CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102018000010686 filed on 29/11/2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fan coil unit.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a wall-mounted fan coil unit.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, wall-mounted fan coil units are substantially parallelepiped-shaped devices, which are arranged in vertical position inside the room to be air-conditioned, usually close to the floor and adjacent to one of the walls of the room, and are adapted to heat or cool the air inside the room.

More in detail the fan coil units currently on the market usually comprise: a rigid and substantially parallelepiped-shaped, external box-like casing which is structured for being firmly fixed to the wall in a vertical position, more or less at about ten centimetres from the floor, and is internally provided with a large through-duct, usually having a rectangular section, which extends vertically from one side of the box-like casing to the other, and is closed at the top by a protective grating; an air/liquid heat exchanger which is placed inside the duct so as to be skimmed/crossed by the air flowing along the duct, and is connected to an external hydraulic circuit so as to be also continuously crossed by a flow of hot or cold water; and an electrically-operated fan which is placed inside the vertical through-duct, beneath the heat exchanger, and is adapted to produce an upward airflow that flows through the entire length of the vertical through-duct, passing through/skimming the heat exchanger .

Usually the aforementioned fan coil units additionally comprise: an air filter with a plate-like structure, which is arranged to close the lower mouth of the vertical through-duct, beneath the fan; and a condensation-collection tray which is placed immediately beneath the heat exchanger, and is adapted to collect the drops of condensed water that, in use, fall from the heat exchanger when the same is crossed by cold water.

Unfortunately, by expelling the treated air from the top, in some cases the fan coil units described above tend to produce, inside the room in which they are placed, an air stratification that can be undesirable to people in the room, with the comfort problems that follow.

In winter, for example, the outflow of hot air from the top of the fan coil unit quickly reaches the ceiling and then tends to accumulate in the upper part of the room, causing in some people an unpleasant sensation of cold at foot level. In the event of prolonged operation of the fan coil unit, in fact, the difference between the temperature of the air at the height of the head and the temperature of the air at the height of the feet can also reach 4-5 °C, with the air colder of course at foot level.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks described above.

In compliance with these aims, according to the present invention there is provided a fan coil unit as defined in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims dependent thereon. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted fan coil unit realized according to the teachings of the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the fan coil unit shown in Figure 1, without the outer covering and with parts removed for clarity's sake;

- Figure 3 is a side view of the fan coil unit shown in Figure 1, sectioned along the midplane and with parts removed for clarity' s sake ;

- Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the central part of the fan coil unit shown in Figure 3, in a second operating configuration;

- Figure 5 is a front view of a second embodiment of the fan coil unit shown in Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity's sake; whereas

- Figures 6 and 7 are two side views of the central part of the fan coil unit shown in Figure 5, sectioned along the midplane and with parts removed for clarity's sake.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, number 1 denotes as a whole a wall-mounted fan coil unit, which is adapted to heat or cool the air present within a generic room to be air-conditioned, and is particularly adapted for being arranged inside the room to be air-conditioned in a substantially vertical position, preferably adjacent to one of the walls of the room and preferably at a short distance from the floor.

In addition, the fan coil unit 1 is additionally particularly adapted for being firmly anchored to the wall of the room to be air-conditioned .

In more detail, the fan coil unit 1 is provided with a rigid and substantially parallelepiped-shaped, outer box-like casing 2 which has: a front face 2a and a rear face 2b opposite to one another and substantially perpendicular to the midplane M of the fan coil unit; an upper face 2c and a lower face 2d opposite to one another and substantially perpendicular to the midplane M of the fan coil unit; and finally two side faces 2e which are arranged on opposite sides of the midplane M of the fan coil unit, spaced from the midplane M.

The box-like casing 2, in addition, is adapted to be hung/fixed to the wall P of the room to be air-conditioned in a substantial ly vertical position, so that the front face 2a, the rear face 2b, and the two side faces 2e are substantially vertical, and that the upper face 2c and the lower face 2d are substantially horizontal .

Preferably the box-like casing 2 of fan coil unit 1 is moreover adapted to be fixed on the wall P of the room to be air- conditioned, with the rear face 2b resting on/abutting against the wall P, and preferably with the lower face 2d at about 5-15 cm (centimetres) above the floor S.

More in detail, the fan coil unit 1 preferably comprises: a substantially rigid and self-supporting inner framework 3 which is structured for being firmly fixed to the wall P, at a given distance from the underlying floor S; and a concave and substantially rigid, outer shell or covering 4 which is fixed/ fitted onto the inner framework 3 so as to surround and cover the inner framework 3, forming at least the front face 2a and the two side faces 2e of the outer casing 2, and optionally also the upper face 2c and/or the lower face 2d of the outer casing 2.

In addition, the fan coil unit 1 is provided with a large through-duct 5 which is adapted to be crossed by the outside air and extends through the outer casing 2, preferably while remaining astride the midplane M, and has a substantially T- shaped structure, with one inlet mouth 5a and two separate outlet mouths 5b and 5c.

The inlet mouth 5a is located on the front face 2a of the outer casing 2. The outlet mouth 5b is located on the upper face 2c of the outer casing 2. The outlet mouth 5c is, finally, located on the lower face 2d of the outer casing 2.

In other words, the inner framework 3 and the outer shell or covering 4 jointly form/define a large through-duct 5, which starts at the front face 2a of outer casing 2 and then bifurcates into two divergent branches that end, respectively, at the upper face 2c and at the lower face 2d of outer casing 2.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the fan coil unit 1 additionally comprises at least one air/liquid heat exchanger 6 preferably with a plate-like structure, and two distinct electrically-operated fans 7 and 8.

The heat exchanger 6 is placed inside the through-duct 5, upstream of the bifurcation of the duct, so as to be crossed or in any case skimmed by the air entering into the through-duct 5 through the inlet mouth 5a and flowing along the duct, and is adapted to be connected to an external hydraulic circuit (not shown) so as to be also continuously crossed by a flow of water or other heat-transfer liquid at given temperature. The temperature value of the water or other heat-transfer fluid, in addition, is preferably controlled by an external cooling and/or heating station.

The two fans 7 and 8, on the other hand, are placed inside the through-duct 5, downstream of the bifurcation of the duct and each arranged inside a respective branch of the through-duct 5, so as to each generate a respective airflow fi, f2, that flows through the through-duct 5 crossing/skimming substantially the whole heat exchanger 6. More in detail, the fan 7 is located in the upper branch of the through-duct 5, and is adapted to generate an airflow fi that enters into the through-duct 5 through the inlet mouth 5a located on the front face 2a of outer casing 2, passes through/skims the heat exchanger 6, and then proceeds along the upper branch of through-duct 5 towards the outlet mouth 5b located on the upper face 2c of outer casing 2, from where it flows out of the fan coil unit 1.

The fan 8, on the other hand, is located in the lower branch of through-duct 5, and is adapted to generate an airflow f _å that enters into the through-duct 5 through the inlet mouth 5a located on the front face 2a of outer casing 2, passes through/skims the heat exchanger 6, and then proceeds along the lower branch of through-duct 5 towards the outlet mouth 5c located on the lower face 2d of outer housing 2, from where it flows out of the fan coil unit 1.

In addition, the fan coil unit 1 is preferably provided with an electronic control unit 9 which is placed inside the box-like casing 2, and is adapted to control the two fans 7 and 8 independently from one another, preferably based on the signals coming from one or more temperature sensors (not shown) adapted to detect the air temperature around the fan coil unit 1, and/or based on the signals coming from one or more temperature sensors (not shown) that are adapted to detect the temperature of heat exchanger 6.

More in detail, the electronic control unit 9 is preferably programmed/configured so as to activate only the fan 7 when the heat exchanger 6 has a temperature lower than the environmental temperature and/or lower than a given first reference temperature, so as to cause treated air, i.e. cold air, to flow out of the outlet mouth 5b located on the upper face 2c of outer casing 2. Preferably the electronic control unit 9 is additionally programmed/configured to activate the fan 8 only when the heat exchanger 6 has a temperature higher than the environmental temperature and/or higher than a given second reference temperature, so as to cause treated air, i.e. hot air, to flow out of the outlet mouth 5c located on the lower face 2d of outer casing 2.

In other words, the electronic control unit 9 is preferably programmed/configured to activate the two fans 7, 8 alternatively to one another and according to the temperature of heat exchanger 6, so as to cause the cold air to flow out of the outlet mouth 5b located on the upper face 2c of outer casing 2, and to cause the hot air to flow out of the outlet mouth 5c located on the lower face 2d of outer casing 2.

Optionally, the electronic control unit 9 is additionally programmed/configured to simultaneously activate the two fans 7 and 8 when the fan coil unit 1 must supply an airflow rate greater than that generated by the individual fan 7, 8.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in the example shown, in particular, the inner rigid framework 3 preferably comprises: two rigid and preferably substantially rectangular-shaped, plate-like side elements 10 which are preferably made of metal material, are arranged on opposite sides of the midplane of the fan coil unit, substantially parallel to one another and facing each other and the midplane M, and are structured so as to be fixed by a side to the wall P; and two transversal side members 11 preferably made of metal material, which extend astride the two plate-like side elements 10, more or less perpendicular to the midplane M and at a given distance from the support plane to wall P, so as to rigidly connect the two plate-like side elements 10 to one another. The through-duct 5 extends inside the box-like casing 2, between the two plate-like side elements 10 of the inner rigid framework 3, and the initial segment of the through-duct 5 is laterally delimited by the two transversal side members 11.

More in detail, the two transversal side members 11 are preferably plate-like, and arranged spaced one next to the other so as to form, together with the two plate-like side elements 10, a central tubular structure 12 preferably with a substantially rectangular cross-section, which extends inside the box-like casing 2 substantially perpendicularly to the front face 2a of casing 2, or rather of the outer shell or covering 4.

The heat exchanger 6 is preferably fixed to the rigid framework 3, inside tubular structure 12, i.e. between the two transversal side members 11.

The inlet mouth 5a of through-duct 5, in turn, is preferably realized on the outer shell or covering 4, in front of tubular structure 12, so as to be aligned with the heat exchanger 6.

Preferably the heat exchanger 6 is moreover a finned pack heat exchanger substantially rectangular in shape, and is preferably dimensioned so as to substantially take up the whole area/ section of tubular structure 12.

The initial segment of through-duct 5 is therefore delimited by the central tubular structure 12 formed by the two plate-like side elements 10 and by the two transversal side members 11 of inner framework 3.

Optionally, the inner rigid framework 3 additionally comprises a rear infill panel 13 preferably made of a thermally insulating material, which extends astride the two plate-like side elements 10, while remaining locally parallel and spaced from the two transversal side members 11, so as to be spaced from the central tubular structure 12 and substantially adjacent to the wall P.

The infill panel 13, if present, contributes to form the rear face 2b of outer box-like casing 2.

The fans 7 and 8, on the other hand, are preferably fixed onto the inner framework 3, downstream of tubular structure 12, each adjacent to a respective transversal side member 11.

More in detail, the fans 7 and 8 are preferably tangential fans, and extend astride the two plate-like side elements 10 of inner framework 3, on opposite sides of the central tubular structure 12, each locally substantially tangent to a respective transversal side member 11.

The upper branch of through-duct 5 is therefore laterally delimited by the impeller of tangential fan 7 and by the infill panel 13, or alternatively by the wall P; whereas the lower branch of through-duct 5 is laterally delimited by the impeller of tangential fan 8 and by the infill panel 13, or alternatively by the wall P.

With reference to Figure 2, in addition, the inner rigid framework 3, or rather the two plate-like side elements 10 of inner framework 3, and the outer shell or covering 4 are preferably shaped/structured so as to additionally form/delimit two lateral service compartments 14 and 15 that are arranged inside the box-like casing 2, on opposite sides of the through- duct 5 and of the midplane M of the fan coil unit, so as to both be skimmed over/adjacent to the wall P of the room.

The service compartment 14 preferably accommodates the electronic control unit 9 and optionally also the temperature sensor (s) and/or the electrical connectors (not shown in the figures) that allow to connect the fan coil unit 1, or rather the fans 7 and 8, to the external electrical network (not shown) .

The service compartment 15, on the other hand, preferably accommodates the hydraulic fittings, the shut-off valves and/or the other hydraulic components (not shown in the figures) that allow to connect the heat exchanger 6 to the external hydraulic circuit (not shown) .

With reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the fan coil unit 1 preferably moreover comprises a condensation-collection tray 16 and/or an air filter 17.

The condensation-collection tray 16 is located immediately beneath the heat exchanger 6, and is adapted to collect the drops of condensed water that, in use, form and fall by gravity from the heat exchanger 6 when the heat exchanger cools down the airflow that flows through the through-duct 5. Additionally, a small drainage pipe (not shown) preferably branches off from the bottom of the condensation-collection tray 16, and connects the condensation-collection tray 16 to an external water-drain conduit (not shown) so as to cause the condensation water to flow by gravity into the conduit.

The air filter 17, on the other hand, is located along the initial segment of through-duct 5, preferably upstream of heat exchanger 6 and/or of the bifurcation of the duct, so as to be crossed by the entire airflow that flows through the through- duct 5, and is structured to retain the dust and other impurities suspended in the air that enters the through-duct 5.

In the example shown, in particular, the heat exchanger 6 is preferably arranged in a vertical position above the lower transversal side member 11, and the condensation-collection tray 16 is preferably incorporated into the lower transversal side member 11. More in detail, the heat exchanger 6 is preferably hung beneath the upper transversal side member 11, and the lower transversal side member 11 preferably consists of a straight section-bar having a substantially V-shaped cross-section, so as to be able to collect the condensate that drips down from the immediately overlying heat exchanger 6.

With reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4, on the other hand, the air filter 17 preferably has a plate-like structure and is preferably placed at the inlet mouth 5a of through-duct 5.

Preferably the air filter 17 is additionally fixed to the box like casing 2 in a manually removable manner.

More in detail, the air filter 17 is preferably fixed in manually removable manner on the back of a protective grating 18 which is arranged to close the inlet mouth 5a of through-duct 5.

Preferably the fan coil unit 1 additionally comprises electro mechanical means that are preferably located inside the box like casing 2, and are adapted to move, on command, the air filter 17 from its operating position (i.e. from the position in which the air filter 17 closes the inlet mouth 5a of through- duct 5) so as to allow easy removal thereof from the grating 18. Preferably the electronic control unit 9 is furthermore adapted to command said electromechanical means so as to move the air filter 17 from its operating position when the given operating condition occurs.

More in detail, the electronic control unit 9 is preferably programmed/configured to activate the electromechanical means for moving away the air filter 17 from its operating position when the operating hours of the fan coil unit 1 reach a given value .

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, in the example shown, in particular, the protective grating 18 is preferably hinged with a sides to the box-like casing 2, or rather to the outer shell or covering 4, so as to be able to rotate around a reference axis preferably substantially horizontal, i.e. orthogonal to the midplane M, between a closed position (see Figures 1 and 3) in which the protective grating 18 is substantially coplanar to/ flush with the front face 2a of box-like casing 2, so as to close/confine the air filter 17 inside the through-duct 5; and an open position (see Figure 4) in which the protective grating 18 is inclined forward by a given angle b preferably greater than 15°, so as to allow access to the air filter 17 located behind .

Preferably the fan coil unit 1 is moreover provided with an electromechanical actuator 19 which is preferably located inside the box-like casing 2, and is adapted to move, on command, the protective grating 18 from the closed position to the open position .

The electronic control unit 9, in addition, is preferably adapted to command the electromechanical actuator 19, so as to be able to arrange the protective grating 18 in the open position when the given operating condition occurs.

More in detail, the electronic control unit 9 is preferably programmed/configured to activate the electromechanical actuator 19 when the operating hours of fan coil unit 1 reach a given value.

Optionally, the electronic control unit 9 is additionally programmed/configured to activate the electromechanical actuator 19 when it detects that the air filter 17 is clogged.

Preferably the electronic control unit 9 is finally also programmed/configured to interrupt/prevent the operation of the fans 7 and 8 when the fan coil unit 1 exceeds the given limit value of the operating hours without maintenance and/or when it detects that the air filter 17 is clogged.

In this case, the fan coil unit 1 is preferably provided also with a filter sensor, preferably of the optoelectronic or capacitive type, which is capable of measuring, in real-time or cyclically, the degree of clogging of air filter 17 and then of communicating the same degree to the electronic control unit 9.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3, preferably the fan coil unit 1 is finally provided with an upper protective grating 20 which is fixed to the upper face 2c of outer casing 2, to close the outlet mouth 5b of through-duct 5; and/or with a lower protective grating 21 which is fixed to the lower face 2d of outer casing 2, to close the outlet mouth 5c of through-duct 5.

Operation of fan coil unit 1 is easily inferable from what written above, and therefore does not require further explanation .

The advantages connected to the particular structure of fan coil unit 1 are remarkable.

Experimental tests have shown that the outflow of hot air from the sole base of fan coil unit 1 and the outflow of cold air from the sole top of fan coil unit 1 significantly reduce the stratification of the air inside the room that accommodates the fan coil unit(s) 1, significantly improving the environmental conditions inside the room.

It is finally clear that modifications and variants may be made to the fan coil unit 1 described above without however departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7, in a different embodiment of fan coil unit 1, the protective grating 18 is fixed in stable manner to the outer casing 2, flush with the front face 2a, and the air filter 17 has a plate-like structure and is guillotine inserted into the protective grating 18. In this alternative embodiment, the fan coil unit 1 is preferably provided with an electromechanical actuator 29 which is preferably placed inside the box-like casing 2, and is adapted to move the air filter 17, on command, from a first operating position (see Figure 6) in which the air filter 17 is completely inserted in the protective grating 18 so as to close the inlet mouth 5a of through-duct 5; to a second operating position (see Figures 5 and 7) in which the air filter 17 juts out from one side of protective grating 18 so as to be manually extractable from protective grating 18.

Similarly to the electromechanical actuator 19, also electro mechanical actuator 29 is preferably commanded by the electronic control unit 9. In a further less-sophisticated embodiment, the electronic control unit 9 can be replaced by a manually operated selector which is adapted to alternately activate one of the two fans 7 and 8.