GB2302937A

GB2302937A - Indoor unit for air conditioner

Info

Publication number: GB2302937A
Application number: GB9604255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takehiko Sato; Teturo Ozawa; Akihisa Sudoh
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 1995-07-05
Filing date: 1996-02-28
Publication date: 1997-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-28
Also published as: GB2302937A8; GB2302937B; GB9604255D0

Abstract

An indoor unit for an air conditioner comprises a unit main body (1) having a front panel (12) and a rear panel (3), a heat exchanger (7) contained in the unit main body, consisting of a front heat exchanger component (7A) and a rear heat exchanger component (7B), and having an inverted-V-shaped profile, a front drain pan (9A) and a rear drain pan (9B) located below the front and rear heat exchanger components (7A, 7B), respectively, for receiving drain water created by and dropping from the front and rear heat exchanger components, and a flume portion bridging the rear drain pan (9B) and the front drain pan (9A) for guiding the drain water collected in the rear drain pan (9B), to the front drain pan (9A).

Description

2302937 "INDOOR UNIT FOR AIR CONDITIONER" This invention relates to an

indoor unit for an air conditioner, which incorporates a heat exchanger with an inverted-V-shaped profile, and more particularly to an improvement in a structure for treating drain water dropping from the heat exchanger.

In general, an air conditioner using a refrigeration cycle comprises an indoor unit located in a room to be air-conditioned, and an outdoor unit located outside the room and connected to the indoor unit by a refrigerant pipe and electric wires.

Many users are now requesting that the makers should reduce the sizes of those units and the spaces required for them. Therefore, the makers are making efforts to meet the requests and also to increase the heat exchange capacity.

Japanese Utility Model Application KOKAI Publication No. 4-106425, for example, discloses an indoor unit for an air conditioner, which is equipped with a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger comprises a front exchanger component and a rear exchanger component respectively opposed to a front panel and an upper panel which constitute the main body of the unit. The heat exchanger has an inverted-Vshaped profile.

Since the heat exchanger constructed as above has a larger heat exchange area than a general flat type 2 is heat exchanger, it can be formed to have a smaller vertical length than the latter. Thus, the former heat exchanger can have an improved heat exchange capacity and a reduced vertical length.

In the heat exchanger of the inverted-V-shaped profile, drain water is simultaneously created from the front and rear heat exchanger components. The simultaneously-created drain water is gathered in a front drain pan located below the front exchanger component and a rear drain pan located below the rear exchanger component, respectively.

The front and rear drain pans are produced separately. The front drain pan is attached to the front panel, while the rear drain pan is attached to the front panel and also to a rear panel which is another component of the unit main body.

However, the above structure which comprises a great number of components inevitably increases the cost required for metal molds which are used to mold the drain pans. This adversely affects the cost of the indoor unit. Moreover, variations in thermal expansion coefficient between the components may well cause noise at the junctions of the components during operation.

In addition, drain water collected in the rear drain pan located below the rear heat exchanger is exhausted to the outside through a plurality of drain ports formed in the rear drain pan and also through A a drain hose. Since the interior of the rear drain pan is kept under vacuum pressure during air conditioning, the part of air which is not yet subjected to heat exchange is sucked into the rear drain pan through the drain ports.

During treated and cooling operation, the air which is not hence has high humidity and temperature encloses the rear drain pan wherein collected cold drain water runs.

As a result, drops of dew will easily condense on the outer peripheral surface of the rear drain pan. Such dew drops may drop from the drain pan into the wind passage and diffuse in the to-be-conditioned room together with cooled air. thereby damaging comfortable condition of air in the room.

The invention has been developed in light of the above, and aims to provide an indoor unit for an air conditioner which can be manufactured and assembled in simple manner at low cost, and which is provided with heat exchanger of an inverted-V-shaped profile free from condensation of dew on a drain pan for receiving drain water created by the heat exchanger and hence capable of realizing comfortable air condition.

To attain the aim, there is provided an indoor unit for an air conditioner comprising:

a unit main body having a front panel and a rear panel; 4 is a heat exchanger contained in the unit main body, consisting of a front heat exchanger component and a rear heat exchanger component, and having an inverted-V-shaped profile; a front drain pan and a rear drain pan located below the front and rear heat exchanger components, respectively, for receiving drain water created by and dropping from the front and rear heat exchanger components; and a flume portion bridging the rear drain pan and the front drain pan for guiding the drain water collected in the rear drain pan, to the front drain pan.

This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing an indoor unit for an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the indoor unit of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, showing a rear panel constituting a part of the main body of the unit, an indoor wind fan and support means for the wind fan; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view, showing the rear panel, and a first cover member and a motor is hold member which constitute a part of the wind fan support means; FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing a state in which the first cover member and the motor hold member are attached to the rear panel; FIG. 6 is a perspective view, showing a state in which the first cover member and the motor hold member are attached to the rear panel, and further the indoor wind fan and a heat exchanger are attached to the resultant structure; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, showing the rear panel, and a second cover member and a bearing base which constitute a part of the wind fan support means; FIG. 8 is a perspective view, showing a state in which the second cover member and the bearing base are attached to the rear panel; FIG. 9 is a perspective view, showing a state in which the second cover member and the bearing base are attached to the rear panel, and further the indoor wind fan and the heat exchanger are attached to the resultant structure; FIG. 10 is a view, showing a state in which the first and second cover members are attached to a flume portion of the rear panel; FIG. 11 is a view, useful in explaining how to produce the rear panel; 6 FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing a flume portion according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing a flume portion according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing a flume portion according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing a flume portion according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing a flume portion according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. I to 11 show an indoor unit of an air conditioner which is the first embodiment of the present invention.

As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an indoor unit for an air conditioner is constructed. A unit main body 1 comprises a front panel 2 and a rear panel 3. The front panel 2 has a front surface with a front suction port 2a in which a grille 4 is fitted, and an upper surface with an upper suction port 2b in which a grille 5 is fitted.

7 is The unit main body 1 houses an arcuate air filter 6 extending along the suction ports 2a and 2b, and a heat exchanger 7.

The heat exchanger 7 comprises a front heat exchanger component 7A opposed to the front suction port 2a, a rear heat exchanger component 7B opposed to the upper suction port 2b, and an auxiliary heat exchanger component 8 interposed between the rear heat exchanger component 7B and the upper suction port 2b.

Upper end portions of the front heat exchanger component 7A and the rear heat exchanger component 7B contact each other, and lower end portions of them are separate from each other. In other words, the heat exchanger 7. has an inverted-V-shaped profile.

Like a lower end portion of the front panel 2, the lower portion of the front heat exchanger component 7A is located lower than that of the rear heat exchanger component 7B, and a front drain pan 9A is located sli ghtly below the lower end portion of the front heat exchanger component 7A. On the other hand, a drain pan 9B is located slightly below the lower end portion of the rear exchanger component 7B, which is located higher than that of the front exchanger component 7A.

The front and rear drain pans 9A and 9B are formed integral with the rear panel 3 as one body. A plurality of ribs 91A constituting the front drain pan 9A, and a plurality of ribs 91B constituting the is rear drain pan 9B extend in the same direction.

An indoor wind fan 11 is located in the space defined by the inverted-Vshaped heat exchanger 7, i.e. between the front and rear heat exchanger components 7A and 7B. In other words, the indoor wind fan 11 is substantially enclosed by the compo nents 7A and 7B.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the indoor wind fan 11 has a cross-flow fan 12, a fan motor 13 with its rotary shaft 13a coupled with an end plate 12b of the crossflow fan 12, and a bearing 14 supporting a support shaft 12a projecting from the other end plate 12c of the cross-flow fan 12. The fan 12 has an axial length identical to the width (not shown) of the heat exchanger 7, and has its opposite ends precisely aligned with those of the heat exchanger 7.

A first wind fan support portion 15 is formed at a longitudinal end (the right end in FIG. 3) of the rear panel 3, while a second wind fan support portion 16 is formed at the other longitudinal end (the left end) of the rear panel 3.

An extremely narrow concave portion (hereinafter called a "first flume portion 17A") is formed inside the first wind fan support portion 15, while a similar concave portion (hereinafter called a "second flume portion 17B") is formed inside the second wind fan support portion 16.

A wind passage 18 formed by curving the rear panel 9 support portion 16.

A wind passage 18 formed by curving the rear panel 3 is provided between both the flume portions 17A and 17B, through which a plurality of reinforcing ribs 19 extend at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction.

A wind blow port 20 is formed along a front end portion of the wind passage 18. The front drain pan 9A is located along a front end portion of the wind blow port 20, and the rear drain pan 9B is located along an upper end portion of the wind passage 18.

The first and second flume portions 17A and 17B have upper end portions communicating with side end portions of the rear drain pan 9B, respectively, and lower end portions communicating with side end portions of the front drain pan 9A. In other words, the flume portions 17A and 17B constitute communication passages which make the rear and front drain pans 9B and 9A communicate with each other.

The front drain pan 9A, the rear drain pan 9B, and the first and second flume portions 17A and 17B, which connect the front and rear drain pans 9A and 9b, are all formed integral with the rear panel 3.

The fan motor 13 of the indoor wind fan 11 is supported by the first wind fan support portion 15, as will be explained later in more detail. The fan motor 13 is fixed to the first wind fan support portion 15 by - supported by the second wind fan support portion 16, as will be explained later in more detail. The bearing 14 is fixed to the second wind fan support portion 16 by a bearing base 22.

First and second cover members 23A and 23B are coupled with the motor hold member 21 and the bearing base 22, respectively. The cover members 23A and 23B each have an inverted-U-shaped cross section (i.e. has a lower opening), and are respectively fitted in the flume portions 17A and 17B formed inside the wind fan support portions 15 and 16, thereby closing the spaces defined by the flume portions.

A support structure employed in the first fan support portion 15 for supporting the fan motor 13 will now be explained in detail.

As is shown in FIG. 4, an arcuate wind passage end plate 25 projects from a side end portion of the wind passage 18. A wear plate 26A is provided at a predetermined distance from the wind passage end plate 25. The first flume portion 17A indicates the space defined between the wind passage end plate 25 and the wear plate 26A.

As is shown only in FIG. 10, a drain port member 27 having a lower opening is formed integral with a side end portion of the rear drain pan 9B. The opening of the drain port member 27 is opposed to a receiving portion 28a provided at the upper end of 11 is the first flume portion 17A.

In the first flume portion 17A, a vertical portion 28b extends from the lower end of the receiving portion 28a. Further, an inclined portion 28c which slightly inclines downward extends from the lower end of the vertical portion 28b, and communicates with the front drain pan 9A.

Where the indoor wind fan 11 is assembled, the vertical portion 28b of the first flume portion 17A is positioned behind the cross-flow fan 12, while the inclined portion 28c is positioned below the fan 12, as will be explained in detail later.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the wear plate 26A has a semicircular edge portion. A receiving plate 26B extends outside the wear plate 26A parallel thereto, and has a semicircular edge portion with a radius slightly larger than that of the semicircular edge portion of the wear plate 26A.

An arcuate support portion 28 formed by curving the rear panel 3 and having a large curvature is provided outside the receiving plate 26B.

The first cover member 23A fitted in the first flume portion 17A has, at its tip end, a pipe portion 29 of a rectangular cross section.

The portion of the cover member 23A other than the pipe portion 29 has an inverted-U-shaped cross section. The open-side edge of the portion having 12 is the inverted-U-shaped cross section is kept parallel to the bottom surface of the first flume portion 17A with a predetermined distance therebetween, in a state in which the cover member 23A is fitted in the flume portion 17A.

An inner surface portion (the bottom surface portion of the portion with the inverted-U-shaped cross section) of the first cover member 23A has a predetermined curvature.

The end of the first cover member 23A which is opposite to the pipe portion 29 is coupled with the motor hold member 21 by means of a hinge 30 generally called a "P-P hinge".

The motor hold member 21 consists of a semicir cular hold portion 31, hold plates 32a and 32b projecting from substantially center portions of the hold portion 31 with a narrow space interposed therebetween, and a closing plate 33 radially projecting from the hold portion 31 along the side edge thereof.

An end portion of the hold plate 32a is formed semicircular with the same curvature as that of the semicircular edge portion of the wear plate 26A, while an end portion of the hold plate 32b is formed semicircular with the same curvature as that of the semicircular edge portion of the receiving plate 26B.

The hold portion 31 has the same curvature as the is 13 semicircular inner surface portion of the first cover member 23A. The closing plate 33 is opposed to the first cover member 23A with the hinge 30 interposed therebetween.

As is shown in FIG. 5, when the motor hold member 21 is rotated toward the rear panel 3 about the hinge 30 from the position in which the first cover member 23A is fitted in the first flume portion 17A, thereby closing the space defined by the flume portion 17A, the cover member 23A and part of the hold portion 31 form a circular portion.

At the same time, the wear plate 26A and the receiving plate 26B are aligned with the hold plates 32a and 32b, respectively, thereby forming a circular hole with a predetermined diameter. Further, part of the hold portion 31 and the support portion 28 of the rear panel 3 form a circular portion.

Referring again to FIG. 10, the state in which the first cover member 23A is fitted in the first flume portion 17A will be explained in more detail.

The receiving portion 28a, the vertical portion 28b and the inclined portion 28c of the first flume portion 17A constitute a portion of a Ushaped cross section having an upper opening.

The pipe portion 29 of a rectangular cross section in the first cover member 23A has its upper open end engaged with the drain port member 27 of the rear drain pan 9B, and its lower open end communicating with an upper open end of the inclined portion 28c which constitutes a part of the flume portion 17A. Thus, the pipe portion 29 is aligned with the receiving portion 28a and the vertical portion 28b which constitute part of the flume portion 17A.

The portions of the inverted-U-shaped cross section other than the pipe portion 29 close the space defined by the inclined portion 28c.

Referring then to FIG. 6, the means for attaching the indoor wind fan 11 and the heat exchanger 7 to the rear panel 3 will be explained. This means serves to attach the fan motor 13 for driving the indoor wind fan 11 and the heat exchanger 7, to the first wind fan support portion 15.

As was explained with reference to FIG. 4, after the first cover member 23A is fitted in the first flume portion 17A, the motor hold member 21 is rotated about the hinge 30 so as to expose the first wind fan support portion 15 and fix therein the fan motor 13.

The fan motor 13 coupled with the cross-flow fan 12 is placed on the first wind fan support portion 15, and then the motor hold member 21 is rotated backward about the hinge 30 to thereby fit the semicircular hold portion 31 on the outer peripheral surface of the fan motor 13 as shown in FIG. 6.

Thus, the fan motor 13 is fitted in a circular hole defined by the support portion 28 of the first wind fan support portion 15 and the hold portion 31 of the motor hold member 21.

Moreover, a boss 13c (see FIG. 3) projecting from the end of the fan motor 13, from which the rotary shaft 13a also projects, is fitted in a circular hole defined by the edge portions of the receiving plate 26B and the hold plate 32b.

Since an end portion 21a of the motor hold member 21 contacts a boss c formed integral with the rear panel 3 as shown in FIG. 10, the end portion 21a is fixed to the boss c by means of a fixing screw 35. As a result, the motor hold member 21 reliably fixes the fan motor 13.

The fan motor 13 is axially positioned by fitting the end portion of the boss 13c in the circular hole defined by the edge portions of the wear plate 26A and the hold plate 32a.

As is shown in FIG. 6. a boss 13b projecting from the other end of the fan motor 13 is supported by hold member 36 consisting of two portions. As result, the fan motor 13 is reliably fixed to the first wind fan support portion 15.

The first cover member 23A laps over the end plate 12b of the cross-flow fan 12, and also over that surface of the hold portion 31 of the motor hold member 21, on which the closing plate 33 is provided (although is the lapping states are not shown in the figures). Thus, the end plate 12b of the fan 12 is enclosed by parts of the first cover member 23A and of the hold portion 31 of the motor hold member 21.

The assembly shown in FIG. 6 is completed by attaching the bearing 14 to the second wind fan support portion 16 and then arranging the heat exchanger 7 in a predetermined position in a manner which will be explained later.

A structure employed in the second wind fan support portion 16 for supporting the bearing 14 will now be explained.

As is shown in FIG. 7, a wind passage end plate 37 having an arcuate edge projects on a side end portion of the wind passage 18. A receiving plate 38 constituting the second wind fan support portion 16 projects on the side end portion at a predetermined distance from the end plate 37.

A space between the end plate 37 and the receiving plate 38 form the second flume portion 17B. In other words, the second flume portion 17B consists of that portion of the wind passage 18 which extends between the end plate 37 and the receiving plate 38.

No detailed explanations are given of the structure of the second flume portion 17B and of the relationship between the second flume portion 17B and the rear drain pan 9B, since they are similar to the is 17 structure of the first flume portion 17A and the relationship between the first flume portion 17A and the rear drain pan 9B, which were explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 10.

The second cover member 23B is fitted in the second flume portion 17B to close the space defined by the flume portion 17B. No detailed explanations are given of the structure of the second cover member 23B and the relationship between the cover member 23B and the flume portion 17B, since they are similar to the structure of the first cover member 23A and the relationship between the cover member 23A and the flume portion 17A, which were explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 10.

The bearing base 22 is coupled with an end portion of the second cover member 23B by means of a flexible string portion 39 which is thinner than the hinge 30 and can easily be deformed back and forth or left and right.

The bearing base 22 comprises a fitting ring 40, a closing plate 41 radially projecting from the fitting ring 40, a plurality of attachment chips 42 having attachment holes, and a plurality of screw holes 43.

As is shown in FIG. 8, when the second cover member 23B is fitted in the second flume portion 17B to close the space defined by the flume portion 17B, and then the bearing base 22 is rotated toward the rear 18 is panel 3 about the string portion 39, the bearing base 22 is brought into contact with the receiving plate 38 constituting the second wind fan support portion 16, and an end of the closing plate 41 is placed on the upper edge of the receiving plate 38. In this state, the attachment hole of the attachment chip 42 is aligned with a screw hole (not shown) in a boss formed on the rear panel 3.

The means for attaching the indoor wind fan 11 and the heat exchanger 7 to the rear panel 3 as shown in FIG. 9 will be explained. More specifically, this means is provided for supporting, in the second wind fan support portion 16, the bearing 14 which constitutes a part of the indoor wind fan 11, and for arranging the heat exchanger 7.

Suppose that on one side of the indoor wind fan 11, the cross-flow fan 12 is already coupled with the rotary shaft of the motor fan 13, which is attached to the first wind fan support portion 15.

As explained above, first, the second cover member 23B is fitted in the second flume portion 17B. Then, the bearing base 22 is once rotated about the string portion 39 toward the outside of the second cover member 23B, thereby exposing the second wind fan support portion 16 to attach the cross-flow fan 12 thereto.

The bearing 14 is fitted in the fitting portion 40 is 19 of the bearing base 22. Thereafter, the bearing base 22 is rotated about the string portion 39 to be returned on the cover member 23B. In this state, the bearing 14 is kept fitted in the fitting portion 40 of the bearing base 22.

Then, the bearing base 22 is moved to mount the bearing 14 on the support shaft 12a projecting from the other end of the cross-flow fan 12.

Where the bearing base 22 is placed on the second wind fan support portion 16, the attachment hole of the attachment chip 42 communicates with a screw hole (not shown) formed in the second wind fan support portion 16, and therefore the bearing base 22 is fixed to the rear panel 3 by means of a fixing screw inserted through the holes.

Thus, the bearing 14 which supports the cross-flow fan 12 is reliably attached to the second wind fan support portion 16, while the fan motor 13 is secured to the first wind fan support portion 15. This means that the indoor wind fan 11 is secured to the rear panel 3.

The second cover member 23B laps over the end plate 12c of the fan 12, which is not shown in the figures.

Thereafter, the heat exchanger 7 is positioned such that the attachment holes of an end plate 7c of the heat exchanger 7 are aligned with the screw hole 43 - 20 of the bearing base 22, thereby inserting the screws 35 therethrough to fix the heat exchanger 7 to the bearing base 22.

In the indoor unit constructed as above, the cross-flow fan 12 is rotated by the fan motor 13 to suck air contained in the to-be-conditioned room, into the unit main body 1 through the front suction port 2a and the upper suction port 2b, thereby passing the air through the heat exchanger 7 to perform heat exchange of the air. The air is guided into the wind passage 18 and blown into the room through the wind blow port 20.

The closing plates 33 and 41 projecting on the motor hold member 21 and the bearing base 22, respectively, are fitted in the side ends of the heat exchanger 7 of the inverted-V-shaped profile, thereby closing the heat exchanger 7 and preventing air in the room from being introduced into the heat exchanger 7 through the side ends thereof.

During the cooling operation, drain water is created in the heat exchanger 7. The drain water created in the front heat exchanger component 7A is collected in the front drain pan 9A, while those formed by the rear heat exchanger component 7B are collected in the rear drain pan 9B.

Since the rear drain pan 9B is located higher than the front drain pan 9A, the drain water collected in the rear drain pan 9B is guided to the first and second flume portions 17A and 17B provided on both the opposite sides of the rear drain pan 9B, and then to the front drain pan 9A. The drain water collected in the front drain pan 9A is exhausted to the outside of the room.

Since as explained above, the flume portions 17A and 17B for guiding drain are located inside the wind passage 18 through which air cooled by the heat exchanger 7 passes, the flume portions are free from dew condensation. Further, the rear drain pan 9B does not require those external drain ports as employed in the conventional case, through which air outside the to-be-conditioned room may be introduced. As a result, there is no possibility of external air being introduced into the heat exchanger through the drain ports, and hence no possibility of dew condensation phenomena.

Since the front and rear drain pans 9A and 9B are formed integral with the rear panel 3 and have no coupling portions, they can be precisely attached to a wind fan system including the wind fan 11, a nose, etc., and make the indoor unit free from noise which may be generated at the coupling portions.

Since the first and second flume portions 17A and 17B are located at both the opposite side ends of the wind passage 18, they will not greatly influence the fan performance, and at the same time the wind of the 22 indoor wind fan 11 will not greatly influence the drain collected in the flume portions.

Although air in the rear drain pan 9B cannot be prevented from entering the flume portions 17a and 17B through the drain pan port 27, the air will not be condensed into few drops when it contacts the flume portions 17A and 17B cooled by drain water, since it has already been subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger 7.

The spaces defined by the first and second flume portions 17A and 17B are closed by the first and second cover members 23A and 23B, respectively. This structure can completely prevent entrance of dust into the flume portions, thereby preventing choke of the flume portions due to dust.

The pipe portion 29 of a rectangular cross section is provided on the vertical portion 28b of each of the flume portion 17A and 17B. If a member of an invertedU-shaped cross section is provided on the vertical portion 28b to close the space defined by the vertical portion 28b, it is possible that drain water will leak to the outside through a clearance formed therebetween. Actually, however, the pipe portion 29 of a rectangularcross section closes the space defined by the vertical portion 28b, and hence no clearance will be formed therebetween. As a result, no drain water will leak to the outside or enter the portion 28b from the outside.

23 Since the first and second cover members 23A and 23B lap over the end plates 12b and 12c of the cross-flow fan 12, respectively, leakage of air from the wind passage 18 through the end plates 12b and 12c can be minimized, thereby restraining degradation of the wind fan performance.

The motor hold member 21 can be rotated about the hinge 30 away from the rear panel 3, which facilitates maintenance works such as cleaning, exchange, etc. of the cross-flow fan 12.

To perform the maintenance works, it is necessary to move the motor hold member 21. At this time. however, the first cover member 23A must be kept fitted in the first flume portion 17A.

To this end, the motor hold member 21 is coupled with the first cover member 23A by means of the hinge 30, so that the movement of the motor hold member 21 may not influence the first cover member 23A. Moreover, since the cover member 23A and the motor hold member 21 are formed integral with each other, the number of components and the required cost can be reduced.

Since the bearing base 22 is coupled with the second cover member 23B by means of the string portion 39 which is more flexible and thinner than the hinge 30, the bearing base 22 can easily be moved back and forth or right and left with respect to the rear panel 3 with the cover member 23B fitted in the flume portion 24 17B. This facilitates the maintenance works such as cleaning, exchange, etc. of the cross-flow fan 12.

To perform the maintenance works, it is necessary to move the bearing base 22. At this time, however, the second cover member 23B must be kept fitted in the second flume portion 17B.

To this end, the bearing base 22 is coupled with the second cover member 23B by means of the string portion 29, so that the movement of the bearing base 22 may not influence the second cover member 23B. Moreover, since the cover member 23B and the bearing base 22 are formed integral with each other, the number of components and the required cost can be reduced.

The ribs 91A constituting the front drain pan 9A and the ribs 91B constituting the rear drain pan 9B extend in the same direction at the same angle.

To form the front and rear drain pans 9A and 9B integral with the rear panel 3, injection molding is performed using molds 90A - 90E shown in FIG. 11. Since the ribs 91A and 91B extend in the same direction at the same angle, the molds for molding the front and rear drain pans 9A and 9B are removed in the same direction.

This means that in particular, the mold 90A included in the molds 90A 90E for injection-molding the rear panel 3 can be used to mold both the front and rear drain pans 9A and 9B, which contributes to a reduction in cost.

Although in the above embodiment, the first and second flume portions 17A and 17B consist of concave portions which have a U-shaped cross section, the structure of them is not limited to this, but may be modified as follows:

Since the first and second flume portions are symmetrical with each other, an explanation will be given only of the first one.

FIG. 12 shows a flume portion 50 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The flume 50 comprises a first wall 51 located remote from the wind passage 18, a second wall 52 located close to the wind passage 18, a third wall 53 located therebetween, and a plate member 54 which connects these walls to each other. Accordingly, the flume portion 50 has a substantially E-shaped cross section. The flume portion 50 which includes the first through third walls 51 - 53 and the plate member 54 connecting them has a high rigidity.

The first and third walls 51 and 53 and the plate member 54 cooperates to form a passage P for allowing drain water w to flow.

The opposite ends of the passage P communicates with the rear drain pan 9B and the front drain pan 9A, respectively, and that one of the opposite ends which is close to the rear drain pan 9B is closed by the 26 drain pan 9B between the second and third walls 52 and 53.

The third wall 53 is lower than the second wall 52.

During the cooling operation, drain water w is created and drops from the heat exchanger 7. Drain water w collected in the rear drain pan 9B runs through the passage P of the flume portion 50, and then is collected in the front drain pan 9A.

In other words, drain water w flows through the passage P defined by the first and third walls 51 and 53, and the second wall 52 is not cooled by the drain water w. Accordingly, no dew drops will condense on the wall surface a of the second wall 52 which is opposed to the wind passage 1B, and diffusion of drain water w into the room is prevented.

Even if a great amount of drain water w is collected in the rear drain pan 9B and flows over the passage P, the overflown water is guided between the second and third walls 52 and 53 into the front drain pan 9A. Thus, there is no possibility of drain water w flowing into the wind passage 18.

Moreover, since the third wall 53 is lower than the second wall 52, the second wall 52 prevents drain water w, if overflown, from being fanned by the wind passing through the wind passage 18 and diffusing into the wind passage 18.

FIG. 13 shows a flume portion 60 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The flume portion 60 comprises a first wall 61 located remote from the wind passage 18, a second wall 62 located close to the wind passage 18, a third wall 63 located therebetween, a first plate member 64 which connects the lower edges of the first and third walls 61 and 63 to each other, and a second plate member 65 which connects the upper edges of the second and third walls 62 and 63 to each other. Thus, the flume portion 60 has a substantially S- shaped cross section.

A passage P for flowing drain water w therethrough is defined by the first and third walls 61 and 63 and the first plate member 64.

Since in the flume portion 60 constructed as above, drain water w flows from the rear drain pan 9B to the front drain pan 9A through the passage P defined between the first and third walls 61 and 63, the second wall 62 is prevented from being cooled by the drain water w. As a result, no dew drops will condense on the surface a of the second wall 62 which is opposed to the wind passage 18, and therefore there is no possibility of water drops diffusing into the to-beconditioned room.

Further, arranging a heat insulator 66 with a high heat insulation effect in a space defined by the second and third walls 62 and 63 and the second plate member 65 can more effectively prevent dew condensation on the 28 is surface a of the second wall 62, and provides a more simple flume structure than the flume portion 50 of the second embodiment.

Since in this case, the heat insulator 66 held between the second and third walls 62 and 63 does not directly face the wind passage 18, there is no possibility of the insulator 66 detaching from the walls and contacting the cross-flow fan 12.

FIG. 14 shows a flume portion 70 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The flume portion 70 comprises a first wall 71 located remote from the wind passage 18, a second wall 72 located close to the wind passage 18, a third wall 73 located between the first and second walls 71 and 72, a fourth wall 74 located between the second and third walls 72 and 73, a first plate member 75 which connects the lower edges of the first, third and fourth walls 71, 73 and 64 to each other, and a second plate member 76 which connects the upper edges of the second and fourth walls 72 and 74 to each other.

A passage P for flowing drain water w therethrough is defined by the first and third walls 71 and 73 and the first plate member 75. Moreover, a heat insulator 77 is provided in a space defined by the second and fourth walls 72 and 74 and the second plate member 76.

The flume portion 70 constructed as above provides the same advantage as the flume portion 50.

29 In addition, the heat insulator 77 has a high heat insulation effect and can effectively prevent dew condensation on the surface a of the second wall 72.

FIG. 15 shows a flume portion 80 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. The flume portion 80 comprises a first wall 81 located remote from the wind passage 18, a second wall 82 located close to the wind passage 18, a third wall 83 located therebetween, a first plate member 84 which connects the lower edges of the first and third walls 81 and 83 and a side portion of the second wall 82 to each other, and a second plate member 85 which connects the upper edges of the second and third walls 82 and 83 to each other. Thus, the flume portion 80 has a substantially Pshaped cross section. The flume portion 80 having the first through third walls 81 - 83 connected by the first plate member 84 has a high rigidity.

A passage P for flowing drain water w therethrough is defined by the first and third walls 81 and 83 and the first plate member 84.

Since in the flume 80 constructed as above, drain water w flows from the rear drain pan 9B to the front drain pan 9A through the passage P defined between the first and third walls 81 and 83, the second wall 82 is prevented from being cooled by the drain water w. As a result, no dew drops will condense on the surface a of the second wall 82 which is opposed to the wind passage 18, and therefore there is no possibility of water drops diffusing into the to-be-conditioned room.

FIG. 16 shows a flume portion 100 according to a sixth embodiment of the invention. The flume portion 100 comprises a first wall 101 located remote from the wind passage 18, a second wall 102 located close to the wind passage 18, a third wall 103 located therebetween at that portion of the flume portion 100 close to the front drain pan 9A at which drain water w runs at relatively low speed, a plate member 104 which connects the first through third walls 101 and 103 to each other, and a closing member 105 which closes the upstream side (i.e. the side close to the rear drain pan 9B) of the space defined by the second and third walls 102 and 103. The first and third walls 101 and 103 defines a passage P for flowing drain water w therethrough.

Since in the flume portion 100 constructed as above, drain water w runs at relatively high speed at the portion close to the rear drain pan 9B, few dew drops will condense if drain water w contacts the second wall 102. On the other hand, although drain water w runs at relatively low speed at the portion close to the front drain pan 9A, it runs only in the passage P defined between the first and third walls 101 and 103, and hence no dew drops will condense on the surface a of the second wall 102. Thus, the flume 31 portion 100 can provide the same advantage as the flume portion 50 32

Claims

Claims:

1. An indoor unit for an air conditioner comprising:

a unit main body having a front panel and a rear panel; a heat exchanger contained in the unit main body, consisting of a front heat exchanger component and a rear heat exchanger component, and having an inverted-V-shaped profile; a front drain pan and a rear drain pan located below the front and rear heat exchanger components, respectively, for receiving drain water created by and dropping from the front and rear heat exchanger components; and a flume portion bridging the rear drain pan and the front drain pan for guiding the drain water collected in the rear drain pan, to the front drain pan.

2. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the rear drain pan, the front drain pan, and the flume portion connecting the rear drain pan to the front drain pan are formed integral with the rear panel.

3. The indoor unit according to claim 2, wherein each of the front and rear drain pans is constituted by a plurality of ribs which extend in the same direction at the same angle.

4. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein is the flume portion includes a first flume portion connected between a side end portion of the rear drain pan to a side end portion of the front drain pan, and a second flume portion connected between an opposite side end portion of the rear drain pan to an opposite side end portion of the front drain pan.

5. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the unit main body has a suction port for allowing external air to be introduced into the unit main body, a wind passage for allowing air to be guided through the unit main body, and a blow port for allowing air to be guided to the outside of the unit main body; the unit main body houses an indoor wind fan for introducing.air into the heat exchanger through the suction port, and blowing air obtained after heat exchange, out of the blow port through the wind passage; and the flume portion extends along a side end portion of the wind passage.

6. The indoor unit according to claim 5, wherein the indoor wind fan includes a fan motor, a cross-flow fan having an end thereof connected to the rotary shaft of the fan motor, and a bearing supporting the other end of the elongated fan.

7. The indoor unit according to claim 6, wherein the flume portion includes a first flume portion connected between a side end portion of the rear drain pan to a side end portion of the front drain pan, and 34 a second flume portion connected between an opposite side end portion of the rear drain,pan to an opposite side end portion of the front drain pan, the first and second flume portions extending along opposite side end portions of the wind passage, respectively.

8. The indoor unit according to claim 7, wherein the opposite side end portions of the rear drain pan have downwardly opening drain port members, respectively, and each of the first and second flume portions has an upper end portion serving as a receiving portion for receiving drain water exhausted through the drain port member of the rear drain pan, a vertical portion communicating with the receiving portion and located behind the indoor wind fan, and an inclined portion extending from the lower end of the vertical portion along a lower portion of the indoor wind fan and communicating with the front drain pan.

9. The indoor unit according to claim 8, wherein the first and second flume portions have a U-shaped cross section, and first and second cover members are fitted in the first and second flume portions, respectively.

10. The indoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the first and second cover members each have pipe portions respectively fitted in the vertical portions of the first and second f lume portions and mounted on the drain port members of the rear drain pan.

11. The indoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the first cover member is coupled with a motor hold member by means of a hinge rotatable in a predetermined direction, and the motor hold member fixes a fan motor included in the indoor wind fan to the rear panel.

12. The indoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the second cover member is coupled with a bearing base by means of a string member movable back and forth or right and left, and supports a bearing included in the indoor wind fan.

13. The indoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the first and second cover members lap over end plates of the cross-flow fan included in the indoor wind fan, respectively.

14. The indoor unit according to claim 5, wherein the flume portion consists of a first wall extending at an outer portion of the unit main body in a width direction thereof, a second wall extending parallel to the first wall at an inner portion of the unit main body in the width direction and along the side end portion of the wind passage, and a third wall extending between the first and second walls parallel thereto and defining, together with the first wall, a passage for allowing the drain water to flow therethrough.

15. The indoor unit according to claim 14, wherein the flume portion has a substantially E-shaped cross section.

36 is

16. The indoor unit according to claim 15, wherein the third wall is lower than the second wall.

17. The indoor unit according to claim 15, wherein the third wall longitudinally extends from a lower portion of the flume portion to the front drain pan, and a space defined by the second and third walls is closed at the lower portion of the flume portion.

18. The indoor unit according to claim 14, wherein upper edges of the second and third walls are connected to each other, and the flume portion has a substantially S-shaped cross section.

19. The indoor unit according to claim 18, wherein a heat insulator is provided between the second and third walls.

20. An indoor unit for air conditioner, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.