Outdoor machine

Abstract

To restrain water from entering from a drain hole of a bottom plate.SOLUTION: An outdoor machine 100 is included in a heat pump unit for transferring heat on the basis of compression and expansion of a heat medium. The outdoor machine 100 comprises a case 110 comprising a bottom plate 120. The bottom plate 120 comprises a drain hole 131 for draining water from the inside of the case 110, a side wall part 132 provided in a standing state along a portion of an outer periphery of the drain hole 131, and a lid part extending so as to cover at least a portion of the drain hole 131 from a tip part of the side wall part 132.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit that is a part of a heat pump unit that transfers heat from a given location to another location by compressing and expanding a heat medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a technology related to an outdoor unit, which is one of the components of a heat pump unit included in a hot water heater that heats and supplies water. Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which the bottom plate of the outdoor unit's housing is brought into contact with an evaporator disposed inside the housing, and ice accumulated on the bottom plate is melted by the heat of the evaporator, which becomes hot during defrosting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-163634 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Water from melted ice inside the outdoor unit or water that has entered from outside the housing is discharged to the outside of the housing through drainage holes provided in the bottom plate of the housing. However, the inventors have discovered that rainwater and water used for sprinkling water bounce off the ground on which the outdoor unit is installed and enter the outdoor unit through the drainage holes.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made based on the inventor's findings, and provides an outdoor unit that suppresses water from entering through a drain hole from below the outdoor unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An outdoor unit according to the present disclosure is an outdoor unit included in a heat pump unit that transfers heat based on compression and expansion of a heat medium, the outdoor unit comprising a housing having a bottom plate, the bottom plate comprising a drain hole for draining water from inside the housing, a side wall portion provided upright along a part of the outer periphery of the drain hole, and a lid portion extending from a tip of the side wall portion so as to cover at least a part of the drain hole. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent water from entering from below the outdoor unit through the drainage holes provided in the bottom plate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the outdoor unit from above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the outdoor unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bottom plate from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mechanical area with a portion of the frame being transparent. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one of the drainage parts. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example 1 of the drainage section. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the drainage section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an outdoor unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example for explaining the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical expressions, contents of each step in the method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiment are examples, and may include contents not described below. In addition, geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, but these expressions do not indicate mathematical strictness, and include substantially permissible errors, deviations, etc. In addition, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially permissible ranges.

[0010] In addition, the drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of the ratio is appropriately performed in order to explain the present invention, and differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and ratios. In addition, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis that may be shown in the drawings indicate orthogonal coordinates that are arbitrarily set for the explanation of the drawings. In other words, the Z-axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are not necessarily present in a horizontal plane.

[0011] In addition, in the following, a plurality of inventions may be collectively described as one embodiment, and some of the contents described below are described as optional components related to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of the outdoor unit 100 from above. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the exterior of the outdoor unit 100. The outdoor unit 100 is a part of a heat pump unit that transfers heat based on the compression and expansion of a heat medium, and a part of a heat pump circuit (e.g., a compressor (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown), a first heat exchanger (not shown), a control board (not shown), a blower 101 (see FIG. 2), etc.) is housed inside a housing 110. For example, when the outdoor unit 100 is attached to a hot water supply unit that heats and supplies water, the outdoor unit 100 is connected by piping (not shown) to a second heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heated heat medium and water, forming a heat pump circuit.

[0013] The compressor is a device that compresses a gaseous heat medium heated by the temperature of the air using a first heat exchanger, liquefies at least a part of the gaseous heat medium, and further heats and discharges the heat medium. An accumulator may be connected to the suction side of the compressor.

[0014] The expansion valve is a pressure reducing device for increasing the volume of the heat medium that has been cooled by heat exchange with water or the like in the second heat exchanger, thereby cooling the heat medium.

[0015] The first heat exchanger exchanges heat between the heat medium cooled by the expansion valve and the air. In the first heat exchanger, heat is exchanged between the air sent by the blower 101 and the heat medium. In the heat pump circuit, the first heat exchanger functions as a condenser when the second heat exchanger absorbs heat, and functions as an evaporator when the second heat exchanger releases heat.

[0016] The blower 101 is a device that forms an air flow that comes into contact with the first heat exchanger, and includes a fan and a motor. The blower 101 is, for example, equipped with an axial fan, but is not limited thereto, and forms an air flow that passes through a vent provided on one side of the housing 110, through the first heat exchanger, and is exhausted from a vent provided on the other side opposite the first side. The air exchanges heat with the heat medium as it passes through the first heat exchanger.

[0017] The control board is a board on which circuits are formed that execute control of the compressor disposed in the housing 110, control of the blower device 101, and the like based on the acquired information.

[0018] The housing 110 is an outer shell of the outdoor unit 100 and has a bottom plate 120 on the lower side (Z- side in the figure). The housing 110 is not placed directly on the installation surface on which the outdoor unit 100 is installed, but is attached to the installation surface by a mounting base (not shown) attached to the mounting bracket 102 or the like so that a space through which air can circulate is formed below the housing 110.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom plate 120 from above. The bottom plate 120 is a member constituting the bottom of the housing 110, and holds the compressor, the control board, the first heat exchanger, the blower 101, and the like housed in the housing 110. In the present embodiment, the bottom plate 120 is rectangular, and at least one of the four corners is set as the machine area 122. The other area of ​​the bottom plate 120 is set as the wind circuit area 121 (two areas surrounded by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 3). At the boundary between the wind circuit area 121 and the machine area 122, a protrusion 125 is provided that protrudes upward from the bottom surface 124 (Z+ side in the figure). The protrusion 125 suppresses the movement of water along the bottom surface 124 between the wind circuit area 121 and the machine area 122. An electrical equipment mounting area 123 (area surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 3) is present inside the machine area 122 and in part of the protrusion 125. The first heat exchanger, the blower 101, etc. are arranged in the air circuit area 121. A compressor and a control board are mounted in the electrical equipment mounting area 123. In this specification and claims, electrical equipment refers to electric and electronic devices arranged in the machine area 122, and in this embodiment, the compressor and the control board correspond to the electrical equipment.

[0020] 4 is a perspective view showing the machine area 122 with a part of the frame being see-through. As shown in the figure, a drainage section 130 is provided on at least the bottom surface 124 in the machine area 122 of the bottom plate 120, which drains water accumulated in the machine area 122 to the outside of the housing 110. Water condensed in an accumulator or the like inside the housing 110 may accumulate in the machine area 122. Water that seeps in through a through hole provided in a side wall of the housing 110 may accumulate on the bottom surface 124 in the machine area 122. The drainage section 130 drains the water accumulated on the bottom surface 124 of the machine area 122 to the outside of the housing 110.

[0021] In this embodiment, the drainage sections 130 are provided at each of two adjacent edge portions of the bottom plate 120. In this embodiment, the drainage sections 130 are provided at the corner portions of the bottom plate 120. By arranging the drainage sections 130 in this manner, even if the surface on which the outdoor unit 100 is installed is inclined to some extent, water accumulated in the mechanical area 122 can pass through at least one of the drainage sections 130 and be discharged to the outside.

[0022] 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the drainage parts 130. As shown in the drawing, the drainage part 130 includes a drainage hole 131, a side wall part 132, and a lid part 133.

[0023] Drainage hole 131 is a hole for discharging water accumulated on bottom surface 124 of bottom plate 120 inside housing 110 to the outside of housing 110, and penetrates bottom plate 120 in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction in the figure). The shape of drainage hole 131 is not limited. In the case of this embodiment, drainage hole 131 has a T-shape in plan view, including rectangular portion 141 and slit portion 142.

[0024] Side wall portion 132 is a portion that is provided in an upright manner toward the inside of housing 110 along part of the outer periphery of drainage hole 131. The position at which side wall portion 132 is provided with respect to drainage hole 131 is not limited, but side wall portion 132 is preferably disposed between drainage hole 131 and a compressor and a control board, which are electrical components mounted in electrical component mounting area 123 of bottom plate 120. This makes it possible to prevent water that has entered through drainage hole 131 from below housing 110 from adhering to the electrical components.

[0025] In the present embodiment, side wall portion 132 is provided continuously along three sides of rectangular portion 141 of drain hole 131, the periphery of rectangular portion 141 not communicating with slit portion 142. Side wall portion 132, which is C-shaped when viewed from above, can effectively prevent water that has entered through drain hole 131 from below housing 110. Side wall portion 132 may stand upright with respect to bottom surface 124, or may stand at an angle as in the present embodiment.

[0026] The lid portion 133 is a portion that extends from the tip of the side wall portion 132 so as to cover at least a part of the drain hole 131. The lid portion 133 may cover the entire drain hole 131. In the case of this embodiment, the lid portion 133 is arranged so as to cover the rectangular portion 141 that is a part of the drain hole 131. The lid portion 133 is integrally connected to all of the side wall portions 132 that stand so as to surround the drain hole 131 on three sides. The opposing side wall portions 132 and the lid portion 133 form an upright opening 143 that is arranged upright with respect to the bottom surface 124. As a result, water that has infiltrated from below the housing 110 through the rectangular portion 141 of the drain hole 131 is limited to a path that infiltrates into the housing through the upright opening 143. In other words, the side wall portion 132 and the lid portion 133 can limit the infiltration direction of water that has infiltrated from below the housing 110 through the drain hole 131 to a narrow area. In addition, the direction of infiltration of water that has infiltrated through slit portion 142 is restricted by side wall portion 132 and lid portion 133, and infiltration in the direction of the electrical equipment can be suppressed. In the case of this embodiment, upright openings 143 of all drainage portions 130 are arranged to face the outside of housing 110. As a result, the direction of water that has infiltrated through drainage hole 131 is limited to the direction toward housing 110, and the influence on the components housed in housing 110 can be suppressed as much as possible.

[0027] The material and manufacturing method of the bottom plate 120 are not limited. In the present embodiment, the bottom plate 120 is manufactured by pressing a metal plate. The drainage portion 130 is also integrally formed from the metal plate by press forming. The presence of the slit portion 142 of the drainage hole 131 allows the side wall portion 132 and the lid portion 133 to be easily formed by press working.

[0028] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the components described in this specification may be combined in any manner, or some of the components may be removed to create another embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the present invention also includes modifications that are made to the above-described embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention, i.e., the meaning of the words in the claims.

[0029] For example, in the above embodiment, the side wall portion 132 and the lid portion 133 are integrally formed with the bottom plate 120 by press working, but the side wall portion 132 and the lid portion 133 may be separate from the bottom plate 120. There is no limitation on the method of joining the bottom plate 120 and the side wall portion 132, and the method of joining the side wall portion 132 and the lid portion 133. Examples of these joining methods include welding, adhesion using an adhesive, and the like.

[0030] 6, the side wall portion 132 may be provided on only one side of the drain hole 131. The lid portion 133 may cover the entire drain hole 131.

[0031] 7, the shape of the drain hole 131 may be a shape other than a rectangle, such as a circle. The side wall portion 132 may be disposed at a position away from the periphery of the drain hole 131.

[0032] [summary] The outdoor unit 100 of a first aspect of the embodiment is an outdoor unit 100 included in a heat pump unit that transfers heat based on the compression and expansion of a heat medium, and the outdoor unit 100 comprises a housing 110 having a bottom plate 120, and the bottom plate 120 comprises a drainage hole 131 for draining water from inside the housing 110, a side wall portion 132 provided in an upright manner along part of the outer periphery of the drainage hole 131, and a lid portion extending from the tip of the side wall portion 132 so as to cover at least a part of the drainage hole 131.

[0033] According to the first aspect, in outdoor unit 100 installed with a space between the installation surface and bottom plate 120, even if water reflected by the installation surface enters housing 110 through drainage hole 131 of bottom plate 120, the direction of water intrusion can be restricted by side wall portion 132 and lid portion 133. This makes it possible to prevent water that has entered housing 110 in an unintended direction from adhering to components inside housing 110 and affecting the operation of the heat pump cycle.

[0034] The outdoor unit 100 of the second embodiment includes the outdoor unit 100 of the first embodiment, and the side wall portion 132 is disposed between the electrical components housed in the housing 110 and the drainage hole 131.

[0035] According to the second aspect, it is possible to prevent water that has entered the inside through drainage hole 131 from adhering to electrical components that are contained within housing 110 and are particularly susceptible to the effects of water.

[0036] The outdoor unit 100 of the third embodiment includes the outdoor unit 100 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and the side wall portions 132 are arranged on three sides of the drain hole 131.

[0037] According to the third aspect, the direction of water entering through the drainage hole 131 can be limited to a narrow area.

[0038] The outdoor unit 100 of the fourth aspect includes any of the first to third aspects, and the bottom plate 120 is rectangular, and a first drain hole and a second drain hole are provided at two adjacent edge portions of the bottom plate 120, respectively.

[0039] The outdoor unit 100 of the fourth aspect can effectively drain water accumulated in the mechanical area 122 from either the first drain hole or the second drain hole even when the outdoor unit 100 is tilted from the horizontal plane. [Industrial Applicability]

[0040] The present disclosure can be used in systems that use a heat pump, such as water heaters and air conditioners, to transfer heat to heat or cool a fluid. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 100 Outdoor unit 101 Blower 102 Mounting bracket 110 Cabinet 120 Bottom plate 121 Wind circuit area 122 Mechanical area 123 Electrical equipment mounting area 124 Bottom 125 protrusion 130 Drainage section 131 Drain hole 132 Side wall 133 Lid 141 Rectangular part 142 Slit section 143 Standing opening

Claims

1. An outdoor unit included in a heat pump unit that transfers heat based on compression and expansion of a heat medium, The outdoor unit is A housing having a bottom plate, The bottom plate is A drain hole for draining water from inside the housing; A side wall portion provided upright along a part of the outer periphery of the drainage hole; A lid portion extending from a tip end of the side wall portion so as to cover at least a portion of the drain hole. outdoor unit.

2. The side wall portion is A drain hole is disposed between the electrical equipment accommodated in the housing. The outdoor unit according to claim 1 .

3. The side wall portion is Located on three sides of the drain hole The outdoor unit according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The bottom plate is rectangular, and the first drain hole and the second drain hole are provided at two adjacent edge portions of the bottom plate, respectively. The outdoor unit according to claim 1 or 2.

Images