Heat exchange – Structural installation – Heating and cooling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-06-26
Ford, John K. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Structural installation
Heating and cooling
C165S063000, C165S064000, C165S059000, C219S520000, C392S363000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250372
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the invention
Discussion of the Background
The present invention relates to an- air conditioner structure.
FIG. 9
is a perspective view showing the outward appearance of a conventional air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner comprises an air conditioner body
1
and a front panel
2
defining the outer contour of the front half of the air conditioner. On the front panel
2
are defined a grill-shape inlet port
3
for air suction, a blow port
4
for blowing heat-exchanged air and a room temperature detection hole
5
for sucking room air to detect its temperature. Besides, a filter
6
is attached to the back of the front panel
2
.
FIG. 10
is a partial perspective view showing the disposition of a room temperature sensor in such air conditioner. A room temperature sensor
8
is mounted by means of a sensor holder
7
at the position corresponding to the room temperature detection hole
5
, in the air conditioner, interior the front panel
2
.
In the inside of such air conditioner, the air sucked through the inlet port
3
of the front panel
2
passes through the filter
6
and a heat exchanger (not shown) to exchange heat, before being blown from the blow port
4
under the front panel
2
. On the other hand, the temperature of the air sucked through the room temperature detection hole
5
is detected by the room temperature sensor
8
and the air conditioner is controlled based upon receiving its detection signal.
However, in the conventional air conditioner of the composition as mentioned above, the room temperature could not detected precisely, because the room temperature sensor
8
disposed inside the front panel
2
may easily be affected by the heat generated by electric motor or other electric components in the air conditioner.
On the other hand,
FIG. 11
shows the inner composition of a conventional air conditioner provided with an electric heater which is activated when the heating operation starts to heat the air which can not exchange heat sufficiently on starting the operation, while
FIG. 12
is a perspective view showing the composition of this electric heater.
In this air conditioner, the air sucked through a grill-shape inlet port
3
of a front panel
2
is heat-exchanged by a heat exchanger
13
to pass through an electric heater
14
, before being blown from a blow port
4
by a blower
15
. The electric heater
14
, composed of electric heating elements
17
held by a metal frame
16
is attached to the inside of the air conditioner by means of the metal frame
16
. Lead wires
18
of the electric heater
14
are held, for example, by winding around clamps
19
welded to the bottom of the metal frame
16
.
In such conventional air conditioner, it has been necessary to attach, by welding for example, clamps for holding lead wires to the metal frame
16
, composing the electric heater
14
. Besides, the shape of the metal frame
16
at thee side in opposition to the blower
15
was not designed carefully and, consequently, the blower
15
directly affected by the heat from the electric heating element
17
should be made of heat resistant material, resulting in cost increase.
As an independent invention, but related to the present application, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-55917 discloses a technique for forming clamps for holding wiring of electric motor in integration with a plastic molded casing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised to solve problems mentioned above, and adopts the composition described below, in order to decrease the number of components in the air conditioner and to reduce the heat effect from electric motor or electric heater in the air conditioner.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, an air conditioner comprises a suction grill for sucking air in a room, a front panel including an inlet port for sucking the air from the suction grill inside and a blowout port for blowing the air out into the room, a heat exchanger for working heat exchange of the air, and a blower for circulating the air, wherein a concave air passage for room temperature detection is formed on the front face of said front panel, and an air suction port for sucking air for room temperature detection is formed in said suction grill at an opposite part to said air passage. This composition allows one to detect the room temperature precisely.
Besides, said air passage is extended up to said inlet port. This allows to the air to flow smoothly in said air passage.
Moreover, a holder for affixing a room temperature sensor, which is a room temperature detection element, to said air passage is molded integrally. This allows one to reduce the number of components and to attach said room temperature sensor firmly.
Furthermore, at least one hole for ventilation is formed in said air passage downstream of a room temperature sensor disposed in said air passage. This allows one to ventilate heat generated from electric motor or other electric components in the air conditioner without affecting said room temperature sensor, and to protect other electric components from the heating.
Additionally, a second concave air passage for ventilation is formed on said front panel, and at least one hole for ventilation is formed in said second air passage. This allows one to further improve the ventilation effect of the air conditioner.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, an air conditioner comprises a heat exchanger for heat exchange of air, a blower for circulating air and an electric heater including at least one electric heating element and a metal frame, for heating the air heat-exchanged insufficiently at the start of heating operation, wherein wire holding dampers are machined integrally with said metal frame. This provides the effect of omitting clamp welding work and proposing an inexpensive air conditioner.
Moreover, said metal frame is disposed between said electric heating element and said blower, and a plurality of ventilating holes are formed in said metal frame. This allows it to drive hot air toward the blower side all the way conveniently isolating the heat, resulting in the effect of providing an inexpensive air conditioner by enlarging the range of possible material for composing the blower.
Each of said dampers includes a bent portion, where notches are provided. They allow bonding of the dampers easily and have the effect of reducing the time necessary for attaching lead wire.
Moreover, holes perforated to form said dampers are used as ventilating holes. They allow one to radiate heat from the electric heater easily and to improve heating properties.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein.
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Arai Yasuyuki
Kuwahara Yoshiaki
Miwa Masaharu
Takahashi Kengo
Uchiyama Tetsuji
Ford John K.
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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