# US 5,341,650 A · Air conditioning apparatus having a plurality of inlets for taking in indoor air at a plurality of portions of main body thereof

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- Number: US 5,341,650 A
- Document ID: US5341650A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/010,338
- Filed: 1993-01-28
- Granted: 1994-08-30
- Earliest claimed: 1992-03-13
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Inventors: Atsushi Nagasawa; Keiichi Morita; Masaya Yamazaki; Yoshinori Katagami; Masaru Shinoda; Takeshi Matsuo; Masaru Misawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5341650A

## CPC

- F24F 13/24: Means for preventing or suppressing noise
- F24F 1/0067: by the shape of the heat exchangers or of parts thereof, e.g. of their fins
- F25B 2600/021: Inverters therefor
- Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A first inlet is formed in the front portion of the box of an indoor unit, and a second inlet is formed in the upper portion of the box of the indoor unit. Openable/closable covers are provided to the second inlet. The covers are closed when a silent operation mode is set by an operation unit. When the covers are closed, the second inlet is closed, and the sound caused by a hissing indoor fan in the indoor unit and the sound of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit will not leak to the outside of the indoor unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air conditioning apparatus having a plurality of inlets for taking in indoor air at a plurality of portions of a main body thereof, comprising:
at least an openable/closable cover provided to any one of said plurality of inlets;
first control means for opening said cover to execute a first operation;
second control means for closing said cover to execute a second operation;
setting means for setting a silent operation mode; and
selecting means for selecting said first operation when the silent operation mode is not set, thereby causing said first control means to open said cover, and for selecting said second operation when the silent operation mode is set, thereby causing said second control means to close said cover.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of inlets comprise a first inlet formed at a front portion of said main body and a second inlet formed at an upper portion of said main body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cover is provided at said second inlet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a compressor for taking in, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant;
an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the outdoor air;
an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the indoor air, said indoor heat exchanger having its air inlet connected to said plurality of inlets;
an indoor fan for taking in the indoor air through said plurality of inlets and discharging taken air into a room through said indoor heat exchanger;
a refrigerating cycle constituted by connecting said compressor, said outdoor heat exchanger, and said indoor heat exchanger; and
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, and operating said indoor fan, thus executing a cooling operation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a compressor for taking in, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant;
an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the outdoor air;
an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the indoor air, said indoor heat exchanger having its air inlet connected to said plurality of inlets;
an indoor fan for taking in the indoor air through said plurality of inlets and discharging taken air into a room through said indoor heat exchanger;
a refrigerating cycle constituted by connecting said compressor, said outdoor heat exchanger, and said indoor heat exchanger;
detecting means for detecting an air conditioning load based on a temperature of the indoor air;
control means for controlling a capability of said compressor in accordance with the detected air conditioning load; and
limiting means for limiting an upper limit of said compressor upon selection of the operation of said second control means.

### Claim 6

An air conditioning apparatus having a plurality of inlets for taking in indoor air at a plurality of portions of a main body thereof, comprising:
at least an openable/closable cover provided to any one of said plurality of inlets;
first control means for opening said cover to execute an operation;
second control means for closing said cover to execute an operation;
a compressor for taking in, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant;
an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the outdoor air;
an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the indoor air, said indoor heat exchanger having its air inlet connected to said plurality of inlets;
an indoor fan for taking in the indoor air through said plurality of inlets and discharging taken air into a room through said indoor heat exchanger;
a refrigerating cycle constituted by connecting said compressor, said outdoor heat exchanger, and said indoor heat exchanger;
detecting means for detecting an air conditioning lead based on a temperature of the indoor air;
control means for controlling a capability of said compressor in accordance with the detected air conditioning load; and
selecting means for selecting an operation of said first control means when said compressor has a capability of not less than a predetermined value, and an operation of said second control means when said compressor has a capability of not more than the predetermined value.

### Claim 7

An air conditioning apparatus having a plurality of inlets for taking in indoor air at a plurality of portions of a main body thereof, comprising:
at least an openable/closable cover provided to any one of said plurality of inlets;
first control means for opening said cover to execute an operation;
second control means for closing said cover to execute an operation;
a compressor for taking in, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant;
an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the outdoor air;
an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the indoor air, said indoor heat exchanger having its air inlet connected to said plurality of inlets;
an indoor fan for taking in the indoor air through said plurality of inlets and discharging taken air into a room through said indoor heat exchanger;
a reheater for heating air passing through said indoor heat exchanger;
a refrigerating cycle constituted by connecting said compressor, said outdoor heat exchanger, and said indoor heat exchanger;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, and operating said indoor fan, thus executing a cooling operation;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, operating said indoor fan to operate said reheater, and setting a capability of said compressor to not more than a predetermined value, thus executing an isothermal dehumidifying operation; and
selecting means for selecting an operation of said first control means in the cooling operation, and an operation of said second control means in the isothermal dehumidifying operation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:
detecting means for detecting an air conditioning load based on a temperature of the indoor air; and
control means for controlling the capability of said compressor in the cooling and heating operations in accordance with the detected air conditioning load.

### Claim 9

An air conditioning apparatus having a plurality of inlets for taking in indoor air at a plurality of portions of a main body thereof, comprising:
at least an openable/closable cover provided to any one of said plurality of inlets;
first control means for opening said cover to execute an operation;
second control means for closing said cover to execute an operation;
a compressor for taking in, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant;
an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the outdoor air;
an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the indoor air, said indoor heat exchanger having its air inlet connected to said plurality of inlets;
an indoor fan for taking in the indoor air through said plurality of inlets and discharging taken air into a room through said indoor heat exchanger;
a reheater for heating air passing through said indoor heat exchanger;
a refrigerating cycle constituted by connecting said compressor, said outdoor heat exchanger, and said indoor heat exchanger;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, and operating said indoor fan, thus executing a cooling operation;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said indoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said outdoor heat exchanger, and returning the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said compressor, thus executing a heating operation;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, operating said indoor fan to operate said reheater, and setting a capability of said compressor to not more than a predetermined value, thus executing an isothermal dehumidifying operation; and
selecting means for selecting an operation of either said first or second control means in the cooling and heating operations, and an operation of said second control means in the isothermal dehumidifying operation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
detecting means for detecting an air conditioning load based on a temperature of the indoor air; and
control means for controlling the capability of said compressor in the cooling and heating operations in accordance with the detected air conditioning load.

### Claim 11

An air conditioning apparatus having a plurality of inlets for taking in indoor air at a plurality of portions of a main body thereof, comprising:
at least an openable/closable cover provided to any one of said plurality of inlets;
first control means for opening said cover to execute an operation;
second control means for closing said cover to execute an operation;
a compressor for taking in, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant;
an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the outdoor air;
an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing thereto with the indoor air, said indoor heat exchanger having its air inlet connected to said plurality of inlets;
an indoor fan for taking in the indoor air through said plurality of inlets and discharging taken air into a room through said indoor heat exchanger;
a reheater for heating air passing through said indoor heat exchanger;
a refrigerating cycle constituted by connecting said compressor, said outdoor heat exchanger, and said indoor heat exchanger;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, and operating said indoor fan, thus executing a cooling operation;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said indoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said outdoor heat exchanger, and returning the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said compressor, thus executing a heating operation;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, operating said indoor fan to operate said reheater, and setting a capability of said compressor to not less than a predetermined value, thus executing dehumidifying operation on the cooling side;
control means for flowing the refrigerant discharged from said compressor to said outdoor heat exchanger, flowing the refrigerant passing through said outdoor heat exchanger to said indoor heat exchanger, returning the refrigerant passing through said indoor heat exchanger to said compressor, operating said indoor fan to operate said reheater, and setting the capability of said compressor to not more than a predetermined value, thus executing an isothermal dehumidifying operation; and
selecting means for selecting an operation of either said first or second control means in the cooling and heating operations, an operation of said first control means in the dehumidifying operation on the cooling side, and an operation of said second control means in the isothermal dehumidifying operation.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:
detecting means for detecting an air conditioning load based on a temperature of the indoor air; and
control means for controlling the capability of said compressor in the cooling and heating operations in accordance with the detected air conditioning load.