X. A plate surface of the
guide wall portion 35e faces the vertical direction Z. The guide wall portion 35e is
disposed further away in the bottom, more than the first beam portions 31d. A filter
main body 41 of the filter 40 to be mentioned later on is disposed between the guide wall
portion 35e and the first beam portions 31d in the vertical direction Z. The opposing15
wall portion 35f protrudes to the top, from a rear end portion of the guide wall portion
35e. An upper end portion of the opposing wall portion 35f is connected to an edge
portion located on the rear side out of inner edges of the right through hole 31g. A front
surface of the opposing wall portion 35f is a surface orthogonal to the front-rear direction
X.20
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 21 has a pair of guide portions 35c and 35d.
Except for an aspect of being disposed with respect to the left through hole 31h, the pair
of the guide portions 35c and 35d are similar to the pair of the guide portions 35a and
35b.25
20
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 21 has the second protrusion 36 that protrudes
to the top from the mounting portion 37. The second protrusion 36 is provided on parts
of each of the guide portions 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d out of the mounting portion 37
mentioned above, located in the front. In other words, four second protrusions 36 are5
provided in the present embodiment. Out of the four second protrusions 36, two second
protrusions 36 are located in the right direction (+Y direction) more than the center beam
portion 31f out of the mounting portion 37. Out of the four second protrusions 36, the
remaining two second protrusions 36 are located in the left direction (-Y direction) more
than the center beam portion 31f out of the mounting portion 37. As shown in FIG. 8,10
the second protrusion 36 is roughly a triangular shape, as seen in the left-right direction Y.
The second protrusions 36 are roughly quadrangular pyramids that protrude to the top.
[0049]
The housing 21 has a support protrusion 38 that protrudes to the top from the
mounting portion 37. The support protrusion 38 in the present embodiment protrudes to15
the top from a front end portion of the mounting portion 37. The support protrusion 38
is roughly a triangular shape as seen in the left-right direction Y. An upper end portion
of the support protrusion 38 is located more in the bottom than an upper end portion of
the second protrusion 36. The support protrusion 38 is located in front of the second
protrusion 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the support protrusion 38 extends in the left-right20
direction Y. The support protrusion 38 extends from a right end portion of the mounting
portion 37 to a left end portion thereof.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 20 includes the filter 40 that is disposed in
between the intake port 20a and the heat exchange device 22. The filter 40 in the25
21
present embodiment is located in between the intake port 20a and the heat exchange
device 22 in the vertical direction Z. Air that is taken into the housing 21 from the
intake port 20a passes through the filter 40 to the heat exchange device 22. It is
possible for the filter 40 to at least capture parts of dust included in the air which passes
through the filter 40. As such, it is possible to remove at least a parts of the dust5
included in the air passing air through the filter 40 by passing the air through the filter 40.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, two filters 40 are
provided alongside one another in the left-right direction Y. The two filters 40 are
insertable from an outside portion of the housing 21 through each of the two insertion10
ports 50. Each of the filter 40 is inserted inside the housing 21 from each of the
insertion ports 50. One of the two filters 40 is disposed on the right through hole 31g.
The other of the two filters 40 is disposed on the left through hole 31h. Each of the
filters 40 is attached to the housing 21 so as to be detachable from an outside of the
housing 21 via each of the insertion ports 50. Dimensions of each of the filters 40 in the15
left-right direction Y are smaller than dimensions of each of the insertion ports 50 in the
left-right direction Y. The two filters 40 are configured to be identical to one another.
In the explanations below, the filter 40 located in the right direction (+Y direction) is
explained, and represents the two filters 40.
[0052]20
FIG. 9 is a perspective view that shows the filter 40. As shown in FIG. 4 and
FIG. 9, the filter 40 is a roughly rectangular plate member. The plate surface of the
filter 40 faces the vertical direction Z. The filter 40 has the filter main body 41 and a
handle portion 42. The filter main body 41 is roughly a rectangular shape. The filter
main body 41 is a part that is disposed between the intake port 20a and the heat exchange25
22
device 22.
[0053]
A shown in FIG. 9, the filter main body 41 has a grid portion 41d and capturing
portions 41c. The grid portion 41d is for example, made of resin. The grid portion
41d and the handle portion 42 are integrally formed in the present embodiment. The5
grid portion 41d is a lattice part that is formed by four beam portions 41e that extend in
the left-right direction Y, and four beam portions 41f that extend in the front-rear
direction X.
[0054]
The capturing portions 41c are reticular shaped parts that pass air through. By10
passing air through the capturing portions 41c, it is possible for the capturing portions
41c to capture at least parts of the dust included in the air, in the capturing portions 41c.
A capturing portion 41c of the capturing portions 41c are provided in each hole in a grid
shape of the grid portion 41d. Each hole of the grid portion 41d is formed and
surrounded by each of the beam portions 41e adjacent in the front-back direction X and15
the beam portions 41f adjacent in the left-right direction Y. In the present embodiment,
three rows of the capturing portion 41c are provided so as to align in the left-right
direction Y, and three rows of the capturing portions 41c are provided so as to align in the
front-rear direction X. In other words, nine capturing portions 41c are provided in each
of the filters 40.20
[0055]
The nine capturing portions 41c of the filter 40 that is located in the right
direction (+Y direction) out of the two filters 40 are each disposed below nine intake
ports 20a that form and partition the right through hole 31g. The nine capturing
portions 41c of the filter 40 that is located in the left direction (-Y direction) out of the25
23
two filters 40 are each disposed below the nine intake ports 20a that form and partition
the left through hole 31h. In each of the filters 40, front side parts of three capturing
portions 41c out of the nine capturing portions 41c located front most face each of the
insertion ports 50.
[0056]5
The filter main body 41 has a first part 41a and a second part 41b. The first
part 41a is a rear side part of the filter main body 41. The first part 41a expands along a
plane orthogonal to the vertical direction Z (XY plane). The second part 41b extends in
the front as well as the inclined bottom direction from a front end portion of the first part
41a. As shown in FIG. 3, the first part 41a is located below the upper wall main body10
portion 31a. The second part 41b is located below the upper wall inclined portion 31b.
A front side part of the second part 41b is located below the insertion port 50.
[0057]
Both end portions of the filter main body 41 in the left-right direction Y are
supported from below by guide wall portions 35e of each of the pair of the guide portions15
35a and 35b. Both end portions of the filter main body 41 in the left-right direction Y
are located between the guide wall portions 35e of each of the pair of the guide portions
35a and 35b, and the first beam portions 31d. Both rear ends portions of the filter main
body 41 in the left-right direction Y are connected to front surfaces of opposing wall
portions 35f of each of the pair of the guide portions 35a and 35b.20
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 9, the handle portion 42 is provided on a front end portion of
the filter main body 41. Specifically, the handle portion 42 is provided on a front end
portion of the second part 41b on the filter main body 41. The handle portion 42 is for
example made of resin. The handle portion 42 extends in the left-right direction Y.25
24
The handle portion 42 extends from a right end portion of the filter main body 41 to a left
end portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 7, the handle portion 42 is located in front of the
insertion port 50. The handle portion 42 is mounted on a top surface of the mounting
portion 37. The handle portion 42 is exposed to the outside of the housing 21. The
handle portion 42 has a base portion 42a, a cover wall portion 42b, and the first5
protrusion 42c.
[0059]
The base portion 42a in the present embodiment is mounted on top of the
mounting portion 37. As shown in FIG. 9, the base portion 42a is a long roughly
rectangular shaped plate that extends in the left-right direction Y. A plate surface of the10
base portion 42a is orthogonal to the vertical direction Z. An edge portion of a rear side
of the base portion 42a is connected to a beam portion 41e located front most out of a
plurality of beam portions 41e that configure the grid portion 41d. A hole 42d is formed
on a bottom surface of the base portion 42a. A hole 42d in the present embodiment is
formed on the bottom surface of the base portions 42a on each of both end portions in the15
left-right direction Y. A shape of an inner space of the hole 42d is roughly a
quadrangular pyramid that protrudes to the top.
[0060]
As shown in FIG. 8, the second protrusion 36 is inserted from below the hole
42d. A part out of an inner surface of the hole 42d located in the rear side contacts a20
rear surface of the second protrusion 36. As such, the inner surface of the hole 42d is
hooked onto the second protrusion 36 from the rear side (-X side). A dimensions of the
hole 42d in the vertical direction Z is larger than a dimension of the second protrusion 36
in the vertical direction Z. A part located on a front side out of the inner surface of the
hole 42d faces a front surface of the second protrusion 36 with a gap in between.25
25
[0061]
As shown in FIG. 7, the cover wall portion 42b protrudes to the top from the
base portion 42a. Specifically, the cover wall portion 42b protrudes to the top as well to
the inclined rear direction from a front end portion of the base portion 42a. In other
words, the cover wall portion 42b inclines to the rear as the cover wall portion 42b heads5
towards the top. A dimension of the cover wall portion 42b in a direction where the
cover wall portion 42b protrudes from the base portion 42a is larger than a dimension of
the base portion 42a in the front-rear direction X. A location of an upper end portion of
the cover wall portion 42b in the front-rear direction X is located slightly in the rear than
a location of a rear end portion of the base portion 42a in the front-rear direction X.10
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cover wall portion 42b extends in the left-right direction
Y. The cover wall portion 42b extends from the right end portion of the base portion
42a to the left end portion thereof. The cover wall portion 42b is a long roughly
rectangular shaped plate in the left-right direction Y. At least a part of the cover wall15
portion 42b overlaps with the insertion ports 50, as seen from the front. In the present
embodiment, the entirety of the cover wall portion 42b overlaps with the insertion port 50,
as seen from the front. A front surface of the cover wall portion 42b is a decorative
surface 42e. The decorative surface 42e is a flat surface. The decorative surface 42e
faces the front and an inclined top direction. A surface roughness of the decorative20
surface 42e is less than the surface roughness of other surfaces of the handle portion 42.
The decorative surface 42e is a shiny surface. The decorative surface 42e is exposed to
the outside of the housing 21.
[0063]
As shown in FIG. 7, an angle of inclination θ of the cover wall portion 42b with25
26
respect to the base portion 42a is for example, about 45 degrees. The inclination angle
θ of the cover wall portion 42b with respect to the base portion 42a is an angle that is
forms an angle between the bottom surface of the base portion 42a and the decorative
surface 42e of the cover wall portion 42b. The inclination angle θ is almost the same as
the angle that the upper wall inclined portion 31b is inclined at with respect to a plane5
(XY plane) which is orthogonal with the vertical direction Z.
[0064]
The first protrusion 42c protrudes from the base portion 42a to the bottom
direction. The first protrusion 42c in the present embodiment protrudes to the bottom
from a rear end portion of the base portion 42a. An upper end portion of the first10
protrusion 42c is connected to the rear end portion of the base portion 42a and the front
end portion of the filter main body 41. The upper end portion of the first protrusion 42c
is connected to a bottom surface of the beam portion 41e located front most out of the
plurality of beam portions 41e in the filter main body 41. The first protrusion 42c is
inserted to an inside of the recess portion 37a formed in the mounting portion 37 from15
above. The first protrusion 42c protrudes to the bottom more than the mounting portion
37 via the inside of the recess portion 37a. The first protrusion 42c is hooked from a
rear, to a portion located in the front side out of inner edges of the recess portions 37a.
As such, the first protrusion 42c is hooked from the rear to the mounting portion 37. As
shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of first protrusion 42c is provided in the left-right direction Y20
at intervals. Specifically, three first protrusions 42c are provided for each of the filters
40. Each of the first protrusions 42c is passed from above through an inside of each of
the recess portions 37a.
[0065]
As shown in FIG. 7, a bottom end portion in a front end portion of the handle25
27
portion 42 is a supported end portion 43 that is hooked onto the support protrusion 38
from the rear (-X direction). The supported end portion 43 in the present embodiment is
a corner portion that is connected to the front end portion of the base portion 42a and a
bottom end portion of the cover wall portion 42b. The handle portion 42 protrudes to
the top more than the support protrusion 38. A top surface of the base portion 42a in the5
present embodiment is located more to the top than the top end portion of the support
protrusion 38.
[0066]
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an air purifying filter 60 is attached to the filter
40. The air purifying filter 60 is a filter capable of deactivating at least a part of germs,10
mold, and viruses or the like that are included in the air passing through the air purifying
filter 60. The air purifying filter 60 in the present embodiment is attached to a bottom
surface of a rear side portion in the second part 41b out of the filter main body 41. As
shown in FIG. 3, the air purifying filter 60 is located above the second heat exchange
device 22b. As shown in FIG. 4, the air purifying filter 60 extends from a right end15
portion of the filter 40 to the left end portion thereof. Air taken into the housing 21
from the intake port 20a after passing through the filter 40 passes through the air
purifying filter 60 in the present embodiment.
[0067]
In FIG. 3, air flow is represented by dashed arrows AF. When the blower 2320
rotates about the rotation axis R, air is taken into the inside of the housing 21 from the
plurality of intake ports 20a and the two insertion ports 50. In other words, a part of the
air taken into the inside of the housing 21 by the blower 23 passes through the insertion
port 50 in the present embodiment. The air taken into the inside of the housing 21
passes through the filter 40 and the heat exchange device 22 in such order, and is taken in25
28
by the blower 23. A part of the air that passes through the filter 40 flows to the heat
exchange device 22 after passing through the air purifying filter 60. Air that is taken in
by the blower 23 flows to an inclined front bottom direction, and is discharged to an
outside of the housing 21 from the exhaust port 20b.
[0068]5
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view that shows a part of procedures for attaching
the filter 40 to the housing 21. As shown in FIG. 10, an operator attaching the filter 40
to the housing 21, installs the filter 40 to the housing 21 by inserting the filter 40 to an
inside of the insertion port 50 from the front, in a state where the air purifying filter 60 is
attached to the filter 40. At such time, the operator grasps the filter 40 by grasping the10
handle portion 42 with their fingers so as to bring the filter 40 closer to the insertion ports
50. As shown in FIG. 6, both end portions in the left-right direction Y of a part out of
the filter 40 that is inserted into the inside of the housing 21 from the insertion port 50 are
supported from below by the pair of guide portions 35a and 35b. As shown in FIG. 3,
the operator inserts the filter 40 to an inside of the housing 21 via the insertion port 5015
until a rear end portion of the filter main body 41 contacts the front surface of the
opposing wall portion 35f. The operator mounts the handle portion 42 on top of the
mounting portion 37 in a state where the filter main body 41 is in contact with the
opposing wall portion 35f. When the handle portion 42 is mounted on top of the
mounting portion 37, the first protrusion 42c of the handle portion 42 is inserted to an20
inside of the recess portion 37a formed in the mounting portion 37, and the second
protrusion 36 formed on top of the mounting portion 37 is inserted to an inside of the
hole 42d of the handle portion 42. The bottom end portion in the front end portion of
the handle portion 42, in other words the supported end portion 43 is hooked to the
support protrusion 38 from the rear. As such, the filter 40 is restrained from falling out25
29
to the front, and the filter 40 is in a state of being attached to the housing 21.
[0069]
On the other hand, an operator removing the filter 40 from the housing 21 is able
to remove the filter 40 from the housing 21 by grasping the handle portion 42 mounted
on top of the mounting portion 37 from the front of the housing 21 and moving the filter5
40, without needing to conduct work of removing a part of the housing 21 or the like.
Specifically, the operator hooks their fingers HF to the cover wall portion 42b of the
handle portion 42 as shown by dashed lines in FIG. 7. The operator pulls the cover wall
portion 42b to the front using their fingers HF. At such time, since the supported end
portion 43 hooks onto the support protrusion 38, the handle portion 42 rotates in a10
movement towards the front with the supported end portion 43 as a pivot, as seen in the
left-right direction Y. As such, the base portion 42a and the first protrusion 42c move to
the top, and along with the first protrusion 42c being removed from the inside of the
recess portions 37a, the hole 42d formed in the base portion 42a moves to the top more
than the second protrusion 36. As such, the first protrusion 42c and the recess portions15
37a are disengaged, and the second protrusion 36 and the hole 42d are disengaged. In a
state of being disengaged, the operator slightly lifts up the handle portion 42, and moves
the supported end portion 43 to the top more than the support protrusion 38. By pulling
the filter 40 to the front in such a state, the operator is able to pull out the filter 40 from
the inside of the housing 21, and it is possible to easily remove the filter 40 from the20
housing 21.
[0070]
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view that shows an indoor unit 120, which is an
example of a conventional indoor unit. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view that shows a
portion of procedures for attaching a filter 140 to a housing 121 in the example of the25
30
conventional indoor unit 120. In the explanation of a configuration of the conventional
indoor unit 120, regarding configurations similar to those of the indoor unit 20 of the
present embodiment, there are cases where similar configurations have the same
reference signs in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12 affixed to them and the like, with explanations
thereof being omitted.5
[0071]
As shown in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12, an outer shell member 130 of the housing
121 differs from the outer shell member 30 of the present embodiment in that the outer
shell member 130 has a main body member 130a and a front surface panel 130b which is
a separate body from the main body member 130a. The front surface panel 130b is a10
member that configures a part of the outer shell of the front side out of the outer shell of
the housing 121. The main body member 130a is a part that configures parts other than
the part configured by the front surface panel 130b out of the outer shell of the housing
121. Other than an aspect of the outer shell member 130 being configured by two
members, the main body member 130a and the front surface panel 130b, the outer shell15
member 130 is similar to the outer shell member 30 of the present embodiment.
[0072]
The front surface panel 130b configures more than half the outer shell of the
front side out of outer shells of the housing 121. The front surface panel 130b is
attached to be openable with respect to the main body member 130a. Specifically, the20
front surface panel 130b is attached to the main body member 130a so as to be able
rotatable about an axis of rotation that extends in the left-right direction Y, with the top
end portion of the front surface panel 130b as a pivot. When the front surface panel
130b is rotated, the front surface panel 130b is in a state of being open, as shown in FIG.
12. In a state where the front surface panel 130b is open, a gap in the vertical direction25
31
Z between a wall portion of a top side out of wall portions that configure the main body
member 130a and the heat exchange device 22 is exposed to an outside of the housing
121. The plurality of intake ports 20a are formed on the wall portion of the top side out
of the wall portions that configure the main body member 130a.
[0073]5
As shown in FIG. 11, the filter 140 in the indoor unit 120 covers the heat
exchange device 22 from the front and from above. Specifically, a filter main body 141
of the filter 140 has a part that covers the first heat exchange device 22a and the second
heat exchange device 22b from the front in an inside of the housing 121, and a part that
covers the second heat exchange device 22b and the third heat exchange device 22c from10
above in the inside of the housing 121. The filter 140 is attached to the housing 121 by
engaging a bottom end portion of a part located in the front of the heat exchange device
22 out of the filter main body 141 to the housing 121. The air purifying filter 60 is
attached to a rear surface in the bottom end portion of a part located in the front of the
heat exchange device 22 out of the filter main body 141.15
[0074]
A handle portion 142 of the filter 140 is provided on a part located in the front of
the heat exchange device 22 out of the filter main body 141. The handle portion 142 is
located further away to the top, more than the bottom end portion of a part located in the
front of the heat exchange device 22 out of the filter main body 141. The handle20
portion 142 protrudes to the front. The handle portion 142 is covered by the front
surface panel 130b from the front. As such, the handle portion 142 does not protrude to
the outside of the housing 121 in a state where the front surface panel 130b is closed.
[0075]
An operator attaching the filter 140 to the housing 121 in the indoor unit 12025
32
first opens the front surface panel 130b as shown in FIG. 12. As previously mentioned,
in this state, a gap in the vertical direction Z between the wall portion of the top side out
of wall portions that configure the main body member 130a and the heat exchange device
22 is exposed to the outside of the housing 121. The operator attaches the filter 140 to
the housing 121 by grasping, or the like, the handle portion 142 to insert the filter 1405
into the exposed gap, causing the filter main body 141 to deform into a curve as shown in
FIG. 11. Afterwards, the operator closes the front surface panel 130b. An operator
removing the filter 140 from the housing 121 removes the filter 140 by grasping the
handle portion 142 that is exposed to the outside of the housing 121 after opening the
front surface panel 130b.10
[0076]
In the aforementioned conventional indoor unit 120, the front surface panel 130b
needs to be opened and closed in order to attach and detach the filter 140 to and from the
housing 121. For such reason, a problem of increased time and workload required for
removing the filter 140 to conduct cleaning or the like or to conduct maintenance work15
on the filter 140 is a problem.
[0077]
As opposed to the above, according to the present embodiment, the housing 21
has the insertion port 50 through which the filter 40 is inserted. The insertion port 50 is
open to the front. The filter 40 is attached to the housing 21 so as to be detachable from20
the outside of the housing via the insertion port 50. Thus, it is possible to attach and
detach the filters 40 with respect to the housing 21 as mentioned above, without needing
to open a part of the housing 21. As such, the time and workload required for
conducting maintenance work on the filter 40 is decreased, since there is no need to open
and close the front surface panel 130b as in the conventional indoor unit 120.25
33
[0078]
Since there is no need to make the front surface panel 130b be openable as in the
conventional indoor unit 120, it is possible to integrally form the main body member
130a and the front surface panel 130b in the conventional indoor unit 120. As such, it is
possible to form the outer shell member 30 into an integral member as in the present5
embodiment. Therefore, compared to a case where the outer shell member 30 is made
by assembling a plurality of members, it is possible to make the number of parts of the
indoor unit 20 be less. As such, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs of the
indoor unit 20. By making the outer shell member 30 be an integrally formed member,
dividing lines that would otherwise be formed between adjacent different members are10
not formed on an outer surface of the outer shell member 30. For such reason, it is
possible to improve an outer design of the indoor unit 20.
[0079]
According to the present embodiment, the intake port 20a that opens to the top is
formed on the upper wall portion 31 in the housing 21. The insertion port 50 is formed15
on the top side part of the housing 21. As such, by inserting the filter 40 from the
insertion port 50 into the inside of the housing 21, it is possible to easily dispose the filter
40 below the intake port 20a and above the heat exchange device 22. As such, even if a
part of the filter 40 is not disposed in front of the heat exchange device 22 as with
conventional indoor unit 120, it is possible to easily cover the entirety of the intake port20
20a with the filter 40 from below, and passing all the air that is taken in from the intake
port 20a through the filter 40 becomes easy. Therefore, there is no need to dispose a
part of the filter 40 in front of the heat exchange device 22, making it possible to
downsize an entire length of the filter 40. As such, it is possible to reduce
manufacturing costs of the filter 40, and it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs of25
34
the indoor unit 20. As in the present embodiment, by attaching the air purifying filter
60 to the filter 40, disposing the air purifying filter 60 in a relatively close location to the
intake port 20a becomes easy.
[0080]
According to the present embodiment, the upper wall portion 31 in housing 215
has the upper wall inclined portion 31b be located in the bottom as the upper wall portion
31 heads towards the front. The insertion port 50 is formed on the upper wall inclined
portion 31b, and is open to the front and to the top. As such, by having the insertion
port 50 formed in the upper wall inclined portion 31b, compared to a case where the
insertion port 50 are formed in a wall portion that extends along the vertical direction Z10
for example, it is possible to prevent the inside of the housing 21 from being seen from
the outside of the housing 21 via the insertion port 50. Thus, it is possible to make it
difficult for a user to see filter main body 41 that is inserted into the housing 21 from the
insertion port 50 from the outside of the housing 21. As such, it is possible to further
improve the outer design of the indoor unit 20.15
[0081]
According to the present embodiment, the filter 40 has the filter main body 41
that is disposed between the intake port 20a and the heat exchange device 22, and handle
portion 42 that is disposed on the front end portion of the filter main body 41. The
handle portion 42 is located in front of the insertion port 50. Thus, it is possible to20
suitably cover the insertion port 50 from the front by the handle portion 42. As such, it
is possible to further prevent the inside of the housing 21 from being seen from the
outside of the housing 21 via the insertion port 50. Therefore, it is possible to further
improve the outer design of the indoor unit 20. It also becomes easier for an operator
when removing the filter 40 from the housing 21 to grasp the handle portion 42. As25
35
such, it is possible to easily conduct detachment work of the filter 40 from the housing
21.
[0082]
According to the present embodiment, the handle portion 42 as seen from the
front, has at least a part of the cover wall portion 42b overlap with the insertion port 50.5
The cover wall portion 42b inclines to the rear as the cover wall portion 42b heads
towards the top. Thus, making the cover wall portion 42b into a shape that forms along
the upper wall inclined portion 31b is easier, and it is possible to suitably cover the
insertion port 50 which is formed to the upper wall inclined portion 31b from the front.
As such, as shown in FIG. 8, it is easy to block a view LS of a user by the cover wall10
portion 42b, further suitably preventing the inside of the housing 21 to be seen from the
outside via the insertion port 50. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the outer
design of the indoor unit 20. A dimension of the cover wall portion 42b in a direction
which the cover wall portion 42b protrudes from the base portion 42a is large enough to
suitably block the view LS of the user, and prevents the user from seeing the insertion15
port 50 from the outside. The dimension of the cover wall portion 42b is for example
determined by a location indoors of the indoor unit 20 in the vertical direction Z, an
average distance between the user and the indoor unit 20 from where the user is able to
view the indoor unit 20, and an average height of the user or the like. It is preferable to
have the dimension of the cover wall portion 42b be small, in a range of a dimension20
where the user is not able to view the insertion port 50 from the outside by suitably
blocking the view LS of the user by the cover wall portion 42b. This is so that the
smaller the dimension of the cover wall portion 42b becomes, the smaller areas of the
insertion ports 50 to be blocked by the cover wall portion 42b may be, and it becomes
difficult to hinder the air flow into the inside of the housing 21 from the insertion port 50.25
36
[0083]
By making the front surface of the cover wall portion 42b a decorative surface
42e of high design, it is possible to improve the design of a part that is visible to the user
out of the handle portion 42. As such, it is possible to improve the outer design of the
indoor unit 20. Specifically, it is possible to improve the outer design of the decorative5
surface 42e in the present invention by making the surface roughness of the decorative
surface 42e be smaller than the surface roughness of surfaces other than the decorative
surface 42e in the handle portion 42, and by making the decorative surface 42e a shiny
surface.
[0084]10
Furthermore, so long as the decorative surface 42e has a higher design surface
than a design of other parts in the decorative surface 42e of the handle portion 42, the
design may be any improved surface design. The decorative surface 42e may be a
painted surface, or may be a plated surface. The design of the decorative surface 42e in
the handle portion 42 may be improved by having the handle portion 42 be made as a15
separate member from the filter main body 41, and the resin that forms the handle portion
42 may have a color thereof changed or the like.
[0085]
According to the present embodiment, the housing 21 has a mounting portion 37
which is provided on the edge portions of the front side of the insertion port 50. The20
handle portion 42 has the base portion 42a mounted above the mounting portion 37, and
the first protrusion 42c which protrudes from below the base portion 42a and is hooked
onto the mounting portion 37 from the rear. As such, by having the first protrusion 42c
hook onto the mounting portion 37, it is possible to suppress the movement of the filter
40 to the front with respect to the housing 21. Thus, it is possible to prevent the filter25
37
40 from being removed unintentionally from the housing 21. In the present
embodiment, the first protrusion 42c is inserted into the recess portion 37a formed in the
mounting portion 37, and the first protrusion 42c is hooked to an inner edge of the recess
portions 37a. As such, it is possible to firmly mount the first protrusion 42c with
respect to the mounting portion 37.5
[0086]
According to the present embodiment, the housing 21 has the second protrusion
36 that protrudes to the top from the mounting portion 37. The hole 42d through which
the second protrusion 36 is inserted is formed on a bottom surface of the base portion 42a
in the handle portion 42. As such, by hooking the second protrusion 36 to the inner10
surface of the hole 42d, it is possible to further suppress a movement of the filter 40 to
the front with respect to the housing 21. Thus, it is possible to prevent the filter 40 from
being removed unintentionally from the housing 21.
[0087]
According to the present embodiment, the housing 21 has the support protrusion15
38 to which the supported end portion 43 that is a bottom end portion on the front end
portion of the handle portion 42 hooks onto from the rear. Thus, the movement of the
filter 40 to the front with respect to the housing 21 is further suppressed. As such, it is
possible to prevent the filter 40 from being removed unintentionally from the housing 21.
As previously mentioned, when removing the filter 40 from the housing 21, as the20
operator pulls the handle portion 42 to the front using their fingers HF, with the
supported end portion 43 as a pivot point, rotating the handle portion 42 around an axis
of rotation that extends in the left-right direction Y becomes easy. As such, the base
portion 42a and the first protrusion 42c are easily lifted to the top, and the first protrusion
42c and the mounting portion 37, and the second protrusion 36 and the hole 42d are25
38
easily disengaged. Therefore, it is possible to easily remove the filter 40 from the
housing 21. When removing the filter 40 from the housing 21, since the indoor unit 20
is disposed in a relatively high location out of the indoor wall surface WS, it is easier for
an operator to lift and extend their arms up, grasp the handle portion 42 using their
fingers HF, and pull the filter 40 from the front. As such, even if the operator intends to5
simply pull the handle portion 42 to the front, pulling the handle portion 42 towards the
front and towards the bottom becomes easier. Therefore, it becomes easy for the
operator conducting removal work of the filters 40 from the housing 21 to rotate the
handle portion 42 with the supported end portion 43 as the pivot point. As such,
removing the filter 40 from the housing 21 becomes easy.10
[0088]
According to the current embodiment, a part of the air that is taken in by the
blower 23 passes through the insertion port 50. In other words, the insertion port 50 is
used as an intake port to inhale air into the housing 21. For such reason, it is possible to
easily intake air into the housing 21. As previously mentioned, by making the15
dimension of the cover wall portion 42b the smallest possible within the range of a size
that blocks the view LS of the user, it is possible to take air into the housing 21 from the
insertion port 50 more easily.
[0089]
According to the present embodiment, the outer shell member 30 is located in20
front of the heat exchange device 22, protrudes to the rear from each of the front wall
portion 32 that configures a front side of the outer shell out of the outer shell of the
housing 21 and both end portions of the front wall portion 32 in the left-right direction Y,
has the side wall portions 33a and 33b which configure a portion of the outer shell of
both sides in the left-right direction each out of the outer shell of the housing 21, and is25
39
formed integrally. As such, the outer design of the indoor unit 20 is suitably improved
in cases where the indoor unit 20 is viewed from the front, and the indoor unit 20 is
viewed from both directions of the left-right direction Y. As such, since there is no need
to form a part of the front wall portion 32 as a separate member that opens as previously
mentioned, it is possible to form the outer shell member 30 and the front wall portion 325
integrally with parts of the side wall portions 33a and 33b. In the present embodiment,
the outer shell member 30 has the bottom wall portion 34 that configures an outer shell
bottom side out of the outer shell of the housing 21. As such, it is possible to improve
the outer design of the indoor unit 20 in a case where the indoor unit 20 is viewed from
the below.10
[0090]
For example, as in the conventional indoor unit 120, in a case where the filter
140 has a part that covers the heat exchange device 22 from the front, there is a need
attach a bottom end portion of the part that covers the heat exchange device 22 out of the
filter 140 from the front to the housing 121, in order to prevent a flow of air taken into an15
inside of the housing 121 from the intake port 20a from flowing to the heat exchange
device 22 by passing through a gap between the filter 140 and the housing 121. In such
case, when providing the handle portion 142 in the bottom end portion of the part that
covers the heat exchange device 22 out of the filter 140 from the front, the housing 121 is
a hindrance, and it is difficult to grasp the handle portion 142. Although it is possible to20
think of changing the shape of the handle portion 142 to a design that is easier to grasp,
in such a case, the handle portion 142 disposed on the inside of the housing 121 tends to
easily become larger, and it is possible that the flow of air taken into the inside of the
housing 121 is obstructed by the handle portion 142. For such reason, the handle
portion 142 in the conventional indoor unit 120 is disposed in a location further away to25
40
the top from the bottom end portion of the part that covers the heat exchange device 22
out of the filter 140 from the front, as previously mentioned.
[0091]
With respect to the above, according to the present embodiment, the filter 40
does not have a portion that covers the heat exchange device 22 from the front. As such,5
just attaching a front end portion of the filter 40 in front of the insertion port 50 with
respect to the housing 21 is enough. In other words, it is possible to cover the intake
port 20a from the bottom by the filter 40 without disposing the front end portion of the
filter 40 on the inside of the housing 21. From the above, by providing the handle
portion 42 having a shape that is easy to grasp on the front end portion of the filter main10
body 41, even if the handle portion 42 is attached to the housing 21, the flow of air after
being taken into the inside of the housing 21 is not obstructed by the handle portion 42.
Therefore, it is possible to have a shape of and location of the handle portion 42 be a
suitable location and shape, so as to grasp the filter 40, while keeping the flow of air to
the inside of the housing 21 suitable. As such, it is possible to easily conduct15
attachment and detachment work of the filter 40 with respect to the housing 21.
[0092]
Although the above is an explanation of a present embodiment in the present
disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned explanation of
present embodiment, and it is possible to adopt the configurations and methods below.20
[0093]
An insertion port that a housing of an indoor unit has may open to the front, and
if it is possible to insert a filter from an outside of the housing of the indoor unit, the
housing may be formed in any location. The insertion port may be formed in front of a
center portion of the housing in the vertical direction Z. The insertion port may be25
41
formed in a bottom side portion of the housing. A single insertion port may be formed.
Three or more insertion ports may be formed. A plurality of filters may be insertable
with respect to the single insertion port.
[0094]
The shape and the type of the filter that is disposed between an intake port and a5
heat exchange device are not particularly limited. For example, in a case where
insertion port is formed on the center portion of the housing in the vertical direction Z or
on the bottom side portion of the housing, the filter that is inserted to an inside of the
housing from the insertion port may have a portion that covers the heat exchange device
from the front. Only a part of a cover wall portion in a handle portion of the filter may10
overlap with the insertion port, as seen from the front.
[0095]
A shape of the housing of the indoor unit is not particularly limited. An upper
wall portion of the housing need not include an upper wall inclined portion. So long as
an outer shell member configures a part of an outer shell of the housing, the outer shell15
member may be any configuration. The outer shell member need not be formed as an
integral shape. In other words, the outer shell member, may be formed from a plurality
of members. The outer shell member may have an outer shell member main body, and
decorative parts that are attached to the outer shell member main body.
[0096]20
The various configurations and methods described in the above description of
the present disclosure may be appropriately combined, as long as the configurations and
methods thereof do not mutually contradict one another.
[Reference Sign List]
[0097]25
42
10…Outdoor Unit, 21…Housing, 22…Heat Exchange Device,
23…Blower, 20…Indoor Unit, 20a…Intake Port, 30…Outer Shell Member,
31…Upper Wall Portion, 31b…Upper Wall Inclined Portion, 32…Front Wall
Portion, 33a, 33b…Side Wall Portion, 36…Second Protrusion, 37…Mounting
Portion, 38…Support Protrusion, 40…Filters, 41…Filter Main Body,5
42…Handle Portion, 42a…Base Portion, 42b…Cover Wall Portion, 42c…First
Protrusion, 42d…Hole, 50…Insertion Port, 100…Air Conditioner,
WS…Wall Surface, Y…Left-Right Direction
43
WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1]
An indoor unit, which is the indoor unit of an air conditioner, and that is a
wall-mounted type which is mounted on a wall, the indoor unit comprises:
a heat exchange device;5
a blower;
a housing that has an intake port, and that houses the heat exchange device and
the blower therein, and
a filter that is disposed between the intake port and the heat exchange device,
wherein10
the housing has an insertion port through which the filter is inserted,
the insertion port opens to a front, and
the filter is attached to the housing so as to be detachable from an outside of the
housing via the insertion port.
15
[Claim 2]
The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein:
the housing has an upper wall portion that is located above out of a wall portion
that configure the housing;
the intake port that opens to the top is formed on the upper wall portion, and20
the insertion port is formed on a top side part of the housing.
[Claim 3]
The indoor unit according to claim 2, wherein:
the upper wall portion has an upper wall inclined portion that inclines25
44
downwards as the upper wall inclined portion heads towards a front, and
the insertion port is formed in the upper wall inclined portion and opens to the
front and the top.
[Claim 4]5
The indoor unit according to claim 3, wherein:
the filter has:
a filter main body that is disposed between the intake port and the heat
exchange device, and
a handle portion provided on a front end portion of the filter main body,10
and
the handle portion is located in front of the insertion port.
[Claim 5]
The indoor unit according to claim 4, wherein:15
the handle portion has at least a part of a cover wall portion that overlaps with
the insertion port as seen from the front, and
the cover wall portion inclines to the rear as the cover wall portion heads
towards the top.
20
[Claim 6]
The indoor unit according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein:
the housing has a mounting portion that is provided on an edge portion of the
insertion port in a front side;
the handle portion has:25
45
a base portion mounted above the mounting portion, and
a first protrusion which protrudes to a bottom from the base portion and
is hooked onto the mounting portion from the rear.
[Claim 7]5
The indoor unit according claim 6, wherein:
the housing has a second protrusion that protrudes to the top from the mounting
portion, and
on a bottom surface of the base portion, a hole through which the second
protrusion is inserted through is formed.10
[Claim 8]
The indoor unit according to anyone of claims 4 to 7 wherein:
the housing has a support protrusion, where a bottom end portion in a front end
portion of the handle portion is hooked onto the support protrusion from the rear.15
[Claim 9]
The indoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein:
a part of air taken into an inside of the housing by the blower passes through the
insertion port.20
[Claim 10]
The indoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein:
the housing has an outer shell member that configures a part of an outer shell of
the housing, where25
46
the outer shell member includes
a front wall portion that is located in front of the heat exchange device,
and configures a front side outer shell out of outer shells of the housing, and
a pair of side wall portions that protrude to the rear from both end
portions of the front wall portion in the left-right direction, and that configure the outer5
shell of both sides out of the outer shells of the housing in the left-right direction, and
the outer shell member is integrally molded.
[Claim 11]
An air conditioner comprising:10
the indoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and
an outdoor unit.