Abstract: In an air conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant discharged from a compressor of an outdoor unit is passed through an outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant having passed through the outdoor heat exchanger is passed through an indoor heat exchanger of an ambient air-conditioning unit and the refrigerant having passed through the indoor heat exchanger is returned to the compressor to cool the whole space in the room. At the same time, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is passed through the outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant having passed through the outdoor heat exchanger is passed through indoor heat exchangers of a plurality of personal air-conditioning units and the refrigerant having passed through the indoor heat exchangers is returned to the compressor to separately cool the discrete spaces in the room.

Abstract: A variable-capability compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger installed in an outdoor unit and indoor heat exchangers installed in each of a plurality of indoor units are connected by pipes so as to form a refrigerating cycle. The air-conditioning load on each of the indoor units is detected. The capability of the variable-capability compressor is controlled according to the sum of the air-conditioning loads on the respective indoor units. At the time of a heating operation, the refrigerant heat loss in each of pipes respectively connected to the indoor heat exchangers is detected. When the refrigerant heat loss in at least one of the pipes is a given value or more, the capability of the variable-capability compressor is enhanced to compensate for the refrigerant heat loss.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus comprises at least one variable-capability compressor which is contained in a casing together with a lubricating oil, and at least one fixed-capability compressor which is also contained in a casing together with a lubricating oil. The capability of the variable-capability compressor and the number of fixed-capability compressors to be driven, are controlled in accordance with the sum of the air-conditioning loads of a plurality of indoor units. The casings are connected together by means of an oil-balancing pipe. The air-conditioning apparatus further comprises a plurality of oil-balancing devices. These oil-balancing devices are driven on the basis of different control patterns and distribute the lubricating oil between the casings by way of the oil-balancing pipe. The oil-balancing devices are selectively driven in accordance with both the control of the capability of the variable-capability compressor and the control of the number of fixed capability compressors to be driven.

Abstract: Two or more indoor units are provided on ceiling and floor of a room. Each of the indoor units has an air heat exchanger for cooling indoor air, and a drain pan for catching drainage produced by the air heat exchanger. A drain pipe is provided in the ceiling and under the floor. The, drainage in each of the drain pans flows into the drainage pipe. The drain in the drain pipe is carried and discharged outdoor by a drain carrying unit.

Abstract: An outdoor unit includes at least a variable-capacity compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger coupled thereto. Each of a plurality of indoor units includes at least an indoor heat exchanger and a section for outputting required capacity data. A distribution unit parallel-couples the plurality of indoor units to the outdoor unit so as to constitute a plurality of refrigeration cycles for at least heating operations. The distribution unit includes a plurality of refrigerant flow control valves for the respective refrigeration cycles. A first control section provides flow rate control commands to the refrigerant flow rate control valves, in accordance with the required capacity data, and controls an operating frequency to change a capacity of the variable-capacity compressor in accordance with sum data of the required capacity data.

Abstract: An outdoor unit has at least a variable-capability compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger coupled thereto. A plurality of indoor units each have at least an indoor heat exchanger and a section for outputting demand-capability data according to an air-conditioning load of the indoor heat exchanger. A distributing unit serves to couple the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units in parallel to form respective refrigeration cycles, and has a plurality of refrigerant flow controllers corresponding to the respective refrigeration cycles. A first controller sends refrigerant flow control commands associated with the demand-capability data of the indoor units to the refrigerant flow controllers of the distributing unit and outputs sum data of the demand-capability data. A second controller sends a capacity-change control command to the variable-capability compressor of the outdoor unit, in accordance with the sum data from the first controller.

Abstract: An outdoor unit includes at least two variable-capacity compressors. Each of a plurality of indoor units includes a detector for detecting an air conditioning load of the indoor heat exchanger to output respective required capacity data. A distribution unit couples the outdoor unit in parallel with the indoor units so as to constitute each refrigerant cycle, and has a plurality of refrigerant flow controllers. A first controller supplies a control command based on the respective required capacity data to the refrigerant flow controllers, and outputs total sum data of the respective required capacity data. A second controllers supplies a single operation command with a predetermined capacity by one of the two compressors or a parallel operation command with predetermined capacities by both the two compressors to the outdoor unit whether the total sum data is smaller or larger than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An outdoor unit has at least two variable-capability compressors and has an outdoor heat exchanger coupled to the compressors having lubricating oil supplying sections coupled together by an oil-balancing member. A plurality of indoor units are each coupled to the outdoor unit for forming a refrigerating cycle and each have at least an indoor heat exchanger and an output section for outputting demand capability data according to an air conditioning load of the indoor heat exchanger. In accordance with the demand capability data, a controller generates a parallel operation command for parallel operation involving both of the compressors of the outdoor unit with capability according to a sum of the demand capability data from the indoor units.

Abstract: A blower has a sirocco fan of a substantially cylindrical shape and a fan case containing the fan. A motor for driving the fan is arranged outside the case. The case has a pair of inlets formed opposite to each other at both ends of the fan and an outlet so that outside air is sucked through the inlets into the case and diffused from the outlet by the rotation of the fan. A first wind direction plate is mounted on the outer surface of the case and extends substantially to the center of one of the inlet, thereby straightening the flow of the air from the exterior of the case into the inlet. A second wind direction plate extends from the first plate through the inlet into the fan along the axial and radial directions of the fan, thereby straightening the flow of the air in the case.