Refrigerant detection device and indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A refrigerant detection device that can be used in common in device models having different structures, and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that uses the refrigerant detection device. The refrigerant detection device and the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus include a refrigerant-detection air passage having both ends connected to a main air passage extending from a suction port of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus to an air outlet of the indoor unit, and a refrigerant detection sensor that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage.

1 . A refrigerant detection device comprising:
 a refrigerant-detection air passage having both ends connected to a main air passage extending from a suction port of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus to an air outlet of the indoor unit; and   a refrigerant detection sensor configured to detect refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage,   the refrigerant-detection air passage being provided to cause an air-sending port side and an intake port side of a fan to communicate with each other, the fan being provided in the main air passage and configured to send air from the suction port to the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant detection device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes:   a pipe having one end connected to the main air passage, and   a refrigerant detection box connected to the pipe, and   wherein the refrigerant detection sensor is provided in the refrigerant detection box.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant detection device of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes a fan configured to send air from one of ends of the refrigerant-detection air passage to the other. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant detection device of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage further includes:   a pipe having one end connected to the main air passage, and   a fan box connected to the pipe, and   the fan is provided in the fan box.   
     
     
         5 . An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing formed in a shape of a box and including a suction port and an air outlet;   a main air passage extending from the suction port to the air outlet;   a fan provided in the main air passage and configured to send air from the suction port to the air outlet;   a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the air flowing through the main air passage and refrigerant; and   a refrigerant detection device including a refrigerant-detection air passage that branches off from the main air passage and then joins the main air passage, and a refrigerant detection sensor configured to detect refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage and provided in the refrigerant-detection air passage, the refrigerant-detection air passage being provided to cause an air-sending port side and an intake port side of the fan to communicate with each other.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes   an inlet port configured to take in the air from the main air passage, and   an air return port configured to return the taken-in air to the main air passage, and   a plurality of the inlet ports are provided in the main air passage.   
     
     
         8 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the housing includes a heat-exchanger chamber in which the heat exchanger is provided, and an fan chamber in which the fan is provided, and   wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage causes the heat-exchanger chamber and the fan chamber to communicate with each other.   
     
     
         9 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the heat exchanger is provided with a shielding plate at an end portion of the heat exchanger, the shielding plate being configured to block part of the main air passage, and   wherein the shielding plate guides the air passing through the end portion of the heat exchanger to a connection port between the main air passage and the refrigerant-detection air passage.   
     
     
         10 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes a fan configured to send the air from one of ends of the refrigerant-detection air passage to the other end.   
     
     
         11 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage further includes:   a pipe having one end connected to the main air passage, and   a fan box connected to the pipe, and   wherein the fan is provided in the fan box.   
     
     
         12 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes:
 a protrusion pipe protruding into the main air passage, and   wherein the protrusion pipe includes, at a distal end portion thereof, an inlet port configured to take in the air from the main air passage.   
     
     
         13 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage is provided outside the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant detection device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes an inlet port configured to take in air from the main air passage, and a return port configured to return the air to the main air passage, and   wherein the inlet port is located closer to a downstream side of the main air passage than the return port.   
     
     
         15 . The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus, of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes an inlet port configured to take in air from the main air passage, and a return port configured to return the air to the main air passage, and   wherein the inlet port is located closer to a downstream side of the main air passage than the return port.