Electric control box, heat pump unit and heat pump system

Abstract

The utility model provides an electric control box, a heat pump unit and a heat pump system. The electric control box (30) comprises: a housing (31) having a back plate (314) and side plates (312, 313); and an inner-layer mounting part (36) on which the electronic components (34, 35) are mounted, the inner-layer mounting part (36) comprising a mounting plate (361) and a connecting part (362), the connecting part (362) being provided along the peripheral edge of the mounting plate (361) and extending toward the back plate (314) perpendicular to the mounting plate (361), the connecting part (362) being fixed to the side plate (313) of the housing (31) such that the mounting plate (361) and the back plate (314) face each other across the connecting part (362). Therefore, the strength of the electric control box can be enhanced without arranging reinforcing ribs so as to prevent deformation, and the waterproof and dustproof functions are also excellent due to the sealing performance of the shell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of heat pumps and air conditioning, specifically to an electrical control box, a heat pump unit, and a heat pump system. Background Technology

[0002] Heat pump systems utilize resources stored in soil, air, and water as heat sources to provide the required cooling or heating, achieving the purpose of refrigeration and heating. The heat pump unit, as a key component of a heat pump system, affects the overall system's cooling or heating efficiency and energy consumption.

[0003] The casing of an existing heat pump unit houses a water pump, heat exchanger, expansion tank, piping, valves, and electrical control box. The electrical control box is the core control component of the heat pump system. By receiving signals from various sensors (such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate), it controls the various components within the heat pump unit and is responsible for managing and coordinating the operation of the entire heat pump unit.

[0004] Because the electrical control box of a heat pump unit contains a large number of electrical control components, and the heat pump unit usually generates heat, vibration, and moisture inside its casing during operation, if dust or moisture enters the electrical control box, it can easily lead to equipment failure.

[0005] Furthermore, existing control boxes are typically mounted close to the front panel of the heat pump unit, exposing the touchpad or control buttons on the housing surface. When wiring checks are needed, the front panel can be removed. However, when the control box is mounted across the two side panels of the heat pump unit housing, the large span (almost the entire lateral dimension of the heat pump unit) makes it prone to deformation. To prevent deformation, reinforcing ribs are usually added to the back panel of the control box. This not only increases the unit's weight and production costs but also hinders heat dissipation from the back of the control box, thus affecting the lifespan and performance of internal components. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model

[0007] In view of the above, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an electrical control box, heat pump unit and heat pump system that can ensure no deformation without the need for reinforcing ribs and is dustproof and waterproof.

[0008] Technical means for solving technical problems

[0009] To address the aforementioned technical problems, according to some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, an electronic control box is provided, comprising:

[0010] An outer casing having a back panel and side panels perpendicular to the back panel; and

[0011] The inner mounting section, on which electronic components are mounted,

[0012] The inner mounting portion, on which the electronic components are mounted, is housed within a space formed by the back panel and side panels of the outer casing.

[0013] The inner layer mounting portion includes:

[0014] Mounting plate, the mounting plate having mounting surfaces for mounting the electronic components; and

[0015] A connecting portion is provided along the periphery of the mounting plate and extends perpendicularly toward the back plate of the housing.

[0016] The connecting portion of the inner layer mounting portion is fixed to the side plate of the outer shell, such that the mounting plate of the inner layer mounting portion and the back plate of the outer shell are opposite each other across the connecting portion of the inner layer mounting portion.

[0017] In some embodiments, both the outer shell and the inner mounting portion are sheet metal parts.

[0018] In some embodiments, the connecting portion is formed by bending a portion of the periphery of the mounting plate toward the opposite side of the mounting surface, such that the connecting portion is perpendicular to the opposite side.

[0019] In some embodiments, the connecting portion is formed separately from the mounting plate and then connected as a single unit.

[0020] In some embodiments, the connecting portion is fastened to the side plate of the housing at a predetermined position by screws.

[0021] In some embodiments, the thickness of the connection portion, i.e. the distance between the mounting plate and the back plate of the housing, is set to a value that allows the screw to be installed at the specified location.

[0022] In some embodiments, the size of the mounting plate is adapted to the size of the back plate of the housing.

[0023] According to some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, a heat pump unit is also provided, comprising:

[0024] Casing; and

[0025] Any of the above-mentioned electrical control boxes,

[0026] The side panel of the outer shell of the electrical control box is fixed to the housing.

[0027] According to some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, a heat pump system including the above-described heat pump unit is also provided.

[0028] Utility Model Effect

[0029] In the electrical control box, heat pump unit, and heat pump system of this utility model, the circuit board and the like are mounted on the inner mounting part. The inner mounting part and the back plate of the electrical control box shell are separated by a connecting part. Thus, the strength of the electrical control box can be enhanced to prevent deformation without the need for reinforcing ribs. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide mounting holes for mounting the circuit board on the back plate of the shell, the airtightness of the shell is ensured, resulting in excellent waterproof and dustproof functions for the electrical control box. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present disclosure to explain the disclosure and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is an external view of the heat pump unit of this utility model.

[0032] Figure 2 This is an internal diagram of the heat pump unit of this utility model.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electrical control box of this utility model.

[0034] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of the electrical control box of this utility model.

[0035] Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of the electrical control box of this utility model.

[0036] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the inner mounting part of the electrical control box of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The following describes specific embodiments of this disclosure. It should be noted that, in order to maintain brevity, this specification cannot provide a detailed description of all features of the actual embodiments. It should be understood that, in the actual implementation of any embodiment, just as in any engineering or design project, various specific decisions are often made to achieve the developer's specific goals and to meet system-related or business-related constraints, and this can change from one embodiment to another. Furthermore, it is understood that although the efforts made in this development process may be complex and lengthy, for those skilled in the art related to the content of this disclosure, changes in design, manufacturing, or production based on the technical content disclosed herein are merely conventional technical means and should not be construed as insufficient content of this disclosure.

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the claims and description shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar words used in this patent application description and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. The terms “an” or “a” and similar words do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the presence of at least one. The terms “comprising” or “including” and similar words mean that the element or object preceding “comprising” or “including” encompasses the element or object listed following “comprising” or “including” and its equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects. The terms “connected,” “coupled,” or “linked” and similar words are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, nor are they limited to direct or indirect connections.

[0039] Unless otherwise specified, all embodiments and preferred embodiments mentioned herein can be combined to form new technical solutions. Similarly, unless otherwise specified, all technical features and preferred features mentioned herein can be combined to form new technical solutions.

[0040] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0041] The electrical control box, heat pump unit, and heat pump system provided according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] Figure 1 This is an external view of the heat pump unit of this utility model. Figure 2 This is an internal diagram of the heat pump unit of this utility model. In this embodiment, the indoor unit of a floor heating system is used as an example of the heat pump unit 10 for explanation. In the accompanying drawings, the vertical direction is used as the up-down direction of the heat pump unit, with the upper part of the vertical direction designated as the upper side and the lower part as the lower side. The horizontal direction is used as the left-right direction of the heat pump unit, with the left side of the horizontal direction designated as the left side or left-side and the right side of the horizontal direction designated as the right side or right-side. The direction orthogonal to the vertical and horizontal directions is used as the front-back direction of the heat pump unit, with the position at the front designated as the front side or front front side and the position at the rear designated as the back side or back panel side.

[0043] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2The heat pump unit 10 includes a top cover 11, a front panel 12, a left side panel 13, a right side panel 14, a bottom panel 15, and a back panel 16. The space surrounded by the top cover 11, front panel 12, left side panel 13, right side panel 14, bottom panel 15, and back panel 16 forms the internal chamber of the heat pump unit 10, which houses the various functional components of the heat pump unit 10.

[0044] A display unit 17 is also provided on the front panel 12 for displaying relevant information such as temperature and system parameters.

[0045] The base plate 15 is provided with multiple pipe ports 18 for connecting water inlet pipes, water outlet pipes and other pipes and connecting to external systems.

[0046] exist Figure 2 The diagram only shows the electrical control box 30 of the heat pump unit 10, omitting illustrations of other components such as the water pump, expansion tank, heat exchanger, and piping.

[0047] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electrical control box of this utility model. The electrical control box 30 includes a shell 31, connecting parts 32 and 33, and substrates 34 and 35.

[0048] The outer casing 31 is a lidless box-shaped component, comprising at least an upper side panel 311, a left side panel 312, a right side panel 313, and a back panel 314 (see...). Figure 4 The left side panel 312 and the right side panel 313 sandwich the upper side panel 311 and the back panel 314 and are opposite to each other.

[0049] Figure 3 The outer casing 31 does not have a lower side plate opposite to the upper side plate 311, but a lower side plate can be provided as needed.

[0050] The outer casing 31 can be a sheet metal part or made using other processes, as long as the material can ensure both heat dissipation and strength.

[0051] As shown in the figure, substrates 34 and 35 are housed within the internal space of the outer casing 31, which is enclosed by the upper side plate 311, the left side plate 312, the right side plate 313, and the back plate 314. Various electronic components are mounted on substrates 34 and 35 to realize the basic functions of the control box. The substrates 34 and 35 here are just an example; the number of substrates in the control box 30 is not particularly limited, and can be a single substrate or three or more substrates.

[0052] The electrical control box 30, on which base plates 34 and 35 are mounted, is fixed to the left side plate 13 and right side plate 14 of the body of the heat pump unit 10 via connecting parts 32 and 33, respectively. Figure 2As shown. Specifically, the left side plate 312 of the outer casing 31 of the electrical control box 30 is screwed to the left side plate 13 of the heat pump unit 10 body via screw holes 321 and 322 opened on the connecting part 32, and the right side plate 313 of the outer casing 31 of the electrical control box 30 is screwed to the right side plate 14 of the heat pump unit 10 body via screw holes 331 and 332 opened on the connecting part 33.

[0053] The connecting portions 32 and 33 can be formed by vertically folding outwards from the left side plate 312 and right side plate 313 of the outer casing 31, respectively. For example, the connecting portion 32 is formed by bending a portion of the left side plate 312 away from the back plate 314 to the left in a manner perpendicular to the plane of the left side plate 312, and the connecting portion 33 is formed by bending a portion of the right side plate 313 away from the back plate 314 to the right in a manner perpendicular to the plane of the right side plate 313. Alternatively, the connecting portions 32 and 33 can also be formed by, for example... Figure 3 The L-shaped component shown is fixed at one end to the left side plate 312 and the right side plate 313 of the outer casing 31.

[0054] In addition, the number of screw holes 321, 322, 331, and 332 on each connecting part 32 and 33 is not limited to the example shown in the figure, and can be opened according to actual needs.

[0055] according to Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the control box 30 is mounted on the left and right side plates 13 and 14, so its back plate 314 is suspended. In the prior art, the substrates 34 and 35 are directly mounted on the back plate 314. Therefore, the outer shell 31 of the control box 30, especially the back plate 314, needs to bear the weight of these substrates and the electronic components on them. For this reason, the outer shell 31 of the control box 30 is usually made of sheet metal to facilitate heat dissipation and improve strength. However, since the left and right span of a typical heat pump unit is more than 50cm, even high-strength materials such as sheet metal are prone to deformation when mounted in the above manner.

[0056] To prevent deformation of the control box casing, reinforcing ribs are typically added to the back of the casing's back panel to further enhance its strength. However, adding these reinforcing ribs not only increases production costs but also occupies internal space in the heat pump unit, increases the weight of the control box, and leads to various problems such as reduced heat dissipation performance.

[0057] Furthermore, to install the aforementioned baseboards 34 and 35, as well as other terminal blocks, wire clips, grounding screws, etc., numerous mounting holes need to be drilled in the back panel of the electrical control box casing. Since the heat pump unit contains water pipes, moisture may enter the electrical control box during installation, commissioning, and use, potentially leading to electrical malfunctions and, in severe cases, fires. Therefore, more effective measures are needed to prevent deformation of the electrical control box and to protect it from water and dust.

[0058] To address the above problems, this utility model proposes a double-layer electrical control box structure to replace the previous single-layer electrical control box, which can prevent the electrical control box from deforming and also ensure waterproof and dustproof functions.

[0059] Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of the electrical control box of this utility model, wherein, Figure 4 The overall structure of the electronic control box 30 is shown. Figure 5 The diagram shows a partial structure of the electrical control box 30 after removing the outer casing 31. As shown in the figure, the electrical control box 30 of this utility model, in addition to... Figure 3 In addition to the outer casing 31, connecting portions 32 and 33, and substrates 34 and 35 shown, an inner mounting portion 36 is also provided. In the prior art, electronic components such as substrates are directly mounted on the back plate 314 of the outer casing 31 of the control box 30, thus resulting in the aforementioned problems with waterproofing, dustproofing, and strength. In this invention, substrates 34 and 35 are not directly mounted on the back plate 314 of the outer casing 31, but are fixed to the back plate 314 via the inner mounting portion 36.

[0060] Figure 6 The diagram shows a schematic representation of the inner layer mounting section 36. The inner layer mounting section 36 includes a mounting plate 361 and a side plate 362.

[0061] Mounting plate 361 is a plate-shaped component with multiple mounting holes, which can be used to mount base plates 34 and 35, as well as wire clips, terminal blocks, grounding screws, etc. Therefore, in order to make efficient use of space and facilitate installation, the size of mounting plate 361 is adapted to the back plate 314 of housing 31, that is, the area of ​​mounting plate 361 is slightly smaller than the area of ​​back plate 314.

[0062] The side panel 362 is formed by folding vertically backward (towards the back panel 314) from all sides of the mounting plate 361. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the inner mounting part 36 actually has four side plates 362, and the thickness of each side plate 362 formed by folding is d. By folding the four sides of the mounting plate 361 to form the side plates 362, that is, by providing side plates 362 perpendicular to the mounting plate 361 around the four sides of the mounting plate 361, the strength of the mounting plate 361 can be enhanced, and the mounting plate 361 can be prevented from deforming due to load.

[0063] Figure 6 In the figure, the side plate 362 on the right side has three screw holes 363. The inner layer mounting part 36 can be connected and fixed to the outer shell 31 through these screw holes 363. Therefore, the side plate 362 is equivalent to the connecting part of the inner layer mounting part 36.

[0064] Below, in conjunction with Figures 3 to 5The specific installation method of the electrical control box 30 of this utility model will be described.

[0065] First, mount substrates 34 and 35 onto a substrate with… Figure 6 The inner layer mounting portion 36 of the structure shown has mounting holes or openings pre-drilled on it, corresponding to the substrates 34 and 35 and other wire clips, terminal blocks, and grounding screws to be connected.

[0066] Then, the inner mounting portion 36, on which substrates 34 and 35 are mounted, is placed into the housing 31, so that the mounting plate 361 faces the back plate 314 of the housing 31. At this time, the side plate 362 separates the mounting plate 361 from the back plate 314, creating a gap of thickness d between the mounting plate 361 on which substrates 34 and 35 are mounted and the back plate 314 of the housing 31. This gap helps to dissipate heat from the substrates 34 and 35 and the mounting plate 361.

[0067] Next, the inner mounting part 36 is screwed to the outer casing 31 via the screw holes 363 on the side panel 362. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the inner mounting part 36 is connected and fixed to the right side plate 313 of the outer casing 31 at the positions indicated by the three screws 37. This results in... Figure 3 The structure of the double-layered electrical control box 30 is shown.

[0068] According to the double-layer electrical control box structure of this embodiment, unlike conventional designs, there are no mounting holes for mounting substrates or the like on the back plate of the outer casing 31. This results in good sealing performance of the entire casing, preventing moisture or dust from entering. Since an inner mounting section 36 is provided for mounting substrates, wire clips, terminal blocks, grounding screws, etc., the basic performance of the electrical control box is ensured not to be affected. Furthermore, the side plate 362 on the inner mounting section 36 bends towards the back plate 314 of the outer casing 31, enhancing the strength of the mounting plate 361 on which the substrate is mounted and preventing deformation, thus eliminating the need for additional components such as reinforcing ribs. In addition, the presence of the side plate 362 creates a gap of thickness d between the mounting plate 361 and the back plate 314. This gap not only facilitates heat dissipation of the electrical control box but also acts as a buffer zone. Even if moisture enters the electrical control box 30 through gaps at the outer casing joints, the substrate and other components are separated from the outer casing 31, thus protecting the mounted components on the mounting plate 361 from this buffer zone.

[0069] In addition, since the thickness d of the inner mounting portion 36 added inside the electrical control box 30 is much smaller than the depth of the outer shell 31, the setting of the inner mounting portion 36 does not increase the size of the electrical control box 30, and thus it is also suitable for electrical control boxes of existing sizes.

[0070] Therefore, the double-layer electrical control box of this embodiment can enhance strength without the need for reinforcing ribs, has a simple structure, and can also ensure the airtightness of the electrical control box shell, exhibiting excellent performance in terms of waterproofing, dustproofing, and deformation resistance.

[0071] In addition, in this embodiment, the housing 31 and the inner mounting part 36 can be sheet metal components, but are not limited to this, and can also be made by other processing techniques, such as castings.

[0072] In addition, in this embodiment, the side plate 362 is formed by folding the mounting plate 361 around the back plate 314, but it is not limited to this. The mounting plate 361 and the side plate 362 can also be formed separately and then integrated by welding or other means.

[0073] In addition, in this embodiment, the thickness of the side plate 362 is d. This thickness is not particularly limited, as long as it can separate the mounting plate 361 and the bottom plate 314, ensure that the gap between the two can facilitate heat dissipation, and ensure that the connection between the side plate 362 of the inner mounting part 36 and the side plate 313 of the outer shell 31 can be fixed by screws or other connecting parts.

[0074] In addition, in this embodiment, the connection between the electrical control box 30 and the outer shell of the heat pump unit 10, and the connection between the inner mounting part 36 and the outer shell 31 are achieved by fixing with screws, but it is not limited to this, and rivets, plugs, buckles and other connectors can also be used.

[0075] According to this embodiment, a heat pump unit having the above-described electrical control box, and a heat pump system including the heat pump unit, are also included within the scope of this utility model.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the indoor unit of a floor heating system is used as an example of a heat pump unit for explanation, but it is not limited to this. It can also be an outdoor unit or an indoor or outdoor unit of other heat pump systems such as a soil source heat pump system. As long as an electrical control box is installed therein, this utility model can be applied.

[0077] It should be understood that the above description is illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above embodiments (and / or aspects thereof) can be used in combination with each other. Furthermore, many modifications can be made to adapt particular situations or materials to the teachings of the various embodiments of this disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are used to define parameters of the various embodiments of this disclosure, the embodiments are not intended to be restrictive but are exemplary. Many other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of the various embodiments of this disclosure should be determined by reference to the appended claims and the full scope of their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electrical control box, characterized in that, include: The housing has a back panel and side panels perpendicular to the back panel; as well as The inner mounting section, on which electronic components are mounted, The inner mounting portion, on which the electronic components are mounted, is housed within a space formed by the back panel and side panels of the outer casing. The inner layer mounting portion includes: Mounting plate, the mounting plate having mounting surfaces for mounting the electronic components; as well as A connecting portion is provided along the periphery of the mounting plate and extends perpendicularly toward the back plate of the housing. The connecting portion of the inner layer mounting portion is fixed to the side plate of the outer shell, such that the mounting plate of the inner layer mounting portion and the back plate of the outer shell are opposite each other across the connecting portion of the inner layer mounting portion.

2. The electrical control box as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Both the outer shell and the inner mounting section are sheet metal parts.

3. The electrical control box as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The connecting portion is formed by bending a portion of the periphery of the mounting plate toward the opposite side of the mounting surface, such that the connecting portion is perpendicular to the opposite side.

4. The electrical control box as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The connecting part is formed separately from the mounting plate and then connected as a whole.

5. The electrical control box as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The connecting part is fastened to the side plate of the housing at a specified position by screws.

6. The electrical control box as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The thickness of the connecting part, i.e. the distance between the mounting plate and the back plate of the housing, is set to a value that allows the screw to be installed at the specified position.

7. The electrical control box as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The size of the mounting plate is adapted to the size of the back plate of the housing.

8. A heat pump unit, characterized in that, include: case; as well as The electrical control box as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the side plate of the outer shell of the electrical control box is fixed to the housing.

9. A heat pump system, characterized in that, Including the heat pump unit as described in claim 8.

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