Combination of heat pump component and transport packaging, and transport packaging

Abstract

In a combination (12) of a heat pump component and transport packaging (14), the transport packaging (14) comprises a base section (16) upon which the heat pump component is arranged. It is suggested that the transport packaging (14) additionally comprises a vertical support structure (18) which is supported at the bottom on the base section (16) and extends upwards in a vertical direction (11) beyond the heat pump component.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Combination of heat pump component and transport packaging, as well as transport packaging

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The invention relates to a combination of heat pump component and transport packaging as well as a transport packaging according to the preambles of the independent claims.

[0006] Heat pump systems are increasingly being used to generate hot water and space heating. These systems comprise several components, including, in the case of an air-source heat pump, a so-called outdoor unit that extracts heat from the outside air. Such an outdoor unit is, in this respect, a heat pump component. Such an outdoor unit is a relatively sensitive component. For transport from the manufacturer to the intermediate storage facility and from the intermediate storage facility to the installer, for example, such an outdoor unit is currently placed on a pallet and wrapped in plastic film.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The problem underlying the invention is solved by a combination of heat pump component and transport packaging as well as by a transport packaging with the features of the independent claims.

[0009] The inventive combination of heat pump component and transport packaging, as well as the transport packaging according to the invention, have the advantage that they can be stacked without fear of damage to the heat pump component. This allows significantly more heat pump components to be transported in a single transport device, such as a container or truck, than before, thereby reducing transport costs and energy consumption. Less space is also required for storage than before.

[0010] Specifically, this is achieved by a combination of a heat pump component and transport packaging. The heat pump component is preferably an outdoor unit of a heat pump system, but in principle, any other heat pump component belonging to a heat pump system is also conceivable. The invention is also applicable to components of other heating systems. The transport packaging comprises a base section on which the heat pump component is arranged. The base section can preferably be a pallet, in particular a wooden pallet.

[0011] Preferably, the base section is designed so that it can be easily transported by means of appropriate devices, for example by means of a forklift truck.

[0012] The transport packaging further comprises a vertical support structure, which rests downwards on the base section and extends upwards in the vertical direction at least beyond the heat pump component. Since the vertical support structure extends upwards in the vertical direction beyond the heat pump component, it is ensured that a load placed on the transport packaging does not press on the heat pump component, but is borne exclusively by the vertical support structure.

[0013] The vertical support structure is preferably dimensioned or designed such that it can support and transport at least one combination of heat pump component and transport packaging arranged on it without buckling, denting, breaking, etc., preferably even under the dynamic shock loads typically encountered during transport. It is preferably dimensioned and designed such that it can support and transport multiple combinations of heat pump component and transport packaging arranged on it, i.e., a stack can be formed from such combinations. Typically, such a stack can comprise four combinations of heat pump component and transport packaging.

[0014] In a further development, the support structure comprises a plurality of vertically extending support sections, wherein the support sections preferably comprise a wood material. Typically, the support sections are wooden rods or flat wooden slats. Such support sections are inexpensive and allow for uniform and sufficient upward support.

[0015] In a further development, at least one support section is positively connected to the base section. Such a positive connection can be established quickly and easily and ensures a secure connection between the vertical support section and the base section.

[0016] In a further development, the positive connection comprises a metal tongue attached to the base section and extending vertically upwards, which engages a slot in the support section. This is very stable and can be easily implemented.

[0017] In a further development, it is provided that the heat pump component is positively connected to the base section. This prevents slipping, particularly in the lateral direction, and thus protects the heat pump component from damage during transport. Typically, a heat pump component has four feet with which it can be attached to the ground at the installation site, for example, a foundation. A positive connection of these feet to the base section can be achieved very easily, for example, by recesses in the base section that are complementary to the protruding end of the feet. Since typical heat pump components are relatively heavy, a comparatively shallow depth of these recesses is sufficient to reliably establish the positive connection.

[0018] In a further development, at least one intermediate piece is arranged between the heat pump component and the base section, which intermediate piece is preferably made of an MDF or plywood material and which is preferably also arranged at least in the region of the positive connection. This can create additional vertical support for the heat pump component relative to the base section, thereby increasing the overall stability of the combination of heat pump component and transport packaging. If the intermediate piece is arranged in the region of the positive connection, it can have slot-like recesses that engage behind corresponding projections on the feet of the heat pump component. By fastening the intermediate piece to the base section, for example by means of screws or nails, the heat pump component is reliably fastened to the base section.

[0019] In a further development, the transport packaging comprises a lateral housing that laterally encloses the heat pump component. The housing preferably comprises a sandwich material, more preferably a sandwich material with a honeycomb core. Such a housing can, for example, be cuboid-shaped with four flat vertical side walls. In this way, the heat pump component is additionally protected from damage. A sandwich material is stable and lightweight. For example, the sandwich material can be a hexacomb material, which can be easily and simply disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

[0020] In a further development, the housing includes a lid, preferably made of cardboard, more preferably corrugated cardboard. This also protects the heat pump component from above. Corrugated cardboard can also be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner and is lightweight.

[0021] In a further development, the vertical support structure is secured to the base section at least indirectly by a fastening means, wherein the fastening means preferably comprises a tensioning strap. This can be made, for example, from a PET material. In this way, a compact assembly is created that holds together reliably. The invention also includes a transport packaging for a heat pump component, which can be used in the combination described above.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stack consisting of two combinations of heat pump components and transport packaging;

[0024] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base portion of the transport packaging of Figure 1;

[0025] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base section of Figure 2 together with an intermediate piece;

[0026] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the arrangement of Figure 3, additionally with a heat pump component and a side housing;

[0027] Figure 5 shows a portion of the arrangement of Figure 4, additionally with a lid;

[0028] Figure 6 shows a portion of the arrangement of Figure 5, additionally with a vertical support structure; and

[0029] Figure 7 shows the arrangement of Figure 6, additionally with a fastening means in the form of tensioning straps.

[0030] In the following, functionally equivalent elements and areas bear the same reference numerals in all figures. Furthermore, they are generally only explained in detail when first mentioned. Furthermore, for reasons of clarity, not all reference numerals are shown in all figures. In Figure 1, a stack bears the reference numeral 10. It comprises a total of two combinations 12 stacked one upon the other in a vertical direction 11, each of which comprises a transport packaging 14 and a heat pump component arranged in the transport packaging 14 and therefore not visible in Figure 1.

[0031] The transport packaging 14 comprises a base section 16 on which the heat pump component is arranged, thus supporting the heat pump component. Furthermore, the transport packaging 14 comprises a vertical support structure 18, in this case in the form of a plurality of support sections 20. The support sections 20 are, for example, designed as wooden slats. They extend upward from the base section 16 in the vertical direction 11.

[0032] The transport packaging 14 further includes a side housing 22, which laterally encloses the heat pump component. In this case, the side housing 22 consists of four flat vertical side walls made of a sandwich material, for example, a sandwich material with a honeycomb core. Such a sandwich material is known, for example, under the terms "hexacomb" or "honeycomb." The side housing 22 is supported on the base section 16. The transport packaging 14 further includes a lid 24 placed on the side housing 22, which is preferably made of a cardboard material, for example, corrugated cardboard.

[0033] The support structure 18 in the form of the support sections 20 is connected to the base section 16 by means of tensioning straps 26. In this respect, the tensioning straps 26 are fastening means. It can be seen from Figure 1 that the support structure 18 extends upward in the vertical direction 11 by a distance 25 beyond the top side of the cover 24 and thus also beyond the heat pump component arranged below the cover 24.

[0034] The structure of a combination 12 comprising a heat pump component and transport packaging 14 will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 2-7. Figure 2 shows the base section 16 of the transport packaging 14, which is formed by a pallet, in particular a wooden pallet. An upper side 28 of the base section 16 is formed by a plurality of upper wooden slats 30. Two circular recesses 32 are formed in each of these wooden slats 30, the depth of which is less than the thickness of the wooden slats 30.

[0035] The recesses 32 serve to accommodate the essentially circular-cylindrical feet (not shown) of the heat pump component. The recesses 32 are complementary to the projecting ends of said feet of the heat pump component. In this way, the heat pump component is positively connected to the base section 16 in a lateral direction, preventing the heat pump component from slipping relative to the base section 16, for example, during transport.

[0036] As can be seen from Figure 3, after the heat pump component has been arranged on the base section 16, an intermediate piece 34 is arranged in the area of ​​the recesses 32 and thus in the area of ​​the positive connection between the heat pump component and the base section 16. This intermediate piece 34 is preferably made as a flat slat made of MDF or plywood. In this case, the intermediate piece 34 has, for example, slot-like recesses 36 in the area of ​​the recesses 32, which engage behind corresponding projections on the feet of the heat pump component. By fastening the intermediate piece 34 to the base section 16, for example by means of screws or nails, the heat pump component is reliably fastened to the base section 16.

[0037] Figure 4 shows the side housing 22 already mentioned at the beginning, but still without the cover 24, so that the heat pump component arranged within the side housing 22 is visible. This is provided with the reference numeral 38 in Figure 4. The heat pump component 38 can, for example, be an outdoor unit of a heat pump system. It can be seen from Figure 4 that the side walls of the side housing 22 project upwards beyond the heat pump component 38 in the vertical direction 11, specifically by a distance 40. It can also be seen from Figure 4 that the side walls of the side housing 22 are interlocked and connected to one another by alternating interlocking projections 42 in the corner regions where they abut one another.

[0038] Viewed in a width direction 43, one dimension of the lateral housing 22 is slightly smaller than one dimension of the base section 16. In this way, a free edge region is created on the upper side 28 of the base section 16. In each corner region of this free edge region, a metal fitting 44 is arranged, which is firmly connected to the upper side 28 of the base section 16, for example, by screws or nails. Each metal fitting 44 has a vertically upwardly extending metal tongue 46, the plane of which is parallel to the immediately adjacent side wall of the lateral housing 22.

[0039] As can be seen from Figure 5, the side housing 22 is now closed by the cover 24 by simply placing it on the side housing 22.

[0040] As can be seen from Figure 6, the vertically extending support sections 20 are now attached. These each have a slot 48 at their lower end. The support sections 20 are then placed on the metal tongues 46 such that they engage in the slots 48. In this way, the support sections 20 are positively connected to the base section 16.

[0041] Finally, as shown in Figure 7, a tensioning strap 26 is wrapped around each of the upper wooden slats 30 of the base section 16 and opposite support sections 20, which thus form a pair, and is tensioned or welded under tension. The tensioning straps can be made of a PET material, for example. Figure 7 again shows the distance 25, which was already mentioned above in connection with Figure 1.

Claims

Claims 1. Combination (12) of heat pump component (38) and transport packaging (14), wherein the transport packaging (14) comprises a base section (16) on which the heat pump component (38) is arranged, characterized in that the transport packaging (14) further comprises a vertical support structure (18) which is supported downwards on the base section (16) and extends upwards in a vertical direction (11) beyond the heat pump component (38).

2. Combination (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support structure (18) comprises a plurality of support sections (20) extending in the vertical direction, wherein the support sections (20) preferably comprise a wood material.

3. Combination (12) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one support section (20) is positively connected to the base section (16).

4. Combination (12) according to claim 3, characterized in that the positive connection comprises a metal tongue (46) fastened to the base section (16) and extending vertically upwards, which engages in a slot (48) of the support section (20).

5. Combination (12) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat pump component (38) is positively connected to the base section (16).

6. Combination (12) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the heat pump component (38) and the base section (16) at least one intermediate piece (34) is arranged, which is preferably made of an MDF or a Plywood material is made, and which is preferably arranged at least in the area of ​​the form fit.

7. Combination (12) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport packaging (14) comprises a lateral housing (22) which laterally encloses the heat pump component (38), wherein the housing (22) preferably comprises a sandwich material, more preferably a sandwich material with a honeycomb core.

8. Combination (12) according to claim 7, characterized in that the transport packaging (14) comprises a lid (24), wherein the lid (24) preferably comprises a cardboard material, more preferably corrugated cardboard.

9. Combination (12) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (18) is fastened to the base section (16) at least indirectly by a fastening means (26), wherein the fastening means (26) preferably comprises a tensioning belt.

10. Transport packaging (14) for a heat pump component (38), characterized in that it can be used in the combination (12) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

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