• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    An air conditioner has a refrigeration cycle having a heat exchanger (15), a blower (16), a blower cleaning device (24) which cleans the blower (16) and a control member (30) which leads to the fan cleaning device (24) in contact with the blower (16) and the heat exchanger (15) selectively. The controller (30) causes the refrigeration cycle to generate the dew water in the heat exchanger (15), before bringing the fan cleaning device (24) into contact with the heat exchanger. heat (15) or while keeping the fan cleaning device (24) in contact with the heat exchanger (15).
    公开号:FR3078143A1
    申请号:FR1860183
    申请日:2018-11-06
    公开日:2019-08-23
    发明作者:Tomohiro Kato；Kazuo Odate；Kosuke Ohnishi；Hisashi Daisaka；Keisuke Fukuhara；Kazuma Hosokawa；Jiaye Cai
    申请人:Hitachi Johnson Controls Air Conditioning Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Field of the invention
    The present invention relates to an air conditioner.
    Context of the invention
    As an example of a fan cleaning device that cleans a blower fan (indoor fan) in an air conditioner, patent literature 1 describes a "fan cleaning device for removing dust from a fan". The air conditioner described in the patent literature 1 has a structure such that a fan cleaning device is brought into contact with the blower to clean the blower.
    Quote list
    Patent literature
    Patent literature 1: Japanese patent application publication 2007-71210.
    Summary of the invention
    Technical problem
    In the conventional air conditioner described in the patent literature 1, the dust attaches to the fan cleaning device each time the fan cleaning device cleans the blower fan, and the dust is removed exclusively by hand by the personnel of housework. Thus, it is desired that a conventional air conditioner has an additional function for effectively cleaning the fan cleaning device.
    Taking into consideration the above part, the present invention aims to provide an air conditioner which effectively cleans a fan cleaning device.
    Solution to the problem
    In order to achieve the above objective, an air conditioner according to the present invention comprises: a refrigeration cycle having a heat exchanger; a blower; a fan cleaning device which cleans the blower fan; and a controller which selectively brings the fan cleaner into contact with the blower or the heat exchanger, and before bringing the fan cleaner into contact with the heat exchanger or any by keeping the fan cleaning device in contact with the heat exchanger, the controller causes the refrigeration cycle to generate dew water in the heat exchanger.
    Furthermore, an air conditioner of the present invention comprises: a refrigeration cycle having a heat exchanger; a blower; a fan cleaning device which cleans the blower fan; and a controller which brings the fan cleaning device into contact with the blower fan or the heat exchanger selectively, and the controller rotates the fan cleaner several times in a range containing a angle at which the fan cleaner comes into contact with the heat exchanger.
    Advantageous Effects of the Invention
    The present invention can provide an air conditioner which effectively cleans a fan cleaning device.
    Brief description of the drawings
    FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant circuit in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    Figure 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention, with part of the indoor unit removed.
    FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the flow of air near a fan cleaning device during the air conditioning operation in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for cleaning an indoor fan, performed by an air conditioner controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    Figure 7A is a diagram illustrating the indoor fan cleaned in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    Fig. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example of how a cleaning member is arranged during operation in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process for cleaning the cleaning element performed by the air conditioner controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating another process for cleaning the cleaning element performed by the air conditioner controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    Figure 10A is a diagram (1) illustrating an example of how the cleaning element is oriented during the air conditioning operation.
    Figure 10B is a diagram (2) illustrating another example of how the cleaning element is oriented during the air conditioning operation.
    Figure 11 is a perspective diagram illustrating yet another example of how the cleaning member is oriented during the air conditioning operation.
    Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating how the cleaning member is oriented during the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation.
    Figure 13 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a time change operation for cleaning the blower.
    Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a time change operation for cleaning the cleaning element.
    Fig. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for cleaning the fan cleaner in an air conditioner according to a first modification of the present invention.
    Figure 16A is a side view of an indoor heat exchanger in an air conditioner according to a second modification of the present invention.
    FIG. 16B is an interior view of the interior heat exchanger in the air conditioner according to the second modification of the present invention.
    Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of an indoor unit in an air conditioner according to a third modification of the present invention.
    Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of an indoor fan and a fan cleaning device in an air conditioner according to a fourth modification of the present invention.
    Description of the embodiments "Embodiment"
    Air conditioner configuration>
    FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant circuit Q of an air conditioner 100 according to one embodiment. The present embodiment described here assumes that the air conditioner 100 has a function for executing the icing and defrosting operation of an indoor heat exchanger 15. However, the present invention can also be applied when the air conditioner 100 has not no function to execute the icing and defrosting operation of the indoor heat exchanger 15. It should be noted that "the icing and defrosting operation" refers to an operation to lower the temperature of the exchanger of heat to cause the frost (or ice) to settle on the surface of the fins of the heat exchanger, and then raise the temperature of the heat exchanger to defrost the frost and make the dust set on the heat exchanger by exploiting the moment of defrost dew water drop (condensed water).
    Note that the solid arrows in Figure 1 indicate the flow of a refrigerant in the heating operation.
    In addition, the dotted arrows in Figure 1 indicate the flow of a refrigerant in the cooling operation.
    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 comprises a compressor 11, an external heat exchanger 12, an external fan 13 and a pressure reducer 14. In addition to the above configuration, the air conditioner 100 comprises an internal fan 16 and a four-way valve 17.
    The compressor 11 is a device driven by a compressor motor 11a for compressing a gaseous refrigerant at low temperature and low pressure and discharging the gaseous refrigerant in the form of a gaseous refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure.
    The external heat exchanger 12 is a heat exchanger which carries out the heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing through heat exchanger tubes (not shown) and an external air supplied by the external fan 13.
    The outdoor fan 13 is a fan which brings outside air into the outside heat exchanger 12, as driven by an outside fan motor 13a and is arranged near the outside heat exchanger 12.
    The regulator 14 is a valve which decompresses a condenser condensed by a "condenser" (one of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and the indoor heat exchanger 15). Note that the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve 14 is led to an "evaporator" (the other among the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and the indoor heat exchanger
    15).
    The indoor heat exchanger 15 is a heat exchanger which performs the heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger tubes g (see FIG. 2) and indoor air (the air in the space to be conditioned) supplied by the interior fan 16.
    The indoor fan 16 is a fan that provides indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 15 as driven by an indoor fan motor 16c (see Figure 5) and is disposed near the indoor heat exchanger 15 To be more specific, the indoor fan 16 is arranged downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 15 in the air flow produced when the indoor fan 16 rotates in a forward direction.
    The four-way valve 17 is a valve which switches the flow channel of a refrigerant according to the operating mode of the air conditioner 100. For example, during the cooling operation (see the dotted arrows in FIG. 1) , a refrigerant circulates in a refrigeration cycle in the refrigerant circuit Q formed by the annular sequential connection of the compressor 11, the outdoor heat exchanger 12 (condenser), the expansion valve 14 and the indoor heat exchanger 15 (evaporator) via the four-way valve 17.
    During the heating operation (see the solid arrows in FIG. 1), a refrigerant circulates in a refrigeration cycle in the refrigerant circuit Q formed by the annular sequential connection of the compressor 11, the internal heat exchanger 15 ( condenser), the regulator 14, and the external heat exchanger 12 (evaporator) via the four-way valve
    17.
    It should be noted that in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the compressor 11, the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the outdoor fan 13, the regulator 14 and the four-way valve 17 are arranged in an outdoor unit Uo, and the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 are arranged in an indoor unit Ui.
    Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the indoor unit Ui.
    It should be noted that FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the indoor fan 16 is not cleaned by a fan cleaning device 24. The indoor unit Ui comprises, in addition to the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the fan interior 16, a condensation receiving tank 18, a housing base 19, filters 20a, 20b, a front panel 21, a side air deflector 22, a vertical air deflector 23 and the fan cleaning device 24.
    The interior heat exchanger 15 has a plurality of fins f and a plurality of exchanger tubes g which penetrate into the fins f. In addition, seen from another perspective, the indoor heat exchanger 15 has a front indoor heat exchanger 15a and a rear indoor heat exchanger 15b. The front interior heat exchanger 15a is disposed at the front of the interior fan 16 and the rear interior heat exchanger 15b is disposed behind the interior fan 16. Next, the front interior heat exchanger 15a and the heat exchanger rear interior heat 15b are connected together at their upper end portions.
    The condensation receiving tank 18 receives the condensed water from the indoor heat exchanger 15 and is arranged below the indoor heat exchanger 15 (the front indoor heat exchanger 15a in the example illustrated on the figure 2). It should be noted that a condensation receiving tank provided integrally with the housing base 19 is arranged below the rear interior heat exchanger 15b.
    The indoor fan 16 is for example a tubular transverse flow fan, and is arranged near the indoor heat exchanger 15. The indoor fan 16 comprises a plurality of fan blades 16a, partitions 16b on which the fan blades 16a are arranged, and the indoor fan motor 16c (see Figure 5) as a drive source.
    Preferably, the interior fan 16 is covered with a hydrophilic coating agent. The coating agent used can be obtained, for example, by adding a binder (a silicon compound containing a hydrolyzable group), butanol, tetrahydrofuran and an antibacterial agent to a silica sol dispersed in isopropyl alcohol, which is a hydrophilic material.
    Thus, a hydrophilic membrane is formed on the surface of the indoor fan 16, reducing the electrical resistance value of the surface of the indoor fan 16 and thus making the fixation of dust on the indoor fan 16 less likely. In other words, while the indoor fan 16 is being driven, static electricity produced due to friction with air is less likely to occur on the surface of the indoor fan 16. This can reduce the attachment of the dust on the indoor fan 16. In this way, the coating agent also functions as an antistatic agent for the indoor fan 16.
    The housing base 19 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a housing in which there is equipment such as the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16.
    The filter 20a removes dust from the air directed to a front air intake orifice h1 and is arranged opposite the indoor heat exchanger 15.
    The filter 20b removes dust from the air directed to an upper air intake port h2 and is arranged above the indoor heat exchanger
    15.
    The front panel 21 is a panel arranged to cover the front filter 20a and can rotate forward around its lower edge. Note that the front panel 21 can be configured not to rotate.
    The lateral air deflector 22 is a plate-shaped element which adjusts the flow of lateral air discharged to the outside by the rotation of the internal fan 16. The lateral air deflector 22 is arranged on the discharge passage h3 and is configured to rotate sideways as driven by a side air deflector motor 25 (see Figure 5).
    The vertical air deflector 23 is a plate-shaped element which adjusts the flow of vertical air discharged inside by the rotation of the indoor fan 16. The vertical air deflector 23 is arranged near a air discharge port h4 and is configured to rotate vertically, as driven by a vertical air deflector motor 26 (see Figure 5).
    The air sucked through the air suction ports h1, h2 exchanges the heat with a coolant flowing through the heat exchanger tubes g of the indoor heat exchanger 15, and the exchanged air thermally is brought to the air discharge passage h3. The air passing through the air discharge passage h3 is supplied in a predetermined direction by the side air deflector 22 and the vertical air deflector 23 and is then discharged inside through the discharge port d 'air h4.
    It should be noted that the major part of the dust directed towards the air intake orifices h1, h2 by the air flow is collected by the filters 20a, 20b. However, fine dust can pass through filters 20a, 20b and settle on the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16. It is therefore desirable to clean the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 regularly. Thus, in the present embodiment, the fan cleaning device 24 which will be described later, is used to clean the indoor fan 16, and then the indoor heat exchanger 15 is washed with water.
    The fan cleaning device 24 illustrated in FIG. 2 is configured to clean the indoor fan 16 and is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16. To be more specific, the fan cleaning device 24 is disposed in a recess portion r of the front interior heat exchanger 15a formed as the symbol "<" in a longitudinal section. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, below the fan cleaning device 24, the interior heat exchanger 15 (a lower part of the interior heat exchanger before 15a) is positioned and the container for receiving condensation 18.
    Figure 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit Ui with one of its parts cut out.
    The fan cleaner 24 includes, in addition to a shaft portion 24a and a brush 24b shown in Figure 3, a fan cleaner motor 24c (see Figure 5). The shaft part 24a is a bar-shaped element parallel to the axial direction of the indoor fan 16 and is pivotally supported at both ends.
    The brush 24b is a cleaning element which removes the dust fixed on the fan blades 16a and is arranged on the shaft part 24a. In the present embodiment, the cleaning element is formed by the brush
    24b. However, the cleaning element is not limited to the 24h brush and can be formed by other articles (eg a sponge). The fan cleaning device motor 24c (see Figure 5) is for example a stepping motor and has a function to rotate the shaft part 24a at a predetermined angle. However, the fan cleaner motor 24c (see Figure 5) can rotate the shaft portion 24a 360 °.
    The brush 24b is longer than the longest of the shortest distance from the center of the shaft portion 24a to the interior heat exchanger 15 and the shortest distance from the center of the shaft portion 24a to the indoor fan 16. The brush 24b is configured to be able to come into contact with (touch) both the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 selectively when the shaft part 24a rotates.
    To clean the indoor fan 16 with the fan cleaner 24, the fan cleaner motor 24c (see Figure 5) is driven to bring the brush 24b into contact with the indoor fan 16 (see Figure 7A) and the indoor fan 16 is rotated in a reverse direction. Then, after the cleaning of the indoor fan 16 with the fan cleaner 24 ends, the fan cleaner motor 24c is driven again to rotate the brush 24b in order to bring the brush 24b out of contact with the indoor fan 16 (see figure 2).
    It should be noted, for example, that the indoor unit Ui (see Figure 1) in this embodiment is configured so that, in the operation in which dew water (condensed water) attaches to the brush 24b , like the icing and defrosting operation or the cooling operation, the brush 24b is pivoted along a lower semicircle of the shaft part 24a (directions indicated by the arrows A1 shown in FIG. 2 ). In other words, the indoor unit Ui (see Figure 1) is configured so that the brush 24b is pivoted along a lower semicircle of the shaft part 24a (directions indicated by the arrows A1 shown in Figure 2) after the refrigeration cycle has generated dew water in the indoor heat exchanger 15. This is done so that falling dew water (condensed water) is less likely to spread , because the condensation tray has a relatively shallow depth. In other words, if the brush 24b is pivoted along an upper semicircle of the shaft part 24a, the dew water (condensed water) fixed on the brush 24b flows from the side tip towards the side of the shaft part 24a of the brush 24b, accumulates at the level of the shaft part 24a and drips from the shaft part 24a in the form of a drop with a diameter relatively large. Dew water (condensed water) thus drained in such a case, tends to spread. Thus, the indoor unit Ui (see Figure 1) is configured so that, in the operation in which the dew water (condensed water) is fixed on the brush 24b, the brush 24b is pivoted along a lower semicircle of the shaft part 24a (directions indicated by the arrows A1 represented in FIG. 2) to help prevent the diffusion of dew water (condensed water).
    Such a configuration also has the following advantages. Specifically, in this configuration, the dew water (condensed water) fixed on the brush 24b flows from the side of the shaft part 24a to the tip side of the brush 24b and drips off. the tip of the brush 24b. In this case, the dew water (condensed water) drips together with the dust fixed on the brush 24b. Thus, the indoor unit Ui (see Figure 1) can effectively remove the dust from the brush 24b.
    In the present embodiment, when the indoor fan 16 is not cleaned, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the tip of the brush 24b faces the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the tip of the brush 24b is in contact with the front interior heat exchanger 15a or preferably the tip of the brush 24b is in the space in the front interior heat exchanger 15a. Specifically, when the indoor fan 16 is not cleaned (including during the normal air conditioning operation), the brush 24b is moved away from the indoor fan 16 while being on its side (substantially horizontally). The reason why the fan cleaning device 24 is arranged in this way is described with the aid of FIG. 4.
    FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the flow of air near the fan cleaning device 24 during the air conditioning operation.
    Note that the direction of each arrow shown in Figure 4 indicates the direction of the air flow. In addition, the length of each arrow indicates the speed of the air flow.
    In the normal air conditioning operation, the indoor fan 16 rotates in a forward direction, and the air which has passed through the spaces between the fins f of the front indoor heat exchanger 15a is directed to the indoor fan 16. In particular, near the recess part r of the front interior heat exchanger 15a, the air flows laterally (substantially horizontally) towards the interior fan 16, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
    As previously described, the fan cleaning device 24 is arranged in this recess part r with the brush 24b arranged laterally. In other words, in normal air conditioning operation, the orientation of the brush 24b is parallel to the direction of the air flow. Since the direction in which the brush 24b extends and the direction in which the air flows are thus substantially parallel, the fan cleaner 24 is unlikely to impede the flow of air.
    In addition, the fan cleaning device 24 is disposed in a region upstream of the air flow produced when the indoor fan 16 rotates in the forward direction, not in a mid-range or downstream of the 'flow (near the air discharge port h4 shown in Figure 2). Next, the air flowing laterally along the brush 24b is accelerated by the fan blades 16a, and the accelerated air is directed to the air discharge port h4 (see Figure 2). Since the fan cleaner 24 is located in the upstream region where the air flows at a relatively slow speed, the fan cleaner 24 does little to reduce the amount of air. It should be noted that the fan cleaning device 24 can remain in the same state as that of FIG. 4, while the interior fan 16 does not rotate either.
    FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner 100.
    The indoor unit Ui illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises, in addition to the configuration described above, a remote control transmission-reception device 27 and an indoor control circuit 31.
    The remote control transmission-reception device 27 exchanges the predetermined information with a remote control 40.
    The remote control circuit 31 is configured as comprising electronic circuits such as a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read-only memory), a RAM (random access memory), and various interfaces, although they are not not shown. Thus, the programs stored in ROM are read and loaded onto RAM, and the CPU performs different types of processing.
    As illustrated in FIG. 5, the interior control circuit 31 comprises a storage 31a and an interior control member 31b.
    The storage 31a stores not only predetermined programs, but also data received via the remote control transmission-reception device 27, detection values from different sensors (not shown) and the like.
    Based on the data stored in the repository 31a, the indoor controller 31b controls the fan cleaner motor 24c, the indoor fan motor 16c, the side air deflector motor 25, the deflector motor vertical air 26, and the like.
    The outdoor unit Uo includes, in addition to the configuration described above, an outdoor control circuit 32. The outdoor control circuit 32 is configured in that it includes electronic circuits such as a CPU, ROM, RAM and different interfaces, although they are not shown, and is connected to the internal control circuit 31 via a communication line. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the external control circuit 32 comprises a storage 32a and an external control member 32b.
    The storage 32a stores not only predetermined programs, but also data received from the indoor control circuit 31 and the like. Based on the data stored in storage 32a, the external controller 32b controls the compressor motor 11a, the external fan motor 13a, the regulator 14 and the like. Below, the interior control circuit 31 and the exterior control circuit 32 are collectively referred to as "control member 30".
    <Cleaning the indoor fan
    As a cleaning function of the indoor fan 16, the indoor unit Ui has a function to clean the indoor fan 16 using dew water (condensed water) generated in the indoor heat exchanger 15 during the icing and defrosting operation or cooling operation. In addition, as a brush cleaning function 24b, the indoor unit Ui has a function for cleaning the brush 24b using dew water (condensed water) generated in the indoor heat exchanger 15 during l icing and defrosting operation or the cooling operation.
    Referring to Figure 6, the following section describes an operation to clean the indoor fan 16. Figure 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for cleaning the indoor fan 16 performed by the controller 30 (see Figure 2 if necessary ).
    It should be noted that the following description assumes that at the time of "START" in the flowchart in FIG. 6, the air conditioning operation is not carried out, and the tip of the brush 24b faces the exchanger of internal heat before 15a (the state illustrated in FIG. 2).
    In step S101 in FIG. 6, the control member 30 causes the fan cleaning device 24 to clean the indoor fan 16. It should be noted that the time to clean the indoor fan 16 (a trigger to start cleaning of the indoor fan 16) can be a condition in which, for example, an integrated time of the air conditioning operation since the previous cleaning of the indoor fan 16 reaches a predetermined time.
    Figure 7A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the indoor fan 16 is cleaned.
    Note that Figure 7A shows the indoor heat exchanger
    15, the indoor fan 16 and the condensation collecting tray 18 and omits the illustration of the other elements.
    The controller 30 brings the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the indoor fan 16, and rotates the indoor fan 16 in a direction reversed from the direction during normal air conditioning operation (i.e. say turns in an inverted direction).
    In other words, the controller 30 rotates the brush 24b approximately 180 ° around the shaft portion 24a from the state (see Figure 2) in which the tip of the brush 24b facing the indoor heat exchanger 15, so that the tip of the brush 24b now faces the indoor fan 16 (see Figure 7A). For this reason, the brush 24b comes into contact with the fan blades 16a of the indoor fan.
    16.
    It should be noted that in the example of FIG. 7A, the interior heat exchanger 15 (the front interior heat exchanger 15a) and the condensation receiving tank 18 are positioned below a contact position K in which the fan cleaning device 24 is in contact with the indoor fan 16, as indicated with a dotted line L.
    With the internal fan 16 rotating in the opposite direction, as described above, the tip of the brush 24b is arcuate by the movement of the fan blades 16a, and the brush 24b is pressed against the rear parts of the ventilation blades 16a by friction . Thus, the dust accumulating near the leading edges (radial edge parts) of the fan blades 16a is removed by the brush 24b.
    Dust tends to accumulate near the leading edges of the fan blades 16a in particular. This is explained by the fact that during the air conditioning operation (see FIG. 4) during which the indoor fan 16 rotates in the forward direction, the air strikes next to the leading edges of the faces of the blades fan 16a, and the dust settles near these leading edges. The air which has struck the parts adjacent to the leading edges of the fan blades 16a travels along the curves of the faces of the fan blades 16a and passes through the spaces between the adjacent fan blades 16a, 16a.
    In the present embodiment, as described above, the brush 24b is brought into contact with the fan blades 16a, and the interior fan 16 is rotated in the reverse direction. Then, the brush 24b comes into contact with the rear parts of the fan blades 16a near their leading edges, and the dust accumulating near the leading edges of both the faces and rear parts of the blades fan 16a is removed together. For this reason, most of the dust accumulating on the indoor fan 16 can be removed.
    In addition, the reverse rotation of the indoor fan 16 produces, inside the indoor unit Ui (see Figure 2), slight air flows in directions opposite to the directions during the forward rotation of the fan interior 16 (see Figure 4). Thus, the dust j removed from the interior fan 16 is not directed towards the air discharge orifice h4 (see FIG. 2) and is led to the condensation receiving tank 18 through the space between the exchanger indoor heat sink 15a and the indoor fan 16, as shown in Figure 7A.
    To be more specific, the dust j removed from the indoor fan 16 by the brush 24b is slightly compressed against the indoor heat exchanger before 15a by air pressure. In addition, the dust j falls on the condensation receiving tank 18 (see the arrow in FIG. 7) along the inclined surface of the front interior heat exchanger 15a (the edges of the fins f). Thus, there is very little chance that the dust j will settle on the rear surface of the vertical air deflector 23 (see Figure 2) through a small space between the indoor fan 16 and the condensation receiving tank
    18. We obtain the prevention that the dust j is discharged inside during the next air conditioning operation.
    It should be noted that there is a possibility that some of the dust j removed from the indoor fan 16 does not fall into the condensation receiving tank 18, but becomes fixed on the indoor heat exchanger before 15a.
    This dust j attached to the front interior heat exchanger 15a is removed in a process in step S103 which will be described later.
    During cleaning of the indoor fan 16, the controller 30 can drive the indoor fan 16 at a speed in a medium to high speed range or can drive the indoor fan 16 at a speed in a speed range slow.
    The medium to high speed range of the rotation speed of the indoor fan 16 is, for example, 300 min-1 or greater than a value less than 1700 min-1. When the indoor fan 16 is thus driven at a speed in the medium to high speed range, the dust ja tends to be directed to the indoor heat exchanger before 15a, and therefore the dust ja is less likely to settle on the rear surface of the vertical air deflector 23 (see Figure 2), as described above. We therefore obtain the prevention that the dust j is discharged inside during the next air conditioning operation.
    In addition, the slow speed range of the rotation speed of the indoor fan 16 is, for example, 100 min-1 or greater than a value less than 300 min-1. When the indoor fan 16 is thus rotated at a speed in the slow speed range, the indoor fan 16 can be cleaned with little noise.
    After completion of the process in step S101, in step S102 the controller 30 moves the brush 24b, which is a cleaning element. In other words, the controller 30 rotates the brush 24b approximately 180 ° around the shaft portion 24a from the state (see Figure 7A) in which the tip of the brush 24b facing the indoor fan 16, so that the tip of the brush 24b now faces the indoor heat exchanger 15 (see Figure 7B). This may prevent the fan cleaner 24 from obstructing the flow of air during the subsequent air conditioning operation. It should be noted that, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the tip of the brush 24b is brought to face the internal heat exchanger 15, the tip of the brush 24b is preferably in contact with the heat exchanger interior before 15a, or is preferably in space in the interior heat exchanger before 15a.
    Then, in step S103, the controller 30 frosts and defrosts the indoor heat exchanger 15 sequentially. First of all, the control member 30 causes the indoor heat exchanger 15 to function as an evaporator in order to freeze the indoor heat exchanger 15, forming frost with the water contained in the air taken from the air. indoor unit Ui on the indoor heat exchanger 15. It should be noted that the process for freezing the indoor heat exchanger 15 is included in "fixing the condensed water" on the indoor heat exchanger 15 .
    While the indoor heat exchanger 15 is frozen, the controller 30 preferably sets a low temperature as the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger 15. in other words, while causing the indoor heat exchanger 15 to function as an evaporator to freeze the indoor heat exchanger 15 (or fix the condensed water), the control member 30 adjusts the pressure of the refrigerant which flows into the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant may be lower than during the normal air conditioning operation.
    For example, the controller 30 reduces the amount of air in the indoor unit Ui by reducing the degree to which the regulator 14 (see Figure 1) is opened, by reducing the number of revolutions of the indoor fan 16 or by stopping the indoor fan 16, so that a low pressure, low evaporation temperature refrigerant can flow into the indoor heat exchanger 15. For this reason, frost or ice (indicated by the reference sign i in FIG. 7B) develops more easily in the indoor heat exchanger 15, and therefore, during defrosting thereafter, the indoor heat exchanger 15 can be washed with a large amount of water.
    Furthermore, it is preferable that, in the indoor heat exchanger 15, an area positioned below the fan cleaner 24 is not in a region downstream of the flow of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger 15 (i.e. the area is in a region upstream or halfway through the flow). For this reason, a low-temperature two-phase liquid-gas refrigerant flows at least under (on the lower side of) the fan cleaning device 24 and therefore, the frost or ice fixed on the heat exchanger interior heat 15 can be thickened. Thus, during the defrosting, the internal heat exchanger 15 can be washed with a large amount of water.
    It should be noted that the dust scraped from the indoor fan 16 by the fan cleaning device 24 is likely to become fixed on the zone in the indoor heat exchanger 15 located below the fan cleaning device 24. Thus, the flow of low-temperature liquid gas two-phase refrigerant into the area in the indoor heat exchanger 15 below the fan cleaning device 24 facilitates the development of frost or ice, and the melting of frost or ice ice results in the removal of dust on the indoor heat exchanger 15, appropriately.
    In addition, while causing the indoor heat exchanger 15 to function as an evaporator and by frosting (or fixing the condensed water on) the indoor heat exchanger 15, the control member 30 preferably closes the deflector. vertical air 23 (see Figure 2) or orient the vertical air deflector 23 at a more ascending angle than a horizontal state. This helps to prevent the escape of low temperature air cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 15 inside the room and allows defrosting and the like of the indoor heat exchanger 15 without placing a user in it. an uncomfortable environment.
    After defrosting the indoor heat exchanger 15, the controller 30 defrosts the indoor heat exchanger 15 (step S103 in Figure 6). For example, the control member 30 defrosts the indoor heat exchanger 15 at room temperature while keeping the equipment stopped. As a variant, the control member 30 can melt the frost or the ice attached to the indoor heat exchanger 15 by performing the heating operation or the fan (or ventilation) operation.
    FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the internal heat exchanger 15 is defrosted.
    When the indoor heat exchanger 15 is defrosted, the frost or ice fixed on the indoor heat exchanger 15 melts, and a large amount of water w flows from the fins f to the receiving tank of condensation 18. For this reason, the dust j fixed on the indoor heat exchanger 15 during the air conditioning operation can be removed.
    In addition, the dust j attached to the front interior heat exchanger 15a following the cleaning of the interior fan 16 by the brush 24b is also removed and flows to the condensation receiving tank 18 (see arrow 7B). The water w which has thus flowed towards the condensation receiving tank 18 is discharged towards the outside by a discharge pipe (not shown) together with the dust j (see FIG. 7A) which has directly fallen onto the condensation receiving tray 18 during cleaning of the indoor fan 16. As described above, there is practically no possibility of the drain pipe or the like (not shown) through which a large amount of water flows during defrosting the indoor heat exchanger 15 becomes clogged with dust jAfter icing and defrosting the indoor heat exchanger 15 (step S103), the control member 30 can perform the heating operation or the fan operation, to dry the interior of the indoor unit Ui, although it is omitted in Figure 6. This can help prevent bacteria from growing in the stove. indoor heat sink 15 or similar.
    In the air conditioner 100 thus configured, the fan cleaner 24 cleans the indoor fan 16 (step S101 in Figure 6), which can help prevent dust j from being discharged inside. In addition, since the fan cleaning device 24 is arranged between the front indoor heat exchanger 15a and the indoor fan 16, the dust scraped from the indoor fan 16 by the brush 24b can be brought to the receiving tank. condensation 18.
    In addition, during cleaning of the indoor fan 16, the controller 30 rotates the indoor fan 16 in the opposite direction. This can prevent dust j from going to the air discharge port h4.
    In addition, during the normal air conditioning operation, the brush 24b is positioned on the side (see FIG. 4) and hardly impedes the flow of air. In addition to this, the fan cleaning device 24 is arranged upstream in the air flow. These two configurations help to prevent, during normal air conditioning operation, the reduction in the amount of air due to the fan cleaner 24 and to increase the energy consumed by the indoor fan 16. The reason why the reduction air quantity is avoided, when the fan cleaning device 24 is upstream, lies in the fact that the air flow is slower downstream than upstream due to the fact that the areas of the orifices of air intake h1, h2 are greater than that of the air discharge port h4.
    When a large amount of dust settles on the indoor fan 16, in some cases, dew dripping may take place outside during the cooling operation because the air discharge temperature decreases to compensate for the reduction in performance of the indoor fan 16. To cope with this, in the present embodiment, as previously described, the indoor fan 16 is appropriately cleaned to help prevent the reduction in the amount of air in the indoor fan 16 due to fixing dust. Thus, the present embodiment can prevent the dripping of dew due to dust on the indoor fan 16.
    Furthermore, since the controller 30 frost and defrost the indoor heat exchanger 15 sequentially (step S103 in Fig. 6), the dust j attached to the indoor heat exchanger 15 is removed with the water w and flows to the condensation tank 18.
    In this way, the present embodiment can keep the indoor fan 16 clean, and also can keep the indoor heat exchanger 15 clean. For this reason, the air conditioner 100 can obtain pleasant air conditioning. In addition, the cost of maintenance and labor for the user to clean the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 can be reduced.
    <Cleaning element cleaning process (brush)>
    With reference to FIG. 8, the following part describes an operation for cleaning the brush 24b (cleaning element). Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process for cleaning the brush 24b (the cleaning element) performed by the controller 30 (see Figure 2, if necessary).
    The following description assumes that at the "START" time in the flowchart in Figure 8, an air conditioning operation is not performed.
    In step S110 of FIG. 8, the control member 30 performs the command to bring the brush 24b (cleaning element) into contact with the internal heat exchanger 15. It should be noted that the timing for cleaning the brush 24b (a trigger to start the process for cleaning the brush 24b) may be a condition in which, for example, an integrated time of air conditioning operation since the previous cleaning of the brush 24b, reaches a predetermined time. Note that this is only an example. For example, the controller 30 may adjust the time for cleaning the brush 24b during the cooling operation or the frosting operation and cleaning the fan cleaner 24 during the cooling operation or the cleaning operation. icing.
    Then, in step S120, the controller 30 begins to control the dew water generation operation. In this command, the control member 30 performs the icing and defrosting operation, the cooling operation or the like.
    Then, in step S130, the controller 30 repeatedly determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and waits until it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed ("Yes" ).
    When it is determined in step S130 that the predetermined time has elapsed ("Yes"), in step S140, the control member 30 completes the control of the dew water generation operation .
    Then, in step S150, the control member 30 performs the command to close the vertical air deflector 23 or to orient the vertical air deflector 23 horizontally or more upwards.
    If the heating operation is to be carried out after step S170, it is preferable that in step S160, the control member 30 performs the command to stop the rotation of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan). This treatment in step S160 is carried out in order to keep the room comfortable by preventing the heat exchanged air from being discharged inside when the heating operation is carried out in step S170 to dry the brush 24b (element of cleaning). Even if the controller 30 does not perform the process in step S160 (i.e. does not stop the rotation of the indoor fan 16 (blower)), the air conditioner 100 can continue to dry the brush 24b (cleaning element) in step S170. Thus, the process in step S160 is not essential and can be omitted. In addition, the process in step S160 is performed assuming that the heating operation is to be performed in step S170. If the heating operation is not to be performed in step S170, the process in step S160 is omitted.
    Then, in step S170, the control member 30 begins to control a brush drying operation 24b (cleaning element). The air conditioner 100 can dry the brush 24b (cleaning element) by performing either the heating operation during which the indoor heat exchanger 15 operates as a condenser, or a fan operation or the like. The following description assumes that the control member 30 performs the heating operation.
    4
    Then, in step S180, the controller 30 repeatedly determines whether a predetermined time has passed, and waits until the predetermined time has elapsed.
    When it is determined in step S180 that the predetermined time has elapsed ("Yes"), in step S190 the control member 30 completes the brush drying operation 24b (cleaning element). Then, in step S200, the control member 30 performs the control to move the brush 24b (cleaning element) away from the internal heat exchanger 15. With this, a series of processes ends.
    It should be noted that in steps S170 to S200, the temperature of the brush 24b is increased to the thermal death point of the bacteria or higher and maintained for a desirable period of time so that the bacteria (fungi) can be completely eradicated . The following description assumes that the thermal break point of bacteria is 50 ° C or more. This temperature of 50 ° C is based on the thermal death point of bacteria (Aspergillus sp. Conidium) (time: 5 minutes) in table 4 "Thermal tolerance of bacteria" on the following website of the Ministry of Education , culture, sports, science and technology of Japan. However, the thermal death point of bacteria is not necessarily limited to 50 ° C or more.
    (Website) http: //www.mext.go.iDZb menu / shingi / chousa / sonota / 003 / houkoku / 081 11918Z002.htm
    For example, the desirable period of time described above can be five minutes when the maintained temperature is 50 ° C or more. The desirable period of time may be shorter than five minutes when the maintained temperature is above 50 ° C.
    The indoor unit Ui can keep the brush 24b clean by maintaining the temperature of the brush 24b at the thermal death point of bacteria in steps S170 to S200 to kill bacteria (fungi).
    The flowchart in Figure 8 can be changed according to the flowchart in Figure 9, for example. FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating another process for cleaning the brush 24b (cleaning element) carried out by the control member 30.
    The flowchart in Figure 9 differs from the flowchart in Figure 8 in that the process in steps S110 and S120 is replaced by the process in steps S110a and S120a. The process in step S110a in Figure 9 corresponds to the process in step S120 in Figure 8, and the process in step S120a in Figure 9 corresponds to the process in step S110 in Figure 8. In in other words, in the flow diagram of FIG. 9, the steps S110 and S120 in FIG. 8 are switched.
    Specifically, in the flow diagram of FIG. 9, in step S110a, the controller 30 starts the command for the dew water generation operation. In this command, the control member 30 performs the icing and defrosting operation, the cooling operation or the like. Then, in the flow diagram of FIG. 9, in step S120a, the control member 30 performs the control to bring the brush 24b (cleaning element) into contact with the internal heat exchanger 15.
    cleaning element orientation (brush)>
    While the air conditioning operation such as the heating operation or the cooling operation is performed, the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 is preferably oriented in a range of desirable upward and downward tolerance angle α with respect to the horizontal direction, as illustrated in Figure 10A for example. It is also preferable that the orientation of the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 is maintained, as illustrated in FIG. 10A in the process of step S110 of FIG. 8 or step S120a of FIG. 9 also. Figure 10A is a diagram illustrating an example of how the brush 24b (cleaning element) is oriented during the air conditioning operation. In this case, the indoor unit Ui can obtain a relatively favorable air conditioning efficiency by maintaining the orientation of the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 at the orientation illustrated in FIG. 10A so as not to impede the flow of air flowing inside. It should be noted that, in the example illustrated in FIG. 10A, the shaft part 24a of the fan cleaning device 24 is disposed in a position PO positioned next to the curvature part of the front interior heat exchanger 15a. Then, the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 is held to be oriented in the range of the tolerance angle a upward and downward in the horizontal direction.
    It should be noted that inside the indoor unit Ui, the air flows towards the center O (see FIG. 10B) of the indoor fan 16. Thus, around the indoor fan 16, an upward direction has a lower air resistance in a higher position than the center O of the indoor fan 16, and a downward direction has low air resistance in a lower position than the center O of the indoor fan 16. Thus, the orientation of the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 can preferably be maintained so as to be parallel to the air flow illustrated in FIG. 10B for example during the air conditioning operation such as the heating operation or the cooling operation. It is also preferable that the orientation of the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 can be maintained, as illustrated in Figure 10B in the process of step S110 of Figure 8 or step S120a in Figure 9 also. FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating another example of how the brush 24b (cleaning element) is oriented during the air conditioning operation or during the cleaning operation of the brush 24b (cleaning element). For example, the orientation of the brush 24b in this case is such that the tip of the brush 24b is oriented more upwards than horizontally if the shaft part 24a is positioned in a position P1 higher than the center O of the interior fan 16. In addition, for example, the orientation of the brush 24b in this case is such that the tip of the brush 24b is oriented more down than horizontally if the shaft part 24a is positioned in a position P2 lower than the center O of the indoor fan 16. Also, in this case, the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 is in contact with the fins f of the indoor heat exchanger 15 which are in contact with the heat exchanger tubes g through which a refrigerant flows in the gaseous state or in a two-phase state. Then, in this case also, the indoor unit Ui can obtain a relatively favorable air conditioning efficiency by maintaining the orientation of the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 in the orientation illustrated in the figure.
    10B so as not to obstruct the flow of air flowing inside.
    However, even if the shaft part 24a is positioned in the position PO higher than the center O of the indoor fan 16, as illustrated in FIG. 11, for example, the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 can be oriented so that the tip of the brush 24b is oriented more down than horizontally. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of how the brush 24b (cleaning element) is oriented during the air conditioning operation. In this case, the dew water (condensed water) fixed on the brush 24b flows from the side of the shaft part 24a towards the tip side of the brush 24b and drips from the tip of the brush 24b. In this case, the dew water (condensed water) drips together with the dust fixed on the brush 24b. Thus, the indoor unit Ui can remove dust from the brush 24 effectively.
    It should be noted that, as illustrated in FIG. 11 for example, the control member 30 can preferably determine the angle of the fan cleaning device 24 so that the fan cleaning device 24 is arranged to be oriented obliquely downwards, so that in the dew water generation, the dew water can flow from the tip side of the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 to a part of the exchanger internal heat 15 (for example its lower part) or to the condensation receiving tank 18. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can cause the fan cleaning device 24 to function as a conduit for dew water.
    Furthermore, preferably, the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 can be moved away from the front interior heat exchanger 15a, as illustrated in FIG. 12, for example, during the operation which cools the heat exchanger interior 15, such as the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating how the brush 24b (cleaning element) is oriented during the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation. In this case, the indoor unit Ui can prevent the dew water (condensed water) generated in the indoor heat exchanger 15 from going down to the brush 24b and dripping. Thus, the indoor unit Ui can effectively clean the indoor heat exchanger 15 with dew water (condensed water).
    Alternatively, even during the cleaning operation or the dehumidification operation, the fan cleaning device 24 can be oriented horizontally or within the range of the predetermined angle α relative to the horizontal direction, as illustrated in the figure 10A, for example.
    Furthermore, even during the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation, the fan cleaning device 24 can be oriented parallel to the air flow, as illustrated in FIG. 10B for example.
    Furthermore, even during the heating operation, the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24 can be moved away from the front interior heat exchanger 15a, as illustrated in FIG. 12 for example. In other words, during the heating operation, the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation, the control member 30 can keep the fan cleaning device 24 out of contact with the indoor heat exchanger. 15, as illustrated in FIG. 12 for example.
    cTime to clean the blower fan (indoor fan)>
    In the embodiment described above, the timing for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (a trigger to start cleaning the indoor fan 16) is a condition in which an integrated time of air conditioning operation since the previous cleaning of the indoor fan 16, reaches a predetermined time. However, the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 can be changed to suit the operation, as shown in Figure 13, for example. FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example of an operation for modifying the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower fan).
    With reference to FIG. 13, the following part describes an operation consisting in modifying the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower fan). In this example, a user of the air conditioner 100 instructs the air conditioner 100 to perform the air conditioning operation and to stop the air conditioning operation at any time.
    In step S610 in Figure 13, the controller 30 determines the time to clean the indoor fan 16 based on a set point condition stored in storage 31a (see Figure 5) in advance. The following description assumes that as a time for cleaning the indoor fan 16, an operating condition in which an operating time (cumulative operating time) of the indoor fan 16 reaches a desired time is determined. In addition, the following description assumes that the time to clean the indoor fan 16 is changed when the operating time of the indoor fan 16 reaches a predetermined threshold. Instead of the operation of the indoor fan 16, the controller 30 may use the number of accumulated revolutions of the indoor fan 16, the integrated value of the speed of rotation of the indoor fan 16 and the operating time, or the like.
    Then, in step S620, the controller 30 begins the air conditioning operation when a user indicates the execution of the air conditioning operation.
    Then, in step S630, the control member 30 measures an operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan).
    Then, in step S640, the controller 30 determines whether the operating condition indicates that the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) has arrived.
    When it is determined in step S640 that the operating condition indicates that the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) has arrived ("Yes"), the process continues at step S690. If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S640 that the operating condition indicates that the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) has not arrived (“No”), in step S650 l the controller 30 determines whether the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) has reached the threshold.
    When it is determined in step S650 that the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower) has not reached the threshold ("No"), in step S660, the controller 30 determines whether an operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation must stop, that is to say that a user has indicated to stop the air conditioning operation.
    When it is determined in step S660 that the operating condition does not indicate that the air conditioning operation should be stopped ("No"), the process returns to step S630. When, on the other hand, it is determined, in step S660, that the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation must be stopped (“Yes >>), in step S670 the control member 30 stops the air conditioning operation. With this, a series of processes ends.
    When it is determined, in step S650 above that the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower) has reached the threshold ("Yes >>), in step S680 the control member 30 changes the time to clean the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) based on the set condition in storage 31a (see Figure 5) in advance. This allows the control member 30 to clean the indoor fan 16 (blower) at a higher frequency or a lower frequency than the current frequency. Then the process continues at step S690.
    In step S690, the controller 30 repeatedly determines whether the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation is to be stopped, i.e., if a user has indicated to stop the operation and waits until it is determined that the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation should be stopped ("Yes").
    When it is determined in step S690 that the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation must be stopped ("Yes"), in step S700 the control member 30 stops the air conditioning operation. Then, in step S710, the controller 30 cleans the indoor fan 16 (blower fan). With this, a series of processes ends.
    cTime to clean the cleaning element (brush)>
    In the embodiment described above, the time to clean the brush 24b (a trigger to start cleaning the brush 24b) is, for example, a condition in which an integrated time of air conditioning operation since the previous cleaning of the brush 24b, reaches a predetermined time. However, the time to clean the brush 24b can be changed to suit the operation, as illustrated in Figure 14, for example. FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an example of an operation consisting in modifying the time for cleaning the brush 24b (cleaning element).
    With reference to FIG. 14, the following part describes an operation for modifying the time for cleaning the brush 24b (cleaning element). In this example, a user of the air conditioner 100 instructs the air conditioner 100 to perform the air conditioning operation and stop the air conditioning operation at any time.
    In step S810 in Figure 14, the controller 30 determines the time to clean the brush 24b based on a set point condition stored in the storage 31a (see Figure 5) in advance. The following description assumes that as the time for cleaning the brush 24b, an operating condition in which an operating time (cumulative operating time) of the indoor fan 16 (blower) reaches a desired time is determined. In addition, the following description assumes that the time for cleaning the brush 24b is changed when the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower) reaches a predetermined threshold. It should be noted that the time mentioned above for cleaning the brush 24b is nothing more than an example. For example, the controller 30 may use the cooling operation or the icing operation as time to clean the brush 24b, and clean the fan cleaner 24 during the cooling operation or the icing operation.
    Then, in step S820, the controller 30 begins the air conditioning operation once a user has indicated the execution of the air conditioning operation.
    Then, in step S830, the control member 30 measures the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan).
    Then, in step S840, the controller 30 determines whether the operating condition indicates that the time for cleaning the brush 24b has arrived.
    When it has been determined in step S840 that the operating condition indicates that the time for cleaning the brush 24b has arrived ("Yes"), the process continues at step S890. If, on the other hand, it is determined in step S840 which indicates that the timing for cleaning the brush 24b has not arrived (“No”), in step S850 the control member 30 determines whether the time of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) has reached the threshold.
    When it is determined in step S850 that the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower) has not reached the threshold ("No"), in step S860 the controller 30 determines whether an operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation must be stopped, that is to say that a user has indicated to stop the air conditioning operation.
    When it is determined in step S860 that the operating condition does not indicate that the air conditioning operation should be stopped ("No"), the process returns to step S830. When, on the other hand, it is determined in step S860 that the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation must be stopped (“Yes”), in step S870, the control member 30 stops the air conditioning operation. With this, a series of processes ends.
    When it is determined in step S850 above that the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower) has reached the threshold ("Yes"), in step S880 the controller 30 modifies the time to clean the brush 24b based on the set point condition stored in the storage 31a (see Figure 5) in advance. This allows the control member 30 to clean the brush 24b at a higher frequency or a lower frequency than the current frequency. After which, the process continues to step S890.
    In step S890, the controller 30 repeatedly determines whether the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation is to be stopped, i.e., if a user has indicated to stop the operation and waits until it is determined that the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation should be stopped ("Yes").
    When it is determined in step S890 that the operating condition indicates that the air conditioning operation must be stopped ("Yes"), in step S900 the control member 30 stops the air conditioning operation. Then, in step S910, the controller 30 cleans the brush 24b. With this, a series of processes ends.
    <Frequency of cleaning the fan cleaning device by bringing the fan cleaning device into contact with the indoor heat exchanger
    In the present embodiment, the indoor unit Ui cleans the brush 24b (cleaning element) of the fan cleaning device 24 by exploiting the dew water (condensed water) generated in the indoor heat exchanger 15 during l icing and defrosting operation or the cooling operation. However, generating dew water requires energy. Thus, it is preferable that the frequency of cleaning of the fan cleaning device 24 by bringing the fan cleaning device 24 in contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15, be as low as possible. Taking this into consideration, since the amount of dust attached to the fan cleaner 24 is less than the amount of dust attached to the indoor fan 16 (blower), the frequency of cleaning the fan cleaner fan 24 by bringing the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15 is preferably less than the cleaning frequency of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) with the fan cleaning device 24. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can reduce energy consumption.
    Main features of the air conditioner>
    (1) As illustrated in FIG. 2, the air conditioner 100 comprises the refrigeration cycle having the indoor heat exchanger 15 (heat exchanger), the indoor fan 16 (blower fan), the fan cleaner 24 which cleans the interior fan 16 with the brush 24b (cleaning element), and the control member 30 (see FIG. 5). The brush 24b is configured to be able to come into contact with both the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 selectively. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the control member 30 can carry out the contact control for bringing the brush 24b into contact with the internal heat exchanger 15 (see step S110) and the generation operation control for generating the dew water (condensed water) in the indoor heat exchanger 15 (see step S120). As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the control member 30 causes the refrigeration cycle to generate dew water in the indoor heat exchanger 15 before bringing the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15 or while keeping the fan cleaning device 24 in contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15.
    It should be noted that the cleaning element can be an element such as a sponge instead of the brush 24b.
    The dew water (condensed water) generated in the indoor heat exchanger 15 can be temporarily frosted water and fixed on the indoor heat exchanger 15 in the form of frost (or ice) and defrosted.
    In addition, the contact command (see step S110 in Figure 8) and the generation operation command (see step S120 in Figure 8) can have a reverse order, such as step S110A and step S120a illustrated in FIG. 9.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can clean the brush 24b by exploiting the dew water (condensed water) generated in the indoor heat exchanger 15, and therefore can clean the brush 24b effectively.
    (2) As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the control member 30 performs a drying operation after having caused the refrigeration cycle to generate dew water in the indoor heat exchanger 15. The operation of drying is carried out by the heating operation or the fan operation in which the indoor heat exchanger 15 operates as a condenser (see step S170).
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can effectively dry the brush 24b and therefore can keep the brush 24b clean.
    (3) As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, if the heating operation in which the indoor heat exchanger 15 operates as a condenser, must be carried out in step S170 as a drying operation, after that the refrigeration cycle has generated dew water in the indoor heat exchanger 15, in step S110 in FIG. 8 or step S120a in FIG. 9, the control member 30 preferably performs the contact control on the fan cleaning device 24 and brings the brush 24b into contact with the internal heat exchanger 15.
    In the heating operation in step S170, the air conditioner 100 thus configured makes it possible to efficiently transmit the heat from the indoor heat exchanger 15 to the brush 24b and therefore can quickly dry the brush 24b. However, the air conditioner 100 can dry the brush 24b without the interior heat exchanger 15 being in contact with the brush 24b.
    (4) In the drying operation carried out after the refrigeration cycle has generated dew water in the indoor heat exchanger 15, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the control member 30 preferably closes the vertical air deflector 23 or orient the vertical air deflector 23 horizontally or more upwards (see step S150), stops the indoor fan 16 (blowing fan) (see step S160) or both.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured above performs the drying operation with the water passing through the indoor heat exchanger 15 which is not strongly discharged inside by the air discharge orifice h4 (see Figure 2). Thus, air conditioner 100 can help prevent dew water from leaking outside through the air discharge port h4 (see Figure 2) and can keep the indoor air clean.
    (5) As illustrated in FIG. 10A, 10B or 11, for the drying operation, the control member 30 preferably brings the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the fins f of the indoor heat exchanger 15 which are in contact with the heat exchanger tubes g where a refrigerant flows in the gaseous state or in a two-phase state.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can raise the temperature of the fan cleaning device 24 efficiently by using the heat transmitted from the fins f. In particular, the heat exchanger tubes g of the indoor heat exchanger 15 in which a refrigerant in the gaseous state or in a two-phase state flows, tend to be hotter than the heat exchanger tubes. heat g in which a liquid refrigerant flows. For this reason, when the fan cleaning device 24 is brought into contact with the fins f in contact with the heat exchanger tubes g in which a refrigerant flows in the gaseous state or in a two-phase state, the fan cleaning device 24 can be heated more easily.
    (6) For example, if the heating operation using the indoor heat exchanger 15 as a condenser is to be carried out in step S170 in the example illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 as illustrated in FIGS. 10A, 10B and 11, the control member 30 preferably points the fan cleaning device 24 towards the internal heat exchanger 15 to make the fan cleaning device 24 more easily raise the temperature.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can raise the temperature of the fan cleaning device 24 using the heat transmitted from the fins f so that, for example, bacteria (fungi) can be sufficiently eradicated. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can keep the fan cleaning device 24 clean.
    (7) For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the control member 30 can keep the fan cleaning device 24 away from the indoor heat exchanger 15 during the heating operation, the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation.
    During the heating operation, the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation, the air conditioner 100 thus configured can help prevent dust from passing from the indoor heat exchanger 15 to the fan cleaner 24, and can reduce the amount of dust which attaches to the fan cleaning device 24. In addition, the air conditioner 100 can prevent the dew water (condensed water) generated in the indoor heat exchanger 15 from going down to the brush 24b and drip, and therefore the indoor heat exchanger 15 can be effectively washed with dew water (condensed water).
    (8) The fan cleaning device 24 is structured to rotate around the shaft part 24a. During the heating operation, the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation, the controller 30 desirably directs the fan cleaner 24 horizontally or within a range of a predetermined angle relative to in the horizontal direction, as shown in Figure 10A.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured does not interfere with the flow of air flowing therein, and therefore can achieve relatively favorable air conditioning efficiency.
    (9) Alternatively, during the heating operation, the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation, the control member 30 can direct the fan cleaning device 24 parallel to the air flow, as illustrated in Figure 10B.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured does not interfere with the flow of air flowing therein, and therefore can achieve relatively favorable air conditioning efficiency.
    (10) In the air conditioner 100, a part of the indoor heat exchanger 15 (for example, its lower part) or the condensation receiving tank 18 is arranged below the fan cleaning device 24. For example, as illustrated in Figure 11, the controller 30 may preferably direct the fan cleaner 24 obliquely downward so that the tip of the fan cleaner 24 can be positioned toward the low. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can operate the fan cleaning device 24 as a conduit for dew water, so that in the generation of dew water, the dew water can flow to the side of the tip of the fan cleaning device 24 towards a part of the internal heat exchanger 15 (for example, its lower part) or towards the condensation receiving tank 18.
    By operating the fan cleaner 24 as a conduit for dew water, the air conditioner 100 thus configured allows the dust attached to the fan cleaner 24 to fall together with the dew water. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can wash the fan cleaner 24 effectively.
    (11) Preferably, the frequency of cleaning the fan cleaning device 24 by bringing the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15 is less than the cleaning frequency of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan ) with the fan cleaning device 24.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can reduce the frequency of the generation of dew water (condensed water) intended to be used to clean the fan cleaning device 24. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can reduce the energy consumption.
    (12) As illustrated in FIG. 8, if the heating operation is to be carried out in step S170, the control member 30 preferably performs the operation control to stop the rotation of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan ) in step S160.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured performs the heating operation in step S170 with the rotation of the indoor fan 16 stopped and thus prevents the heat exchanged air from being discharged inside, in order to keep the room comfortable.
    (13) As illustrated in FIG. 13, the control member 30 can preferably modify the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) according to the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan).
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can automatically change the time for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower) and therefore can improve the efficiency for cleaning the indoor fan 16 (blower).
    (14) As illustrated in FIG. 14, the control member 30 can preferably modify the time for cleaning the brush 24b (cleaning element) according to the operating time of the indoor fan 16 (blower fan).
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can automatically change the time for cleaning the brush 24b (cleaning element) and therefore can improve the cleaning efficiency of the brush 24b (cleaning element).
    In addition, for example, since the brush 24b is less likely to be soiled than the indoor fan 16, the air conditioner 100 thus configured can determine the time to clean the brush 24b so that the frequency to clean the brush 24b bringing the brush 24b into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15 is less than the frequency for cleaning the indoor fan 16 with the fan cleaning device 24. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can determine a favorable value as a frequency for cleaning the brush 24b by bringing the brush 24b into contact with the internal heat exchanger 15.
    (15) By performing the contact control to bring the brush 24b into the indoor heat exchanger 15 (see step S110 in Figure 8), the controller 30 can move the dust attached to the brush 24b from the brush 24b to the interior heat exchanger 15.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can pass the dust fixed to the brush 24b, from the brush 24b to the indoor heat exchanger 15 by rubbing the dust against the indoor heat exchanger 15 and therefore can remove the dust from the brush 24b effectively.
    In addition, the air conditioner 100 allows the dust displaced on the indoor heat exchanger 15 to drip together with the dew water going down to the indoor heat exchanger 15 and therefore can effectively improve cleaning.
    Furthermore, since the indoor heat exchanger 15 is typically grounded, the air conditioner 100 can achieve the neutralizing effect for the brush 24b (i.e. the neutralizing effect for the brush 24b to complicate the fact that the dust settles on the brush 24b). For this reason, the air conditioner 100 can be made so that the dust is less inclined to settle on the brush 24b and keep the brush 24b more easily.
    (16) When the brush 24b is rotated and moved after carrying out the operation command to fix the dew water on the brush 24b, the control member 30 causes the brush 24b to pivot the along a lower semicircle of the shaft portion 24a of the fan cleaner 24.
    The air conditioner 100 thus configured can help prevent the dew water attached to the brush 24b from flowing from the tip side to the side of the shaft portion 24a of the brush 24b, from accumulating at the shaft part 24a, and to drip from the shaft part 24a in the form of a relatively large drop. Thus, the air conditioner 100 can reduce the diffusion of dew water.
    As described above, the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment can effectively wash the fan cleaner 24.
    "Modifications"
    Although the air conditioner 100 according to the present invention has been described above using the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to what has been described above, and can be modified in various ways.
    <First modification>
    Figure 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for cleaning the fan cleaner 24 of an air conditioner according to a first modification.
    In the first modification, the process for cleaning the fan cleaning device 24 illustrated in Figure 15, is carried out at any time. For example, to carry out the process in the flowchart in Figure 8 (or Figure 9) at the desired time, the air conditioner according to the first modification can carry out the process in several times in the flowchart illustrated in Figure 15 instead of the process in the flowchart of Figure 8 (or Figure 9) at one time. Alternatively, the air conditioner according to the first modification can carry out the process in the flowchart illustrated in Figure 15 instead of the process in the flowchart in Figure 8 (or Figure 9) each time.
    In the example of Figure 15, the controller 30 determines whether the time to clean the fan cleaning device 24 has arrived (step S1010). When it is determined in step S1010 that the cleaning time has not arrived ("No"), the process ends. When it is determined that the cleaning time has arrived ("Yes"), the process continues at step S1020. In this case, the controller 30 rotates the indoor fan 16 (blower fan) in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation during the air conditioning operation (step S1020). Then, the controller 30 rotates the fan cleaner 24 several times within a range including an angle at which the fan cleaner 24 comes into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15 (step S1030). With this, the process ends.
    By bringing the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the indoor heat exchanger 15 several times, the air conditioner according to the first modification thus configured can rub the fan cleaning device 24 against the indoor heat exchanger 15 and scrape the dust attached to the fan cleaning device 24. In addition, since the indoor heat exchanger 15 is earthed, the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification can achieve the neutralizing effect for the brush 24b (c that is to say the effect of neutralizing the brush 24b to complicate the fixing of dust on the brush 24b). For this reason, the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification can allow the dust to be less likely to attach to the brush 24b and can keep the brush 24b more easily. In addition, the air conditioner 100 according to the first modification does not generate dew water and can reduce the energy consumption, compared to the case in which the process is carried out in the flowchart in FIG. 8 (or FIG. 9 ).
    In the first modification, in the operation of rotating the fan cleaning device 24, the indoor fan 16 (blower) rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation during the air conditioning operation (see step S1020). The air conditioner according to the first modification can thus help prevent dust from flying inside the indoor unit Ui and being discharged inside through the air discharge port h4.
    <Second modification>
    FIG. 16A is a side view of the interior heat exchanger 15 of an air conditioner according to a second modification. FIG. 16B is an interior view of the interior heat exchanger 15 of the air conditioner according to the second modification.
    As illustrated in FIG. 16A, in the air conditioner according to the second modification, the fins f of the indoor heat exchanger 15 are provided with slots si. As illustrated in FIG. 16A, each slot si is preferably provided at a location with which the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 comes into contact when the fan cleaner 24 pivots. In the example illustrated in Figure 16B, the slot si is formed when the inner surface portion of the fin f is folded alternately from one surface side and the other surface side to a width of several millimeters.
    In some cases, the space between the fins f of the internal heat exchanger 15 (no fin) may be wider than the thickness of the bristles of the brush 24b of the fan cleaning device 24. Even in a in this case, the air conditioner according to the second modification can bring the brush 24b into contact with the fins f of the indoor heat exchanger 15 effectively. Thus, the air conditioner according to the second modification can wash the fan cleaning device 24 effectively.
    cThird modification>
    Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the indoor unit UAi of an air conditioner according to a third modification.
    In the third embodiment illustrated in Figure 17, a groove element M having a recessed shape in the longitudinal section is arranged below the front interior heat exchanger 15a. In addition, a rib 28 extending upward from the bottom surface of the groove element M is disposed in the groove element Μ. It should be noted that the other points are the same as those in the embodiment.
    In the groove element M illustrated in FIG. 17, a part on the front side of the edge 28 serves as a condensation receiving device 18A which receives the dew water from the indoor heat exchanger 15. In addition, in the groove element M, a part at the rear side of the rib 28 serves as a dust receiving device 29 which receives the dust falling from the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16. The receiving device dust 29 is arranged below the indoor heat exchanger 15.
    In addition, under the fan cleaning device 24, the indoor heat exchanger 15 (a lower part of the front indoor heat exchanger 15a) and the dust receiving device 29 are positioned. To be more specific, well as not shown, both the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the dust receiving device 29 are positioned under a contact position where the fan cleaning device 24 comes into contact with the indoor fan 16. Such a configuration produces also beneficial effects similar to those produced by the embodiment described above.
    It should be noted that during the defrosting of the indoor heat exchanger 15, the water falls not only from the condensation receiving device 18A, but also from the dust receiving device 29. Thus, the dust accumulating in the device receiving dust 29 can be discharged without problem.
    In addition, although the upper edge of the rib 28 is not in contact with the front interior heat exchanger 15a in the example illustrated in Figure 17, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Specifically, the upper edge of the rib 28 can be in contact with the front interior heat exchanger 15a.
    <Fourth modification>
    Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of the indoor fan 16 and a fan cleaning device 124A in an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment.
    In the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 18, the fan cleaning device 124A comprises a bar-shaped shaft part 124d parallel to the axial direction of the interior fan 16, a brush 124e disposed on the shaft part 124d, and a pair of support parts 124f, 124f arranged at the respective ends of the shaft part 124d. The fan cleaner 124A also includes a movement mechanism for moving the fan cleaner 124A axially and the like, although Figure 18 does not show the mechanism.
    As shown in FIG. 18, the length of the fan cleaning device 124A in a direction parallel to the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the indoor fan 16 is shorter than the axial length of the indoor fan 16. It should be noted that the direction axial (longitudinal direction) of the indoor fan 16 is the lateral direction, as seen from the front of the indoor unit Ui. Then, during cleaning of the indoor fan 16, the fan cleaning device 124A moves in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the indoor fan 16. In other words, the indoor fan 16 is cleaned in its predetermined area corresponding to the length of the fan cleaner 124A at a time, sequentially in the axial direction of the indoor fan 16. When the relatively short fan cleaner 124A is so configured to move, the manufacturing costs of the air conditioner may be reduced compared to the first embodiment.
    It should be noted that a bar (not shown) extending parallel to the shaft part 124d can be provided in the vicinity of (for example above) the fan cleaning device 124A and a predetermined movement mechanism (not shown) can move the fan cleaning device 124A along this bar. Further, after the fan cleaner 124A has cleaned the indoor fan 16, the movement mechanism (not shown) can rotate or translate the fan cleaner 124A appropriately to remove the fan fan cleaning 124A of the indoor fan 16.
    Furthermore, in the embodiment described, to clean the indoor fan 16, the control member 30 brings the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the indoor fan 16 and rotates the indoor fan 16 in the opposite direction of the direction of rotation during normal cooling operation (reverse rotation). However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Specifically, the control member 30 can bring the fan cleaning device 24 into contact with the indoor fan 16 and rotate the indoor fan 16 in the same direction as the direction of rotation during normal air conditioning operation ( forward rotation).
    When the indoor fan 16 is rotated in the forward direction with the brush 24b in contact with the indoor fan 16, the dust fixed near the leading edges of the faces of the fan blades 16a can be effectively removed. Furthermore, since a circuit element for rotating the indoor fan 16 in the opposite direction is therefore unnecessary, the manufacturing costs of the air conditioner 100 can be reduced. It should be noted that during cleaning, the indoor fan 16 can be rotated in the forward direction at a rotational speed in any of a slow speed range, a medium speed plate and a high speed range, as in the embodiment.
    Furthermore, although the embodiment describes a configuration for rotating the brush 24b around the shaft part 24a of the fan cleaning device 24, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, to clean the indoor fan 16, the control member 30 can move the shaft part 24a towards the indoor fan 16 to bring the brush 24b into contact with the indoor fan
    16. Then, after cleaning the indoor fan 16, the control member 30 can remove the shaft part 24a to bring the brush 24b out of contact with the indoor fan 16.
    Furthermore, although the embodiment describes a configuration in which the fan cleaning device 24 includes the brush 24b, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Specifically, as long as there is an element that can clean the indoor fan 16, a sponge or the like can be used.
    Furthermore, although the embodiment describes a configuration in which a region of the indoor heat exchanger 15 positioned below the fan cleaner 24 is not in the region downstream in the flow of a refrigerant, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the following configuration can be used. Specifically, in the indoor heat exchanger 15, a region higher than the fan cleaner 24 may not be in the downstream region (but in the upstream or mid-region) in the flow of a refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 15. To be more specific, in the front indoor heat exchanger 15a, a region which is positioned downstream in the air flow during the normal air conditioning operation and is higher than the fan cleaning device 24, is preferably not in the downstream region in the flow of a refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 15. With such a configuration, when the internal heat exchanger 15 frost, a thick frost is fixed on the region in the front internal heat exchanger 15a which is positioned downstream in the air flow r during normal air conditioning operation (the right side of the front interior heat exchanger 15a, as seen in Figure 2) and is higher than the fan cleaner 24. Then, when the heat exchanger interior 15 is subsequently defrosted, a large amount of water flows from the fins f. For this reason, the dust attached to the indoor heat exchanger 15 (including the dust removed from the indoor fan
    16) can be removed by washing the condensation container 18.
    Furthermore, although the embodiment describes a configuration in which while cleaning the indoor fan 16, the controller 30 keeps the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 in contact with the indoor fan 16, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In other words, while cleaning the indoor fan 16, the controller 30 can hold the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 near the indoor fan 16. To be more specific, the controller 30 brings the brush 24b near the interior fan 16 to a degree that it can remove the dust that collects at the leading edges of the fan blades 16a and develops radially outward from the leading edges . Such a configuration can also remove the dust accumulating on the indoor fan 16, as appropriate.
    Furthermore, although the embodiment describes a process for cleaning the indoor heat exchanger 15 by subjecting the indoor heat exchanger 15 to icing and the like, the present invention is not limited to such a process. For example, condensation can be caused on the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor heat exchanger 15 can be washed with dew water (condensed water). For example, the controller 30 calculates a dew point of the indoor air based on the temperature and relative humidity of the indoor air. Then, the controller 30 controls how the regulator 14 is opened and the like, so that the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 15 can be at or below the dew point and above an icing temperature predetermined.
    The "icing temperature" is a temperature at which the water in the indoor air begins to frost in the indoor heat exchanger 15 when the temperature of the indoor air decreases. When condensation is thus caused in the indoor heat exchanger 15, dew water (condensed water) can be used to remove dust by washing the indoor heat exchanger 15.
    In addition, the control member 30 can carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation to cause condensation in the indoor heat exchanger 15 and wash the indoor heat exchanger 15 with dew water ( condensed water).
    In addition, although the embodiment (see Figure 2) describes a configuration in which the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the condensation receiving tank 18 are positioned below the fan cleaning device 24, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Specifically, the present invention may use a configuration in which at least one of the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the condensation receiving tank 18 is positioned below the fan cleaning device 24. For example, the condensation collecting tray 18 can be positioned (immediately) below the fan cleaning device 24 in a configuration in which a lower part of the indoor heat exchanger 15 in the form of the symbol "<>> in longitudinal section s' extends vertically.
    Although the third modification illustrated in FIG. 17 describes a configuration in which the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the dust receiving device 29 are positioned below the fan cleaning device 24, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Specifically, the present invention can use a configuration in which at least one of the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the dust receiving device 29 is positioned below the fan cleaning device 24.
    In addition, although the embodiment describes a configuration in which an indoor unit Ui (see Figure 1) and an outdoor unit Uo (see Figure 1) are provided, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration . Specifically, a plurality of indoor units connected in parallel can be provided, or a plurality of outdoor units connected in parallel can be provided.
    Furthermore, although the embodiment describes the wall air conditioner 100, the present invention is applicable to other types of air conditioners.
    In addition, the embodiment assumes that the air conditioner 100 has a function to perform the icing and defrosting operation of the indoor heat exchanger 15. However, the present invention is applicable to the air conditioner 100 without the function to perform the icing and defrosting operation of the indoor heat exchanger 15.
    The embodiment is discussed in detail to describe the present invention clearly, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to understanding all of the configurations described. In addition, some configurations can have an additional configuration, be deleted or replaced.
    In addition, the mechanisms and configurations described above are those necessary to illustrate the present invention and all the mechanisms and configurations necessary as a product, may not necessarily be described.
    In addition, the present invention can be applied not only to the indoor unit Ui, but also to the outdoor unit Uo.
    List of reference signs
    100 air conditioner compressor outdoor heat exchanger outdoor fan expansion valve indoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger)
    15a front interior heat exchanger
    15b interior heat exchanger rear interior fan (blower) four-way valve condensation receiver side air deflector vertical air deflector (air deflector)
    24, 124A fan cleaning device
    24a, 124d part of a tree
    24b, 124th brush (cleaning element)
    124f support part rib dust receiving device control member
    K contact position
    Q refrigerant circuit r recess part
    权利要求:
    Claims (17)
    [1" id="c-fr-0001]
    1. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) comprising:
    a heat exchanger (15);
    a blower fan (16);
    a fan cleaning device (24, 124A) which cleans the blower fan (16);
    a control member (30) which brings the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) into contact with the blower fan (16) or the heat exchanger (15), selectively; and a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit (Q) passing through the heat exchanger (15), in which:
    the control member (30) causes the refrigerant flowing in a refrigerant circuit (Q) to generate dew water in the heat exchanger (15), before bringing the fan cleaning device (24 , 124A) in contact with the heat exchanger (15) or while keeping the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) in contact with the heat exchanger (15).
    [2" id="c-fr-0002]
    2. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1, in which:
    the control member (30) performs a drying operation after having caused the refrigeration cycle (Q) to generate dew water in the heat exchanger (15), and the drying operation is carried out either by an operation in which the heat exchanger (15) is used as a condenser or either by a fan operation.
    [3" id="c-fr-0003]
    3. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 2, in which:
    when the drying operation is carried out by the operation in which the heat exchanger (15) is used as a condenser, the control member (30) supplies the fan cleaning device (24, 124A ) in contact with the heat exchanger (15).
    [4" id="c-fr-0004]
    4. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 2 or 3, in which:
    when the drying operation is carried out by the operation in which the heat exchanger (15) is used as a condenser, the control member (30) performs at least one of an action consisting of close the air deflector (23) or consisting in orienting the air deflector (23) horizontally or more upwards and an action consisting in stopping the blower fan (16).
    [5" id="c-fr-0005]
    5. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 3, in which:
    the heat exchanger (15) has heat exchanger tubes and fins, and when the drying operation is carried out, the control member (30) brings the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) in contact with the fins of the heat exchanger which are in contact with the heat exchanger tubes in which a refrigerant flows in a gaseous state or in a two-phase state.
    [6" id="c-fr-0006]
    6. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 2, in which:
    when the drying operation is carried out by the operation in which the heat exchanger (15) is used as a condenser, the control member (30) points the fan cleaning device (24, 124A ) to the heat exchanger (15).
    [7" id="c-fr-0007]
    7. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1, in which:
    during the heating operation, the cooling operation or the dehumidification operation, the control member (30) keeps the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) out of contact with the heat exchanger (15 ).
    [8" id="c-fr-0008]
    8. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 7, in which:
    the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) is structured to pivot around a shaft part (24a; 124d) thereof, and during the heating operation, the cooling operation or the operation For dehumidification, the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) is oriented in a horizontal direction or within a range of a predetermined angle from the horizontal direction.
    [9" id="c-fr-0009]
    9. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 7, in which:
    the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) is structured to rotate around a shaft part (24a; 124d) thereof, and during the heating operation, the cooling operation or the operation dehumidification, the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) is oriented parallel to the air flow.
    [10" id="c-fr-0010]
    10. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1, in which:
    a part of the heat exchanger (15) or a condensation receiving tank (18) is placed under the fan cleaning device (24, 124A), and during the generation of dew water, the controller (30) orients the fan cleaner (24, 124A) obliquely downward so that one end of the fan cleaner (24, 124A) is positioned downward.
    [11" id="c-fr-0011]
    11. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1, in which:
    a cleaning frequency of the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) by bringing the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) into contact with the heat exchanger (15) is less than a cleaning frequency of the blower fan ( 16) with the fan cleaning device (24, 124A).
    [12" id="c-fr-0012]
    12. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1, in which:
    the controller (30) rotates the fan cleaner (24, 124A) several times within a range containing an angle at which the fan cleaner (24, 124A) contacts the heat exchanger (15).
    [13" id="c-fr-0013]
    13. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 12, in which:
    as the fan cleaner (24, 124A) is rotated, the blower (16) is rotated in a direction opposite to a direction in which the blower (16) is rotated during the operation of air conditioner.
    [14" id="c-fr-0014]
    14. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 12, in which:
    a pitch of the fins of the heat exchanger (15) is wider than a thickness of bristles of a brush (24b; 124e) of the fan cleaning device (24, 124A), and the fins of the exchanger heat (15) are provided with a slot.
    [15" id="c-fr-0015]
    15. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1 or 12, in which:
    the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) has a structure in which a cleaning element (24b; 124e) pivots around a shaft part (24a; 124d), and after having brought the refrigeration cycle (Q ) generating dew water in the heat exchanger (15), the control member (30) pivots the cleaning element (24b; 124e) along a lower semicircle of the part tree (24a; 124d).
    [16" id="c-fr-0016]
    16. Method for cleaning an air conditioner (100) according to claim 1 or 12, in which:
    the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) has a cleaning element (24b; 124e) which is shorter than the blower fan (16) in a longitudinal direction of the blower fan (16) and which is movable in the longitudinal direction blower fan (16).
    [17" id="c-fr-0017]
    17. Air conditioner (100) comprising:
    a heat exchanger (15);
    a blower fan (16);
    a fan cleaning device (24, 124A) which cleans the blower fan (16);
    a control member (30) which brings the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) into contact with the blower fan (16) or the heat exchanger (15), selectively; and a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit (Q) passing through the heat exchanger (15), in which:
    the control member (30) causes the refrigerant flowing in a refrigerant circuit (Q) to generate dew water in the heat exchanger (15), before bringing the fan cleaning device (24 , 124A) in contact with the heat exchanger (15) or while keeping the fan cleaning device (24, 124A) in contact with the heat exchanger (15).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    JP2019143841A|2019-08-29|
    CN110337569A|2019-10-15|
    TW201934929A|2019-09-01|
    CN110337569B|2020-07-31|
    ES2723373A1|2019-08-26|
    TWI659182B|2019-05-11|
    JP6387200B1|2018-09-05|
    WO2019159386A1|2019-08-22|
    FR3078143B1|2021-03-12|
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    法律状态:
    2019-10-22| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |
    2020-05-01| PLSC| Publication of the preliminary search report|Effective date: 20200501 |
    2020-10-21| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |
    2021-10-20| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    JP2018026807|2018-02-19|
    JP2018026807A|JP6387200B1|2018-02-19|2018-02-19|Air conditioner|
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