Electrical equipment box

Abstract

To provide an electrical equipment box enabling prevention of invasion of refrigerant used for an air conditioner.SOLUTION: An electric equipment box is provided with: a box body storing electric equipment and having a wall part where a hole part into which wiring connected to the electrical equipment is inserted outwards is formed; and a cylindrical packing which is fixed to the wall part and into which the wiring is inserted. The packing has an annular fixation-target part fixed to the inner surface or the outer surface of the wall part and having a protrusion part or a recession part; and an insertion-target part which is connected to the fixation-target part and projects toward the inner part of the box body, and into which the wiring is inserted. The inner wall of the fixation-target part abuts to the inner surface or the outer surface of the wall part. The protrusion part or the recession part is formed to the outer wall of the fixation-target part. The electrical equipment box further includes: a fixation tool fixing the fixation-target part of the packing to the wall part; a packing fixation tool having a recession part or a protrusion part engaged with the protrusion part or the recession part, and fixed to the wall part by the fixation tool via the fixation-target part of the packing; and a tightening tool tightening the insertion-target part into which the wiring is inserted, from the outer periphery of the insertion-target part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrical component box for use in an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, it is known that in an air conditioner, the electrical equipment box is positioned at a position that is a predetermined height or more from the bottom of the housing (Patent Document 1), and that the intrusion of refrigerant is suppressed by positioning the electrical components at a position that is a predetermined height or more from the bottom of the casing (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5781220 [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-051735 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a rubber bush is provided to seal between the opening and wiring that is drawn from the electrical equipment box to the outside of the electrical equipment box through the opening in order to prevent ambient air from entering. However, the rubber bush alone cannot increase the reliability of preventing the intrusion of the refrigerant.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrical component box capable of preventing the intrusion of a refrigerant used in an air conditioner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electrical equipment box disclosed herein is an electrical equipment box used in an air conditioner, comprising: a box body for storing electrical equipment and having a wall portion with a hole formed therein through which wiring connected to the electrical equipment is inserted toward the outside; and a cylindrical gasket fixed to the wall portion and through which the wiring is inserted, the gasket having an annular fixed portion fixed to an inner or outer surface of the wall portion and having a convex portion or a concave portion, and an inserted portion connected to the fixed portion, protruding toward the inside of the box body and through which the wiring is inserted, an inner wall of the fixed portion abuts against the inner or outer surface of the wall portion, and the convex portion or the concave portion is provided on the outer wall of the fixed portion, a fixing device for fixing the fixed portion of the gasket to the wall portion, a gasket fixing device having a concave portion or a convex portion that fits into the convex portion or the concave portion and fixed to the wall portion via the fixed portion of the gasket by the fixing device, and a tightening device for tightening the inserted portion through which the wiring is inserted from the outer periphery of the inserted portion.

[0007] In the present disclosure, the inserted portion through which the wiring is inserted is tightened from the outer periphery of the inserted portion by the tightening tool. This can increase the airtightness between the inserted portion and the wiring, regardless of the wire diameter of the wiring. In addition, the fixed portion of the packing is fixed to the wall portion by the fixing tool while being pressed against the wall portion by the packing fixing tool. In this case, the convex or concave portion of the fixed portion fits into the concave or convex portion of the packing fixing tool, so that the fixed portion is firmly pressed against the wall portion by the packing fixing tool. This can increase the airtightness between the electrical equipment box and the packing. Therefore, it becomes difficult for a flammable refrigerant to enter the inside of the box body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the electrical equipment in the box body from being exposed to the refrigerant. Furthermore, by fitting the convex or concave portion of the fixed portion to the concave or convex portion of the packing fixing tool, when the inserted portion is tightened by the tightening tool, the fixed position of the fixed portion relative to the wall portion can be prevented from shifting due to the bending of the inserted portion.

[0008] In the above disclosure, an inner wall of the inserted portion may be provided with a gradient so as to taper toward the inside of the box body.

[0009] According to the above-mentioned configuration, it becomes easier to insert the wire from the outside of the box to the inside, and easier to pull out the wire from the inside of the box to the outside.

[0010] In the above disclosure, the motor may further include a cylindrical intermediate packing interposed between the inserted portion and the wiring and inserted into the hole of the wall portion.

[0011] According to the above configuration, by interposing the intermediate gasket between the inserted portion and the wiring, the intermediate gasket can ensure airtightness between the wiring and the inserted portion, even when the wire diameter of the wiring is extremely small.

[0012] In the above disclosure, the intermediate gasket may have an intermediate gasket body through which the wiring is inserted, and a flange portion provided at one end of the intermediate gasket body and engaging with the inner wall of the fixed portion when the intermediate gasket body is inserted into the hole portion.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the flange portion of the intermediate packing engages with the inner wall of the fixed portion, thereby making it possible to prevent the intermediate packing from being displaced relative to the inserted portion.

[0014] In the above disclosure, the intermediate packing may have a hardness lower than that of the packing.

[0015] According to the above-mentioned configuration, by using the intermediate packing having a low hardness, the intermediate packing can be made to conform to the outer shape of the wiring, thereby improving the sealing performance between the intermediate packing and the wiring.

[0016] In the above disclosure, the convex portion may be formed in an annular shape and provided at a position closer to the inserted portion than the fixing device.

[0017] According to the above configuration, it is possible to further improve reliability in preventing the fixed position of the fixed portion relative to the wall portion from shifting due to bending of the inserted portion when the inserted portion is fastened by the fastener.

[0018] In the above disclosure, a flammable refrigerant may be used in the air conditioner. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an electrical component box capable of preventing the intrusion of refrigerant used in an air conditioner. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an air conditioner according to one embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the electrical component box of FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an electrical component box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The electrical component box described below is merely one embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiment, and additions, deletions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 2 that exhausts heat to the outside during cooling operation, an indoor heat exchanger 3 that absorbs heat from the outdoor air, a circulation path 4 including these heat exchangers 2 and 3, and electrical equipment boxes 20a and 20b. Fans 7 and 8 driven by motors 5 and 6 are provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 2 and the indoor heat exchanger 3, respectively. In the following, when the electrical equipment box 20 is described, it is assumed that the electrical equipment boxes 20a and 20b are included. The airflow generated by the rotational drive of the fan 7 flows through the outdoor heat exchanger 2, and the airflow generated by the rotational drive of the fan 8 flows through the indoor heat exchanger 3.

[0023] For convenience, the following description uses the expressions "upstream" and "downstream," which refer to the "upstream" and "downstream" of the flow of the refrigerant that flows through the circulation path 4 when the air conditioner 1 is in cooling operation. The arrows along the circulation path 4 shown in Fig. 1 indicate the direction in which the refrigerant flows from "upstream" to "downstream" during cooling operation. The flow of the refrigerant during heating operation is opposite to the flow of the refrigerant during cooling operation, as shown by the dashed line.

[0024] 1, a refrigerant pipe 4a constituting part of the circulation path 4 is provided inside the indoor heat exchanger 3, and a refrigerant pipe 4b is extended from its downstream end and connected to an indoor unit liquid side connection part 10 (the connection part on the downstream side during cooling operation). Another refrigerant pipe 4c is extended from this indoor unit liquid side connection part 10, and its downstream end is connected to the upstream end of a refrigerant pipe 4d via a two-way valve 11, and its downstream end is connected to a first port of a four-way valve 12. A refrigerant pipe 4e is extended from a second port of the four-way valve 12 that communicates with the first port during cooling operation, and its downstream end is connected to a compressor 13.

[0025] The compressor 13 compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger 3 to the outdoor heat exchanger 2 during cooling operation to make it high-temperature, high-pressure, and compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger 2 to the indoor heat exchanger 3 during heating operation to make it high-temperature, high-pressure. Although not shown, an accumulator is usually connected before (upstream of) the compressor 13 to separate the refrigerant into gas and liquid to prevent the liquid refrigerant from returning to the compressor 13.

[0026] Another refrigerant pipe 4f extends from the compressor 13, and its downstream end is connected to the third port of the four-way valve 12. In the four-way valve 12, a refrigerant pipe 4g extends from the remaining fourth port that communicates with the third port during cooling operation, and its downstream end is connected to the upstream end of the refrigerant pipe 4h provided in the outdoor heat exchanger 2. Another refrigerant pipe 4i extends from the downstream end of the refrigerant pipe 4h in the outdoor heat exchanger 2, and its downstream end is connected to the expansion valve 14. The expansion valve 14 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger 2 to the indoor heat exchanger 3 during cooling operation, and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger 3 to the outdoor heat exchanger 2 during heating operation.

[0027] Another refrigerant pipe 4j extends from the expansion valve 14, and its downstream end is connected to one port of a two-way valve 15. A refrigerant pipe 4k extends from the other port of the two-way valve 15, and its downstream end is connected to an indoor unit connection part 16 (the upstream connection part during cooling operation). Another refrigerant pipe 4m extends from the indoor unit connection part 16, and its downstream end is connected to the upstream end of the refrigerant pipe 4a in the indoor heat exchanger 3 described above.

[0028] In this way, the circulation path 4 is formed by the refrigerant pipes 4a to 4k, 4m. The circulation path 4 connects the indoor heat exchanger 3, the four-way valve 12, the compressor 13, the outdoor heat exchanger 2, the expansion valve 14, and the like. Among the above-mentioned components, the outdoor unit 1A of the air conditioner 1 is formed by the components from the two-way valve 11 to the two-way valve 15 along the flow of the refrigerant (i.e., the four-way valve 12, the compressor 13, the outdoor heat exchanger 2, and the expansion valve 14). The indoor unit 1B of the air conditioner 1 is formed by the components from the indoor unit liquid side connector 16 to the indoor unit liquid side connector 10 along the flow of the refrigerant (i.e., the indoor heat exchanger 3). It should be noted that each of the above-mentioned components themselves can be publicly known. In addition, the operation of the air conditioner 1 during cooling operation and heating operation is publicly known, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] Examples of the refrigerant (working refrigerant) in the air conditioner 1 include flammable refrigerants that are heavier than air, such as isobutane and propane. The flammable refrigerant may be a carbon-based refrigerant such as propane or isobutane that has a higher specific gravity than air, a fluorocarbon-based refrigerant such as HFO1234yf or R32, or a mixture of these refrigerants, or a weakly flammable or slightly flammable refrigerant. The refrigerant may be a single refrigerant, or a mixture of a different type of refrigerant and a flammable refrigerant.

[0030] Next, the configuration of the electrical component box 20 in the air conditioner 1 will be described in detail. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical component box 20, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the electrical component box 20 in Fig. 2. Note that in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, directions perpendicular to each other are designated as D1 and D2. In the following description, as an example of direction D1, D1 will be referred to as the up-down direction, and as an example of direction D2, D2 will be referred to as the left-right direction.

[0031] The electrical equipment box 20 contains electrical equipment 21 including a control circuit and a power supply that comprehensively controls the outdoor unit 1A or the indoor unit B. In detail, the electrical equipment box 20a contains electrical equipment 21 such as a drive circuit that drives the motor 5, a drive circuit that drives the drive motor of the compressor 13, a control circuit that controls the expansion valve 14, a power supply, and a thermistor that detects the temperature of each refrigerant tube, the outside air temperature, etc. The electrical equipment box 20b contains electrical equipment 21 such as a drive circuit that drives the motor 6, a power supply, and a thermistor that detects the temperature of each refrigerant tube, the outside air temperature, etc.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrical component box 20 includes a box body 29, a packing 24, a fixing device 25, a packing fixing device 26, a fastener 27, and an intermediate packing 28.

[0033] The box body 29 has, for example, a rectangular shape in a cross-sectional view. The box body 29 houses the electrical equipment 21. The box body 29 has a wall portion 30 in which a hole portion 31 is formed, through which a plurality of cables 22 connected to the electrical equipment 21 are inserted toward the outside of the box body 29. The wall portion 30 extends in the left-right direction D2. In this embodiment, the plurality of cables 22 are bundled by a tube 23 inside the box body 29. As a result, the tube 23 is inserted into the hole portion 31 of the wall portion 30 toward the outside of the box body 29. In this embodiment, the tube 23 corresponds to a wiring.

[0034] The packing 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The material of the packing 24 is, for example, chloroprene rubber. The hardness of the packing 24 is, for example, 60 degrees or more. The thickness of the packing 24 is, for example, 1.5 mm or more. The packing 24 is fixed to the inner surface of the wall portion 30 and has a through hole 24d through which the tube 23 is inserted. The packing 24 has an annular fixed portion 24b that is fixed to the wall portion 30 and has a protruding portion 24c, and an inserted portion 24a that is connected to the fixed portion 24b, protrudes toward the inside of the box body 29, and through which the tube 23 is inserted.

[0035] The fixed portion 24b extends along the left-right direction D2. The inserted portion 24a extends along the up-down direction D1. The inner wall of the fixed portion 24b abuts against the inner surface of the wall portion 30. The protruding portion 24c is provided on the outer wall of the fixed portion 24b. The through hole 24d is formed in the inserted portion 24a. The through hole 24d is disposed inside the hole 31 of the wall portion 30 in the left-right direction D2. In addition, the inner wall of the inserted portion 24a, i.e., the peripheral wall of the through hole 24d of the inserted portion 24a, is provided with a gradient so as to taper toward the inside of the box body 29. The peripheral wall of the through hole 24d is inclined, for example, by 0.5 degrees or more with respect to the up-down direction D1. The inner diameter of the inserted portion 24a is determined so that the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the tube 23 to be inserted into the inserted portion 24a and the inner wall of the inserted portion 24a is, for example, 4 mm or less. Moreover, the protruding portion 24c is formed in an annular shape, and is provided at a position closer to the inserted portion 24a than the fixing device 25 is.

[0036] An example of the fixing device 25 is a screw. The fixing device 25 fixes the fixed portion 24b of the packing 24 to the wall portion 30. More specifically, the wall portion 30 is provided with a plurality of screw holes 32 protruding to the outside of the box body 29. The fixed portion 24b is provided with a plurality of through holes (not shown) penetrating in the up-down direction D1. In a state in which the packing 24 is arranged on the wall portion 30 such that the center of the through hole of the fixed portion 24b is substantially at the same position as the center of the screw hole 32 in the left-right direction D2, the fixing device 25 is fastened to the screw hole 32 through the through hole of the fixed portion 24b. As a result, the packing 24 is fixed to the wall portion 30 in a state in which the center of the inserted portion 24a is substantially aligned with the center of the hole portion 31 of the wall portion 30.

[0037] The packing fixing device 26 is formed in an annular shape. The packing fixing device 26 has a recess 26a that fits into the protrusion 24c, and is fixed to the wall 30 via the fixed portion 24b by the fixing device 25. In this case, the packing fixing device 26 is placed on the fixed portion 24b after the insertion portion 24a is inserted into the hole of the packing fixing device 26. The packing fixing device 26 has a function of pressing the fixed portion 24b against the wall 30 when the fixed portion 24b is fixed by the fixing device 25.

[0038] The fastener 27 fastens the inserted portion 24a through which the tube 23 is inserted from the outer periphery of the inserted portion 24a. The fastener 27 has a band 27a wound around the outer periphery of the inserted portion 24a, and a fastener 27b that fastens the band 27a at a position where the inserted portion 24a is fastened so that the band 27a does not expand in diameter. Note that any fastener can be used as the fastener 27 as long as it can fasten the inserted portion 24a from the outer periphery, and various known fasteners can be used.

[0039] The intermediate packing 28 is positioned with respect to the inserted portion 24a and the wall portion 30 before the tube 23 is inserted into the inserted portion 24a. The intermediate packing 28 is formed in a cylindrical shape, interposed between the inserted portion 24a and the tube 23, and inserted into the hole portion 31 of the wall portion 30. The intermediate packing 28 has an intermediate packing body 28a through which the tube 23 is inserted, and a flange portion 28b that is provided at one end (lower end) of the intermediate packing body 28a and engages with the inner wall of the fixed portion 24b when the intermediate packing body 28a is inserted into the hole portion 31. The hardness of the intermediate packing 28 may be lower than that of the packing 24, and is, for example, 30 degrees.

[0040] As described above, according to the electrical equipment box 20 of the present embodiment, the inserted portion 24a of the packing 24 through which the tube 23 is inserted is tightened from the outer periphery of the inserted portion 24a by the tightening tool 27. This can improve the airtightness between the inserted portion 24a and the tube 23 regardless of the wire diameter of the tube 23 (cable 22). In addition, the fixed portion 24b of the packing 24 is fixed to the wall portion by the fixing tool 25 in a state where it is pressed against the wall portion 30 of the box body 29 by the packing fixing tool 26. In this case, the convex portion 24c of the fixed portion 24b fits into the concave portion 26a of the packing fixing tool 26, so that the fixed portion 24b is firmly pressed against the wall portion 30 by the packing fixing tool 26. This can improve the airtightness between the electrical equipment box 20 and the packing 24. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the flammable refrigerant to enter the inside of the box body 29. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the electrical equipment 21 in the box body 29 from being exposed to the refrigerant. Furthermore, by fitting the convex portion 24c of the fixed portion 24b into the concave portion 26a of the packing fixing device 26, when the inserted portion 24a is fastened by the fastener 27, the fixed position of the fixed portion 24b relative to the wall portion 30 is prevented from shifting due to bending of the inserted portion 24a.

[0041] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the following modifications are possible.

[0042] In the above embodiment, intermediate packing 28 is provided, but if the gap between the outer circumferential surface of tube 23 and the inner wall of insertion portion 24a is less than a predetermined value, intermediate packing 28 is not an essential component of electrical component box 20.

[0043] In addition, in the above embodiment, the flange portion 28b is provided only at one end (lower end) of the intermediate packing body 28a, but this is not limited to this, and a flange portion that engages with the upper outer edge portion of the inserted portion 24a may also be provided at the other end (upper end) of the intermediate packing body 28a.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the bundled cables 22 are inserted into the tube 23, and the tube 23 is inserted into the inserted portion 24a, but the present invention is not limited to this. The cables 22 may be directly inserted into the inserted portion 24a without being inserted into the tube 23.

[0045] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the convex portion 24c of the fixed portion 24b is provided at a position closer to the inserted portion 24a than the fixing device 25 in the left-right direction D2, i.e., at a position inside the fixing device 25, but is not limited to this. The convex portion 24c may be provided at a position farther from the inserted portion 24a than the fixing device 25 in the left-right direction D2, i.e., at a position outside the fixing device 25, or may be provided at a combination of an inner position and an outer position of the fixing device 25.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the fixed portion 24b is fixed to the inner surface of the wall portion 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0047] In addition, in the above embodiment, a convex portion 24c is provided on the fixed portion 24b and a concave portion 26a is provided on the packing fixing device 26, but this is not limited to the above. It is also possible to provide a concave portion on the fixed portion 24b and a convex portion that fits into the concave portion on the packing fixing device 26. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Air conditioner 20, 20a, 20b Electrical equipment box 21 Electrical equipment 22 Cable 23 Tube 24 Packing 24a Passed part 24b Fixed part 24c Convex 25 Fixtures 26 Packing Fixture 26a Recess 27 Fasteners 28 Intermediate packing 28a Intermediate packing body 28b Flange part 29 Box body 30 Wall 31 Hole

Claims

1. An electrical equipment box for use in an air conditioner, A box body that houses an electrical device and has a wall portion with a hole portion through which wiring connected to the electrical device is inserted toward the outside; a cylindrical packing fixed to the wall portion and through which the wiring is inserted; the packing has an annular fixed portion fixed to an inner or outer surface of the wall portion and having a convex portion or a concave portion, and an inserted portion connected to the fixed portion, protruding toward the inside of the box body, and through which the wiring is inserted, the inner wall of the fixed portion abuts against the inner or outer surface of the wall portion, and the convex portion or the concave portion is provided on the outer wall of the fixed portion, A fastener for fastening the fixed portion of the packing to the wall portion; a packing fixing device having a recess or a protrusion that fits into the protrusion or the recess, and that is fixed to the wall portion by the fixing device via the fixed portion of the packing; the electrical equipment box further comprising: a fastener that fastens the inserted portion through which the wiring is inserted from an outer periphery of the inserted portion.

2. The electrical equipment box according to claim 1 , wherein an inner wall of the insertion portion is tapered toward the inside of the box body.

3. The electrical component box according to claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrical intermediate packing interposed between the inserted portion and the wiring and inserted into the hole in the wall portion.

4. 4. The electrical equipment box according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate packing has an intermediate packing body through which the wiring is inserted, and a flange portion provided at one end of the intermediate packing body and engaging with an inner wall of the fixed portion when the intermediate packing body is inserted into the hole portion.

5. 4. The electrical equipment box according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate packing has a hardness lower than that of the packing.

6. The electrical component box according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is formed in an annular shape and is provided at a position closer to the inserted portion than the fixing member is.

7. 2. The electrical component box according to claim 1, wherein a flammable refrigerant is used in the air conditioner.

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