Fixing structure of refrigerant sensor

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of air conditioning technology and discloses a fixing structure for a refrigerant sensor, including a refrigerant sensor and a protective plate mounted on an air conditioner chassis. The protective plate includes a vertical plate, a top plate, a side plate, and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is fixed to the air conditioner chassis, and the refrigerant sensor is mounted on the vertical plate. The side plates face the side of the air conditioner unit and shield the side of the refrigerant sensor. The top plate shields the top of the refrigerant sensor. The protective plate forms a semi-enclosed design with its top and sides, providing waterproofing and rain protection while retaining a refrigerant flow channel. This prevents rainwater from short-circuiting the sensor, extending its service life, and ensures that R290 refrigerant can diffuse unimpeded to the detection area in the event of a leak, achieving dual protection of performance and detection sensitivity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to a fixing structure for a refrigerant sensor. Background Technology

[0002] Some rooftop air conditioners use R290 as their refrigerant. However, propane, the main component of R290, is flammable and explosive. Being heavier than air, a leak will cause it to flow down the ground and accumulate in low-lying areas, significantly increasing the risk of explosion. To effectively address this safety hazard, installing a refrigerant sensor in the rooftop air conditioner is crucial. The core function of the refrigerant sensor is to quickly send a signal to the main control board when an R290 refrigerant leak is detected. The main control board then immediately cuts off the power supply, thus preventing a potential explosion.

[0003] Because rooftop air conditioners are typically exposed outdoors and their casings are not completely sealed, they often have numerous openings to allow airflow and heat exchange. During factory reliability verification and actual use, this design makes it extremely easy for rainwater to splash onto the refrigerant sensor. On one hand, rainwater splashing may cause the refrigerant sensor to short-circuit, leading to sensor damage; on the other hand, it may also interfere with the sensor's detection function, making it impossible to accurately and promptly detect refrigerant leaks, seriously threatening the safe and stable operation of the refrigeration equipment.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a refrigerant sensor fixing structure for rooftop air conditioners. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a fixing structure for a refrigerant sensor that can fully consider the characteristics of R290 refrigerant, reasonably place the refrigerant sensor at the bottom of the unit to quickly respond to refrigerant leakage problems, and effectively solve the adverse effects of rainwater splashing on the refrigerant sensor.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A fixing structure for a refrigerant sensor includes a refrigerant sensor and a protective plate disposed on an air conditioner chassis. The protective plate includes a vertical plate, a top plate, a side plate, and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is fixed to the air conditioner chassis. The refrigerant sensor is mounted on the vertical plate. The side plate faces the side of the air conditioner unit and shields the side of the refrigerant sensor. The top plate shields the top of the refrigerant sensor.

[0008] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, a wiring hole is provided on the vertical plate, and a pass-through coil is provided on the wiring hole.

[0009] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the refrigerant sensor is provided with two symmetrically arranged lugs, each lug having a first mounting hole. The vertical plate is provided with the same number of first threaded holes that correspond one-to-one with the first mounting holes. The first screw passes through the first mounting hole and connects to the corresponding first threaded hole.

[0010] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the base plate is provided with two second mounting holes, and the air conditioner chassis is provided with the same number of second threaded holes that correspond one-to-one. The second screw passes through the second mounting hole and connects to the corresponding second threaded hole.

[0011] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the top plate and the bottom plate do not overlap when viewed from above.

[0012] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the side plate is provided with one side plate and its top edge is spliced ​​with the side edge of the top plate.

[0013] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the guard plate is manufactured by sheet metal bending.

[0014] As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the refrigerant sensor is used to detect R290 refrigerant.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: Compared with the prior art, the protective plate of the fixed structure of the refrigerant sensor provided by this utility model forms a semi-enclosed design on the top and sides. While being waterproof and rainproof, it retains the refrigerant flow channel, which not only prevents rainwater from short-circuiting the sensor and extending the service life of the refrigerant sensor, but also ensures that R290 refrigerant can diffuse into the detection area without obstruction when it leaks, thus achieving a dual guarantee of protection performance and detection sensitivity. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 The three-dimensional fixing structure of the media sensor provided by this utility model Figure 1 .

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of region A in the middle.

[0018] Figure 3 The three-dimensional fixing structure of the media sensor provided by this utility model Figure 2 .

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of region B in the middle.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a front view of the fixing structure of the media sensor provided by this utility model.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a 3D view of the air conditioner chassis.

[0022] Explanation of main component symbols: 1-Refrigerant sensor, 11-Hawk, 12-First screw, 2-Guard plate, 21-Vertical plate, 22-Top plate, 23-Side plate, 24-Bottom plate, 25-Folded edge, 26-Way hole, 27-First threaded hole, 28-Second mounting hole, 3-Air conditioner chassis, 31-Second threaded hole. Detailed Implementation

[0023] This utility model provides a fixing structure for a refrigerant sensor. To make the purpose, technical solution, and effects of this utility model clearer and more explicit, the following describes this utility model in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0024] Please see Figures 1 to 6 To address the issue that the porous outer casing of rooftop air conditioners is susceptible to rainwater intrusion, affecting the operational reliability of internal components, this utility model provides a fixing structure for a refrigerant sensor. The structure includes a refrigerant sensor 1 and a protective plate 2 mounted on an air conditioner chassis 3. The protective plate 2 comprises a vertical plate 21, a top plate 22, a side plate 23, and a bottom plate 24. The bottom plate 24 is fixed to the air conditioner chassis 3. The refrigerant sensor 1 is mounted on the vertical plate 21. The side plate 23 faces the side of the air conditioner unit and shields the side of the refrigerant sensor 1. The top plate 22 shields the top of the refrigerant sensor 1.

[0025] The refrigerant sensor 1 is secured by a semi-enclosed design of the protective plate 2, ensuring effective protection while maintaining refrigerant detection functionality. The base plate 24 is fixedly connected to the air conditioner chassis 3, providing a stable foundation. The vertical plate 21 is vertically positioned, providing the optimal mounting position for vertical detection of the refrigerant sensor 1 and ensuring that the sensor probe is directly aligned with the refrigerant flow path inside the air conditioner. The top plate 22 extends laterally to cover the top of the sensor, forming an L-shaped shield with the side plate 23 on one side, effectively blocking rainwater falling from above and splashing from the side.

[0026] In this embodiment, the refrigerant sensor 1 is used to detect R290 refrigerant. Due to the characteristics of R290 refrigerant (mainly propane) being heavier than air and flowing towards the ground, the protective plate 2 is specially installed on the air conditioner chassis 3. The semi-enclosed structure of the protective plate 2 intentionally retains open spaces at the bottom, front, and one side: the bottom opening avoids refrigerant deposition and obstruction, ensuring that leaked refrigerant can flow smoothly through the sensor detection area; the front and one side openings ensure that the sensor probe directly contacts the refrigerant airflow. When R290 refrigerant leaks, the refrigerant sensor 1 can quickly sense the concentration change and transmit the signal to the main control board, triggering the power-off protection.

[0027] The protective plate 2 of the fixed structure of the refrigerant sensor provided by this utility model forms a semi-enclosed design on the top and sides. While being waterproof and rainproof, it retains the refrigerant flow channel, which not only prevents rainwater from short-circuiting the sensor and extending the service life of the refrigerant sensor 1, but also ensures that R290 refrigerant can spread unimpeded to the detection area when it leaks, thus achieving dual protection of protective performance and detection sensitivity.

[0028] As a preferred implementation method, see Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the vertical plate 21 has a wiring hole 26, and a pass-through coil (not shown in the figure) is provided on the wiring hole 26. Specifically, the wiring hole 26 is located at the upper left corner of the vertical plate 21. The wiring hole 26 of the vertical plate 21, in conjunction with the pass-through coil design, provides a dedicated channel for the connection cable of the refrigerant sensor 1, preventing the cable from being randomly tangled or squeezed inside the air conditioner, thus blocking the flow path of the refrigerant gas. The pass-through coil is made of weather-resistant rubber material, which fits tightly against the surface of the cable, effectively isolating it from rainwater, dust, and mechanical wear, preventing short circuits caused by damage to the cable insulation layer, and ensuring the long-term stability of the signal transmission line.

[0029] See Figure 5 As shown, the refrigerant sensor 1 has two symmetrically arranged lugs 11, each lug 11 having a first mounting hole. The vertical plate 21 has the same number of first threaded holes 27 as the first mounting holes, and each threaded hole 27 corresponds to a first mounting hole. The first screw 12 passes through the first mounting hole and connects to the corresponding first threaded hole 27. The symmetrical lug design and precise hole alignment ensure that the sensor remains vertical and the probe faces downwards towards the refrigerant flow path during installation, avoiding detection blind spots due to tilting or offset. The first screw 12 provides a stable and rigid connection, preventing the refrigerant sensor 1 from loosening under air conditioning vibration conditions and ensuring the continuous accuracy of R290 refrigerant leak detection.

[0030] Disassembly only requires unscrewing the two first screws 12 and pulling out the cable, which greatly shortens the maintenance time compared to traditional multi-point or complex clip connections.

[0031] The base plate 24 has two second mounting holes 28, and the air conditioner chassis 3 has the same number of corresponding second threaded holes 31. Second screws (not shown in the figure) pass through the second mounting holes 28 and connect to the corresponding second threaded holes 31. The two second screws, passing through the second mounting holes 28 on the base plate 24 and the threaded holes on the air conditioner chassis 3, are fastened to form a stable two-point support structure. This effectively disperses the weight and external impact force of the refrigerant sensor 1 and the protective plate 2, preventing displacement under high-frequency vibration or strong wind conditions of the rooftop air conditioner, and ensuring the long-term accurate detection position of the refrigerant sensor 1.

[0032] In a top-down view, the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24 do not overlap; that is, the bottom plate 24 is located behind the vertical plate 21. This design allows for the installation of the refrigerant sensor 1 before installing the protective plate 2 onto the air conditioning chassis 3. Furthermore, the rear-mounted design of the bottom plate 24 reduces its impact on the probe of the refrigerant sensor 1, allowing leaked refrigerant to diffuse unimpeded along the chassis surface to the sensor detection area. Compared to the potential airflow obstruction caused by overlapping arrangements, this structure ensures unobstructed refrigerant flow, significantly improving leak detection response speed.

[0033] See Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the side panel 23 is provided with one side, and its top edge is spliced ​​with the side edge of the top panel 22. The single side panel 23 splices with the side edge of the top panel to form an L-shaped semi-enclosed barrier, accurately intercepting rainwater and dust splashed from the sides, while reducing redundant components and avoiding the risk of water seepage through gaps. The simplified structure reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining high-efficiency protective performance, making it suitable for the harsh outdoor environments of rooftop air conditioning systems.

[0034] In this embodiment, the protective plate 2 is manufactured by sheet metal bending. The sheet metal bending process forms the vertical plate 21, top plate 22, side plate 23, and bottom plate 24 of the protective plate 2 in one step using a mold, eliminating the need for welding or assembling multiple parts, thus significantly reducing processing steps and time. This is particularly suitable for mass production scenarios of rooftop air conditioners, significantly reducing manufacturing and equipment debugging costs.

[0035] See Figure 4 As shown, in order to improve the structural strength of the guard plate 2, the vertical plate portion 21 is provided with a folded edge 25 that bends backward on the side away from the side plate portion 23.

[0036] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0037] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows for communication; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] It is understood that those skilled in the art can make equivalent substitutions or changes based on the technical solution and inventive concept of this utility model, and all such substitutions or changes should fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A fixing structure for a refrigerant sensor, applied to a rooftop air conditioner, characterized in that, The device includes a refrigerant sensor and a protective plate mounted on the air conditioner chassis. The protective plate includes a vertical plate, a top plate, a side plate, and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is fixed to the air conditioner chassis. The refrigerant sensor is mounted on the vertical plate. The side plate faces the side of the air conditioner unit and blocks the side of the refrigerant sensor. The top plate blocks the top of the refrigerant sensor.

2. The fixing structure of the refrigerant sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vertical plate has a wiring hole, and a pass-through coil is installed in the wiring hole.

3. The fixing structure of the refrigerant sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant sensor has two symmetrically arranged lugs, each lug having a first mounting hole. The vertical plate has the same number of first threaded holes as the first mounting holes, and the first screw passes through the first mounting hole and connects to the corresponding first threaded hole.

4. The fixing structure of the refrigerant sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base plate has two second mounting holes, and the air conditioner chassis has the same number of second threaded holes that correspond one-to-one with the second mounting holes. The second screw passes through the second mounting hole and connects to the corresponding second threaded hole.

5. The fixing structure of the refrigerant sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, In a top-view projection, the top plate and the bottom plate do not overlap.

6. The fixing structure of the refrigerant sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side plate is provided with one side plate, and its top edge is spliced ​​with the side edge of the top plate.

7. The fixing structure of the refrigerant sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective plate is manufactured through sheet metal bending.

8. The fixing structure of the refrigerant sensor according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The refrigerant sensor is used to detect R290 refrigerant.

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