Heat exchange ventilation system

Abstract

To provide a heat exchange ventilation system that can be made more compact and has improved maintainability. [Solution] The heat exchange ventilation device 1 includes a casing 10 that houses a heat exchange element, an outside air purification means, and an indoor air purification means. An outside air intake port 81, a supply air discharge port 82, a return air intake port 83, and an exhaust discharge port 84 are provided on the upper surface of the casing 10. The heat exchange element is located approximately in the center of the casing 10, and an air supply flow path is formed by connecting the outside air intake port 81 to the supply air discharge port 82, and an exhaust flow path is formed by connecting the return air intake port 83 to the exhaust discharge port 84. In addition, the heat exchange ventilation device 1 has an inspection door 11 located approximately in the center of the front of the casing 10 so that when opened, the heat exchange element, outside air purification means, and indoor air purification means housed in the casing 10 are exposed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchange ventilator that heat-exchanges fresh outdoor air taken in from outdoors with indoor air discharged to the outdoors and supplies the heat-exchanged fresh air indoors. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a heat exchange ventilator (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "ventilator") that takes in outdoor air and supplies the air indoors through a built-in heat exchange element. The ventilator is installed indoors, and there are various types including wall-mounted type, floor-standing type, ceiling-concealed type, and ceiling cassette type.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a wall-mounted ventilator. In the ventilator described in Patent Document 1, a side wall of an air duct expansion portion of a scroll casing forming an air supply blower and a side wall of an air duct expansion portion of a scroll casing forming an exhaust blower, which are provided in a main body having an outdoor side suction port, an indoor side discharge port, an indoor side suction port and an outdoor side discharge port, are arranged side by side to face each other back to back, and the width of the main body is reduced by bringing the indoor side discharge port and the outdoor side discharge port close to each other, so as to achieve construction savings.

[0004] In addition, Patent Document 2 describes a ceiling-concealed ventilator. In the ventilator described in Patent Document 2, an exhaust blower that blows air into an exhaust passage and an air supply blower that blows air into an air supply passage are provided inside a main body having a top surface and side surfaces, concave grooves are provided on the outer periphery of the top surface and side surface portions of the main body, the side surfaces of the main body are integrally formed of foamed resin so as to be provided with an adapter-shaped portion, convex grooves are formed on the outer periphery of the top surface portion and the side surface portions, the main body is sandwiched so as to be wrapped by a top plate and a bottom plate which form a U-shape around the main body, and the top plate and the bottom plate are fixed with screws.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 describes a ceiling cassette type ventilation device. The ventilation device described in Patent Document 3 has a box-shaped main body on which a heat exchanger, an exhaust fan, and a supply fan are mounted, and is configured to minimize the number of bends in the exhaust air passage and the supply air passage. The main body houses a heat exchanger box, and the heat exchanger box comprises a heat exchanger housing section that houses the heat exchanger, an exhaust fan casing that houses the exhaust fan and has an air passage formed from the exhaust fan casing orifice to the exhaust fan casing outlet, and a supply air dust removal filter housing section, and the majority of the exhaust side air passage and part of the supply side air passage are formed, and it is made of a single integrated part. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-106443 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-171070 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 5441996 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Ceiling-concealed ventilation systems allow for efficient use of indoor space without encroaching on living areas by installing the ventilation unit itself in the ceiling space. However, maintenance requires users to use ladders or similar equipment to access the ventilation unit through a ceiling access hatch, and replacing parts requires workers to enter the ceiling space, making maintenance difficult. Furthermore, replacing the ventilation unit itself is extremely time-consuming and laborious, as it can only be accessed through an access hatch in the ceiling. This is especially true for large ventilation units.

[0008] Furthermore, while ceiling-cassette type ventilation systems allow users and workers to maintain the ventilation unit itself without entering the space above the ceiling, maintenance is still required using ladders or similar equipment, making the process time-consuming and requiring careful attention to safety.

[0009] On the other hand, wall-mounted and floor-standing ventilation systems are installed within easy reach of users, making maintenance easier and eliminating the need for ladders. However, depending on the specifications (airflow), the size of the ventilation system itself can be large, requiring time-consuming installation work for wall-mounted systems and considerable space for floor-standing systems. Therefore, wall-mounted and floor-standing ventilation systems need to be made more compact and lightweight to enable more versatile installation.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a heat exchange ventilation system that can be made more compact and has improved maintainability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The heat exchange ventilation system according to the present invention is A heat exchange ventilation system having an outdoor air intake port for taking in outside air, an air supply port for supplying the said outdoor air indoors, a return air intake port for taking in indoor air, and an exhaust port for discharging the said air outdoors, which exchanges heat between the outside air taken in from outdoors and the indoor air taken in from indoors and supplies it indoors, It comprises a heat exchange element, an exhaust fan, an intake fan, an outside air purification means, and an indoor air purification means, and is equipped with a roughly rectangular casing that can be wall-mounted or floor-standing. The upper surface of the casing is provided with the outside air intake port, the supply air discharge port, the return air intake port, and the exhaust discharge port. The heat exchange element is provided approximately in the center of the casing. The exhaust fan and the intake fan are provided approximately to the left and right of the heat exchange element, respectively, when viewed from the front. An air supply channel is formed that connects the outside air intake port, through the outside air purification means and the heat exchange element, to the air supply outlet, supplying outdoor air to the indoors. An exhaust flow path is formed that connects the return air intake, through the indoor air purification means and the heat exchange element, to the exhaust discharge port, thereby discharging indoor air to the outdoors. An inspection door is provided approximately in the center of the front of the casing so that when opened, the heat exchange element, the outside air purification means, and the indoor air purification means, which are built into the casing, are exposed.

[0012] In particular, it is desirable that the heat exchange ventilation system be configured such that the exhaust fan and the supply fan are built into a position where they are not exposed even when the inspection door is opened.

[0013] Furthermore, the heat exchange ventilation device is provided with an insect-proofing means having a frame member and a net member upstream of the outside air purification means in the supply air passage. It is desirable that the insect-repellent means is configured such that the net member is supported by the frame member in a substantially horizontal position.

[0014] Furthermore, the heat exchange ventilation system is provided with the outside air intake, the supply air discharge port, the return air intake port, and the exhaust discharge port, respectively, on the front and rear sides of the upper surface of the casing. A short pipe for connecting to a duct is provided at each of the following: the outside air intake port, the supply air discharge port, the return air intake port, and the exhaust discharge port. It is desirable that the short pipe for duct connection provided on the front side be shorter than the short pipe for duct connection provided on the rear side.

[0015] In addition, it is desirable that the heat exchange ventilation system be configured with mounting brackets for wall mounting provided on the back of the casing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The heat exchange ventilation device according to the present invention, with the above configuration, (1-1) By opening the inspection door, a user or the like can inspect (visually check) the contamination degree of the outside air purification means, the indoor air purification means and the heat exchange element all at once, and replace them if necessary. Therefore, maintainability is improved compared to conventional heat exchange ventilators. (1-2) Since the outside air suction ports and the like are collectively provided on the upper surface of the casing, duct construction is facilitated. In addition, by collectively providing the outside air suction ports and the like on the upper surface of the casing, an inspection door can be provided on the front surface of the casing, and since there are no openings such as an outside air suction port and an inspection port on the back surface of the casing, the main body of the ventilator can be installed in close contact with a wall, which facilitates installation work such as floor-standing installation and wall-mounted installation, and also eliminates the need for a stepladder or the like during maintenance, enabling inspection work and the like to be performed safely. In contrast, a conventional concealed-ceiling type heat exchange ventilator requires access to the main body of the device by opening an inspection port provided on a ceiling surface or the like using a stepladder or the like, which results in high-altitude work that not only makes the work itself difficult, but also leaves concerns in terms of safety.

[0017] (2) In particular, by adopting a configuration in which the exhaust fan and the air supply fan are built in at positions that are not exposed even when the inspection door is opened, each fan is not exposed even when the inspection door is opened. Therefore, a user or the like can inspect all the contamination degrees of the heat exchange element, the outside air purification means, and the indoor air purification means that require regular maintenance all at once, and only professional technicians can inspect each fan, which eliminates the risk of users or the like inadvertently touching each fan. In addition, a professional technician can inspect each fan only by separately removing the exhaust fan cover and the air supply fan cover provided on the front surface of the casing with a tool.

[0018] In addition, by providing an insect-proof means having such a configuration, (3-1) Insects that have entered from the outside air suction port can be reliably collected. (3-2) At this time, since the net member is supported in a substantially horizontal posture, insects collected by the net member will not spill even if the insect-proof means is inverted, so the main body of the ventilator can be wall-mounted in an upside-down posture. (3-3) Furthermore, since the net member is supported in a substantially horizontal posture, the outside air that has passed through the insect-repelling means does not flow locally and spreads over the entire surface of the heat exchange element, thereby preventing a decrease in heat exchange efficiency.

[0019] By providing the short pipe for duct connection with such a configuration, (4-1) During duct construction, duct connection work for the short pipe for duct connection particularly on the rear side (inner side) is facilitated. For example, when the ventilator main body is wall-mounted, if the lengths (heights) of the short pipes for duct connection on the front side (near side) and the rear side (inner side) are made the same, the duct connection work for the short pipe for duct connection on the inner side becomes difficult. (4-2) In addition, by providing a sufficient length (height) for the short pipe for duct connection, an optional component such as an insect screen can be attached midway along the short pipe for duct connection.

[0020] (5) In addition, by providing a mounting bracket for wall-mounted installation on the rear surface of the casing, the ventilator main body can be temporarily fixed by hooking the mounting bracket onto a wall-mounted bracket provided on the wall surface of the installation site, and can be permanently fixed to the wall surface in that state using screws or the like, so the installation of the ventilator main body can be easily performed. Also, when the ventilator main body is wall-mounted in an upside-down orientation, the installation can be easily performed in the same procedure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the heat exchange ventilator according to the present invention. [Figure 2] (i) is a front view of the heat exchange ventilator shown in Fig. 1, and (ii) is a rear view thereof. [Figure 3] (i) is a left side view of the heat exchange ventilator shown in Fig. 1, and (ii) is a right side view thereof. [Figure 4] (i) is a top view of the heat exchange ventilator shown in Fig. 1, and (ii) is a bottom view thereof. [Figure 5] It is a front view showing a state where an inspection door of the heat exchange ventilator is opened. [Figure 6]This diagram, based on a front view, illustrates the airflow within a heat exchange ventilation system. [Figure 7] This is a partially abbreviated perspective view showing the heat exchange ventilation system with the inspection door open and the heat exchange elements removed. [Figure 8] This is a partially abbreviated perspective view showing the exhaust fan cover and other components of a heat exchange ventilation system removed, resulting in the exhaust fan and other components being detached. [Figure 9] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an insect repellent device. [Figure 10] These diagrams illustrate the configuration of the insect repellent device. (i) shows the insect repellent device shown in Figure 9(i), (ii) shows the insect repellent device shown in Figure 9(ii), and (iii) shows the insect repellent device shown in Figure 9(iv), all viewed from the horizontal direction. [Figure 11] This diagram illustrates the procedure for wall-mounting the heat exchange ventilation system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 12] Figure 1 shows the heat exchange ventilation system when it is wall-mounted, illustrating both the normal installation and the installation in an upside-down position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 12. In Figures 5 and 6, the dashed lines indicate components and the like that are built into the casing, and the dotted arrows in Figure 6 indicate the airflow within the heat exchange ventilation device. In this description, "user" refers to the resident of a detached house where the heat exchange ventilation device according to the present invention is installed. Components that are the same as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0023] [Heat exchange ventilation system] First, the configuration of the heat exchange ventilation system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The heat exchange ventilation system 1 is a device that supplies and exhausts air through a duct.

[0024] [Casing] The heat exchange ventilation device 1 is equipped with a roughly rectangular casing 10 that can be wall-mounted or floor-standing (see Figure 1). The dimensions of the casing 10 and other components in this embodiment are as follows. <1> Casing 10 dimensions: Width L1 x Depth L2 x Height L3 (see Figures 2 and 3): 650mm x 370mm x 620mm <2> Height L4 (see Figure 2), including the upper end of the joint 81F of the outside air intake port 81 of the casing 10 (or the joint 82F of the supply / discharge port 82): 780 mm

[0025] Therefore, the shape of the casing 10 is not thin (flat) or a rectangular prism that is long in one direction, but rather a cube shape that is somewhat elongated vertically but close to a cube. As shown in the dimensions above, the shape of the casing 10 is not extremely flat or narrow, so the heat exchange ventilation device 1 can be installed in an exposed state in various places such as storage spaces, closets, and dressing rooms. Conversely, heat exchange ventilation devices with extremely flat or narrow shapes are suitable for installation in ceiling spaces, but are not suitable for installation in places other than ceiling spaces, thus limiting the installation location.

[0026] The casing 10 is mainly made of foamed resin, with metal plates and resin plates used to reinforce key areas, but the corners are left exposed foamed resin. As a result, the casing 10 can be made lighter, making it easier to handle during transportation before and during installation, and also eliminating the risk of injury to people who come into contact with the corners of the casing 10 during use after installation.

[0027] Furthermore, the upper surface of the casing 10 is provided with an outside air intake port 81 for taking in outside air, a supply air outlet port 82 for supplying the outside air indoors, a return air intake port 83 for taking in indoor air, and an exhaust outlet port 84 for discharging the indoor air outdoors (see Figure 1). In addition, in this embodiment, a local exhaust intake port 85 is provided on the upper surface of the casing 10. The local exhaust intake port 85 is connected to a duct leading to a toilet, etc., and is intended to merge the air from the toilet, etc., downstream of the heat exchange element 20 in the exhaust flow path 92 (see Figure 6), which will be described later, so that odors from the toilet, etc., do not transfer to the conditioned air SA through the heat exchange element 20.

[0028] In this embodiment, the outside air intake port 81, the supply air outlet port 82, the return air intake port 83, and the exhaust outlet port 84 are arranged in a staggered pattern on the upper surface of the casing 10 (see Figures 1 and 4(i)). Specifically, the return air intake port 83 and the exhaust outlet port 84 are located on the front side (front) of the heat exchange ventilation device 1, while the outside air intake port 81 and the supply air outlet port 82 are located on the rear side (back).

[0029] The outside air intake ports 81, etc., are each composed of short pipes (short pipes for duct connection) 81T, 82T, 83T, 84T, and 85T, and cylindrical fittings 81F, 82F, 83F, 84F, and 85F (see Figure 1). The short pipes 81T to 85T are integrally formed with the foamed resin that makes up the upper surface of the casing 10, and fittings 81F to 85F are attached separately to them, so that the outside air intake ports 81, etc., are connected to the duct via fittings 81F to 85F. In this embodiment, the short pipes 83T and 84T of the return air intake port 83 and exhaust outlet port 84 on the front side (front) are shorter than the short pipes 81T and 82T of the outside air intake port 81 and supply air outlet port 82 on the rear side (back).

[0030] In this embodiment, the local exhaust intake port 85 has its top surface closed (see Figures 1 and 3). When connecting the local exhaust intake port 85 to the duct, the top surface is opened by cutting the joint 85F along the cut line 85FL. In contrast, conventional local exhaust intake ports have their top surface opened in advance and are covered with a metal plate or the like until they are connected to the duct. However, with the configuration of this embodiment, such a metal plate or the like is unnecessary, reducing the number of parts.

[0031] Furthermore, handles 13 are provided on both sides of the casing 10 (see Figure 3), and mounting brackets 17 for wall mounting are provided on the back (see Figure 2(ii)). In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2(ii), mounting brackets 17 are provided at two locations on the top side of the back of the casing 10 (one each opposite the outside air intake port 81 and the supply air discharge port 82) and at two locations on the bottom side (one each at the left and right ends of the back). In this embodiment, the mounting brackets 17 provided on the bottom side of the casing 10 are provided on the backs of the return air intake port 83 and the exhaust discharge port 84, respectively, and a curved portion 10R is provided near the mounting brackets 17 on the bottom side (see Figures 1 and 3). Note that the positions and number of mounting brackets 17 are not limited to those exemplified, and the design can be changed as appropriate.

[0032] In addition, in this embodiment, four engaging portions 18 are provided on the back of the casing 10 that engage with the protrusions 19a (see Figure 11) of the wall mounting bracket 19, which will be described later (see Figure 2(ii)). In this embodiment, the engaging portions 18 are provided vertically and symmetrically on the back of the casing 10 so that the positions of the four engaging portions 18 shown in Figure 2(ii) do not change even when the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is inverted.

[0033] [Configuration within the casing] The casing 10 incorporates a heat exchange element 20, an exhaust fan 30, an intake fan 40, an outside air purification means 50, an indoor air purification means 60, and an insect repellent means 70 (see Figure 5).

[0034] In this embodiment, a heat exchange element 20 is provided approximately in the center of the casing 10 (see Figure 5). An exhaust fan 30 and a supply fan 40 are provided approximately to the left and right of the heat exchange element 20, respectively, when viewed from the front (see Figure 5). The heat exchange ventilation device 1 has an air supply channel 91 within the casing 10 that draws in outside air OA from an outside air intake port 81, passes through an insect repellent 70, an outside air purification means 50, and a heat exchange element 20, and supplies conditioned air SA to the indoors from an air supply outlet port 82. It also has an exhaust channel 92 that draws in return air RA from a return air intake port 83, passes through an indoor air purification means 60 and a heat exchange element 20, and discharges exhaust EA to the outdoors from an exhaust outlet port 84 (see Figure 6).

[0035] The heat exchange element 20 in this embodiment is a straight-flow type with a square cross-section (see Figures 5 and 7), but elements with different shapes or counter-flow types with higher heat exchange efficiency than the straight-flow type can also be used.

[0036] In this embodiment, the exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40 operate to draw in outside air OA or return air RA via the duct D (see Figure 6). The exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40 are composed of a motor, impeller, scroll casing, etc., but in this embodiment, the same motor is used for the scroll casing for the exhaust fan and the scroll casing for the supply fan, which have different outlet positions. Furthermore, the exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40 are installed so that the intake ports of each fan face the heat exchange element 20, and the discharge ports of each fan face the upper surface of the heat exchange ventilation device 1 and are opposite the supply port 82 and the exhaust port 84.

[0037] In this way, by using the same motor for both the exhaust fan 30 and the intake fan 40 (sharing the motor), parts management becomes easier when replacing fans in the event of a malfunction. Furthermore, by installing the intake ports of the exhaust fan 30 and the intake fan 40 in the casing 10 facing each other with the heat exchange element 20 in between, the rotation directions of each fan are opposite to each other, thus canceling out vibrations caused by fan operation and achieving quieter operation. In this embodiment, each fan is a sirocco fan, which is a type of centrifugal fan, but of course, the system is not limited to this.

[0038] Furthermore, the outdoor air purification means 50 in this embodiment is a medium-performance filter with a higher degree of cleanliness than the pre-filter. On the other hand, the indoor air purification means 60 in this embodiment is a pre-filter (coarse dust filter). The outdoor air purification means 50 and the indoor air purification means 60 are configured to be insertable and removable from the casing 10 (see Figure 7).

[0039] Furthermore, the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is provided with an insect-repellent means 70 upstream of the outside air purification means 50 in the supply air passage 91 (see Figure 6). The insect-repellent means 70 in this embodiment includes a frame member 71 and a net member 72 (see Figures 9 and 10). The frame member 71 includes a hook portion 711, a knob portion 712, a projection 713, a passage hole 714 through which air (outside air OA) passes, and a mounting portion 715 for attaching the net member 72 to the frame member 71 (see Figure 9(i)). The net member 72 also has a string portion 721 in part (at the bottom in this embodiment).

[0040] The insect-proofing means 70 of this embodiment can be assembled as follows. First, the net member 72 is attached to the mounting portion 715 of the frame member 71 using a string or the like (not shown) to prevent it from falling off (see Figures 9(i), (ii), and 10(i), (ii)). Next, the string portion 721 of the net member 72 is hooked onto the hook portion 711 of the frame member 71 (see Figures 9(iii) and 10(iv)). The insect-proofing means 70 is supported by the frame member 71 in such a way that the net member 72 is in a substantially horizontal position, and in this state it is attached to the heat exchange ventilation device 1.

[0041] When attaching the insect-repellent device 70 to the casing 10, the knob portion 712 of the frame member 71 is pressed down from the outside, and it is inserted into the casing 10 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 10(iii), and the projection 713 is fitted into the recess (not shown) inside the casing 10 to attach it. On the other hand, when removing the insect-repellent device 70 from the casing 10, the knob portion 712 is pressed down from the outside, and it is pulled out in the opposite direction to the arrow shown in Figure 10(iii).

[0042] Furthermore, although not shown in Figure 9, as shown in Figure 10, the insect-proofing means 70 has two valve sections 73 within the net member 72, creating a double net structure. By having a double net structure, the insect-proofing means 70 can prevent the backflow of collected insects.

[0043] By installing the insect-repellent means 70 with this configuration in the heat exchange ventilation device 1, outdoor insects that enter through the outside air intake 81 via the duct D can be reliably captured. Furthermore, because the net member 72 is supported in a nearly horizontal position, even if the insect-repellent means 70 is turned upside down, the captured insects will not spill out of the net member 72, allowing the ventilation device body to be mounted on the wall in an upside-down position (see heat exchange ventilation device 1A shown in Figure 12). Moreover, because the net member 72 is supported in a nearly horizontal position, outside air OA flows out from the entire area of ​​the net member 72, so the outside air OA that has passed through the insect-repellent means 70 does not flow locally but spreads across the entire surface of the heat exchange element 20, thus preventing a decrease in heat exchange efficiency. If the outside air OA were to flow locally into the heat exchange element 20, not only would there be areas where heat exchange does not occur in the heat exchange element 20, but the heat exchange efficiency could also decrease due to the increased airflow velocity of the outside air OA passing through the heat exchange element 20.

[0044] Furthermore, since the insect-repellent means 70 in this embodiment is unitized (see Figure 9(iv)), users can easily attach and detach the insect-repellent means 70.

[0045] Furthermore, an inspection door 11 is provided on the front of the casing 10 (see Figures 1 and 2(i)). The inspection door 11 in this embodiment is a right-opening hinged door and is positioned approximately in the center of the front of the casing 10 so that when opened, the heat exchange element 20, outside air purification means 50, indoor air purification means 60, and insect repellent means 70 built into the casing 10 are exposed. A handle 12 is provided on the inspection door 11, so that users can open and close the inspection door 11 without needing any additional tools.

[0046] Therefore, by opening the inspection door 11 at any time they like, such as when it is free, users can inspect (visually check) the degree of soiling of the heat exchange element 20, outside air purification means 50, indoor air purification means 60, and insect repellent means 70, which require regular maintenance, all at once, and replace them if necessary (see Figure 7). Although the heat exchange element 20, outside air purification means 50, and indoor air purification means 60 each have different maintenance cycles, when users inspect the one with the shortest maintenance cycle (for example, the indoor air purification means 60), they can also check the degree of soiling of the others (for example, the heat exchange element 20, outside air purification means 50, and insect repellent means 70). Consequently, the heat exchange ventilation system 1 has improved maintainability compared to conventional heat exchange ventilation systems, and its ease of maintenance allows users to perform regular maintenance themselves, thereby preventing performance degradation.

[0047] In contrast, the exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40 are built into the casing 10 in a position where they are not exposed even when the inspection door 11 is opened. In this embodiment, the exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40 are located approximately to the left and right of the heat exchange element 20 in a front view, and these positions do not overlap with the inspection door 11 in a front view (see Figure 5).

[0048] Furthermore, the exhaust fan 30 and the intake fan 40 can be removed and inspected by a specialist using separate tools to remove the exhaust fan cover 14 and the intake fan cover 15, which are installed on the front of the casing 10 (see Figure 8).

[0049] Therefore, even when the inspection door 11 is opened, the exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40 are hidden by the exhaust fan cover 14 and the supply fan cover 15 and are not exposed. This allows users to inspect the degree of contamination of the heat exchange element 20 and other components that should be maintained on a daily basis all at once, while preventing users from exposing and carelessly touching the exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40, and ensuring that only professional technicians can inspect each fan when necessary.

[0050] Furthermore, the inspection door 11 in this embodiment has a shield-like (kite-shield) shape, which improves the aesthetic design of the heat exchange ventilation device 1. However, as long as opening the inspection door 11 exposes the heat exchange element 20 and the like, as described above, and does not expose the fans, there are no particular restrictions on the shape, size, or location of the inspection door 11. For example, since the inspection door 11 in this embodiment has a shield-like shape, the lower part of the heat exchange element 20 is not visible when it is opened, but the shape of the inspection door 11 can be made rectangular so that the lower part is visible.

[0051] In addition, the heat exchange ventilation system 1 has a control unit 16 inside the casing 10 (see Figure 5). In this embodiment, the control unit 16 is located above the supply fan 40. The control unit 16 controls the on / off status and airflow adjustment of the exhaust fan 30 and the supply fan 40. Users can then operate switches, dials, or other control units (not shown) located on the front of the casing 10 to control the control unit 16, enabling them to turn each fan on / off and adjust the airflow.

[0052] [Installation Procedure] Next, we will explain the installation procedure for the heat exchange ventilation system 1. First, when installing the heat exchange ventilation device 1 on a wall, attach the wall mounting bracket 19 to the wall W (see Figures 11(i) and (ii)). The wall mounting bracket 19 is attached to the wall W by screwing it in. Next, temporarily fix the heat exchange ventilation device 1 to the wall W by engaging the four engaging parts 18 (see Figure 2(ii)) provided on the back of the casing 10 of the heat exchange ventilation device 1 with the protrusions 19a of the wall mounting bracket 19 (in this embodiment, there are two protrusions 19a at the upper and lower ends of the wall mounting bracket 19). Then, permanently fix the heat exchange ventilation device 1 to the wall W by screwing it in via the mounting bracket 17 (see Figure 2(ii)) provided on the back of the casing 10 of the heat exchange ventilation device 1 (see Figure 11(iii)).

[0053] After permanently fixing the heat exchange ventilation device 1 to the wall W, the duct D is connected to the joint 81F, such as the outside air intake port 81, provided on the upper surface of the casing 10 (see Figure 11(iv)).

[0054] In this embodiment, two mounting brackets 17 are provided on the bottom side of the rear of the casing 10 (see Figure 2(ii)), but these mounting brackets 17 are provided so as to be hidden by the casing 10 when viewed from the front (see Figures 2 and 3). Therefore, when the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is wall-mounted, these bottom-side mounting brackets 17 are not visible from the front, improving the aesthetic design of the heat exchange ventilation device 1.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a curved portion 10R is provided near the mounting bracket 17 on the bottom side of the casing 10 (see Figures 1, 3, and 11), making it easier to fasten screws to the mounting bracket 17 on the bottom side when installing the heat exchange ventilation device 1 on a wall. In addition, in this embodiment, two mounting brackets 17 are also provided on the upper side of the back of the casing 10 (see Figure 2(ii)), but since these are provided on the back of the short pipes (return air intake port 83 and exhaust outlet port 84), it is also easy to fasten screws to the mounting brackets 17 on the upper side. Thus, with this configuration, the heat exchange ventilation device 1 can also achieve improved ease of installation.

[0056] The height at which the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is wall-mounted can be determined arbitrarily by the user. For example, as shown in Figure 11, if the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is installed at the bottom of the wall W, the duct D is installed inside the wall W on the rear side of the heat exchange ventilation device 1, leaving the top of the heat exchange ventilation device 1 empty. This can then be used as storage space by installing shelves or other devices. On the other hand, if the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is installed at the top of the wall W, the empty space below the heat exchange ventilation device 1 can be effectively utilized.

[0057] Furthermore, the insect-proofing means 70 of this embodiment has a double net structure, and the net member 72 is supported by the frame member 71 in a substantially horizontal position, and is attached to the heat exchange ventilation device 1 in this state. Therefore, even if the insect-proofing means 70 is turned upside down, the collected insects will not spill out from the net member 72.

[0058] Therefore, the heat exchange ventilation system according to the present invention can be normally installed on a wall W as shown in Figure 12, as shown in heat exchange ventilation system 1A, and can also be installed on a wall W in an inverted position as shown in Figure 12, as shown in heat exchange ventilation system 1B. In the example shown in Figure 12, heat exchange ventilation systems 1A and 1B are installed in a storage space on the second floor of a two-story detached house. Heat exchange ventilation system 1A is connected to a duct D1 for the second floor that extends from the ceiling C on the second floor and is installed to an outlet provided in the ceiling of each room on the second floor via the space above the second floor ceiling. Heat exchange ventilation system 1B is connected to a duct D2 for the first floor that extends from the floor F on the second floor and is installed to an outlet provided in the ceiling of each room on the first floor via the space below the second floor and above the first floor ceiling (inter-floor space).

[0059] As described above, the heat exchange ventilation systems 1A and 1B can be installed side by side, one above the other, thus consolidating the installation location of the heat exchange ventilation system into a single location. Therefore, the heat exchange ventilation system according to the present invention can minimize the installation space and improve maintainability by allowing maintenance to be performed in one location. In addition, since both heat exchange ventilation systems 1A and 1B are installed within reach of users, ladders and other equipment are not required for maintenance, and users can safely perform inspection work.

[0060] To elaborate on minimizing installation space, conventional heat exchange ventilation systems required one unit on the first floor and another on the second floor, thus necessitating installation space on each floor. In contrast, the heat exchange ventilation system according to the present invention, as illustrated, can be installed with two units side-by-side in the same space, one above the other. This minimizes installation space and allows maintenance to be performed in only one location (the storage space on the second floor).

[0061] Furthermore, even when mounting the heat exchange ventilation device 1 upside down on the wall, it can be installed using mounting brackets 17 and 19, following the procedure described with reference to Figure 11. As mentioned above, the position of the engaging portion 18 in this embodiment does not change even when the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is mounted upside down. Therefore, even when the heat exchange ventilation device 1 is mounted upside down, each engaging portion 18 can be tightly engaged with each protrusion 19a of the wall mounting bracket 19. Furthermore, although this explanation only describes the case where the heat exchange ventilation system 1 is wall-mounted, it is of course possible to install the heat exchange ventilation system 1 on the floor.

[0062] The heat exchange ventilation device 1 described above is an example of a heat exchange ventilation device according to the present invention, and the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the examples given, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the above <1> , <2> The size and shape of the components that make up the heat exchange ventilation system, including the dimensions exemplified above, can be modified as needed. [Industrial applicability]

[0063] This invention provides a heat exchange ventilation system that is compact and easy to maintain, and can be widely used in various locations and facilities, making it industrially useful. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0064] 1,1A,1B Heat exchange ventilation system 10 Casing 10R curved section 11 Inspection door 12 Handles 13 Handle 14 Exhaust fan cover 15. Cover for intake fan 16 Control Unit 17 Mounting brackets 18 Engaging part 19 Wall mounting bracket 19a Convex part 20 Heat exchange element 30 Exhaust fan 40 Intake fan 50. Outdoor air purification means 60 Indoor air purification methods 70 Insect control measures 71 Frame members 711 Hook part 712 Knob section 713 Protrusion 714 Passing hole 715 Mounting part 72 Net components 721 Cord part 73 Valve 81 Outside air intake 82 Air intake and discharge ports 83 Return air intake 84 Exhaust outlet 85 Local exhaust intake port 81T, 82T, 83T, 84T, 85T Short pipes (short pipes for duct connection) 81F, 82F, 83F, 84F, 85F Joints 85FL Cutting Line 91 Air intake passage 92 Exhaust passage D, D1, D2 ducts W Wall C. Ceiling on the second floor F 2nd floor SA Air Conditioning RA return air OA outside air EA exhaust

Claims

1. A heat exchange ventilation system having an outdoor air intake port for taking in outside air, an air supply port for supplying the said outdoor air indoors, a return air intake port for taking in indoor air, and an exhaust port for discharging the said air outdoors, which exchanges heat between the outside air taken in from outdoors and the indoor air taken in from indoors and supplies it indoors, It comprises a heat exchange element, an exhaust fan, an intake fan, an outside air purification means, and an indoor air purification means, and is equipped with a roughly rectangular casing that can be wall-mounted or floor-standing. The upper surface of the casing is provided with the outside air intake port, the supply air discharge port, the return air intake port, and the exhaust discharge port. The heat exchange element is provided approximately in the center of the casing. The exhaust fan and the intake fan are provided approximately to the left and right of the heat exchange element, respectively, when viewed from the front. An air supply channel is formed that connects the outside air intake port, through the outside air purification means and the heat exchange element, to the air supply outlet, supplying outdoor air to the indoors. An exhaust flow path is formed that connects the return air intake, through the indoor air purification means and the heat exchange element, to the exhaust discharge port, thereby discharging indoor air to the outdoors. A heat exchange ventilation device having an inspection door located approximately in the center of the front of the casing, such that when opened, the heat exchange element, the outside air purification means, and the indoor air purification means, all housed within the casing, are exposed.

2. The heat exchange ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust fan and the supply fan are housed in a position where they are not exposed even when the inspection door is opened.

3. An insect-proofing means having a frame member and a net member is provided upstream of the outside air purification means in the air supply passage. The heat exchange ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the insect-repellent means is supported by the frame member such that the net member is in a substantially horizontal position.

4. The aforementioned outside air intake port, the aforementioned supply air discharge port, the aforementioned return air intake port, and the aforementioned exhaust discharge port are provided separately on the front and rear sides of the upper surface of the casing, A short pipe for connecting to a duct is provided at each of the following: the outside air intake port, the supply air discharge port, the return air intake port, and the exhaust discharge port. The heat exchange ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the short pipe for duct connection provided on the front side is shorter than the short pipe for duct connection provided on the rear side.

5. The heat exchange ventilation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a mounting bracket for wall mounting is provided on the back of the casing.

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