Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner includes: a heat-source-side unit including a heat-source-side heat exchanger; a use-side unit, in a space to be air conditioned, including a use-side heat exchanger and a use-side fan that supplies air to the use-side heat exchanger; and a connection pipe that connects the heat-source-side unit to the use-side unit. The air conditioner performs air-conditioning of the space by circulating refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including: the heat-source-side heat exchanger; the use-side heat exchanger; and the connection pipe. The refrigerant circuit further includes: a first pipe made of a first metal material; a second pipe made of a second metal material; and a connecting portion between the first pipe and the second pipe. The connecting portion is in an unventilated space.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An air conditioner comprising:
 a heat-source-side unit comprising a heat-source-side heat exchanger;   a use-side unit, in a space to be air conditioned, comprising:
 a use-side heat exchanger; and 
 a use-side fan that supplies air to the use-side heat exchanger; and 
   a connection pipe that connects the heat-source-side unit to the use-side unit, wherein the air conditioner performs air-conditioning of the space by circulating refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit comprising:
 the heat-source-side heat exchanger; 
 the use-side heat exchanger; 
 the connection pipe; 
 a first pipe made of a first metal material; 
 a second pipe made of a second metal material; and 
 a connecting portion between the first pipe and the second pipe, wherein the connecting portion is in an unventilated space. 
   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the use-side unit further comprises a casing that accommodates the use-side heat exchanger and the use-side fan, and   the air conditioner further comprises an air-flow-blocking member that defines the unventilated space in the casing.   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the air-flow-blocking member
 is disposed downstream of the use-side fan and upstream of the connecting portion 
 in a direction in which air is blown out from the use-side fan, and 
 defines the unventilated space downstream of the air-flow-blocking member in the direction in which air is blown out from the use-side fan. 
   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a dew condensation prevention member disposed around the connecting portion.   
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a cover that covers a periphery of the connecting portion and defines the unventilated space.   
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the first pipe is a pipe in the use-side unit,   the use-side unit further comprises a casing that accommodates the use-side heat exchanger and the use-side fan, and   the connecting portion is disposed outside the casing.   
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 an air flow speed of the unventilated space is  0 . 5  msec or less when the air conditioner is in operation.   
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 an air flow speed in the unventilated space is 1/5 or less of an air flow speed in a ventilated space through which air blown out from the use-side fan flows when the use-side fan blows air at a maximum air flow rate.   
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 one of the first metal material and the second metal material is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and   the other of the first metal material and the second metal material is copper or a copper alloy.   
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the use-side unit is a ceiling-mounted unit that is mounted on a ceiling of the space to be air conditioned.