JP7471109B2 - Air-conditioned furniture - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to air-conditioned furniture.

The following Patent Document 1 describes an air-conditioned chair that takes in conditioned air blown out from the floor of a building into an air circulation section inside the chair and blows it out from the seating surface and backrest surface to the outside. This allows the seated person to feel the airflow.

JP 2011-85292 A

In the air-conditioned furniture of Patent Document 1, conditioned air is blown out from the seating surface and the backrest surface. As a result, for example during cooling, only air at a lower temperature than the indoor air is blown to the seated occupant. This makes it difficult to adjust the temperature of the air blown, and difficult to match it to the individual orientation and physical condition of the occupant.

Taking the above facts into consideration, the present invention aims to provide air-conditioning furniture that makes it easy to adjust the air temperature.

The air-conditioned furniture of claim 1 comprises a furniture body having a seating surface on which a person can sit, an air chamber provided in the furniture body, an air outlet capable of blowing air from the air chamber through the seating surface into an indoor space of a building, a first supply path provided inside the air chamber and capable of supplying conditioned air from an air-conditioned air path of the building to the air chamber, a second supply path provided inside the air chamber and capable of supplying indoor air from the indoor space to the air chamber, and an air blowing switching mechanism capable of changing the path of the air supplied to the air chamber between the first supply path and the second supply path.

In the air-conditioned furniture of claim 1, air is blown out from the air chamber through the seat into the indoor space of the building. The air chamber is supplied with conditioned air from a first supply path, and with indoor air from a second supply path. The air supply from the first supply path and the air supply from the second supply path to the air chamber are switched by an air blowing switching mechanism. This allows not only conditioned air, but also indoor air, or a mixture of conditioned air and indoor air, to be blown out from the air outlet to the seated person. Therefore, it is easier to adjust the blowing air temperature compared to blowing out only conditioned air.
The air-conditioned furniture of claim 2 comprises a furniture body having a seating surface on which a person can sit, an air chamber provided in the furniture body, an air outlet capable of blowing air from the air chamber through the seating surface into an indoor space of a building, a first supply path capable of supplying conditioned air from an air-conditioned air path of the building to the air chamber, a second supply path capable of supplying indoor air from the indoor space to the air chamber, an air-blowing switching mechanism capable of changing the path of the air supplied to the air chamber between the first supply path and the second supply path, and a control device that controls the air-blowing switching mechanism based on both the pressure difference between the indoor space and the air-conditioned air path and the temperature of the air-conditioned air.

The air-conditioned furniture of claim 3 is the air-conditioned furniture of claim 2 , wherein the air-blowing switching mechanism comprises a cylindrical housing, a blower fan arranged inside the housing and causing air to flow along the axial direction of the housing , and a holding portion that holds the housing rotatably about an axis between a position where the housing communicates with the first supply path and a position where the housing communicates with the second supply path, and the control device is capable of switching between a first mode in which only conditioned air is taken into the air chamber, a second mode in which only indoor air is taken in, and a third mode in which both conditioned air and indoor air are taken in, by rotating the housing, and is also capable of switching the rotation speed per unit time of the blower fan .

In the air-conditioned furniture of claim 3, the housing rotates around its axis to switch between the first supply path and the second supply path. This allows the air to be switched by a single blower fan. This allows the equipment to be lighter than when a blower fan is provided for each of the first and second supply paths.
The air-conditioned furniture of claim 4 is the air-conditioned furniture of claim 3, wherein the control device selects an operation table corresponding to the combination of the pressure difference and the temperature, and controls the position of the housing and the rotation speed of the blower fan depending on whether the mode inputted via the input device is the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode.
The air-conditioned furniture of claim 5 is the air-conditioned furniture of claim 4, wherein the operation table is set so that when the pressure difference is less than a predetermined threshold value, the rotation speed is higher than when the pressure difference is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and when the temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the rotation speed is higher than when the temperature is less than the threshold value.

An air-conditioned furniture according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the air-conditioned furniture according to any one of the first to fifth aspects , wherein the air-blowing switching mechanism is capable of blowing air from the air chamber to the second supply path.

In the air-conditioned furniture of claim 6 , air is sent from the air chamber to the second supply path. At this time, air is sucked into the air chamber from the seat surface. This makes it possible to prevent heat from building up between the seat and the seated person, for example.

The air-conditioned furniture of claim 7 is the air-conditioned furniture of any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the furniture body is formed with a backrest, the air chamber further comprises a back air chamber having an outlet capable of blowing air into the indoor space through the backrest, and the first supply path, the second supply path, and the air blowing switching mechanism are also provided in the back air chamber.

In the air-conditioned furniture of claim 7 , the conditioned air and the room air can be blown out from the backrest in addition to the seat. In addition, since the first supply path, the second supply path, and the air blowing switching mechanism are provided in each of the air chamber and the back air chamber, the temperature of the air blown out from the backrest can also be adjusted. This makes it easy to manage the temperature according to the preference and physical condition of the seated person.

The air-conditioned furniture of the present invention makes it easy to adjust the temperature of the air being blown.

1 is an elevational cross-sectional view showing an air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention, an indoor space in which the air-conditioned furniture is installed, and an underfloor space below the indoor space. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view showing a state in which a housing of an air-blowing switching mechanism is in an "air-conditioned air supply position" in an air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view showing a state in which a housing of an air-blowing switching mechanism is in an "indoor air supply position" in an air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view showing a state in which the blower fan is rotated in reverse when the housing of the air-conditioning furniture according to the embodiment of the present invention is in the "room air supply position". FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view showing a state in which a housing of an air-blowing switching mechanism is in a "mixed air supply position" in an air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an air-blowing switching mechanism in the air-conditioned furniture according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing a state in which the housing of the air-blowing switching mechanism in the air-conditioned furniture according to the embodiment of the present invention is in the "room air supply position". 1 is an elevational view showing a state in which a housing of an air-blowing switching mechanism in an air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention is in an "air-conditioned air supply position". FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view showing a state in which a housing of an air-blowing switching mechanism in an air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention is in a "mixed air supply position". FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an input device in air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connections of the air-conditioned furniture according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a table showing the setting values of the air blowing switching mechanism when the operating table of the air conditioning device of an embodiment of the present invention is set to table A, (B) is a table showing the setting values of the air blowing switching mechanism when it is set to table B, (C) is a table showing the setting values of the air blowing switching mechanism when it is set to table C, and (D) is a table showing the setting values of the air blowing switching mechanism when it is set to table D. FIG. 11 is an elevational sectional view showing a modified example in which two air-blowing switching mechanisms are provided in the air-conditioned furniture according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an elevational sectional view showing a modified example in which casters are provided on the furniture body in the air-conditioned furniture according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Below, air-conditioned furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components indicated with the same reference numerals in each drawing are the same components. Unless otherwise specified in this specification, each component is not limited to one, and may exist in multiples. Also, explanations of configurations and reference numerals that overlap in each drawing may be omitted. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and may be implemented with appropriate modifications, such as omitting configurations or replacing them with different configurations, within the scope of the purpose of the present invention.

<Air-conditioned furniture>
1, an air-conditioned furniture 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a furniture body 12, an air-conditioning device 30 formed integrally with the furniture body 12, an input device 50, and a control device 60. The air-conditioned furniture 10 is a chair-like piece of furniture that is installed in an indoor space V1 such as an office, and can be sat on by users staying in the indoor space V1 during work, meetings, conversations, and the like.

Below the indoor space V1, there is an underfloor space V2 separated by flooring material F. The underfloor space V2 serves as the conditioned air path for the building, and conditioned air whose temperature has been adjusted by the air conditioner 70 flows through the underfloor space V2. As shown by the arrow W in FIG. 1, the conditioned air is blown out from the underfloor space V2 through an outlet FW formed in the flooring material F into the indoor space V1. When the air conditioner 70 is operating, the underfloor space V2 is at positive pressure relative to the indoor space V1 (higher pressure than the indoor space V1).

<Furniture body>
The furniture body 12 comprises a seat portion 14 and a back portion 16. The seat portion 14 is formed with a seat surface 14A on which a person can sit. The seat surface 14A is a substantially horizontal surface, but can be inclined as desired. The back portion 16 is formed with a backrest 16A. The backrest 16A is a substantially vertical surface, but can be inclined as desired.

As shown in FIG. 2A, cushioning material 18 is disposed on the backside of seat surface 14A and backrest 16A. Cushioning material 18 is formed from two types of elastic materials 18A and 18B. Elastic material 18A on the front side of cushioning material 18 is formed from a nonwoven fabric whose fibers run in a direction from the front side to the back side. For this reason, it is easier to obtain a resilient force, to increase the thickness, and to ensure breathability, compared to using a nonwoven fabric whose fibers run in a direction parallel to, for example, seat surface 14A and backrest 16A.

On the other hand, elastic material 18B is a sheet material in which organic fibers are intertwined in a three-dimensional manner, with gaps formed between the organic fibers. Elastic material 18B has cushioning properties due to the elasticity of the organic fibers, and is more breathable than elastic material 18A due to the gaps between the organic fibers.

A skin material 20 is disposed on the surface of the cushion material 18. The skin material 20 is formed by weaving fibers and has breathability. The skin material 20 is disposed continuously across the seat surface 14A and the backrest 16A.

<Air conditioning equipment>
The air conditioner 30 is a facility device that is incorporated in the furniture body 12 and adjusts the air environment around a seated person. The air conditioner 30 includes an air chamber 32, an air outlet 34, supply paths 36 (a first supply path 36A and a second supply path 36B), and an air blowing switching mechanism 40.

(Air chamber, air outlet)
The air chamber 32 is a space formed on the rear side of the seat 14A and the backrest 16A in the furniture main body 12. In other words, the air chamber 32 is a chamber formed with the furniture main body 12 having the seat 14A and the backrest 16A as a housing. The air outlets 34 are formed in two places in the air chamber 32 and are openings for blowing air from the air chamber 32 through the seat 14A and the backrest 16A toward the outside of the furniture main body 12 (in other words, the indoor space V1).

The air blown out from the air outlet 34 passes through the cushioning material 18 located on the back of the seat 14A and the backrest 16A, and the covering material 20 located on the surface of the seat 14A and the backrest 16A, and is blown out to the outside of the furniture body 12. In other words, the air outlet 34 is an outlet that blows air toward the seated occupant (mainly the back and buttocks) from a position that contacts or is close to the seated occupant.

The size of the air outlet 34 shown in FIG. 2A is an example, and the air outlet 34 may be a collection of small openings. The air outlet 34 may be formed using, for example, punched metal or a perforated material such as a grating.

(Supply route)
The supply path 36 is a piping for blowing air, fixed to the furniture body 12, which supplies air toward the air chamber 32. The supply path 36 is provided inside the air chamber 32. Of the supply paths 36, the first supply path 36A is open to the underfloor space V2 of the building. That is, the first supply path 36A is disposed at a position corresponding to the air outlet FW of the underfloor space V2. As described above, the underfloor space V2 is at a positive pressure relative to the indoor space. Therefore, temperature-adjusted air can be continuously supplied from the first supply path 36A to the air chamber 32.

Of the supply paths 36, the second supply path 36B is open to the indoor space V1 of the building. The indoor space V1 is at or below the same pressure as the air chamber 32. For this reason, mechanical power (air blower switching mechanism 40, described later) is required to supply air from the second supply path 36B to the air chamber 32. Note that a louver (not shown) or the like is provided at the opening of the second supply path 36B on the indoor space V1 side.

(Air flow switching mechanism)
The airflow switching mechanism 40 is a path switching mechanism that can change the “path” of the air supplied to the air chamber 32 between the first supply path 36A and the second supply path 36B. In addition, the airflow switching mechanism 40 is an air volume adjustment mechanism that can adjust the “amount of air” supplied to the air chamber 32.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the airflow switching mechanism 40 includes a cylindrical housing 42, an airflow fan 44, and a holding portion 46.

(Air flow switching mechanism - housing)
The housing 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the axis CL1 shown in Fig. 3B as the central axis (hereinafter, the axis CL1 will be referred to as the central axis CL1). The housing 42 is formed as a hollow sphere with both ends along the central axis CL1 missing.

(Blower switching mechanism - blower fan)
3A is a rotating blade that is disposed inside the housing 42 and moves air around. The blower fan 44 rotates forward and backward as a result of a motor (not shown) operating under the control of the control device 60 (see FIG. 1).
When the blower fan 44 is in a "forward rotation" state, the air flows in the direction indicated by the arrow W1 in Fig. 3B. When the blower fan 44 is in a "reverse rotation" state, the air flows in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow W1. The arrow W1 is a direction along the central axis CL1.

(Air flow switching mechanism - holding part)
As shown in FIG. 3A, the holding portion 46 includes a shaft portion 46A fixed to the housing 42 and a support leg 46B.

The shafts 46A are a pair of rotating shafts fixed to the outer surfaces of both sides (both sides of the central axis CL1) of the housing 42. The shafts 46A are arranged along the central axis CL2. The central axis CL2 is an axis that intersects with the central axis CL1 of the housing 42 and is aligned in a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the central axis CL1.

The support leg 46B is a leg that rotatably holds the shaft portion 46A and the housing 42 that is integrated with the shaft portion 46A, and is placed on or fixed to the floor material F. The support leg 46B has a through hole through which the shaft portion 46A can be inserted. By inserting the shaft portion 46A into this through hole, the housing 42 is rotatably held by the support leg 46B.

(Air flow switching mechanism - housing rotation)
The housing 42 rotates when a motor (not shown) operates under the control of a control device 60 (see FIG. 1).

As an example of a method of rotating the housing 42, when the control device 60 operates the motor from the state shown in FIG. 3B, the shaft portion 46A rotates approximately 90 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow M1. At this time, the housing 42 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft portion 46A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3C, the air blowing direction (arrow W1) of the blower fan 44 is aligned vertically.

In the state shown in FIG. 3C, the housing 42 is in communication with the first supply path 36A. This allows the "conditioned air" taken in from the first supply path 36A to pass through the inside of the housing 42 and be taken into the air chamber 32.

In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 3C, the housing 42 blocks the second supply path 36B. This prevents the "room air" from being drawn into the air chamber 32 through the inside of the housing 42 from the second supply path 36B.

Note that "blocked" refers not only to a state in which the flow of air from the second supply path 36B to the air chamber 32 is completely blocked, but also to a state in which there is some flow. In other words, the opening of the second supply path 36B on the air chamber 32 side does not need to be completely sealed, and there may be some gap between the second supply path 36B and the housing 42.

In the following description, the position of the housing 42 that takes in conditioned air into the air chamber 32 but does not take in indoor air, as shown in Figure 3C, is referred to as the "conditioned air supply position."

Note that FIG. 2A shows the state when the housing 42 is in the conditioned air supply position. In the following explanation, the operating mode in which the blower fan 44 is driven in the "forward rotation" in this state is referred to as the "air conditioning mode."

As another example of a method of rotating the housing 42, when the control device 60 operates the motor from the state shown in FIG. 3C, the shaft portion 46A rotates approximately 90 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow M2 (the opposite direction to the direction indicated by the arrow M1). At this time, the housing 42 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft portion 46A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, the blowing direction (arrow W1) of the blower fan 44 is aligned horizontally.

In the state shown in FIG. 3B, the housing 42 is connected to the second supply path 36B. This allows the "room air" taken in through the second supply path 36B to pass through the inside of the housing 42 and be taken into the air chamber 32.

In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 3B, the housing 42 blocks the first supply path 36A. This prevents the "conditioned air" from being drawn into the air chamber 32 through the inside of the housing 42 from the first supply path 36A.

In the following description, the position of the housing 42 that takes in indoor air into the air chamber 32 but does not take in conditioned air, as shown in Figure 3B, is referred to as the "indoor air supply position."

Note that Figures 2B and 2C show the state when the housing 42 is in the indoor air supply position. In the following explanation, the operating mode in which the blower fan 44 is driven in "forward rotation" as shown in Figure 2B is referred to as the "blower mode." On the other hand, the operating mode in which the blower fan 44 is driven in "reverse rotation" as shown in Figure 2C is referred to as the "suction mode."

Furthermore, as another example of a method for rotating the housing 42, the control device 60 can operate the motor from the state shown in FIG. 3B to rotate the shaft portion 46A by approximately 45 degrees in the direction shown by arrow M1. Alternatively, the control device 60 can operate the motor from the state shown in FIG. 3C to rotate the shaft portion 46A by approximately 45 degrees in the direction shown by arrow M2. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3D, the air blowing direction (arrow W1) of the blower fan 44 is along an oblique direction.

In the state shown in FIG. 3D, the housing 42 is in communication with the first supply path 36A. This allows the "conditioned air" taken in from the first supply path 36A to pass through the inside of the housing 42 and be taken into the air chamber 32.

In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 3D, the housing 42 is also connected to the second supply path 36B. As a result, the "room air" taken in from the second supply path 36B also passes through the inside of the housing 42 and is taken into the air chamber 32.

In the following description, the position of the housing 42 arranged to take in conditioned air into the air chamber 32 and also take in indoor air, as shown in Figure 3D, is referred to as the "mixed air supply position."

Note that FIG. 2D shows the state when the housing 42 is in the mixed air supply position. In the following explanation, the operating mode in which the blower fan 44 is driven in "forward rotation" in this state is referred to as "mild mode."

<Input device>
1 is an electronic device that sets the operation mode of the air conditioner 30. The input device 50 is provided in a mobile terminal carried by a user of the air-conditioned furniture 10. The user can use the mobile terminal as the input device 50 by operating the mobile terminal.

When using a mobile terminal as the input device 50, the user can transmit an electrical signal to the control device 60 by selecting a display menu displayed on the display screen as shown in FIG. 4. The input device 50 may be provided in the air-conditioned furniture 10.

Examples of the display menu displayed on the display screen include a seat selection button 52, a power button 54, and a mode selection button 56.

The seat selection button 52 is a button for selecting the air-conditioned furniture 10 to be controlled. The seat selection button 52 is provided when multiple air-conditioned furniture 10 are installed in the indoor space V1.

The power button 54 is a button for selecting whether to start or stop the operation of the air conditioner 30 in the air-conditioned furniture 10 selected by the seat selection button 52. When the power button 54 is used to select whether to stop the operation of the air conditioner 30, the housing 42 of the air blowing switching mechanism 40 is positioned in the "room air supply position" shown in FIG. 2 (B), and the blower fan 44 stops rotating.

The mode selection button 56 is a button for setting the operating mode of the air conditioner 30. In this embodiment, the person seated in the air-conditioned furniture 10 can select any operating mode from the four modes described above: "air conditioning mode," "mild mode," "blowing mode," and "suction mode."

On the display screen of the input device 50, the "air conditioning mode", "mild mode", "blowing mode" and "suction mode" are displayed as "air conditioning", "mild", "blowing" and "suction", respectively. These may also be displayed as "strong", "medium", "weak" and "headwind", etc.

<Control device>
As shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1, the control device 60 is electrically connected to the air conditioning device 30, the input device 50, a differential pressure gauge 62 that measures the differential pressure between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2, a thermometer 64 that measures the temperature of the indoor space V1, and a thermometer 66 that measures the temperature of the conditioned air.

To go into further detail about the connection between the control device 60 and the air conditioner 30, as shown in FIG. 5, the control device 60 is electrically connected, by wire or wirelessly, to the motor that rotates the housing 42 and the blower fan 44 in the air blowing switching mechanism 40. In the following description, the control of each motor by the control device 60 is referred to as the control of the housing 42 and the blower fan 44.

The control device 60 controls the housing 42 and the blower fan 44 based on both the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the conditioned air path (underfloor space V2) measured by the differential pressure gauge 62, and the temperature of the conditioned air measured by the thermometer 66. The control device 60 also controls the housing 42 and the blower fan 44 based on the setting value of the input device 50.

<Control method>
A method of controlling the housing 42 and the blower fan 44 by the control device 60 will be described. The control device 60 intermittently acquires information from the differential pressure gauge 62 and the thermometer 66. Specifically, the differential pressure gauge 62 intermittently measures (acquires) the pressure difference ("pressure difference information") between the indoor space V1 and the conditioned air path (underfloor space V2), and transmits this pressure difference information to the control device 60. In addition, the thermometer 66 intermittently measures (acquires) the temperature ("temperature information") of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 70, and transmits this temperature information to the control device 60.

The control device 60 selects an "operation table" for the air conditioner 30 based on the acquired "pressure difference information" and "temperature information." The control device 60 also controls the housing 42 and the blower fan 44 based on the selected operation table. As an example, the operation tables are classified into Table A, Table B, Table C, and Table D shown in Figures 6 (A) to (D). The classification of Tables A to D is determined by the following conditions. Tables A to D are classifications for cooling.

Table A: Pressure difference is 0 Pa or more and less than 15 Pa, and temperature is 18° C. or more and less than 20° C. Table B: Pressure difference is 15 Pa or more and less than 36 Pa, and temperature is 18° C. or more and less than 20° C. Table C: Pressure difference is 0 Pa or more and less than 15 Pa, and temperature is 20° C. or more Table D: Pressure difference information is 15 Pa or more and less than 36 Pa, and temperature is 20° C. or more

Any method can be used to classify the operation tables, but in this embodiment, tables A and B are set when the set temperature of the conditioned air is less than 20°C. On the other hand, tables C and D are set when the set temperature of the conditioned air is 20°C or higher. When tables A and B are set, the set temperature of the conditioned air is lower than when tables C and D are set. For this reason, tables A and B are tables that are set when the "cooling capacity depending on the temperature of the conditioned air" is relatively high.

Furthermore, tables A and C are set when the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 is less than 15 Pa. On the other hand, tables B and D are set when the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 is 15 Pa or more. When tables B and D are set, the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 is greater than when tables A and C are set, and conditioned air is more likely to be blown up from the underfloor space V2 into the indoor space V1. For this reason, tables B and D are set when the "cooling capacity due to the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2" is relatively high.

The temperature of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 70 is set according to the temperature of the indoor space V1 measured by the thermometer 64 (see FIG. 1) by a temperature setting program built into the control device 60 or another device, by the user of the indoor space V1, or by the building management center.

The control device 60 acquires information input by the user to the input device 50 at any time, in addition to information measured by the differential pressure gauge 62 and the thermometer 66. Specifically, information specifying the air-conditioned furniture 10 to be controlled ("control target information") is acquired from information input to the seat selection button 52 of the input device 50 shown in FIG. 5. Also, information specifying whether to start or stop the operation of the air-conditioning device 30 in the air-conditioned furniture 10 to be controlled ("power supply information") is acquired from information input to the power button 54. Furthermore, information specifying which operation mode the air-conditioning device 30 should be set to, among "air conditioning mode", "mild mode", "blowing mode" and "suction mode", is acquired from information input to the mode selection button 56 ("operation mode information").

Based on the acquired "control target information," "power source information," and "operation mode information," the control device 60 starts the operation of the air conditioner 30 in the air-conditioned furniture 10 that is the control target, and sets the "operation mode." Alternatively, the control device 60 sets the "operation mode" of the air conditioner 30 that is in operation. Alternatively, the control device 60 stops the operation of the air conditioner 30 that is in operation.

The driving conditions of the housing 42 and the blower fan 44 in the operating modes "air conditioning mode", "mild mode", "blower mode" and "suction mode" are determined for each of Tables A, B, C and D shown in Figures 6(A) to 6(D).

The word "CLOSE" in Figures 6(A) to (D) indicates that the first supply path 36A or the second supply path 36B is blocked by the housing 42. The word "OPEN" in these figures indicates that the first supply path 36A or the second supply path 36B is in communication with the housing 42. Furthermore, the word "slight" in each of these figures indicates that the blower fan 44 is operating at a low intensity. Similarly, the words "weak," "medium," and "strong" in each of these figures indicate that the blower fan 44 is operating at a low intensity, medium intensity, and strong intensity.

"Low intensity," "weak intensity," "medium intensity," and "strong intensity" are each defined by the number of rotations of the fan 48 per unit time, with the number of rotations of the fan 48 being higher at "weak intensity" compared to "low intensity," the number of rotations of the fan 48 being higher at "medium intensity" compared to "weak intensity," and the number of rotations of the fan 48 being higher at "strong intensity" compared to "medium intensity."

For example, in table A shown in FIG. 6(A), when the operating mode is "air conditioning mode," the housing 42 is positioned in the air conditioning air supply position (see FIG. 2A). In the air conditioning air supply position, the first supply path 36A communicates with the housing 42 (OPEN), and the second supply path 36B is closed (CLOSE). In addition, the blower fan 44 is operated at "medium intensity" and in "forward rotation."

In addition, in table A, when the operating mode is "mild mode," the housing 42 is positioned in the mixed air supply position (see FIG. 2D). In the mixed air supply position, the first supply path 36A and the second supply path 36B are in communication with the housing 42 (OPEN). In addition, the blower fan 44 is operated at "medium intensity" and in "forward rotation."

Furthermore, in table A, when the operating mode is the "blowing mode," the housing 42 is positioned in the indoor air supply position (see FIG. 2B). In the indoor air supply position, the second supply path 36B communicates with the housing 42 (OPEN), and the first supply path 36A is closed (CLOSE). Also, the blower fan 44 is operated at "medium intensity" and in "forward rotation."

Furthermore, in table A, when the operating mode is the "suction mode", the housing 42 is positioned in the indoor air supply position (see FIG. 2C). In the indoor air supply position, the second supply path 36B communicates with the housing 42 (OPEN), and the first supply path 36A is closed (CLOSE). In addition, the blower fan 44 is operated at "low intensity" and in "reverse rotation".

The control of the blower fan 44 and the housing 42 in each operating mode for tables B, C, and D is as shown in Figures 6(B), (C), and (D), respectively, and will not be described here.

<Action and Effects>
In the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2A, air is blown out from the air chamber 32 through the seat surface 14A into the indoor space V1 of the building. Air-conditioned air is supplied to the air chamber 32 from the first supply path 36A, and indoor air is supplied from the second supply path 36B as shown in FIG. 2B. The air supply from the first supply path 36A and the air supply from the second supply path 36B to the air chamber 32 are switched by the air blowing switching mechanism 40. This allows not only air-conditioned air but also indoor air or a mixture of air-conditioned air and indoor air (see FIG. 2D) to be blown out from the air outlet 34 to the seated person. Therefore, it is easier to adjust the blowing air temperature compared to the case where only air-conditioned air is blown out.

In addition, in the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 3B to 3D, the housing 42 rotates on its axis to switch between air being blown from the first supply path 36A and air being blown from the second supply path 36B. Therefore, the air being blown is switched by a single blower fan 44. This allows the equipment to be lighter than when a blower fan is provided for each of the first supply path 36A and the second supply path 36B.

In addition, in the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2C, in the "suction mode," air is sent from the air chamber 32 to the second supply path 36B. At this time, air is sucked into the air chamber 32 from the seat surface 14A and the backrest 16A. This makes it possible to prevent heat from building up between the seat 14 and the seated person, for example.

In addition, in the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the control device 60 shown in FIG. 1 controls the blower fan 44 and the housing 42 based on the "pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2" measured by the differential pressure gauge 62 and the "temperature of the conditioned air" measured by the thermometer 66.

As an example, when the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 is small (when the pressure difference is 0 or more and less than 15 Pa), it becomes more difficult to supply conditioned air from the underfloor space V2 to the air chamber 32 compared to when the pressure difference is large (when the pressure difference is 15 or more and less than 36 Pa). In this case, the control device 60 increases the amount of air blown by the blower fan 44.

Specifically, when the temperature of the conditioned air is between 18°C or higher and less than 20°C, if the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 changes from 15 Pa or higher to less than 15 Pa, the control device 60 switches the operation table of the air conditioning device 30 from table B shown in FIG. 6(B) to table A shown in FIG. 6(A).

At this time, for example, if the operating mode input by the input device 50 is "air conditioning mode," the operating strength of the blower fan 44 is changed from "weak" to "medium." This increases the amount of air blown by the blower switching mechanism 40. This allows the cooling capacity to be maintained.

Even if the operation mode input by the input device 50 is set to "mild mode," "blowing mode," or "suction mode," the amount of air sent by the blower fan 44 is controlled based on the set values in each of tables A and B. Also, when the temperature of the conditioned air is 20°C or higher, the amount of air sent by the blower fan 44 is controlled based on the set values in each of tables C and D.

As another example, when the temperature of the conditioned air is high (20°C or higher), the cooling capacity of the same amount of conditioned air is lower than when the temperature is low (18°C or higher and less than 20°C). In this case, the control device 60 increases the amount of air sent by the air flow switching mechanism 40 to increase the amount of air supplied to the air chamber 32.

Specifically, when the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 is less than 15 Pa and the temperature of the conditioned air changes from less than 20°C to 20°C or higher, the control device 60 switches the operation table of the air conditioner 30 from table A shown in FIG. 6(A) to table C shown in FIG. 6(C).

At this time, for example, if the operating mode input by the input device 50 is "air conditioning mode," the operating strength of the blower fan 44 is changed from "medium" to "strong." This increases the amount of air blown by the blower switching mechanism 40. This allows the cooling capacity to be maintained.

Even if the operation mode input by the input device 50 is set to "mild mode," "blowing mode," or "suction mode," the amount of air sent by the blower fan 44 is controlled based on the settings in each of tables A and C. Also, when the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 is 15 Pa or more, the amount of air sent by the blower fan 44 is controlled based on the settings in each of tables B and D.

In this way, the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention can maintain its air-conditioning capacity regardless of the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the air-conditioned air path (underfloor space V2) or the temperature of the air-conditioned air.

In addition, in the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the operation mode of the air-conditioning unit 30 can be set by the input device 50 shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. Specifically, the user of the air-conditioned furniture 10 can switch the operation mode for each of tables A, B, C, and D by operating the mode selection button 56 shown in Fig. 4.

For example, when the operation table of the air conditioner 30 is set to table A, the user can operate the mode selection button 56 to switch to any operation mode (any operation mode in table A, see FIG. 6(A)). By switching the operation mode, the position of the housing 42 and the operation strength and rotation direction of the blower fan 44 are appropriately switched. This allows the user of the air-conditioned furniture 10 to obtain a warm environment in any operation mode.

In the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the conditioned air path (underfloor space V2) is classified into two cases: "0 Pa or more and less than 15 Pa" and "15 Pa or more and less than 36 Pa". The temperature of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 70 is also classified into two cases: "18°C or more and less than 20°C" and "20°C or more". Furthermore, four operation tables, Tables A, B, C, and D, are provided as a control method for the control device 60 according to these case classifications. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

As an example, the pressure difference threshold is not limited to 15 Pa or 36 Pa. It can be changed as appropriate depending on the region, season, etc. Similarly, the temperature threshold is not limited to 18°C or 20°C.

As another example, the classification of pressure difference is not limited to two cases. For example, it may be classified into three or more cases. Similarly, temperature may be classified into three or more cases. For example, if pressure difference is classified into three cases and temperature is classified into three cases, nine operation tables can be provided. Subdividing the classification increases the effectiveness of maintaining cooling capacity.

As another example, the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2 does not necessarily have to be measured. That is, an operation table may be created using only the temperature of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 70. Similarly, the temperature of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 70 does not necessarily have to be measured. In this case, an operation table is created using only the pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2.

That is, it is sufficient to set up an operation table based on at least one of the "pressure difference between the indoor space V1 and the underfloor space V2" and the "temperature of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 70." In either case, it is possible to obtain the effect of maintaining the cooling capacity compared to a case where an operation table is not set up.

In addition, in the air-conditioned furniture 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the air volume of the air-blowing switching mechanism 40 is controlled based on the "operation table" in addition to the "operation mode" inputted by the input device 50, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, control based on the operation table does not have to be performed. Even without control based on the operation table, the effect of maintaining cooling capacity can be obtained by control based on the operation mode.

In the above embodiment, the air conditioner 30 is described as operating in "cooling" mode, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the air conditioner 30 can also operate in "heating" mode. In the operation table for operating the air conditioner 30 in "heating" mode, the airflow volume of the airflow switching mechanism 40 is increased when the temperature of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 70 is low, compared to when it is high. This makes it possible to maintain the heating capacity.

In the above embodiment, the case where the air blown out from the air chamber 32 formed on the rear side of the seat surface 14A and the backrest 16A shown in FIG. 2(A) is controlled has been described, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the air chamber 32 may be formed only on the rear side of the seat surface 14A or only on the rear side of the backrest 16A. With such a configuration, the blown air temperature can also be adjusted.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the air chamber 32 may be divided into a seat air chamber 32A on the rear side of the seat surface 14A, and a back air chamber 32B on the rear side of the backrest 16A. In this case, the airflow switching mechanism 40 may be provided in at least one of the seat air chamber 32A and the back air chamber 32B, but it is preferable to provide it in both.

In this case, the first supply path 36A, the second supply path 36B, and the airflow switching mechanism 40 are provided in the seat air chamber 32A and the back air chamber 32B, respectively, so the temperature of the air blown out from the backrest 16A can also be adjusted. This makes it easy to manage the temperature according to the preferences and physical condition of the seated person.

In addition, although the above description does not mention the mobility of the furniture body 12, the furniture body 12 may be a fixed piece of furniture placed on the floor material F, or may be a movable piece of furniture that can be carried on top of the floor material F. When the furniture body 12 is movable, it is preferable to provide the furniture body 12 with casters 71 as shown in FIG. 8. It is also preferable to provide the movable furniture body 12 with a flexible apron 72 to prevent air from leaking from the air chamber 32 to the indoor space V1. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a flexible apron 74 at the lower end of the first supply path 36A to increase the efficiency of suction of conditioned air by the blower fan 44.

In addition, the holding portion 46 that holds the housing 42 is fixed to the floor material F via the support legs 46B, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by fixing the support legs 46B to the furniture body 12, the furniture body 12 can be easily made movable.

In addition, in this embodiment, the "blow mode" and the "suction mode" are switched by "reversely rotating" the blower fan 44, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the blower fan 44 is rotated only in the "forward direction," the "blow mode" and the "suction mode" may be switched by rotating the housing 180 degrees.

Furthermore, the air-conditioned furniture 10 does not necessarily need to have a suction mode, but may only have an "air-conditioning mode," a "mild mode," and a "blowing mode."

Furthermore, the driving mode does not necessarily have to be input by the input device 50. For example, the driving mode may be switched by the seated person manually rotating the housing 42. In this case, the rotation angle of the housing 42 is not limited to the above-mentioned 90 degrees, 45 degrees, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the conditioned air path is formed in the underfloor space V2, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a duct arranged in the underfloor space V2 may be the conditioned air path, or a duct arranged inside or within a wall of a building may be the conditioned air path. In this way, the present invention can be implemented in various forms.

10 Air-conditioned furniture 12 Furniture body 14A Seat surface 16A Backrest 32 Air chamber 32A Seat air chamber (air chamber)
32B Rear air chamber 34 Air outlet 36A First supply path 36B Second supply path 40 Air blowing switching mechanism 42 Housing 44 Air blowing fan V1 Indoor space V2 Underfloor space (air conditioning air path)

Claims (7)

A furniture body having a seat surface on which a person can sit;
An air chamber provided in the furniture body;
An air outlet capable of blowing air from the air chamber through the seat surface into an indoor space of a building;
a first supply path provided inside the air chamber and capable of supplying conditioned air from an air-conditioned air path of the building to the air chamber;
a second supply path provided inside the air chamber and capable of supplying indoor air from the indoor space to the air chamber;
an airflow switching mechanism that can change the path of air supplied to the air chamber between the first supply path and the second supply path;
Air-conditioned furniture. A furniture body having a seat surface on which a person can sit;
An air chamber provided in the furniture body;
An air outlet capable of blowing air from the air chamber through the seat surface into an indoor space of a building;
a first supply path capable of supplying conditioned air from an air-conditioned air path of the building to the air chamber;
A second supply path capable of supplying indoor air from the indoor space to the air chamber;
an airflow switching mechanism that can change the path of air supplied to the air chamber between the first supply path and the second supply path;
a control device that controls the air blowing switching mechanism based on both a pressure difference between the indoor space and the air-conditioning air path and a temperature of the air-conditioning air;
Air-conditioned furniture. The air blowing switching mechanism is
A cylindrical housing;
a blower fan disposed inside the housing to move air in an axial direction of the housing;
a holding portion that holds the housing rotatably between a position where the housing communicates with the first supply path and a position where the housing communicates with the second supply path;
Equipped with
The control device is capable of switching between a first mode in which only conditioned air is taken into the air chamber, a second mode in which only indoor air is taken in, and a third mode in which both conditioned air and indoor air are taken in, by rotating the housing, and is also capable of switching the number of rotations per unit time of the blower fan.
Air-conditioned furniture according to claim 2. the control device selects an operation table corresponding to a combination of the pressure difference and the temperature, and controls a position of the housing and the rotation speed of the blower fan depending on whether a mode inputted via an input device is the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode.
4. Air-conditioned furniture according to claim 3. the operation table is set so that, when the pressure difference is less than a predetermined threshold, the rotation speed is made higher than when the pressure difference is equal to or greater than the threshold, and, when the temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the rotation speed is made higher than when the temperature is less than the threshold.
5. Air-conditioned furniture according to claim 4. The air blowing switching mechanism is
Air can be sent from the air chamber to the second supply path.
An air-conditioned furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The furniture body is provided with a backrest,
The air chamber further includes a back air chamber having an air outlet capable of blowing air into the interior space through the backrest,
The first supply path, the second supply path, and the air blowing switching mechanism are also provided in the rear air chamber.
An air-conditioned furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 6.