Ceiling-mounted indoor unit for air conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A ceiling-mounted indoor unit for an air conditioning apparatus is disposed in a ceiling of an air-conditioned room. The ceiling-mounted indoor unit includes a casing having an air outlet formed along a peripheral edge portion of an undersurface of the casing, at least four horizontal blades rotatably disposed in the air outlet, and a controller. The horizontal blades have airflow-direction angles that are independently changeable in an up-and-down direction. The control unit controls the horizontal blades such that at least two first horizontal blades of the at least four horizontal blades synchronously swing while taking the same posture. The first horizontal blades are adjacent to each other, and a combination of the at least four horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts in order along the peripheral edge portion.

1 . A ceiling-mounted indoor unit for an air conditioning apparatus disposed in a ceiling of an air-conditioned room, the ceiling-mounted indoor unit comprising:
 a casing having an air outlet formed along a peripheral edge portion of an undersurface of the casing;   at least for horizontal blades rotatably disposed in the air outlet, the horizontal blades having airflow-direction angles that are independently changeable in an up-and-down direction; and   a control unit configured to control the horizontal blades such that
 at least two first horizontal blades of the at least four horizontal blades synchronously swing while taking the same posture, the first horizontal blades being adjacent to each other, and 
 a combination of the at least four horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts in order along the peripheral edge portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured such that the combination of the at least four horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts sequentially one blade at a time.   
     
     
         3 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured such that the combination of the at least four horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts every time the first horizontal blades reciprocally rotate a predetermined number of times in the up-and-down direction with respect to the air outlet.   
     
     
         4 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured such that the combination of the at least tour horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts every time the first horizontal blades swing for a first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         5 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured such that second horizontal blades of the at least four horizontal blades are put into a state where the second horizontal blades are fixed at a predetermined angle while the first horizontal blades synchronously swing while taking the same posture, and the second horizontal blades are a remainder of the at least four horizontal blades excluding the first horizontal blades.   
     
     
         6 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first horizontal blades reciprocally rotate in the up-and-down direction with respect to the air outlet, and   the control unit is further configured to temporarily stop actions of the first horizontal blades when rotational directions of the first horizontal blades change.   
     
     
         7 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 during a second predetermined amount of time after a start of operation, the control unit controls the at least four horizontal blades such that
 the first horizontal blades synchronously swing while taking the same posture and 
 the combination of the at least four horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts in order along the peripheral edge portion, and 
   after elapse of the second predetermined amount of time after the start of operation, the control unit tilts the first horizontal blades at a predetermined angle.   
     
     
         8 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the undersurface of the casing has a substantially four-sided shape as seen along a direction perpendicular to the ceiling,   four of the horizontal blades are disposed in correspondence to each side of the undersurface, and   the air outlet has corner-portion air outlets that are divided by the horizontal blades and correspond to each corner portion of the undersurface.   
     
     
         9 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first horizontal blades are configured by two of the horizontal blades adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         10 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first horizontal blades are configured by three of the horizontal blades adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         11 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured such that the combination of the at least four horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts every time the first horizontal blades reciprocally rotate a predetermined number of times in the up-and-down direction with respect to the air outlet.   
     
     
         12 . The ceiling-mounted indoor unit for the air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the control unit is further configured such that the combination of the at least four horizontal blades forming the first horizontal blades shifts every time the first horizontal blades swing for a first predetermined amount of time.