Heat source device

Abstract

To provide a heat source device capable of reliably grounding a controller.SOLUTION: A heat source device (100) comprises a housing (40), a support member (50), a controller (30), and a conductive member (60). The housing has a bottom wall (44). The support member is arranged in the housing. The controller is supported by the support member in the housing. The controller has a ground terminal. The ground terminal is electrically connected to the support member. The support member and the bottom wall are directly electrically connected by the conductive member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat source device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent No. 3346098 (Patent Document 1) describes a water heater. The water heater of Patent Document 1 has a housing. Inside the housing, a burner, a heat exchange can body, etc. are housed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Inside the housing of the water heater, a controller for controlling a burner or the like is further housed. The controller needs to be grounded, but in the conventional configuration, there is room for improvement in reliably performing the grounding. The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. More specifically, the present invention provides a heat source device capable of reliably grounding a controller.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The heat source device of the present invention includes a housing, a support member, a controller, and a conductive member. The housing has a bottom wall. The support member is disposed inside the housing. The controller is supported by the support member inside the housing. The controller has a grounding terminal. The grounding terminal is electrically connected to the support member. The support member and the bottom wall are directly electrically connected by the conductive member.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the heat source device of the present invention, reliable grounding of the controller becomes possible.

Brief Explanation of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Details of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will not be repeated. The heat source device according to the embodiment is referred to as the heat source device 100.

[0009] (Configuration of the heat source device 100) The configuration of the heat source device 100 will be described below.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the heat source device 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat source device 100 is, for example, a water heater. However, the heat source device 100 is not limited to a water heater. The heat source device 100 may be, for example, a heating device. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat source device 100 includes a burner 10, a heat exchanger 20, and a controller 30.

[0011] The burner 10 includes a nozzle 11, a pipe 12, an electromagnetic pump 13, a strainer 14, an electrode rod 15, an ignition transformer 16, and a combustion fan 17. The pipe 12 is connected to the nozzle 11 at one end and to a fuel tank (not shown) at the other end. The electromagnetic pump 13 and the strainer 14 are disposed on the path of the pipe 12. By driving the electromagnetic pump 13, fuel such as kerosene is ejected from the nozzle 11 through the pipe 12 after passing through the strainer 14.

[0012] The tip of the electrode rod 15 is disposed near the nozzle 11. The electrode rod 15 is connected to the ignition transformer 16. By driving the ignition transformer 16, a spark is generated at the tip of the electrode rod 15. By driving the combustion fan 17, air is supplied near the nozzle 11. Fuel is ejected from the nozzle 11, and in a state where air is supplied near the nozzle 11, the above-described spark is generated, whereby the fuel ejected from the nozzle 11 is burned and combustion gas is generated.

[0013] Inside the heat exchanger 20, a gas flow path 21 is formed. The gas flow path 21 has a gas inlet 21a on the upstream side and a gas outlet 21b on the downstream side. The combustion gas generated in the burner 10 flows into the gas flow path 21 from the gas inlet 21a, passes through the gas flow path 21, and flows out from the gas outlet 21b. Inside the heat exchanger 20, a water flow path (not shown) is formed. The water flow path has a water inlet and a hot water outlet. While the combustion gas flows through the gas flow path 21, heat exchange is performed with the water flowing through the water flow path. Therefore, the water flowing in from the water inlet is heated while flowing through the water flow path and then flows out from the hot water outlet. The water heated by passing through the heat exchanger 20 is supplied with hot water from, for example, a hot water tap (not shown).

[0014] The controller 30 controls the burner 10. More specifically, the heat exchanger 20 has a thermistor (not shown) that detects the temperature of the combustion gas flowing out from the gas outlet 21b, a thermistor (not shown) that detects the temperature of the water flowing upstream of the water inlet, a thermistor (not shown) that detects the temperature of the hot water flowing downstream of the hot water outlet, and the like. The controller 30 is connected to these thermistors and controls the burner 10 based on the temperatures detected by these thermistors. The controller 30 is connected to, for example, an AC power supply. Also, the controller 30 needs to be grounded.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a front view of the heat source device 100. In FIG. 2, the illustration of the burner 10 and the heat exchanger 20 is omitted. Also, in FIG. 2, for the sake of convenience, the illustration of the fourth side wall is omitted so that the inside of the housing 40 can be visually recognized. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the heat source device 100. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the burner 10, the heat exchanger 20, the controller 30, and the upper wall 45 is omitted. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heat source device 100 further includes a housing 40, a support member 50, and a conductive member 60.

[0016] The housing 40 has a first side wall 41, a second side wall 42, a third side wall 43, a bottom wall 44, and an upper wall 45. The housing 40 further has a fourth side wall (not shown). The first side wall 41 and the second side wall 42 face each other with a space therebetween in the X direction. The X direction is along the horizontal direction. The housing 40 has a first member 46 and a second member 47. The first member 46 and the second member 47 are color steel plates. A color steel plate is a steel plate having coatings applied on both end faces in the thickness direction of the steel plate. The paint applied to the color steel plate does not have conductivity.

[0017] The first member 46 has a first portion 46a and a second portion 46b, and is bent at the boundary between the first portion 46a and the second portion 46b. The first portion 46a forms the first side wall 41. The second member 47 has a third portion 47a and a fourth portion 47b, and is bent at the boundary between the third portion 47a and the fourth portion 47b. The third portion 47a forms the second side wall 42. The second portion 46b and the fourth portion 47b form the third side wall 43. Note that the third side wall 43 and the fourth side wall face each other with a space therebetween in the Y direction. The Y direction is perpendicular to the X direction and is along the horizontal direction.

[0018] The lower ends of the first side wall 41, the second side wall 42, the third side wall 43, and the lower end of the fourth side wall are attached to the bottom wall 44. The upper ends of the first side wall 41, the second side wall 42, the third side wall 43, and the upper end of the fourth side wall are attached to the upper wall 45. In other words, from another perspective, the bottom wall 44 and the upper wall 45 face each other with a gap in the Z direction. The Z direction is perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction and is along the vertical direction.

[0019] Note that the bottom wall 44 is not made of a color steel plate (i.e., it is not painted on the surface) and is composed of a conductive material such as a steel plate. Further, screw holes for screws and screws screwed into the screw holes for screws are provided on the side surface of the bottom wall 44, and one end of the ground wire is attached to the bottom wall 44 using these. The other end of the ground wire is grounded.

[0020] The controller 30 has, for example, a power supply board 31 and a control board 32. The power supply board 31, for example, transforms the AC voltage supplied to the controller 30 and then converts it into a DC voltage, and supplies the DC voltage to the control board 32. The control board 32 is connected to various thermistors of the heat exchanger 20 and controls the burner 10 based on signals from the thermistors. The power supply board 31 and the control board 32 are supported by a relay case 33.

[0021] The support member 50 is disposed inside the housing 40. More specifically, the support member 50 extends along the X direction. The support member 50 has a first end 51 and a second end 52. The second end 52 is the end opposite to the first end 51. The first end 51 and the second end 52 are both ends in the X direction. The conductive member 60 is disposed inside the housing 40. More specifically, the conductive member 60 extends along the Z direction. The conductive member 60 has a third end 61 and a fourth end 62. The fourth end 62 is the end opposite to the third end 61. The third end 61 and the fourth end 62 are both ends in the Z direction.

[0022] The first end portion 51 and the second end portion 52 are respectively attached to the first side wall 41 and the second side wall 42. The third end portion 61 and the fourth end portion 62 are respectively attached to the support member 50 and the bottom wall 44. Thereby, the support member 50 and the conductive member 60 are arranged within the housing 40. More specifically, the third end portion 61 is screwed to the first side wall 41 and the first end portion 51 is screwed to the third end portion 61, so that the first end portion 51 is attached to the first side wall 41 together with the third end portion 61. The second end portion 52 is attached to the second side wall 42, for example, by screwing. The fourth end portion 62 is attached to the bottom wall 44, for example, by screwing.

[0023] The constituent materials of the support member 50 and the conductive member 60 are conductive materials. The support member 50 and the conductive member 60 are, for example, steel plates. However, the surfaces of the steel plates constituting the support member 50 and the conductive member 60 are not painted. That is, the support member 50 and the conductive member 60 are not color steel plates. As described above, since the conductive member 60 is formed of a conductive material and the third end portion 61 and the fourth end portion 62 are respectively attached to the support member 50 and the bottom wall 44, the support member 50 is directly electrically connected to the bottom wall 44 by the conductive member 60 without interposing the housing 40. As a result, the ground potential of the bottom wall 44 is supplied to the controller 30.

[0024] The controller 30 is supported by the support member 50 via the relay case 33. Since the support member 50 is arranged within the housing 40 as described above, the controller 30 is supported by the support member 50 within the housing 40. Although not shown, the controller 30 has a ground terminal. The ground terminal of the controller 30 is electrically connected to the support member 50 by a harness or the like not shown.

[0025] Note that although not shown, the burner 10 and the heat exchanger 20 are arranged within the housing 40.

[0026] (Effect of the heat source device 100) The effects of the heat source device 100 will be described below while comparing them with the heat source device according to the comparative example. The heat source device according to the comparative example is designated as the heat source device 200.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heat source device 200. In FIG. 4, illustration of the burner 10, the heat exchanger 20, the controller 30, and the upper wall 45 is omitted. As shown in FIG. 4, in the heat source device 200, the conductive member 60 has only the third end portion 61. Except for this point, the configuration of the heat source device 200 is common to the configuration of the heat source device 100.

[0028] In the heat source device 200, the support member 50 and the bottom wall 44 are electrically connected by the first side wall 41 and the second side wall 42. However, since the first side wall 41 and the second side wall 42 are color steel plates, the conduction between the support member 50 and the first side wall 41 and the second side wall 42 is limited only through the inner wall surface of the screw hole formed in the first side wall 41 where no painting is performed and the inner wall surface of the screw hole formed in the second side wall 42. Therefore, in the heat source device 200, the supply of the ground potential to the controller 30 becomes unstable.

[0029] On the other hand, in the heat source device 100, the electrical connection between the support member 50 and the bottom wall 44 is directly made by the conductive member 60. Therefore, according to the heat source device 100, even when a color steel plate is used for the housing 40, it is possible to supply the ground potential to the controller 30 more stably.

[0030] In the heat source device 100, the first end portion 51 and the second end portion 52 are respectively attached to the first side wall 41 and the second side wall 42. That is, since the load applied to the housing 40 is also supported by the support member 50, the support member 50 functions not only as a member for holding the controller 30 but also as a member for reinforcing the rigidity of the housing 40.

[0031] In the heat source device 100, since the third end portion 61 and the fourth end portion 62 are attached to the first side wall 41 and the bottom wall 44, respectively, the conductive member 60 not only functions as a member that directly electrically connects the support member 50 and the bottom wall 44, but also functions as a member that reinforces the rigidity of the first side wall 41. Thus, according to the heat source device 100, the rigidity of the housing 40 is also improved by the support member 50 and the conductive member 60. Further, in the heat source device 100, the conductive member 60 can be easily attached. Furthermore, in the heat source device 100, compared with the heat source device 200, there is no need to increase the number of components.

[0032] (Appendix) The present embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0033] <Appendix 1> A housing, A support member, A controller, And a conductive member, The housing has a bottom wall, The support member is disposed in the housing, The controller is supported by the support member in the housing, The controller has a ground terminal, The ground terminal is electrically connected to the support member, A heat source device in which the support member and the bottom wall are directly electrically connected by the conductive member.

[0034] <Appendix 2> The housing has a first side wall and a second side wall, The first side wall and the second side wall face each other with a space therebetween in a first direction, The support member extends along the first direction and has a first end portion and a second end portion that is an end portion on the opposite side of the first end portion in the first direction, The first end portion and the second end portion are attached to the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, of the heat source device of Appendix 1.

[0035] <Supplementary Note 3> The conductive member extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and has a third end portion and a fourth end portion which is an end portion on the side opposite to the third end portion in the second direction. The third end portion is attached to the first side wall together with the first end portion. The heat source device according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, wherein the fourth end portion is attached to the bottom wall.

[0036] <Supplementary Note 4> The heat source device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, wherein each of the first side wall and the second side wall is a color steel plate.

[0037] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described as above, it is also possible to variously modify the above embodiments. Further, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0038] 100, 200 Heat source device, 10 Burner, 11 Nozzle, 12 Pipe, 13 Electromagnetic pump, 14 Strainer, 15 Electrode rod, 16 Ignition transformer, 17 Combustion fan, 20 Heat exchanger, 21 Flow path, 21a Gas inlet, 21b Gas outlet, 30 Controller, 31 Power supply board, 32 Control board, 33 Relay case, 40 Housing, 41 First side wall, 42 Second side wall, 43 Third side wall, 44 Bottom wall, 45 Upper wall, 46 First member, 46a First part, 46b Second part, 47 Second member, 47a Third part, 47b Fourth part, 50 Support member, 51 First end portion, 52 Second end portion, 60 Conductive member, 61 Third end portion, 62 Fourth end portion.

Claims

1. A housing, a support member, a controller, and a conductive member, wherein the housing has a bottom wall, the support member is disposed within the housing, the controller is supported by the support member within the housing, the controller has a grounding terminal, the grounding terminal is electrically connected to the support member, and the support member and the bottom wall are directly electrically connected by the conductive member, a heat source device.

2. The housing has a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall face each other with a space therebetween in a first direction, the support member extends along the first direction and has a first end portion and a second end portion which is an end portion opposite to the first end portion in the first direction, and the first end portion and the second end portion are respectively attached to the first side wall and the second side wall. The heat source device according to Claim 1.

3. The conductive member extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and has a third end portion and a fourth end portion which is an end portion opposite to the third end portion in the second direction, the third end portion is attached to the first side wall together with the first end portion, and the fourth end portion is attached to the bottom wall. The heat source device according to Claim 2.

4. Each of the first side wall and the second side wall is a color steel plate. The heat source device according to Claim 2 or Claim 3.

Images