EP2918924B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents
Air conditioner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2918924B1 EP2918924B1 EP13842440.3A EP13842440A EP2918924B1 EP 2918924 B1 EP2918924 B1 EP 2918924B1 EP 13842440 A EP13842440 A EP 13842440A EP 2918924 B1 EP2918924 B1 EP 2918924B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- level
- difference
- height
- portions
- axial direction
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 claims description 38
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 9
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000009194 climbing Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000001629 suppression Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D17/00—Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps
- F04D17/02—Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps having non-centrifugal stages, e.g. centripetal
- F04D17/04—Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps having non-centrifugal stages, e.g. centripetal of transverse-flow type
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/28—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for centrifugal or helico-centrifugal pumps for radial-flow or helico-centrifugal pumps
- F04D29/281—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for centrifugal or helico-centrifugal pumps for radial-flow or helico-centrifugal pumps for fans or blowers
- F04D29/282—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for centrifugal or helico-centrifugal pumps for radial-flow or helico-centrifugal pumps for fans or blowers the leading edge of each vane being substantially parallel to the rotation axis
- F04D29/283—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for centrifugal or helico-centrifugal pumps for radial-flow or helico-centrifugal pumps for fans or blowers the leading edge of each vane being substantially parallel to the rotation axis rotors of the squirrel-cage type
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/40—Casings; Connections of working fluid
- F04D29/42—Casings; Connections of working fluid for radial or helico-centrifugal pumps
- F04D29/4206—Casings; Connections of working fluid for radial or helico-centrifugal pumps especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/422—Discharge tongues
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/40—Casings; Connections of working fluid
- F04D29/42—Casings; Connections of working fluid for radial or helico-centrifugal pumps
- F04D29/44—Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers
- F04D29/441—Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/66—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing
- F04D29/661—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/663—Sound attenuation
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/66—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing
- F04D29/661—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/663—Sound attenuation
- F04D29/665—Sound attenuation by means of resonance chambers or interference
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/66—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing
- F04D29/661—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/666—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps by means of rotor construction or layout, e.g. unequal distribution of blades or vanes
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/66—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing
- F04D29/661—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/667—Combating cavitation, whirls, noise, vibration or the like; Balancing especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps by influencing the flow pattern, e.g. suppression of turbulence
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0018—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by fans
- F24F1/0025—Cross-flow or tangential fans
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
- F24F1/0047—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/24—Means for preventing or suppressing noise
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an air conditioner including a cross flow fan.
- a cross flow fan is a blower which extends in the axial direction and includes a plurality of vanes lined up in the rotational direction.
- a front tongue portion (stabilizer) and a rear tongue portion (rear guider) are provided to oppose the outer periphery of the fan, respectively.
- These tongue portions form an air passage on the blow-out side of the fan.
- Each tongue portion is closest to the fan at and around the leading end. Between the leading end portion of each tongue portion and the fan, a vortex airflow is generated.
- wind noise NZ noise
- Patent Document 1 teaches that level-difference portions are provided at the leading end of the front tongue portion (stabilizer) to vary the height of the leading end along the axial direction.
- the front tongue portion is closest to the fan at the leading end.
- Each level-difference portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and the leading end of a part between neighboring level-difference portions is deviated from the axial direction of the fan in the rotational direction.
- JP S 50 20213 U discloses an air conditioner comprising blades with leading ends having straight or curved sawtooth shapes.
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-203129
- the airflow changes its direction toward that level-difference portion 91a and climbs over the level-difference portion 91a.
- the air flows into a bended portion of the vortex airflow in a concentrated manner, with the result that the vortex airflow is disturbed and the wind noise increases.
- level differences are provided at the leading end of the rear tongue portion.
- An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an air conditioner in which wind noise is suppressed by restraining the disturbance of a vortex airflow.
- An air conditioner according to the present invention is defined by the combination of features of claim 1.
- Dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments.
- At least one of the first level-difference portions each of which decreases in height in the axial direction toward the central part of the fan, which are provided at the leading end portion of at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider, is small in the variation in height within the predetermined length in the axial direction. It is therefore possible to restrain the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward each of the first level-difference portions and climbing over each of the first level-difference portions. As such, the flowing of the air in a concentrated manner into the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is restrained, and hence the disturbance of the vortex airflow is restrained. As a result, the wind noise is suppressed.
- the variation in height of at least one of the first level-difference portions within the predetermined length in the axial direction is small, the degree of bending of the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is gentle, and hence the bended portion of the vortex airflow is less disturbed.
- the vane of the fan passes the end portions in the axial direction of each level-difference portion at different timings and the vane does not pass the part between the level-difference portions at once as the height of the part between the level-difference portions is gradually changed in the axial direction.
- the wind noise is suppressed by differentiating the timings of the generation of the wind noise in this way.
- each second level-difference portion increases toward the central part of the fan, the airflow sucked into the fan does not change its direction toward each second level-difference portion. On this account, it is unnecessary to reduce the above-described variation of each second level-difference portion.
- the variations of all level-difference portions are reduced, the length in the axial direction of the part between neighboring level-difference portions becomes short, and hence the continuous generation of the wind noise becomes less effectively done.
- the continuous generation of the wind noise i.e. , generation of wind noise in a spread manner
- the degree of inclination of an edge portion which extends linearly or in a curved manner from a highest point is more gentle than the degree of inclination of an edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions which edge portion extends linearly or in a curved manner from a highest point.
- the inclination of the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner is gentle. This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward the edge portions of that first level-difference portion.
- the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value extends from the highest point to a lowest point linearly or in a curved manner.
- the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, this first level-difference portion can be easily formed. Furthermore, when the first level-difference portion extends linearly, because the inclination of the first level-difference portion is constant and gentle across the entirety thereof in the axial direction, the airflow climbing over the first level-difference portion is reduced across the entirety in the axial direction thereof.
- the height of the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value changes in stages, and an edge portion of the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner is shorter than an edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, and an inclination angle of the edge portion of the at least one of the first level-difference portions is identical with an inclination angle of the edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions.
- the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point is identical with the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion in terms of the inclination angle but is shorter than the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion. This restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward around the edge portion of that first level-difference portion.
- the inclination of the first level-difference portion is adjustable irrespective of the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion.
- the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is positioned to be farthest in the axial direction from the central part of the cross flow fan, among the level-difference portions.
- At least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider includes two or more first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, and among the two or more first level-difference portions, the variation in height of one first level-difference portion which is farther in the axial direction from the central part of the fan than the other level-difference portion(s) is smaller than the variation in height of the other level-difference portion(s).
- the first level-difference portions are provided only on one side in the axial direction of the central part of the fan, whereas the second level-difference portions are provided only on the other side in the axial direction of the central part of the fan, and the height of the parts between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions gradually changes in the axial direction.
- the first level-difference portions and the second level-difference portions are alternately provided in the axial direction, and the height of each of the parts between two neighboring ones of the level-difference portions is constant in the axial direction.
- the stabilizer or the rear guider can be easily formed.
- the length in the axial direction of the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is not less than 5% and not more than 30% of the interval between highest points of two neighboring ones of the level-difference portions.
- the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained, as the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is arranged to be 5% to 30% of the interval between the highest points of the neighboring two level-difference portions.
- At least one of the first level-difference portions each of which decreases in height in the axial direction toward the central part of the fan, which are provided at the leading end portion of at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider, is small in the variation in height within the predetermined length in the axial direction. It is therefore possible to restrain the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward each of the first level-difference portions and climbing over each of the first level-difference portions. As such, the flowing of the air in a concentrated manner into the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is restrained, and hence the disturbance of the vortex airflow is restrained.
- the wind noise is suppressed. Furthermore, the variation in height of at least one of the first level-difference portions within the predetermined length in the axial direction is small, the degree of bending of the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is gentle, and hence the bended portion of the vortex airflow is less disturbed.
- the vane of the fan passes the end portions in the axial direction of each level-difference portion at different timings and the vane does not pass the part between the level-difference portions at once as the height the part between the level-difference portions is continuously changed in the axial direction.
- the wind noise is suppressed by differentiating the timings of the generation of the wind noise in this way.
- each second level-difference portion increases toward the central part of the fan, the airflow sucked into the fan does not change its direction toward each second level-difference portion. On this account, it is unnecessary to reduce the above-described variation of each second level-difference portion.
- the variations of all level-difference portions are reduced, the length in the axial direction of the part between neighboring level-difference portions becomes short, and hence the continuous generation of the wind noise becomes less effectively done.
- the continuous generation of the wind noise i.e. , generation of wind noise in a spread manner
- the inclination of the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner is gentle. This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward the edge portions of that first level-difference portion.
- the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, this first level-difference portion can be easily formed.
- the first level-difference portion extends linearly, because the inclination of the first level-difference portion is constant and gentle across the entirety thereof in the axial direction, the airflow climbing over the first level-difference portion is reduced across the entirety in the axial direction thereof.
- the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point is identical with the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion in terms of the inclination angle but is shorter than the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion. This restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward around the edge portion of that first level-difference portion.
- the inclination of the first level-difference portion is adjustable irrespective of the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion.
- the suppression of the disturbance of the vortex airflow is ensured by reducing the variation in height of the first level-difference portion which is farthest from the central part of the fan.
- the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained, by reducing the variation in height of the first level-difference portion in accordance with the distance from the central part in the axial direction of the fan.
- the vane because the height of the part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions gradually changes in the axial direction, the vane does not pass across that part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions at once. For this reason, when the vane passes across the part between the level-difference portions, wind noise is continuously generated, and hence the wind noise is suppressed.
- the stabilizer or the rear guider can be easily formed.
- the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained, as the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is arranged to be 5% to 3 0% of the interval between the highest points of the neighboring two level-difference portions.
- an indoor unit 1 of an air conditioner of the present embodiment is as a whole narrow and long in one direction in shape, and is attached to a wall of a room so that the length of the air conditioner is horizontal.
- the indoor unit 1 and an unillustrated outdoor unit constitute the air conditioner which cools or warms the room.
- frontward a direction of protrusion from the wall to which the indoor unit 1 is attached
- backward the direction opposite to the frontward
- left-right direction in FIG. 1 will be simply referred to as “left-right direction”.
- the indoor unit 1 includes a casing 2 and internal devices stored in the casing 2 such as a heat exchanger 3, a cross flow fan 10, a filter 4, and an electronic component box (not illustrated) .
- a heat exchanger 3 Through the upper surface of the casing 2 is formed an inlet port 2a, whereas through the lower surface of the casing 2 is formed an outlet port 2b.
- a horizontal flap 5 is provided for adjusting the wind direction in the up-down direction and for opening and closing the outlet port 2b.
- the cross flow fan 10 (hereinafter, this will be simply referred to as a fan 10) is disposed so that its axial direction is in parallel to the left-right direction. This fan 10 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 .
- a front guider 30 and a rear guider (rear tongue portion) 20 are provided, respectively, to form an air passage.
- a substantial upper half of the front guider 30 is constituted by a stabilizer (front tongue portion) 32.
- the heat exchanger 3 is disposed to surround the front side and the upper side of the fan 10. In an air conditioning operation, the fan 10 is driven so that indoor air is sucked through the inlet port 2a, and the sucked air is heated or cooled in the heat exchanger 3 and is then blown out through the outlet port 2b.
- the fan 10 is constituted by a plurality of (six in the present embodiment) vane wheels 12 lined up in the axial direction (left-right direction) and an end plate 11.
- the end plate 11 constitutes the right end portion of the fan 10. From a central portion of the right surface of the end plate 11, a boss portion 11a protrudes to be connected with the rotational axis of a motor (not illustrated) for driving the fan 10.
- each of the right five vane wheels 12A is made up of vanes 15 lined up in the circumferential direction and a substantially annular supporting plate 13 connected to the left ends of the vanes.
- the vanes 15 and the supporting plate 13 are integrally formed.
- the right end of each vane 15 of each vane wheel 12A is joined by welding or the like with the neighboring end plate 11 or the supporting plate 13 of the neighboring vane wheel 12A.
- the leftmost vane wheel 12B among the six vane wheels 12 is made up of vanes 15 lined up in the circumferential direction and a substantially disc-shaped end plate 14 which is connected to the left ends of the vanes 15.
- the vanes 15 and the end plate 14 are integrally formed.
- the right end of each vane 15 of the vane wheel 12B is joined by welding or the like with the supporting plate 13 of the neighboring vane wheel 12A.
- a shaft (not illustrated) which is rotatably supported by a bearing attached to the casing 2 protrudes.
- the vanes 15 of each vane wheel 12 extends in the axial direction (left-right direction), and each of which is disposed as a forward-swept wing with a predetermined blade angle.
- the lengths of the vanes 15 of each of the five vane wheels 12A are identical in the axial direction and is substantially twice as long as the lengths of the vanes 15 of the vane wheel 12B in the axial direction.
- the vanes 15 of each vane wheel 12 are lined up in the circumferential direction at irregular intervals.
- the intervals of the vanes 15 are identical between the six vane wheels 12.
- the vanes 15 may be lined up at regular intervals.
- vanes 15 of one vane wheel 12 and the vanes 15 of the neighboring vane wheel 12 are deviated from one another in the circumferential direction.
- vanes 15 of any given vane wheel 12 are deviated from the vanes 15 of the vane wheel 12 immediately to the left of the any given vane wheel 12 each for an angle ⁇ in the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4 ) .
- each vane 15 is deviated from the corresponding vane 15 of the neighboring vane wheel 12 for the angle ⁇ in the rotational direction.
- the rear guider 20 is provided to the back of the fan 10, and the lower edge of the rear guider 20 is connected to the outlet port 2b (see FIG. 2 ).
- the length in the left-right direction of the rear guider 20 is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of the fan 10, and the rear guider 20 opposes substantially the entirety of the fan 10 in the left-right direction.
- the upper edge of the rear guider 20 is slightly higher in position than the upper end of the fan 10.
- a part which is not the upper and lower end portions is a curved surface 21 which is substantially arc-shaped.
- the distance (shortest distance) between the curved surface 21 and the outer periphery of the fan 10 decreases upward.
- the rear guider 20 includes a protruding portion 22 at a part above the curved surface 21 (i.e. , to the leading end side of the curved surface 21).
- the protruding portion 22 is substantially arc-shaped and bulges in the direction away from the fan 10 in cross section taken at the line orthogonal to the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 9 , the distance (shortest distance) between each protruding portion 22 and the outer periphery of the fan 10 increases upward.
- the rear guider 20 is closest to the fan 10 at a border 20a (hereinafter, closest position 20a) between the lower edge of each protruding portion 22 and the upper edge of the curved surface 21.
- the protruding portion 22 is constituted by six twisted portions 23 lined up in the left-right direction, five connecting portions 24 each of which is provided between two neighboring twisted portions 23, two inclination alleviation portions 25, and plural rib portions 26 (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 ).
- Each of the six twisted portions 23 is positioned to oppose the vane wheel 12.
- the right five twisted portions 23A are identical with one another in length in the left-right direction, and are identical with the vanes 15 of the vane wheels 12A in length in the left-right direction.
- the length of the leftmost twisted portion 23B is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of each of the vanes 15 of the vane wheel 12B.
- Each of the twisted portions 23 is substantially arc-shaped in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 11 , in the circumferential direction of the fan 10, each twisted portion 23 is deviated from the axial direction of the fan 10 gradually from the left edge to the right edge. On this account, the shape of each twisted portion 23 is substantially uniform across any cross section orthogonal to the left-right direction. Furthermore, the height of the leading end (front upper edge) of each twisted portion 23 gradually changes in the left-right direction.
- the heights of the twisted portion 23, the connecting portion 24, the inclination alleviation portion 25, and each of later-mentioned level-difference portions 28a to 28e are not heights in the up-down direction but heights along the direction in which the protruding portion 22 protrudes (i.e., substantially frontward and upward in the present embodiment) . Furthermore, the highest ends of the six twisted portions 23 are at the same height and the lowest ends of the six twisted portions 23 are at the same height (see FIGs. 6 and 7 ).
- each twisted portion 23 is deviated for an angle ⁇ 1 in the direction opposite to the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8 ) of the fan 10.
- the angles ⁇ 1 of the deviation of the six twisted portions 23 are identical with one another.
- the left edge of one twisted portion 23 is deviated from the right edge of the twisted portion 23 neighboring to the left of that twisted portion 23 for an angle ⁇ 1 in the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9 ) of the fan 10.
- the angle ⁇ 1 is identical with the angle ⁇ 1.
- each of the five connecting portions 24 connects end portions of two neighboring twisted portions 23, which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction, with each other.
- Each connecting portion 24 is substantially arc-shaped in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and is substantially as thick as each twisted portion 23.
- the leading end (front upper edge) of each connecting portion 24 linearly extends to decrease in height rightward.
- Each of the five connecting portions 24 is positioned to oppose the supporting plate 13 of the fan 10 (see FIGs. 6 and 7 ).
- the two inclination alleviation portions 25 are connected to the leading ends of the two left connecting portions 24 among the five connecting portions 24, respectively. These two inclination alleviation portions 25 are identical in shape. Each inclination alleviation portion 25 extends substantially frontward from the connecting portion 24 and the front upper edge of the left end portion of the twisted portion 23 which is to the right of that connecting portion 24. The inclination alleviation portion 25 is substantially triangular in shape when viewed from above. The leading end (front edge) of the inclination alleviation portion 25 substantially linearly extends and connects the left edge of the leading end of the connecting portion 24 with the leading end of the twisted portion 23. As shown in FIG.
- the height of the leading end (front edge) of the inclination alleviation portion 25 decreases rightward.
- the length in the left-right direction of the inclination alleviation portion 25 is preferably 5% to 30% of the total length of the twisted portion 23 and the connecting portion 24 in the left-right direction.
- the inclination alleviation portion 25 is substantially triangular in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction.
- the rear face of the inclination alleviation portion 25 extends substantially upward from the upper surface of the twisted portion 23 or the connecting portion 24, and the upper surface of the inclination alleviation portion 25 extends substantially frontward from the upper edge of the rear face of the inclination alleviation portion 25.
- the front edge of the inclination alleviation portion 25 is substantially as thick as the twisted portion 23 and the connecting portion 24.
- each rib portion 26 extend backward from the rear face of the inclination alleviation portion 25.
- each rib portion 26 is provided to protrude from the rear face (which is on the side opposite to the fan 10) of the twisted portion 23 or the connecting portion 24.
- the height in the up-down direction of the front edge of the rib portion 26 is substantially identical with the height in the up-down direction of the upper edge of the rear face of the inclination alleviation portion 25.
- the thickness of the rib portion 26 decreases backward.
- each of the inclination alleviation portion 25 and the rib portion 26 is swollen in shape as compared to its surrounding (the twisted portion 23 and the connecting portion 24). This swollen part is termed a swollen portion 27.
- the range of the swollen portion 27 when viewed from above is identical with the range occupied by the inclination alleviation portion 25 and the rib portions 26.
- the height of the swollen portion 27 in a direction D (see FIG. 9 ) which is substantially orthogonal to the surface of the protruding portion 22 which surface is opposite to the fan 10 is termed swelling height.
- the highest position 27a of the swelling height of the swollen portion 27 corresponds to the right edge of the connecting portion 24, in the upper edge of the rear face of the inclination alleviation portion 25.
- the swelling height of a part of the swollen portion 27 which part is to the right of the apex 27a decreases rightward, whereas the swelling height of a part of the swollen portion 27 which part is to the left of the apex 27a rapidly decreases leftward.
- each of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e is formed at the leading end of the protruding portion 22 to be lined up in the left-right direction.
- the height of each of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e decreases rightward.
- the level-difference portions 28a to 28c are provided to the left of a central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 ), whereas the level-difference portions 28d and 28e are provided to the right of the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10.
- Each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is the leading end of the inclination alleviation portion 25, whereas each of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e is the leading end of the connecting portion 24.
- the highest points (left edges) of the five level-difference portions 28a to 28e are identical in height.
- the lowest points (right edges) of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e which are the leading ends of the connecting portions 24 are identical in height.
- the lowest points (right edges) of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b which are the leading ends of the inclination alleviation portions 25 are identical in height and are higher than the lowest points of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e.
- an inclination angle of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b with respect to the axial direction is termed an angle ⁇ 1
- an inclination angle of each of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e with respect to the axial direction is termed an angle ⁇ 2.
- the angle ⁇ 1 is smaller than the angle ⁇ 2.
- the inclination of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is more gentle than the inclination of each of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e.
- a variation in height within a predetermined length W in the left-right direction from the highest point of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is referred to as ⁇ H1.
- a variation in height within the predetermined length W in the left-right direction from the highest point of each of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e is referred to as ⁇ H2.
- the variation ⁇ H1 is smaller than the variation ⁇ H2.
- the variation in height within the predetermined length W in the left-right direction (axial direction) is an index for a comparison between inclinations of level-difference portions.
- the length W is not limited to the length shown in FIG. 12 .
- the length W is only required to be shorter than the length in the left-right direction of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the starting point of the length W in the left-right direction is the highest point of each level-difference portion. The starting point, however, may not be the highest point of the level-difference portion.
- the front guider 30 is provided to the front of the fan 10, and the lower edge of the front guider 30 is connected to the outlet port 2b (see FIG. 2 ).
- the front guider 30 is made up of the stabilizer 32 provided to oppose the fan 10 and a front wall portion 31 which extends from the lower edge of the stabilizer 32 to the outlet port 2b.
- the length in the left-right direction of the stabilizer 32 is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of the fan 10, and the stabilizer 32 opposes substantially the entirety in the left-right direction of the fan 10. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 , the upper edge of the stabilizer 32 is lower in position than the center of the fan 10.
- the stabilizer 32 As shown in FIG. 14 , in the surface of the stabilizer 32 which surface opposes the fan 10, a part which is not the upper and lower end portions is a curved surface 33 which is substantially arc-shaped. The distance (shortest distance) between the curved surface 33 and the outer periphery of the fan 10 decreases upward. Furthermore, the stabilizer 32 includes a bending surface 34 which is bended substantially frontward from the lower edge of the curved surface 33. The lower edge of the bending surface 34 is connected to the front wall portion 31.
- the stabilizer 32 includes a flat end face 35 which extends downward and frontward from the upper edge of the curved surface 33 and a convex portion 36 which is provided to the front of the end face 35 and protrudes upward from the end face 35.
- the convex portion 36 and the end face 35 constitute the upper end portion of the rear guider 20.
- the cross sectional shape of the convex portion 36 in the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction is substantially triangular.
- the stabilizer 32 is closest to the outer periphery of the fan 10 at an upper edge 32a (hereinafter, closest position 32a) of the curved surface 33.
- the stabilizer 32 (including the convex portion 36, the end face 35, the curved surface 33, and the bending surface 34) is made up of six twisted portions 37 lined up in the left-right direction and five connecting portions 38 each of which is provided between two neighboring twisted portions 37.
- Each of the six twisted portions 23 is positioned to oppose the vane wheel 12.
- the right five twisted portions 23A are identical with one another in length in the left-right direction, and are identical with the vanes 15 of the vane wheels 12A in length in the left-right direction.
- the length of the leftmost twisted portion 23B is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of each of the vanes 15 of the vane wheel 12B.
- each twisted portion 37 is deviated from the axial direction of the fan 10 gradually from the left edge to the right edge.
- the shape of each twisted portion 37 is substantially uniform across any cross section orthogonal to the left-right direction.
- the height of the leading end (upper edge) of each twisted portion 37 gradually changes in the left-right direction.
- the highest ends of the six twisted portions 37 are at the same height and the lowest ends of the six twisted portions 23 are at the same height (see FIG. 6 ).
- each twisted portion 37 is deviated for an angle ⁇ 2 in the direction opposite to the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 11 ) of the fan 10.
- the angles ⁇ 2 of the deviation of the six twisted portions 37 are identical with one another.
- the left edge of one twisted portion 37 is deviated from the right edge of the twisted portion 37 neighboring to the left of that twisted portion 37 for an angle ⁇ 2 in the direction of the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10 ) of the fan 10.
- the angle ⁇ 2 is identical with the angle ⁇ 2.
- each of the five connecting portions 38 connects the end portions of two neighboring twisted portions 37 which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction.
- Each of the connecting portions 38 is positioned to oppose the supporting plate 13 of the fan 10. Because the end portions of two neighboring twisted portions 37 which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction are different in height, five level-difference portions are formed at the leading end of the stabilizer 32 to be lined up in the left-right direction.
- FIG. 15 the center C of the vortex airflow is indicated by a chain line.
- the vortex airflow is bended in an area formed by the edges in the axial direction of each of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e and the fan 10.
- each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is smaller than the inclination angle ⁇ 2 of each of the other level-difference portions 28c to 28e, as shown in FIG. 15 , a change in the direction of the airflow toward each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is restrained around each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b. Because the flowing of the air into the bended portion of the vortex airflow in a concentrated manner is restrained, the disturbance of the vortex airflow is restrained. Furthermore, because the inclination angle of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is small, the degree of bending of the bended portion of the vortex airflow is gentle, and hence the vortex airflow is less disturbed.
- the swollen portion 27 which is swollen away from the fan 10 as compared to the twisted portion and the connecting portion 24 is formed around each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b. For this reason, the change in the direction of the airflow toward each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is further restrained, and the amount of airflow passing around the swollen portion 27 is reduced. On this account, the airflow climbing over each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is reduced, and the flowing of the air into the bended portion of the vortex airflow in a concentrated manner is further restrained.
- the vortex airflow (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8(b) ) is generated between the leading end portion of the stabilizer 32 and the fan 10, and the wind noise is generated as the vortex airflow and the vane 15 interfere with each other when the vane 15 passes the vortex airflow. Because the twisted portion 37 of the stabilizer 32 is gradually deviated from the left-right direction in the circumferential direction, wind noise is continuously generated when the vane 15 passes across one twisted portion 37.
- the wind noise is suppressed by differentiating the timings of the generation of the wind noise in this way.
- the air conditioner of the present embodiment has the following characteristics.
- the vane 15 does not pass across that part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e at once. For this reason, when the vane 15 passes across the part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e, wind noise is continuously generated, and hence the wind noise is suppressed.
- each of the level-difference portions (second level-difference portions) 28d and 28e increases toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10, the airflow sucked into the fan 10 does not change its direction toward each of the level-difference portions 28d and 28e.
- the variations of all the level-difference portions 28a to 28e are reduced, the length in the axial direction of the part between neighboring level-difference portions becomes short, and hence the continuous generation of the wind noise becomes less effectively done.
- the variations of the level-difference portions 28d and 28e are not reduced, the continuous generation of the wind noise is maintained to be effective.
- the suppression of the disturbance of the vortex airflow is further ensured in such a way that the variation in height ⁇ H1 within the predetermined length W in the axial direction of the level-difference portion 28a which is closest to the end portion in the axial direction of the fan 10 is reduced.
- the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28c which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 is not reduced.
- the level-difference portion 28c is close to the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10
- the direction of the airflow around the level-difference portion 28c is substantially orthogonal to the axial direction, and hence the airflow rarely changes its direction toward the level-difference portion 28c.
- the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28c is not reduced, the deterioration in the effect of continuous generation of the wind noise is restrained.
- each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b linearly extends from the highest point to the lowest point, these level-difference portions 28a and 28b can be easily formed. Moreover, because the inclination of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is constant and gentle across the entirety of each of them in the axial direction, the airflow climbing over each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is reduced across the entirety in the axial direction of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b.
- each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b is arranged to be 5% to 30% of the total length in the left-right direction of the twisted portion 23 and the connecting portion 24 (i.e. , the distance between the highest points of neighboring two level-difference portions), the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained.
- the swollen portion 27 which is swollen away from the fan 10 is provided in the vicinity of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b, the airflow sucked into the fan 10 is less likely to climb over the swollen portion 27. This further restrains the flowing of the air in a concentrated manner into the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b and the fan 10.
- a connecting portion 24 may not be provided and end portions of two neighboring twisted portions 23 which end portions oppose each other in the axial direction may be directly connected with each other as shown in FIG. 16 .
- a level-difference portion for which no inclination alleviation portion is provided e.g., a level-difference portion 128e shown in FIG. 16
- each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b may be different from the shape described in the embodiment above.
- a level-difference portion may extend in a curved manner from the highest point to the lowest point, as in a level-difference portion 128a which is indicated by the thick line in FIG. 16(a) .
- the height of a level-difference portion may change in stages as in level-difference portions 228a to 628a and 828a which are indicated by the thick lines in FIG. 16(b) to FIG. 16(f) and FIG. 17(b) .
- the inclination of the level-difference portion is adjustable irrespective of the length in the axial direction of the level-difference portion.
- the edge portion which extends linearly or in a curved manner from the highest point is gentle in inclination as compared to the level-difference portion (second level-difference portion) 128e which increases in height toward the central part in the axial direction of the fan (i.e., the variation in height within the predetermined length in the axial direction is small).
- This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into the fan 10 from changing its direction toward each of the above-described edge portions of the level-difference portions 228a and 828a.
- the predetermined length in the axial direction is, for example, shorter than the length in the axial direction of each of the level-difference portions 228a and 828a from the highest point of each of the level-difference portions 228a, 828a, and 128e.
- the inclination angle of the edge portion which extends linearly or in a curved manner from the highest point is identical with the inclination angle of the level-difference portion (second level-difference portion) 128e which increases in height toward the central part in the axial direction of the fan, and this edge portion is shorter than the edge portion which extends linearly from the highest point of the level-difference portion 128e.
- This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into the fan 10 from changing its direction toward around the edge portion of each of the level-difference portion 328a to 628a.
- the predetermined length in the axial direction is, for example, longer than the length in the axial direction of the edge portion of each of the level-difference portions 328a to 628a from the highest point of each of the level-difference portions 328a to 628a and 128e.
- the height of the highest points of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b may be different from the height of the highest point of the level-difference portion (second level-difference portion) 128e, as in level-difference portions 728a and 828a indicated by the thick lines in FIG. 17(a) and FIG. 17(b) .
- the two level-difference portions 28a and 28b are identical in the variation in height ⁇ H1 within the predetermined length W in the axial direction, these portions may be different in the variation.
- the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28a which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 is preferably arranged to be smaller than the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28b.
- the level-difference portions 28a and 28b among the three level-difference portions 28a to 28c each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 are smaller than the level-difference portions 28d and 27e which increase in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10, in terms of the variation in height in the predetermined length in the axial direction.
- all of the three level-difference portions 28a to 28c may be smaller than the level-difference portions 28d and 28e in terms of the variation in height.
- the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28a which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 is preferably arranged to be smaller than the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28b.
- the present invention is not limited to this arrangement.
- the number of the level-difference portions may be different from the number of the supporting plates 13.
- the level-difference portions may not be disposed to oppose the respective supporting plates 13.
- a part between neighboring ones of level-difference portions 928a to 928e and 929a to 929e may be constant in height in the axial direction, as in a rear guider 920 shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 , for example.
- the rear guider 920 is easily formed in this case.
- a protruding portion 922 of the rear guider 920 is arc-shaped in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and, high portions and low portions are alternately lined up in the axial direction.
- the level-difference portions 928a to 928e each of which decreases in height toward one end in the axial direction of the fan 10
- the level-difference portions 929a to 929e each of which increases in height toward the one end in the axial direction of the fan 10 are alternately lined up in the axial direction.
- level-difference portions first level-difference portions
- 928a to 928c and 929c to 929e each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10
- four level-difference portions 928a, 928b, 929d, and 929e which are close to the ends in the axial direction of the fan 10 are smaller than the level-difference portions (second level-difference portions) 928d, 928e, 929a, and 929b each of which increases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10, in terms of the variation in height within a predetermined length in the axial direction.
- the predetermined length in the axial direction is, for example, shorter than the length in the axial direction of each of the level-difference portions 928a, 928b, 929d, and 929e from the highest point of each of the level-difference portions 928a to 928e and 929a to 929e.
- a swollen portion 927 is formed in the vicinity of each of the level-difference portions 928a, 928b, 929d, and 929e.
- the swelling height of this swollen portion 927 decreases toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10.
- the shape of the swollen portion 27 is not limited to the shape described in the embodiment above, and is only required to be swollen away from the fan 10 as compared to the surrounding of the swollen portion 27.
- the swelling height of the swollen portion 27 which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 is preferably arranged to be higher than the swelling height of the other swollen portion 27.
- the swollen portion 27 is provided in the vicinity of each of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b, no swollen portion 27 may be provided in the vicinity of one or both of the two level-difference portions 28a and 28b.
- the surface on the side opposite to the fan 10 of one or both of the two inclination alleviation portions 25 may not be swollen as compared to the twisted portion 23 and the connecting portion 24.
- the swollen portion 27 is provided in the vicinity of only one of the level-difference portions 28a and 28b, to restrain the disturbance of the vortex airflow, the swollen portion 27 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the level-difference portion 28a which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10.
- the range of the formation of the swollen portion 27 is not limited to this.
- the swollen portion may be differently formed as long as the swollen portion is formed in the vicinity of a level-difference portion which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 and in a part where the amount air flowing into the bended portion of the vortex airflow can be reduced.
- the swollen portion may be formed only in the vicinity of the lowest point of the level-difference portion, or only in the vicinity of the highest point of the level-difference portion.
- the level-difference portions provided at the leading end of the stabilizer 32 are identical with one another in inclination, the level-difference portions of the stabilizer 32 may be different from one another in inclination as in the rear guider 20 (i.e., they may be different from one another in the variation in height in the predetermined length in the axial direction) .
- the variation in height of at least one of the level-difference portions each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 is arranged to be smaller than the variation in height of the level-difference portions each of which increases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10.
- the level-difference portions are different from each other in inclination only in one of the rear guider 20 and the stabilizer 32.
- a swollen portion may be provided in the vicinity of a level-difference portion of the stabilizer 32, as in the rear guider 20.
- a swollen portion which is swollen away from the fan 10 as compared to the surrounding is provided in the vicinity of at least one of the level-difference portions each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10.
- a swollen portion may be provided in only one of the rear guider 20 and the stabilizer 32.
- the present invention may be applicable to other purposes.
- the present invention may be employed in a floor-mounted indoor unit which is arranged to suck indoor air from a lower part of the indoor unit and blow out the air from an upper part of the indoor unit.
- the present invention makes it possible to suppress wind noise by restraining the disturbance of a vortex airflow.
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Description
- The present invention relates to an air conditioner including a cross flow fan.
- A cross flow fan is a blower which extends in the axial direction and includes a plurality of vanes lined up in the rotational direction. In an air conditioner including this cross flow fan, a front tongue portion (stabilizer) and a rear tongue portion (rear guider) are provided to oppose the outer periphery of the fan, respectively. These tongue portions form an air passage on the blow-out side of the fan. Each tongue portion is closest to the fan at and around the leading end. Between the leading end portion of each tongue portion and the fan, a vortex airflow is generated. When a vane of the fan passes this vortex airflow, wind noise (NZ noise) is generated on account of the interference between the vortex airflow and the vane.
- To suppress this wind noise, for example,
Patent Document 1 teaches that level-difference portions are provided at the leading end of the front tongue portion (stabilizer) to vary the height of the leading end along the axial direction. The front tongue portion is closest to the fan at the leading end. Each level-difference portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and the leading end of a part between neighboring level-difference portions is deviated from the axial direction of the fan in the rotational direction. With this arrangement, because the vane does not pass the leading end of the front tongue portion at once, the wind noise is continuously generated (i.e., in a spread manner) and the wind noise is suppressed. - Further,
JP S 50 20213 U - [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2-203129 - In the air conditioner of
Patent Document 1, because level differences are formed at the leading end of the front tongue portion, a vortex airflow is bended around each level-difference portion and is therefore unstable. The wind speed distribution of the cross flow fan on the blow-out side is arranged such that the wind speed increases toward the center in the axial direction of the fan, and hence the flow of the air sucked into the fan tends to converge on the center in the axial direction of the fan. For this reason, as shown inFIG. 20 , around a level-difference portion 91a which decreases in height toward the center in the axial direction of thefan 90 among the level-difference portions of thefront tongue portion 91, the airflow changes its direction toward that level-difference portion 91a and climbs over the level-difference portion 91a. As a result, the air flows into a bended portion of the vortex airflow in a concentrated manner, with the result that the vortex airflow is disturbed and the wind noise increases.
The same problem occurs also when level differences are provided at the leading end of the rear tongue portion. - An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an air conditioner in which wind noise is suppressed by restraining the disturbance of a vortex airflow.
- An air conditioner according to the present invention is defined by the combination of features of
claim 1. Dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments. - According to the invention, at least one of the first level-difference portions each of which decreases in height in the axial direction toward the central part of the fan, which are provided at the leading end portion of at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider, is small in the variation in height within the predetermined length in the axial direction. It is therefore possible to restrain the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward each of the first level-difference portions and climbing over each of the first level-difference portions. As such, the flowing of the air in a concentrated manner into the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is restrained, and hence the disturbance of the vortex airflow is restrained. As a result, the wind
noise is suppressed. - Furthermore, because the variation in height of at least one of the first level-difference portions within the predetermined length in the axial direction is small, the degree of bending of the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is gentle, and hence the bended portion of the vortex airflow is less disturbed.
- In addition to the above, because the level-difference portions are provided at the leading end portion of at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider, the vane of the fan passes the end portions in the axial direction of each level-difference portion at different timings and the vane does not pass the part between the level-difference portions at once as the height of the part between the level-difference portions is gradually changed in the axial direction. As such, the wind noise is suppressed by differentiating the timings of the generation of the wind noise in this way.
- In addition to the above, because the height of each second level-difference portion increases toward the central part of the fan, the airflow sucked into the fan does not change its direction toward each second level-difference portion. On this account, it is unnecessary to reduce the above-described variation of each second level-difference portion. When the variations of all level-difference portions are reduced, the length in the axial direction of the part between neighboring level-difference portions becomes short, and hence the continuous generation of the wind noise becomes less effectively done. In the present invention, because only the variation of at least one first level-difference portion is reduced, the continuous generation of the wind noise (i.e. , generation of wind noise in a spread manner) is maintained to be effective.
- According to a preferred embodiment, in the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, the degree of inclination of an edge portion which extends linearly or in a curved manner from a highest point is more gentle than the degree of inclination of an edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions which edge portion extends linearly or in a curved manner from a highest point.
- In this air conditioner, the inclination of the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, is gentle. This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward the edge portions of that first level-difference portion.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value extends from the highest point to a lowest point linearly or in a curved manner.
- In this air conditioner, because the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, this first level-difference portion can be easily formed. Furthermore, when the first level-difference portion extends linearly, because the inclination of the first level-difference portion is constant and gentle across the entirety thereof in the axial direction, the airflow climbing over the first level-difference portion is reduced across the entirety in the axial direction thereof.
- According to a preferred embodiment,the height of the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value changes in stages, and an edge portion of the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner is shorter than an edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, and an inclination angle of the edge portion of the at least one of the first level-difference portions is identical with an inclination angle of the edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions.
- In this air conditioner, the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point, is identical with the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion in terms of the inclination angle but is shorter than the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion. This restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward around the edge portion of that first level-difference portion.
- Furthermore, because the height of the first level-difference portion changes in stages, the inclination of the first level-difference portion is adjustable irrespective of the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is positioned to be farthest in the axial direction from the central part of the cross flow fan, among the level-difference portions.
- In this air conditioner, because the airflow sucked into the cross flow fan tends to converge on the central part in the axial direction of the fan, the suppression of the disturbance of the vortex airflow is ensured by reducing the variation in height of the first level-difference portion which is farthest from the central part of the fan.
- According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider includes two or more first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, and among the two or more first level-difference portions, the variation in height of one first level-difference portion which is farther in the axial direction from the central part of the fan than the other level-difference portion(s) is smaller than the variation in height of the other level-difference portion(s).
- In this air conditioner, because the airflow sucked into the cross flow fan tends to converge on the central part in the axial direction of the fan, the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained, by reducing the variation in height of the first level-difference portion in accordance with the distance from the central part in the axial direction of the fan.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the first level-difference portions are provided only on one side in the axial direction of the central part of the fan, whereas the second level-difference portions are provided only on the other side in the axial direction of the central part of the fan, and the height of the parts between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions gradually changes in the axial direction.
- In this air conditioner, because the height of the parts between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions gradually changes in the axial direction, the vane does not pass across that part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions at once. For this reason, when the vane passes across the part between the level-difference portions, wind noise is continuously generated, and hence the wind noise is suppressed.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the first level-difference portions and the second level-difference portions are alternately provided in the axial direction, and the height of each of the parts between two neighboring ones of the level-difference portions is constant in the axial direction.
- In this air conditioner, because in at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider the height of the part between the level-difference portions is constant in the axial direction, the stabilizer or the rear guider can be easily formed.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the length in the axial direction of the at least one of the first level-difference portions in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is not less than 5% and not more than 30% of the interval between highest points of two neighboring ones of the level-difference portions.
- In this air conditioner, the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained, as the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is arranged to be 5% to 30% of the interval between the highest points of the neighboring two level-difference portions.
- As described above, the following effects are obtained by the present invention.
- According to the invention, at least one of the first level-difference portions each of which decreases in height in the axial direction toward the central part of the fan, which are provided at the leading end portion of at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider, is small in the variation in height within the predetermined length in the axial direction. It is therefore possible to restrain the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward each of the first level-difference portions and climbing over each of the first level-difference portions. As such, the flowing of the air in a concentrated manner into the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is restrained, and hence the disturbance of the vortex airflow is restrained. As a result, the wind noise is suppressed. Furthermore, the variation in height of at least one of the first level-difference portions within the predetermined length in the axial direction is small, the degree of bending of the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the first level-difference portions and the fan is gentle, and hence the bended portion of the vortex airflow is less disturbed.
- In addition to the above, because the level-difference portions are provided at the leading end portion of at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider, the vane of the fan passes the end portions in the axial direction of each level-difference portion at different timings and the vane does not pass the part between the level-difference portions at once as the height the part between the level-difference portions is continuously changed in the axial direction. As such, the wind noise is suppressed by differentiating the timings of the generation of the wind noise in this way.
- In addition to the above, because the height of each second level-difference portion increases toward the central part of the fan, the airflow sucked into the fan does not change its direction toward each second level-difference portion. On this account, it is unnecessary to reduce the above-described variation of each second level-difference portion. When the variations of all level-difference portions are reduced, the length in the axial direction of the part between neighboring level-difference portions becomes short, and hence the continuous generation of the wind noise becomes less effectively done. In the present invention, because only the variation of at least one first level-difference portion is reduced, the continuous generation of the wind noise (i.e. , generation of wind noise in a spread manner) is maintained to be effective.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the inclination of the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, is gentle. This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward the edge portions of that first level-difference portion.
- According to a preferred embodiment, because the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, this first level-difference portion can be easily formed. When the first level-difference portion extends linearly, because the inclination of the first level-difference portion is constant and gentle across the entirety thereof in the axial direction, the airflow climbing over the first level-difference portion is reduced across the entirety in the axial direction thereof.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the edge portion of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point, is identical with the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion in terms of the inclination angle but is shorter than the edge portion extending from the highest point of the second level-difference portion. This restrains the airflow sucked into the fan from changing its direction toward around the edge portion of that first level-difference portion.
- Furthermore, because the height of the first level-difference portion changes in stages, the inclination of the first level-difference portion is adjustable irrespective of the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion.
- According to a preferred embodiment, because the airflow sucked into the cross flow fan tends to converge on the central part in the axial direction of the fan, the suppression of the disturbance of the vortex airflow is ensured by reducing the variation in height of the first level-difference portion which is farthest from the central part of the fan.
- According to a preferred embodiment, because the airflow sucked into the cross flow fan tends to converge on the central part in the axial direction of the fan, the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained, by reducing the variation in height of the first level-difference portion in accordance with the distance from the central part in the axial direction of the fan.
- According to a preferred embodiment, because the height of the part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions gradually changes in the axial direction, the vane does not pass across that part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions at once. For this reason, when the vane passes across the part between the level-difference portions, wind noise is continuously generated, and hence the wind noise is suppressed.
- According to a preferred embodiment, because in at least one of the stabilizer and the rear guider the height of the part between the level-difference portions is constant in the axial direction, the stabilizer or the rear guider can be easily formed.
- According to a preferred embodiment, the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained, as the length in the axial direction of the first level-difference portion in which the variation in height is equal to the first predetermined value is arranged to be 5% to 3 0% of the interval between the highest points of the neighboring two level-difference portions.
-
- [
FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective of the external appearance of an indoor unit of an air conditioner of an embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a cross section of the indoor unit. - [
FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is an oblique perspective of a cross flow fan. - [
FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a partially-enlarged oblique perspective of the cross flow fan. - [
FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is an oblique perspective of the cross flow fan and its surroundings in the indoor unit. - [
FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of the cross flow fan and its surroundings in the indoor unit. - [
FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows the cross flow fan and its surroundings in the indoor unit when they are viewed from above. - [
FIG. 8] FIG. 8(a) is a partially-enlarged cross section of the leading end of the rear guider and its surroundings, which is taken at the A-A line inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 .FIG. 8(b) is a partially-enlarged cross section of the leading end of the rear guider and its surroundings, which is taken at the B-B line inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 . - [
FIG. 9] FIG. 9(a) is a partially-enlarged cross section of the leading end of the rear guider and its surroundings, which is taken at the C-C line inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 .FIG. 9(b) is a partially-enlarged cross section of the leading end of the rear guider and its surroundings, which is taken at the D-D line inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 . - [
FIG. 10] FIG. 10(a) is a partially-enlarged cross section of a stabilizer and its surroundings, which is taken at the A-A line inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 .FIG. 10(b) is a partially-enlarged cross section of the stabilizer and its surroundings, which is taken at the B-B line inFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 . - [
FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is an oblique perspective of a leading end portion of the rear guider. - [
FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a partially-enlarged view ofFIG. 11 . - [
FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a partially-enlarged oblique perspective of the leading end portion of the rear guider. - [
FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is an oblique perspective of a front guider. - [
FIG. 15] FIG. 15 illustrates the flow of air around a level-difference portion of the rear guider. - [
FIG. 16 ] Each ofFIGs. 16(a) to 16(f) shows a rear guider of another embodiment of the present invention, when it is viewed from above. - [
FIG. 17] FIG. 17 is a top view a rear guider of another embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 18] FIG. 18 is an oblique perspective of a rear guider of another embodiment of the present invention, when it is viewed from the fan side. - [
FIG. 19] FIG. 19 is a partially-enlarged oblique perspective of the rear guider ofFIG. 18 . - [
FIG. 20] FIG. 20 shows a known front tongue portion and a known fan, when they are viewed from above. - The following will describe an embodiment of the present invention.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , anindoor unit 1 of an air conditioner of the present embodiment is as a whole narrow and long in one direction in shape, and is attached to a wall of a room so that the length of the air conditioner is horizontal. Theindoor unit 1 and an unillustrated outdoor unit constitute the air conditioner which cools or warms the room. - Hereinafter, a direction of protrusion from the wall to which the
indoor unit 1 is attached will be referred to as "frontward", whereas the direction opposite to the frontward will be referred to as "backward". Furthermore, the left-right direction inFIG. 1 will be simply referred to as "left-right direction". - As shown in
FIG. 2 , theindoor unit 1 includes acasing 2 and internal devices stored in thecasing 2 such as aheat exchanger 3, across flow fan 10, afilter 4, and an electronic component box (not illustrated) . Through the upper surface of thecasing 2 is formed aninlet port 2a, whereas through the lower surface of thecasing 2 is formed anoutlet port 2b. In the vicinity of theoutlet port 2b, ahorizontal flap 5 is provided for adjusting the wind direction in the up-down direction and for opening and closing theoutlet port 2b. - The cross flow fan 10 (hereinafter, this will be simply referred to as a fan 10) is disposed so that its axial direction is in parallel to the left-right direction. This
fan 10 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow inFIG. 2 . To the front and to the back of thefan 10, afront guider 30 and a rear guider (rear tongue portion) 20 are provided, respectively, to form an air passage. A substantial upper half of thefront guider 30 is constituted by a stabilizer (front tongue portion) 32. As thestabilizer 32 and therear guider 20 are provided on the respective sides of thefan 10, thefan 10 sucks air from the upper front and blows out the air downward and backward. Theheat exchanger 3 is disposed to surround the front side and the upper side of thefan 10. In an air conditioning operation, thefan 10 is driven so that indoor air is sucked through theinlet port 2a, and the sucked air is heated or cooled in theheat exchanger 3 and is then blown out through theoutlet port 2b. - The following will detail the
fan 10, therear guider 20, and thefront guider 30. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thefan 10 is constituted by a plurality of (six in the present embodiment)vane wheels 12 lined up in the axial direction (left-right direction) and anend plate 11. - The
end plate 11 constitutes the right end portion of thefan 10. From a central portion of the right surface of theend plate 11, aboss portion 11a protrudes to be connected with the rotational axis of a motor (not illustrated) for driving thefan 10. - Among the six
vane wheels 12, each of the right fivevane wheels 12A is made up ofvanes 15 lined up in the circumferential direction and a substantially annular supportingplate 13 connected to the left ends of the vanes. Thevanes 15 and the supportingplate 13 are integrally formed. The right end of eachvane 15 of eachvane wheel 12A is joined by welding or the like with the neighboringend plate 11 or the supportingplate 13 of the neighboringvane wheel 12A. - The
leftmost vane wheel 12B among the sixvane wheels 12 is made up ofvanes 15 lined up in the circumferential direction and a substantially disc-shapedend plate 14 which is connected to the left ends of thevanes 15. Thevanes 15 and theend plate 14 are integrally formed. The right end of eachvane 15 of thevane wheel 12B is joined by welding or the like with the supportingplate 13 of the neighboringvane wheel 12A. From a central portion of the left surface of theend plate 14, a shaft (not illustrated) which is rotatably supported by a bearing attached to thecasing 2 protrudes. - The
vanes 15 of eachvane wheel 12 extends in the axial direction (left-right direction), and each of which is disposed as a forward-swept wing with a predetermined blade angle. The lengths of thevanes 15 of each of the fivevane wheels 12A are identical in the axial direction and is substantially twice as long as the lengths of thevanes 15 of thevane wheel 12B in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, thevanes 15 of eachvane wheel 12 are lined up in the circumferential direction at irregular intervals. The intervals of thevanes 15 are identical between the sixvane wheels 12. Thevanes 15 may be lined up at regular intervals. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , thevanes 15 of onevane wheel 12 and thevanes 15 of the neighboringvane wheel 12 are deviated from one another in the circumferential direction. To be more specific,vanes 15 of any givenvane wheel 12 are deviated from thevanes 15 of thevane wheel 12 immediately to the left of the any givenvane wheel 12 each for an angle θ in the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow inFIG. 4 ) . To put it differently, from theleftmost wheel 12 to therightmost wheel 12 of the sixvane wheels 12, eachvane 15 is deviated from the correspondingvane 15 of the neighboringvane wheel 12 for the angle θ in the rotational direction. - The
rear guider 20 is provided to the back of thefan 10, and the lower edge of therear guider 20 is connected to theoutlet port 2b (seeFIG. 2 ). As shown inFIG. 5 to FIG. 7 , the length in the left-right direction of therear guider 20 is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of thefan 10, and therear guider 20 opposes substantially the entirety of thefan 10 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2 andFIG. 6 , the upper edge of therear guider 20 is slightly higher in position than the upper end of thefan 10. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , in the surface of therear guider 20 which surface opposes thefan 10, a part which is not the upper and lower end portions is acurved surface 21 which is substantially arc-shaped. The distance (shortest distance) between thecurved surface 21 and the outer periphery of thefan 10 decreases upward. - In addition to the above, the
rear guider 20 includes a protrudingportion 22 at a part above the curved surface 21 (i.e. , to the leading end side of the curved surface 21). The protrudingportion 22 is substantially arc-shaped and bulges in the direction away from thefan 10 in cross section taken at the line orthogonal to the left-right direction. As shown inFIG. 9 , the distance (shortest distance) between each protrudingportion 22 and the outer periphery of thefan 10 increases upward. As described above, because the distance (shortest distance) between thecurved surface 21 and the outer periphery of thefan 10 decreases upward, therear guider 20 is closest to thefan 10 at aborder 20a (hereinafter,closest position 20a) between the lower edge of each protrudingportion 22 and the upper edge of thecurved surface 21. - As shown in
FIG. 11 and the like, the protrudingportion 22 is constituted by sixtwisted portions 23 lined up in the left-right direction, five connectingportions 24 each of which is provided between two neighboringtwisted portions 23, twoinclination alleviation portions 25, and plural rib portions 26 (seeFIG. 7 andFIG. 9 ). - Each of the six
twisted portions 23 is positioned to oppose thevane wheel 12. Among the sixtwisted portions 23, the right five twisted portions 23A are identical with one another in length in the left-right direction, and are identical with thevanes 15 of thevane wheels 12A in length in the left-right direction. The length of the leftmost twisted portion 23B is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of each of thevanes 15 of thevane wheel 12B. - Each of the
twisted portions 23 is substantially arc-shaped in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction. As shown inFIG. 11 , in the circumferential direction of thefan 10, eachtwisted portion 23 is deviated from the axial direction of thefan 10 gradually from the left edge to the right edge. On this account, the shape of eachtwisted portion 23 is substantially uniform across any cross section orthogonal to the left-right direction. Furthermore, the height of the leading end (front upper edge) of eachtwisted portion 23 gradually changes in the left-right direction. In this specification, the heights of the twistedportion 23, the connectingportion 24, theinclination alleviation portion 25, and each of later-mentioned level-difference portions 28a to 28e are not heights in the up-down direction but heights along the direction in which the protrudingportion 22 protrudes (i.e., substantially frontward and upward in the present embodiment) . Furthermore, the highest ends of the sixtwisted portions 23 are at the same height and the lowest ends of the sixtwisted portions 23 are at the same height (seeFIGs. 6 and7 ). - As shown in
FIG. 8(a) , between the left edge to the right edge, eachtwisted portion 23 is deviated for an angle α1 in the direction opposite to the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow inFIG. 8 ) of thefan 10. The angles α1 of the deviation of the sixtwisted portions 23 are identical with one another. In addition to the above, as shown inFIG. 8(b) , the left edge of one twistedportion 23 is deviated from the right edge of the twistedportion 23 neighboring to the left of that twistedportion 23 for an angle β1 in the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow inFIG. 9 ) of thefan 10. Furthermore, the angle β1 is identical with the angle α1. - As shown in
FIG. 11 and the like, each of the five connectingportions 24 connects end portions of two neighboringtwisted portions 23, which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction, with each other. Each connectingportion 24 is substantially arc-shaped in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and is substantially as thick as eachtwisted portion 23. The leading end (front upper edge) of each connectingportion 24 linearly extends to decrease in height rightward. Each of the five connectingportions 24 is positioned to oppose the supportingplate 13 of the fan 10 (seeFIGs. 6 and7 ). - As shown in
FIG. 7 and the like, the twoinclination alleviation portions 25 are connected to the leading ends of the two left connectingportions 24 among the five connectingportions 24, respectively. These twoinclination alleviation portions 25 are identical in shape. Eachinclination alleviation portion 25 extends substantially frontward from the connectingportion 24 and the front upper edge of the left end portion of the twistedportion 23 which is to the right of that connectingportion 24. Theinclination alleviation portion 25 is substantially triangular in shape when viewed from above. The leading end (front edge) of theinclination alleviation portion 25 substantially linearly extends and connects the left edge of the leading end of the connectingportion 24 with the leading end of the twistedportion 23. As shown inFIG. 6 , the height of the leading end (front edge) of theinclination alleviation portion 25 decreases rightward. The length in the left-right direction of theinclination alleviation portion 25 is preferably 5% to 30% of the total length of the twistedportion 23 and the connectingportion 24 in the left-right direction. - As shown in
FIG. 9(b) , theinclination alleviation portion 25 is substantially triangular in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The rear face of theinclination alleviation portion 25 extends substantially upward from the upper surface of the twistedportion 23 or the connectingportion 24, and the upper surface of theinclination alleviation portion 25 extends substantially frontward from the upper edge of the rear face of theinclination alleviation portion 25. The front edge of theinclination alleviation portion 25 is substantially as thick as thetwisted portion 23 and the connectingportion 24. - As shown in
FIG. 7 , therib portions 26 extend backward from the rear face of theinclination alleviation portion 25. As shown inFIG. 9 , eachrib portion 26 is provided to protrude from the rear face (which is on the side opposite to the fan 10) of the twistedportion 23 or the connectingportion 24. The height in the up-down direction of the front edge of therib portion 26 is substantially identical with the height in the up-down direction of the upper edge of the rear face of theinclination alleviation portion 25. The thickness of therib portion 26 decreases backward. - On the surface of the protruding
portion 22 which surface is on the side opposite to thefan 10, each of theinclination alleviation portion 25 and therib portion 26 is swollen in shape as compared to its surrounding (thetwisted portion 23 and the connecting portion 24). This swollen part is termed aswollen portion 27. The range of theswollen portion 27 when viewed from above is identical with the range occupied by theinclination alleviation portion 25 and therib portions 26. - The height of the
swollen portion 27 in a direction D (seeFIG. 9 ) which is substantially orthogonal to the surface of the protrudingportion 22 which surface is opposite to thefan 10 is termed swelling height. Thehighest position 27a of the swelling height of the swollen portion 27 (hereinafter, apex 27a) corresponds to the right edge of the connectingportion 24, in the upper edge of the rear face of theinclination alleviation portion 25. As shown inFIG. 13 , the swelling height of a part of theswollen portion 27 which part is to the right of the apex 27a decreases rightward, whereas the swelling height of a part of theswollen portion 27 which part is to the left of the apex 27a rapidly decreases leftward. - Because the opposing end portions in the left-right direction of two neighboring
twisted portions 23 are different in height, five level-difference portions 28a to 28e are formed at the leading end of the protrudingportion 22 to be lined up in the left-right direction. The height of each of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e decreases rightward. The level-difference portions 28a to 28c are provided to the left of a central part M in the axial direction of the fan 10 (seeFIG. 6 andFIG. 7 ), whereas the level-difference portions fan 10. Each of the level-difference portions inclination alleviation portion 25, whereas each of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e is the leading end of the connectingportion 24. - The highest points (left edges) of the five level-
difference portions 28a to 28e are identical in height. The lowest points (right edges) of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e which are the leading ends of the connectingportions 24 are identical in height. The lowest points (right edges) of the level-difference portions inclination alleviation portions 25 are identical in height and are higher than the lowest points of the level-difference portions 28c to 28e. - As shown in
FIG. 12 , an inclination angle of each of the level-difference portions difference portions 28c to 28e with respect to the axial direction is termed an angle φ2. The angle φ1 is smaller than the angle φ2. In other words, the inclination of each of the level-difference portions difference portions 28c to 28e. - In addition to the above, as shown in
FIG. 12 , a variation in height within a predetermined length W in the left-right direction from the highest point of each of the level-difference portions difference portions 28c to 28e is referred to as ΔH2. The variation ΔH1 is smaller than the variation ΔH2. "The variation in height within the predetermined length W in the left-right direction (axial direction)" is an index for a comparison between inclinations of level-difference portions. The length W is not limited to the length shown inFIG. 12 . In the present embodiment, the length W is only required to be shorter than the length in the left-right direction of each of the level-difference portions - The
front guider 30 is provided to the front of thefan 10, and the lower edge of thefront guider 30 is connected to theoutlet port 2b (seeFIG. 2 ). Thefront guider 30 is made up of thestabilizer 32 provided to oppose thefan 10 and afront wall portion 31 which extends from the lower edge of thestabilizer 32 to theoutlet port 2b. - As shown in
FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 , the length in the left-right direction of thestabilizer 32 is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of thefan 10, and thestabilizer 32 opposes substantially the entirety in the left-right direction of thefan 10. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 2 andFIG. 6 , the upper edge of thestabilizer 32 is lower in position than the center of thefan 10. - As shown in
FIG. 14 , in the surface of thestabilizer 32 which surface opposes thefan 10, a part which is not the upper and lower end portions is acurved surface 33 which is substantially arc-shaped. The distance (shortest distance) between thecurved surface 33 and the outer periphery of thefan 10 decreases upward. Furthermore, thestabilizer 32 includes a bendingsurface 34 which is bended substantially frontward from the lower edge of thecurved surface 33. The lower edge of the bendingsurface 34 is connected to thefront wall portion 31. - In addition to the above, the
stabilizer 32 includes aflat end face 35 which extends downward and frontward from the upper edge of thecurved surface 33 and aconvex portion 36 which is provided to the front of theend face 35 and protrudes upward from theend face 35. Theconvex portion 36 and theend face 35 constitute the upper end portion of therear guider 20. The cross sectional shape of theconvex portion 36 in the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction is substantially triangular. As shown inFIG. 14 , thestabilizer 32 is closest to the outer periphery of thefan 10 at anupper edge 32a (hereinafter,closest position 32a) of thecurved surface 33. - The stabilizer 32 (including the
convex portion 36, theend face 35, thecurved surface 33, and the bending surface 34) is made up of sixtwisted portions 37 lined up in the left-right direction and five connectingportions 38 each of which is provided between two neighboringtwisted portions 37. - Each of the six
twisted portions 23 is positioned to oppose thevane wheel 12. Among the sixtwisted portions 23, the right five twisted portions 23A are identical with one another in length in the left-right direction, and are identical with thevanes 15 of thevane wheels 12A in length in the left-right direction. The length of the leftmost twisted portion 23B is substantially identical with the length in the left-right direction of each of thevanes 15 of thevane wheel 12B. - As shown in
FIG. 14 , in the circumferential direction of thefan 10, eachtwisted portion 37 is deviated from the axial direction of thefan 10 gradually from the left edge to the right edge. On this account, the shape of eachtwisted portion 37 is substantially uniform across any cross section orthogonal to the left-right direction. The height of the leading end (upper edge) of eachtwisted portion 37 gradually changes in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the highest ends of the sixtwisted portions 37 are at the same height and the lowest ends of the sixtwisted portions 23 are at the same height (seeFIG. 6 ). - As shown in
FIG. 10(a) , between the left edge and the right edge, eachtwisted portion 37 is deviated for an angle α2 in the direction opposite to the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow inFIG. 11 ) of thefan 10. The angles α2 of the deviation of the sixtwisted portions 37 are identical with one another. In addition to the above, as shown inFIG. 11(b) , the left edge of one twistedportion 37 is deviated from the right edge of the twistedportion 37 neighboring to the left of that twistedportion 37 for an angle β2 in the direction of the rotational direction (indicated by the arrow inFIG. 10 ) of thefan 10. Furthermore, the angle β2 is identical with the angle α2. - As shown in
FIG. 6 andFIG. 7 , each of the five connectingportions 38 connects the end portions of two neighboringtwisted portions 37 which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction. Each of the connectingportions 38 is positioned to oppose the supportingplate 13 of thefan 10. Because the end portions of two neighboringtwisted portions 37 which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction are different in height, five level-difference portions are formed at the leading end of thestabilizer 32 to be lined up in the left-right direction. - Now, the air flowing in the gap between the
rear guider 20 and thefan 10 when the air conditioner is driven will be described. As thefan 10 is driven, a vortex airflow (indicated by the arrow inFIG. 8(b) ) is generated between the leading end portion of therear guider 20 and thefan 10. InFIG. 15 , the center C of the vortex airflow is indicated by a chain line. As shown inFIG. 15 , the vortex airflow is bended in an area formed by the edges in the axial direction of each of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e and thefan 10. - When a
vane 15 passes the vortex airflow formed between therear guider 20 and thefan 10, wind noise is generated on account of the interference between the vortex airflow and thevane 15. Because eachtwisted portion 23 of therear guider 20 is gradually deviated in the circumferential direction from the left-right direction, wind noise is continuously generated while thevane 15 passes across onetwisted portion 23. Furthermore, because end portions of two neighboringtwisted portions 23 which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction are deviated from each other for the angle β1 in the circumferential direction, wind noise is generated at different timings at the end portions of two neighboringtwisted portions 23 which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction, when the deviation angle θ of thevane wheel 12 is different from the angle β1 (=α1). The wind noise is suppressed by differentiating the timings of the generation of the wind noise in this way. - In the wind speed distribution of the
fan 10 on the blow-out side, the wind speed increases toward the central part in the axial direction of thefan 10. For this reason, as the arrows inFIG. 7 indicate, the airflow sucked into thefan 10 tends to converge on the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10. For this reason, provided that the inclination angle of each of the level-difference portions difference portions 28c to 28e and is larger than the inclination angle in the present embodiment, the airflow tends to change its direction toward each of the level-difference portions difference portions - In this regard, in the present embodiment, because the inclination angle φ1 of each of the level-
difference portions difference portions 28c to 28e, as shown inFIG. 15 , a change in the direction of the airflow toward each of the level-difference portions difference portions difference portions - In addition to the above, in the present embodiment, the
swollen portion 27 which is swollen away from thefan 10 as compared to the twisted portion and the connectingportion 24 is formed around each of the level-difference portions difference portions swollen portion 27 is reduced. On this account, the airflow climbing over each of the level-difference portions - In addition to the above, the vortex airflow (indicated by the arrow in
FIG. 8(b) ) is generated between the leading end portion of thestabilizer 32 and thefan 10, and the wind noise is generated as the vortex airflow and thevane 15 interfere with each other when thevane 15 passes the vortex airflow. Because the twistedportion 37 of thestabilizer 32 is gradually deviated from the left-right direction in the circumferential direction, wind noise is continuously generated when thevane 15 passes across onetwisted portion 37. Furthermore, because the opposing end portions in the left-right direction of two neighboringtwisted portions 37 are deviated from each other for β2 in the circumferential direction, wind noise is generated at different timings at the end portions of the two neighboringtwisted portions 23 which end portions oppose each other in the left-right direction, when the deviation angle θ of thevane wheel 12 is different from the angle β2 (=α2). The wind noise is suppressed by differentiating the timings of the generation of the wind noise in this way. - The air conditioner of the present embodiment has the following characteristics.
- Because the variation in height ΔH1 within the predetermined length W in the axial direction is small in each of the level-
difference portions rear guider 20 and decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10, it is possible to restrain the airflow sucked into thefan 10 from changing its direction toward each of the level-difference portions difference portions difference portions fan 10 is restrained, and hence the disturbance of the vortex airflow is restrained. As a result, the wind noise is suppressed. In addition to the above, because the variation in height ΔH1 of each of the level-difference portions difference portions fan 10 is gentle, and hence the bended portion of the vortex airflow is less disturbed. - In addition to the above, because in the present embodiment the height of a part (twisted portion 23) between neighboring ones of the level-
difference portions 28a to 28e gradually changes in the axial direction, thevane 15 does not pass across that part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e at once. For this reason, when thevane 15 passes across the part between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e, wind noise is continuously generated, and hence the wind noise is suppressed. - In addition to the above, because the height of each of the level-difference portions (second level-difference portions) 28d and 28e increases toward the central part M in the axial direction of the
fan 10, the airflow sucked into thefan 10 does not change its direction toward each of the level-difference portions difference portions difference portions 28a to 28e are reduced, the length in the axial direction of the part between neighboring level-difference portions becomes short, and hence the continuous generation of the wind noise becomes less effectively done. In the present embodiment, because the variations of the level-difference portions - In addition to the above, because the airflow sucked into the
fan 10 tends to converge on the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10, the suppression of the disturbance of the vortex airflow is further ensured in such a way that the variation in height ΔH1 within the predetermined length W in the axial direction of the level-difference portion 28a which is closest to the end portion in the axial direction of thefan 10 is reduced. - In addition to the above, because in the present embodiment the above-described variation in height of the level-
difference portion 28b which is the second closest to the end portion in the axial direction of thefan 10 is also small, the suppression of the disturbance of the vortex airflow is further ensured. - In addition to the above, in the present embodiment, the variation in height of the level-
difference portion 28c which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10 is not reduced. In this regard, because the level-difference portion 28c is close to the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10, the direction of the airflow around the level-difference portion 28c is substantially orthogonal to the axial direction, and hence the airflow rarely changes its direction toward the level-difference portion 28c. In the present embodiment, because the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28c is not reduced, the deterioration in the effect of continuous generation of the wind noise is restrained. - In addition to the above, because in the present embodiment each of the level-
difference portions difference portions difference portions difference portions difference portions - In addition to the above, when the length in the axial direction of each of the level-
difference portions portion 23 and the connecting portion 24 (i.e. , the distance between the highest points of neighboring two level-difference portions), the disturbance of the vortex airflow at the bended portion is restrained while the effect of continuous generation of wind noise is maintained. - In addition to the above, because in the present embodiment the
swollen portion 27 which is swollen away from thefan 10 is provided in the vicinity of each of the level-difference portions fan 10 is less likely to climb over theswollen portion 27. This further restrains the flowing of the air in a concentrated manner into the bended portion of the vortex airflow generated between each of the level-difference portions fan 10. - While the embodiment of the present invention has been described, it should be noted that the scope of the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description of the embodiment, and the present invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is noted that the modifications below may be suitably combined and implemented.
- While in the embodiment above two neighboring
twisted portions 23 are connected with each other by a connectingportion 24, such a connectingportion 24 may not be provided and end portions of two neighboringtwisted portions 23 which end portions oppose each other in the axial direction may be directly connected with each other as shown inFIG. 16 . In this case, a level-difference portion for which no inclination alleviation portion is provided (e.g., a level-difference portion 128e shown inFIG. 16 ) is constituted by the leading end portion of higher one of the opposing end portions of two neighboringtwisted portions 23, and is orthogonal to the axial direction. - The shape of each of the level-
difference portions - For example, a level-difference portion may extend in a curved manner from the highest point to the lowest point, as in a level-
difference portion 128a which is indicated by the thick line inFIG. 16(a) . - Furthermore, the height of a level-difference portion may change in stages as in level-
difference portions 228a to 628a and 828a which are indicated by the thick lines inFIG. 16(b) to FIG. 16(f) andFIG. 17(b) . In this way, the inclination of the level-difference portion is adjustable irrespective of the length in the axial direction of the level-difference portion. - In the level-
difference portions FIG. 16(b) andFIG. 17(b) , the edge portion which extends linearly or in a curved manner from the highest point is gentle in inclination as compared to the level-difference portion (second level-difference portion) 128e which increases in height toward the central part in the axial direction of the fan (i.e., the variation in height within the predetermined length in the axial direction is small). This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into thefan 10 from changing its direction toward each of the above-described edge portions of the level-difference portions difference portions difference portions - In addition to the above, in each of the level-
difference portions 328a to 628a shown inFIG. 16(c) to FIG. 16(f) , the inclination angle of the edge portion which extends linearly or in a curved manner from the highest point is identical with the inclination angle of the level-difference portion (second level-difference portion) 128e which increases in height toward the central part in the axial direction of the fan, and this edge portion is shorter than the edge portion which extends linearly from the highest point of the level-difference portion 128e. This arrangement restrains the airflow sucked into thefan 10 from changing its direction toward around the edge portion of each of the level-difference portion 328a to 628a. It is noted that the predetermined length in the axial direction is, for example, longer than the length in the axial direction of the edge portion of each of the level-difference portions 328a to 628a from the highest point of each of the level-difference portions 328a to 628a and 128e. - In addition to the above, while in the embodiment above the level-
difference portions difference portions difference portions FIG. 17(a) and FIG. 17(b) . - While in the embodiment above the two level-
difference portions difference portion 28a which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10 is preferably arranged to be smaller than the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28b. - In the embodiment above, the level-
difference portions difference portions 28a to 28c each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10 are smaller than the level-difference portions fan 10, in terms of the variation in height in the predetermined length in the axial direction. Alternatively, all of the three level-difference portions 28a to 28c may be smaller than the level-difference portions - In addition to the above, only one of the level-
difference portions difference portions difference portions difference portions difference portion 28a which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10 is preferably arranged to be smaller than the variation in height of the level-difference portion 28b. - While in the embodiment above the number of the level-
difference portions 28a to 28e provided on therear guider 20 is identical with the number of the supportingplates 13 and the level-difference portions 28a to 28e are disposed to oppose the respective supportingplates 13, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement. The number of the level-difference portions may be different from the number of the supportingplates 13. Furthermore, the level-difference portions may not be disposed to oppose the respective supportingplates 13. - While in the embodiment above the twisted
portion 23 is provided between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions 28a to 28e and the leading end of the twistedportion 23 gradually changes in height in the axial direction, a part between neighboring ones of level-difference portions 928a to 928e and 929a to 929e may be constant in height in the axial direction, as in arear guider 920 shown inFIG. 18 andFIG. 19 , for example. Therear guider 920 is easily formed in this case. - As shown in
FIG. 18 , a protrudingportion 922 of therear guider 920 is arc-shaped in cross section in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and, high portions and low portions are alternately lined up in the axial direction. To put it differently, at the leading end of therear guider 920, the level-difference portions 928a to 928e each of which decreases in height toward one end in the axial direction of thefan 10 and the level-difference portions 929a to 929e each of which increases in height toward the one end in the axial direction of thefan 10 are alternately lined up in the axial direction. Among the level-difference portions (first level-difference portions) 928a to 928c and 929c to 929e each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10, four level-difference portions fan 10 are smaller than the level-difference portions (second level-difference portions) 928d, 928e, 929a, and 929b each of which increases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10, in terms of the variation in height within a predetermined length in the axial direction. The predetermined length in the axial direction is, for example, shorter than the length in the axial direction of each of the level-difference portions difference portions 928a to 928e and 929a to 929e. - In addition to the above, as shown in
FIG. 19 , on the surface of the protrudingportion 922 which surface is on the side opposite to thefan 10, aswollen portion 927 is formed in the vicinity of each of the level-difference portions swollen portion 927 decreases toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10. - The shape of the
swollen portion 27 is not limited to the shape described in the embodiment above, and is only required to be swollen away from thefan 10 as compared to the surrounding of theswollen portion 27. - While in the embodiment above two
swollen portions 27 are identical in the swelling height, they may be different in the swelling height. In such a case, to restrain the disturbance of the vortex airflow, the swelling height of theswollen portion 27 which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10 is preferably arranged to be higher than the swelling height of the otherswollen portion 27. - While in the embodiment above the
swollen portion 27 is provided in the vicinity of each of the level-difference portions swollen portion 27 may be provided in the vicinity of one or both of the two level-difference portions fan 10 of one or both of the twoinclination alleviation portions 25 may not be swollen as compared to the twistedportion 23 and the connectingportion 24. When theswollen portion 27 is provided in the vicinity of only one of the level-difference portions swollen portion 27 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the level-difference portion 28a which is farther from the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10. - In addition to the above, while in the embodiment above the
swollen portion 27 is formed along each of the level-difference portions swollen portion 27 is not limited to this. The swollen portion may be differently formed as long as the swollen portion is formed in the vicinity of a level-difference portion which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10 and in a part where the amount air flowing into the bended portion of the vortex airflow can be reduced. For example, the swollen portion may be formed only in the vicinity of the lowest point of the level-difference portion, or only in the vicinity of the highest point of the level-difference portion. - While in the embodiment above the level-difference portions provided at the leading end of the
stabilizer 32 are identical with one another in inclination, the level-difference portions of thestabilizer 32 may be different from one another in inclination as in the rear guider 20 (i.e., they may be different from one another in the variation in height in the predetermined length in the axial direction) . To be more specific, the variation in height of at least one of the level-difference portions each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10 is arranged to be smaller than the variation in height of the level-difference portions each of which increases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10. - Furthermore, the level-difference portions are different from each other in inclination only in one of the
rear guider 20 and thestabilizer 32. - In addition to the above, while in the embodiment above no swollen portion is provided in the vicinity of each of the level-difference portions provided at the leading end of the
stabilizer 32, a swollen portion may be provided in the vicinity of a level-difference portion of thestabilizer 32, as in therear guider 20. To be more specific, a swollen portion which is swollen away from thefan 10 as compared to the surrounding is provided in the vicinity of at least one of the level-difference portions each of which decreases in height toward the central part M in the axial direction of thefan 10. - Furthermore, a swollen portion may be provided in only one of the
rear guider 20 and thestabilizer 32. - While the embodiment above describes a case where the present invention is employed in a wall-mounted indoor unit which is arranged to suck indoor air from an upper part of the indoor unit and blow out the air from a lower part of the indoor unit, the present invention may be applicable to other purposes. For example, the present invention may be employed in a floor-mounted indoor unit which is arranged to suck indoor air from a lower part of the indoor unit and blow out the air from an upper part of the indoor unit.
- The present invention makes it possible to suppress wind noise by restraining the disturbance of a vortex airflow.
-
- 1 INDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONER
- 10 CROSS FLOW FAN
- 20, 920 REAR GUIDER
- 25 INCLINATION ALLEVIATION PORTION
- 26 RIB PORTION
- 27, 927 SWOLLEN PORTION
- 27a APEX
- 28a to 28c, 128a, 228a, 328a, 428a, 528a, 628a, 728a, 828a, 928a to 928c, 929c to 929e LEVEL-DIFFERENCE PORTION (FIRST LEVEL-DIFFERENCE PORTION)
- 28d, 28e, 128e, 928d, 928e, 929a, 929b LEVEL-DIFFERENCE PORTION (SECOND LEVEL-DIFFERENCE PORTION)
- 32 STABILIZER
Claims (9)
- An air conditioner comprising:a cross flow fan (10) with an axial direction, a left-right direction being defined to be parallel to the axial direction; anda stabilizer (32) and a rear guider (20) which are provided on respective sides of an outer periphery of the cross flow fan (10) to form an air passage,wherein at least one of the stabilizer (32) and the rear guider (20) comprises a protruding portion (22),wherein the direction in which the protruding portion (22) protrudes is defined as the height;wherein at a leading end portion of the protruding portion (22), level-difference portions (28a-28e; 928a-928e, 929a-929e) are formed to be lined up in an axial direction;wherein there are parts (23) of the leading end portion between the level-difference portions (28a-28e; 928a-928e, 929a-928e), wherein either the height of each part (23) between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions (28a-28e) gradually changes in the axial direction, or wherein the height of each part (23) between two neighboring ones of the level-difference portions (928a-928e, 929a-929e) is constant in the axial direction; wherein the opposing end portions in the left-right direction of neighboring parts (23) are different in height; andwherein the level-difference portions (28a-28e; 928a-928e, 929a-929e) include first level-difference portions (28a, 28b, 28c; 928a, 928b, 928c, 929c, 929d, 929e) each of which decreases in height in the axial direction toward a central part (M) of the fan (10) in the axial direction and second level-difference portions (28d, 28e; 929a, 929b, 928d, 928e) each of which increases in height in the axial direction toward the central part (M) of the fan, characterized in that:
a variation in height (ΔH1) of at least one of the first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) within a predetermined length (W) in the axial direction is equal to a first predetermined value which is smaller than a variation in height (ΔH2) of each of the second level-difference portions (28d, 28e; 929a, 929b, 928d, 928e). - The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein, in the at least one of the first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) in which the variation in height (ΔH1) is equal to the first predetermined value, the degree of inclination of an edge portion which extends linearly or in a curved manner from a highest point is more gentle than the degree of inclination of an edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions (28d, 28e; 929a, 929b, 928d, 928e) which edge portion extends linearly or in a curved manner from a highest point.
- The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein, the at least one of the first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) in which the variation in height (ΔH1) is equal to the first predetermined value extends from the highest point to a lowest point linearly or in a curved manner.
- The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein, the height of the at least one of the first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) in which the variation in height (ΔH1) is equal to the first predetermined value changes in stages, and
an edge portion of the at least one of the first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) in which the variation in height (ΔH1) is equal to the first predetermined value, which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner is shorter than an edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions (28d,28e; 929a, 929b, 928d, 928e) which edge portion extends from the highest point linearly or in a curved manner, and an inclination angle (Φ2) of the edge portion of the at least one of the first level-difference portions (28c; 928c, 929c) is identical with an inclination angle of the edge portion of each of the second level-difference portions (28d, 28e; 929a, 929b, 928d, 928e). - The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, the at least one of the first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) in which the variation in height (ΔH1) is equal to the first predetermined value is positioned to be closest in the axial direction to one end of the cross flow fan (10), among the level-difference portions.
- The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, at least one of the stabilizer (32) and the rear guider (20) includes two or more first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) in which the variation in height (ΔH1) is equal to the first predetermined value, and
among the two or more first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e), the variation in height of one first level-difference (28a; 928a, 929e) which is farther in the axial direction from the central part (M) of the fan (10) than the other level-difference portion(s) (28b; 928b, 929d) is smaller than the variation in height of the other level-difference portion(s). - The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the first level-difference portions (28a-28c) are provided only on one side in the axial direction of the central part (M) of the fan (10), whereas the second level-difference portions (28d, 28e) are provided only on the other side in the axial direction of the central part (M) of the fan (10), and the height of the parts (23) between neighboring ones of the level-difference portions gradually changes in the axial direction.
- The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the first level-difference portions (928a-928c, 929c-929e) and the second level-difference portions (929a, 929b, 928d, 928e) are alternately provided in the axial direction, and the height of each of the parts (23) between two neighboring ones of the level-difference portions is constant in the axial direction.
- The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, the length in the axial direction of the at least one of the first level-difference portions (28a, 28b; 928a, 928b, 929d, 929e) in which the variation in height (ΔH1) is equal to the first predetermined value is not less than 5% and not more than 30% of the interval between highest points of two neighboring ones of the level-difference portions.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2012215535A JP5403131B1 (en) | 2012-09-28 | 2012-09-28 | Air conditioner |
PCT/JP2013/072147 WO2014050364A1 (en) | 2012-09-28 | 2013-08-20 | Air conditioner |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2918924A1 EP2918924A1 (en) | 2015-09-16 |
EP2918924A4 EP2918924A4 (en) | 2016-10-12 |
EP2918924B1 true EP2918924B1 (en) | 2018-06-06 |
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ID=50112424
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP13842440.3A Active EP2918924B1 (en) | 2012-09-28 | 2013-08-20 | Air conditioner |
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EP (1) | EP2918924B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5403131B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN104685299B (en) |
ES (1) | ES2676211T3 (en) |
TR (1) | TR201809557T4 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014050364A1 (en) |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JP6369522B2 (en) * | 2016-11-21 | 2018-08-08 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Indoor unit of air conditioner |
CN106949094B (en) * | 2017-05-18 | 2019-02-05 | 安徽朗迪叶轮机械有限公司 | A kind of length-adjustable through-flow fan blade |
CN107490064B (en) * | 2017-08-25 | 2023-11-07 | 格力电器(武汉)有限公司 | Indoor unit and air conditioning system |
CN108412807B (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2023-08-15 | 珠海格力节能环保制冷技术研究中心有限公司 | Volute, fan assembly and air conditioner |
JP7103465B1 (en) | 2021-03-31 | 2022-07-20 | 株式会社富士通ゼネラル | Blower and indoor unit |
Family Cites Families (9)
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JPS533450Y2 (en) * | 1973-06-18 | 1978-01-28 | ||
JPS62131994A (en) * | 1985-12-02 | 1987-06-15 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Transverse stream type air blower |
JPH071093B2 (en) | 1989-02-01 | 1995-01-11 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP3918207B2 (en) * | 1995-08-02 | 2007-05-23 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Air conditioner |
JPH0979601A (en) * | 1995-09-13 | 1997-03-28 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Cross flow blower |
JPH11294376A (en) * | 1998-04-08 | 1999-10-26 | Calsonic Corp | Blower |
JP2002061867A (en) * | 2000-08-22 | 2002-02-28 | Hitachi Ltd | Air conditioner |
JP2002286244A (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2002-10-03 | Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd | Air conditioner |
CN2487893Y (en) * | 2001-05-10 | 2002-04-24 | 松下电器产业株式会社 | Transverse flow fan and air conditioner using transverse flow fan |
-
2012
- 2012-09-28 JP JP2012215535A patent/JP5403131B1/en active Active
-
2013
- 2013-08-20 CN CN201380050412.XA patent/CN104685299B/en active Active
- 2013-08-20 WO PCT/JP2013/072147 patent/WO2014050364A1/en active Application Filing
- 2013-08-20 EP EP13842440.3A patent/EP2918924B1/en active Active
- 2013-08-20 TR TR2018/09557T patent/TR201809557T4/en unknown
- 2013-08-20 ES ES13842440.3T patent/ES2676211T3/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
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None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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CN104685299A (en) | 2015-06-03 |
CN104685299B (en) | 2016-04-27 |
JP2014070756A (en) | 2014-04-21 |
EP2918924A1 (en) | 2015-09-16 |
WO2014050364A1 (en) | 2014-04-03 |
EP2918924A4 (en) | 2016-10-12 |
ES2676211T3 (en) | 2018-07-17 |
TR201809557T4 (en) | 2018-07-23 |
JP5403131B1 (en) | 2014-01-29 |
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