Heat insulation sealing tool of heat medium supply duct line in air conditioner

Abstract

To prevent circulation of inside air and outside air occurring at an end of an air heat insulation layer formed between inner and outer heat insulation materials to improve heat insulation effect, prevent occurrence of dew condensation, and achieve excellent workability in a heat medium supply duct line in which pipe materials, making a pair and arranged between indoor and outdoor units, are doubly coated by the heat insulation materials.SOLUTION: Pipe materials 11 which are arranged making a pair to circulate a medium are coated by an inner heat insulation material 12. The pipe materials 11 coated by the inner heat insulation material 12 are coated by an outer heat insulation material 13 to form a heat medium supply duct line 10 having a double heat insulation structure. A heat insulation sealing tool is formed by a sealing tool 1 which is inserted into an opening end of the air heat insulation layer 14 so as to prevent circulation of indoor air and outdoor air of the air heat insulation layer 14 occurring between the inner heat insulation material 12 and the outer heat insulation material 13. The sealing tool 1 is formed in a rod-like shape which presents a substantially isosceles triangle in a cross section corresponding to a heat insulation form of the air heat insulation layer 14 and is enclosed in the opening end of the air heat insulation layer 14 for a predetermined length.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat medium supply pipe insulation sealing device in an air conditioning device, which can obtain more reliable dew condensation prevention by heat insulation and good workability. When a heat medium supply pipe is piped between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit in air conditioning equipment, for example, a heat medium supply pipe with a parallel arrangement covered with an internal heat insulation material is further covered with an external heat insulation material to form a so-called double heat insulation structure. By sealing the opening end of the air insulation layer formed between the internal heat insulation material and the external heat insulation material at the connection points to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in air conditioning equipment, etc., a heat medium such as a refrigerant is circulated by pipes such as copper pipes and aluminum pipes that are insulated and piped between an indoor unit installed indoors where heating and cooling are performed and an outdoor unit that exchanges heat with the outside air. In addition, it is configured in a form that is arranged in parallel in a pair to circulate the heat medium indoors and outdoors, and each of the supply pipe and the return pipe is covered with, for example, a heat insulation material. For example, it is shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0003] When such a pair of pipes covered with a heat insulation material are piped indoors and outdoors in an air conditioning device for heating and cooling in, for example, a general house or an apartment, at the connection parts to the heat medium pipes in each of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, they are connected in a state where they are partially exposed from the heat insulation material.

[0004] In such a place where the heat medium pipe is exposed, the heat insulation effect is reduced, but none of Patent Documents 1 to 3 above show any countermeasures for such a situation. Also, even if it is sometimes constructed to be covered with another heat insulation material if necessary, it was troublesome to be neatly covered.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the heat medium supply pipeline used in air - conditioning equipment for heating and cooling, as described above, the forward and return pipelines are covered with an inner heat insulating material, and these parallel - arranged pipe materials are further covered with an outer heat insulating material to form a double - heat - insulating structure for the pipeline. In the pipeline composed of the double - heat - insulating structure, an air - insulating layer is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner heat insulating material that directly covers the pipe material and the inner peripheral surface of the outer heat insulating material, and thus the heat - insulating effect of this air - insulating layer also occurs.

[0007] However, at the connection points with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit respectively, since the ends of the inner heat insulating material and the outer heat insulating material remain cut, the air - insulating layer is not blocked from the outside at its cut surface, and the air - insulating layer circulates with the outside cold air or warm air, reducing the heat - insulating effect of the double - heat - insulating structure, and a predetermined heat - insulating effect cannot be obtained sufficiently.

[0008] However, in air - conditioning equipment for heating and cooling, in the heat medium pipe to which the cooled heat medium is supplied, even if the heat medium pipe is covered with a heat insulating material for thermal protection, it is extremely difficult to prevent the moisture component in the external atmosphere from condensing and adhering, resulting in dew formation.

[0009] The present invention has been created in consideration of the various circumstances that have existed in the past as described above, and aims to provide an insulating sealing device for heat transfer medium supply pipes in air conditioning equipment, in which paired heat transfer medium pipes for outbound and inbound routes that are piping between indoor and outdoor units of air conditioning equipment are doubly covered with inner and outer insulating materials, which provides an additional insulating effect to prevent condensation by sealing the opening of the air insulation layer at the end to block the flow of air inside and outside the air insulation layer, and which is also easy to install. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a heat transfer medium supply pipeline 10 with a double insulation structure in which each of the pipes 11 arranged in a pair to circulate a heat transfer medium is covered with an inner insulation material 12, and the pipes 11 covered with the inner insulation material 12 are covered with an outer insulation material 13, and the air inside and outside of the air insulation layer 14 generated between the inner insulation material 12 and the outer insulation material 13 is prevented from flowing, and is characterized by comprising a sealing device 1 inserted into the open end of the air insulation layer 14. The sealing device 1 is formed in a rod shape having an approximately isosceles triangular cross section that corresponds to the insulating shape of the air insulating layer 14, and can be configured to be sealed at a predetermined length at the open end of the air insulating layer 14. The sealing device 1 can be configured to have a hypotenuse surface 2 formed on a curved surface that is recessed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the inner insulation material 12, and a base surface 3 that abuts the inner surface of the outer insulation material 13. The bottom surface 3 of the sealing device 1 has a number of grooves formed thereon along the direction of insertion into the air insulation layer 14, and can be configured to have a wavy cross section.

[0011] In the heat medium supply pipe heat insulation seal of the air conditioner according to the present invention configured as described above, in the heat medium supply pipe 10 having a double heat insulation structure in which the pipe material 11 of the paired pipes for circulating the heat medium is covered with the inner heat insulation material 12 and further covered with the outer heat insulation material 13, the open end of the air heat insulation layer 14 between the inner heat insulation material 12 and the outer heat insulation material 13 is closed by the seal 1 inserted into this open part, thereby blocking the flow of the inside and outside air of the air heat insulation layer 14, further improving the heat insulation property of the heat medium supply pipe 10, and preventing condensation. The arc-shaped curved surface recessed in the hypotenuse surface 2 of the seal 1 follows the outer peripheral surface of the inner heat insulation material 12 covering the pipe material 11, and the bottom surface 3 abuts against the inner surface of the outer heat insulation material 13 covering the inner heat insulation material 12, so that the seal 1 fits snugly into the air heat insulation layer 14 and effectively blocks the flow of the inside and outside air at the open end. A number of strip grooves along the insertion direction of the bottom surface 3 of the seal 1 smooth the insertion operation of the seal 1 itself into the open end of the air heat insulation layer 14, facilitate the sealing operation, and enable easy construction.

Effect of the Invention

[0012] Since the present invention is configured as described above, for example, in the air heat insulation layer 14 generated between the inner heat insulation material 12 covering the pipe material 11 of the paired pipes for circulating the heat medium in the air conditioning equipment and the outer heat insulation material 13 further covering this, by sealing the open end, the flow of the inside and outside air of the air heat insulation layer 14 can be blocked, and the heat insulation property of the heat medium supply pipe 10 having a double heat insulation structure can be improved.

[0013] That is, in the present invention, this is because a seal 1 inserted into the open end is provided so as to close the open end of the air heat insulation layer 14 generated between the inner heat insulation material 12 covering the pipe material 11 of the paired pipes for circulating the heat medium and the outer heat insulation material 13 covering the pipe material 11 covered with the inner heat insulation material 12. By this seal 1, the flow of the inside and outside air of the air heat insulation layer 14 in the heat medium supply pipe 10 having an inner and outer double heat insulation structure can be blocked, not only preventing the occurrence of condensation, but also it can be easily constructed because it only needs to be inserted forcibly into the open end of the air heat insulation layer 14.

[0014] In addition, the seal 1 has an isosceles triangular shape with a cross-sectional shape along the cross-sectional shape of the air insulation layer 14. The outer peripheral surface of the inner heat insulation material 12 is formed by the inclined surface 2 with an arcuate concave curved shape, and the bottom surface 3 abuts against the inner surface of the outer heat insulation material 13. After being inserted into the air insulation layer 14, it fits well with the inner surface of the air insulation layer 14, and the airtightness can more efficiently block the flow of internal and external air.

[0015] Furthermore, a large number of strip grooves are formed on the bottom surface 3 of the seal 1 along the insertion direction into the air insulation layer 14, facilitating the insertion operation. For example, the insertion operation into the air insulation layer 14 opened at the end of the heat medium supply pipe 10 at the connection part of the indoor unit R and the outdoor unit H can also be smoothly performed.

[0016] Note that the reference signs appended to each of the means for solving the above problems and the items of the effects of the invention are attached to facilitate reference to the parts of the configurations shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the structures, shapes, etc. indicated by these descriptions, reference signs in the drawings, etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, one embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described. In the figure, the reference sign 1 indicates the seal according to the present invention. This seal 1 is forcibly inserted into the opening at the end of the air insulation layer 14 formed between the inner heat insulation material 12 and the outer heat insulation material 13 in the heat medium pipe 10 that is double-insulated, so as to be sealed at the opening end of the air insulation layer 14 to block the inside of the air insulation layer 14 from the outside.

[0019] Incidentally, the air heat insulating layer 14 itself is a gap space formed between an inner heat insulating material 12 made of foamed polyethylene resin that covers each of the pipe materials 11 for the forward path and the return path, for example, made of copper pipe or aluminum pipe, which are arranged in a pair so as to circulate a heat medium between, for example, an indoor unit R and an outdoor unit H as shown in the figure, and an outer heat insulating material 13 also made of foamed polyethylene resin that covers the entire pipe materials for the forward path and the return path arranged in parallel on the outside of the inner heat insulating material 12. This air heat insulating layer 14, which is this gap space, has a V-shaped groove formed on the outer surface between the inner heat insulating materials 12 due to the circular forward path pipe and return path pipe being arranged in parallel, and the outer heat insulating material 14 covers this V-shaped groove, so that it is formed in a substantially triangular shape in cross section.

[0020] Note that the inner heat insulating material 12 in the drawing is formed in a double structure by an inner and outer double heat insulating material made of a heat-resistant and flame-retardant type of foamed polyethylene resin with different foaming ratios and foaming forms, but it is not limited to this.

[0021] The sealing member 1 itself is formed in a rod shape presenting a substantially isosceles triangle cross section that substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the air heat insulating layer 14 by the same effective material as the inner heat insulating material 12 and the outer heat insulating material 13, and is enclosed at a predetermined length at the opening end of the air heat insulating layer 14. Its length is formed to be, for example, around 100 mm, which is sufficient to prevent the flow of the inside and outside air of the air heat insulating layer 14 at the opening of the air heat insulating layer 14. Of course, as long as the flow of the inside and outside air is prevented, it is not limited to being formed around this 100 mm.

[0022] However, when it is short, the opening end in the heat medium pipe line 10 may not be enclosed with a sufficient length, allowing the inside and outside air to flow or be removed, and when it is considerably long, it is considered difficult to insert the sealing member 1 into the narrow air heat insulating layer 14.

[0023] As shown in the figure, although the sealing member 1 itself has a substantially isosceles triangular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the air insulation layer 14, since the outer surface of the inner heat insulating material 12 is curved in an arc shape, the hypotenuse surface 2 that contacts this outer surface is recessed and curved in an arc shape along the curved surface of the inner heat insulating material 12. On the bottom surface 3 that contacts the outer heat insulating material 13, a plurality of strip grooves are formed in parallel along the insertion direction, and when viewed in cross-section, they exhibit a wave shape.

[0024] In addition, when the pipe material 11 to be arranged in a pair is of different diameters, combined with the fact that the sealing member 1 itself is made of a flexible foamed synthetic resin, even if the cross-sectional shape of the air insulation layer 14 is a scalene substantially triangular shape, by forced insertion, it fits snugly against the outer surface of the inner heat insulating material 12 and the inner surface of the outer heat insulating material 13 at the ends of the air insulation layer 14.

[0025] Of course, the sealing member 1 itself may be formed such that the hypotenuse surface 2 has different widths on the left and right and a different inclination angle from the bottom surface 3. In any case, it is formed corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the air insulation layer 14 and is sealed tightly within the opening end of the air insulation layer 14.

[0026] Next, an example of its use will be described. For example, in air conditioning equipment, when a heat medium supply pipe 10 with a double insulation structure configured in a paired juxtaposed manner is connected between an indoor unit R installed indoors and an outdoor unit H installed outdoors, at the connection points with the indoor unit R and the outdoor unit H, the heat insulating materials 12 and 13 covering the internal predetermined pipe materials to be connected are removed, and the pipe material 11 is exposed. Then, since the openings of the air insulation layer 14 are in an open state at the ends of these heat insulating materials 12 and 13, the sealing member 1 according to the present invention is forcibly inserted into the air insulation layer 14 from the opening, even if it is from the opening, to block the flow of internal and external air in the air insulation layer and prevent condensation.

[0027] In addition, the applicant has tested the heat insulation state in the heat medium supply pipe 10 with and without the sealing member 1, and the results are as follows.

Table 1

[0028] In this Table 1, it is a test result table showing the results of a comparative test between the case of using the sealing member 1 of the present invention and the case of not using it. The outline of the conducted test is as follows. Test date and time: October 30, 2023 to October 31 of the same year Test location: Thermostatic and humidity-controlled test chamber, Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Center Test person: Section Chief of the Technology Section in the applicant Test chamber atmosphere: Set temperature 36°C to 37°C / Relative humidity 80%

[0029] Test specimen A: As the pipe material 11, a copper pipe with a diameter of 6.35 mm (so-called 2 - minute) is used as the forward pipe material, and similarly, a copper pipe with a diameter of 9.52 mm (so-called 3 - minute) is used as the forward pipe material. Each pipe material 11 is coated with an inner heat insulating material 12 with a thickness of 8 mm that has a double structure with inner and outer heat insulating materials, and is further coated with an outer heat insulating material 13 with a thickness of 6 mm to form a heat medium supply pipeline 10.

[0030] Test specimen B: It is a heat medium supply pipeline 10 in which the sealing member 1 according to the present invention is enclosed at the end of the air heat insulating layer 14 generated between the inner heat insulating material 12 and the outer heat insulating material 13 in test specimen A.

[0031] When conducting the test, between the indoor unit R and the outdoor unit H installed outside the thermostatic and humidity - controlled test chamber, each heat medium supply pipeline 10 as the test specimen was piped into the thermostatic and humidity - controlled test chamber, and the heat medium was supplied and circulated for a predetermined time, and thereby the presence or absence of dew condensation on the surface of the heat medium supply pipeline 10 was observed. If it is not insulated, dew condensation will occur on the surface of the heat medium supply pipeline 10, so the heat insulation situation can be confirmed based on the presence or absence thereof.

[0032] As shown in the test results in Table 1 regarding the presence or absence of dew condensation, in the test specimen B using the sealant 1 according to the present invention, unlike the test specimen A without the sealant 1 where dew condensation occurred, the occurrence of dew condensation was not recognized. From this, it was confirmed that the use of the sealant 1 has a heat insulation effect in the heat medium supply pipeline 10.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0033] H…Outdoor unit R…Indoor unit 1…Sealant 2…Hypotenuse surface 3…Bottom surface 10…Heat medium supply pipeline 11…Pipe material 12…Inner heat insulating material 13…Outer heat insulating material 14…Air heat insulating layer

Claims

1. In a heat medium supply pipe line with a double heat insulation structure formed by coating each pipe material arranged in a countercurrent manner so as to circulate a heat medium with an inner heat insulation material and then coating the pipe material coated with the inner heat insulation material with an outer heat insulation material, the heat insulation seal for the heat medium supply pipe in an air conditioner is characterized in that it is composed of a seal inserted into the opening end of the air heat insulation layer to prevent the flow of the inside and outside air in the air heat insulation layer generated between the inner heat insulation material and the outer heat insulation material.

2. The heat insulation seal for the heat medium supply pipe in the air conditioner according to Claim 1, wherein the seal is formed in a rod shape having a substantially isosceles triangle cross section corresponding to the heat insulation shape of the air heat insulation layer and is sealed at a predetermined length at the opening end of the air heat insulation layer.

3. The heat insulation seal for the heat medium supply pipe in the air conditioner according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the seal has a hypotenuse surface formed on a curved surface recessed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the inner heat insulation material and a bottom surface that abuts against the inner surface of the outer heat insulation material.

4. The heat insulation seal for the heat medium supply pipe in the air conditioner according to Claim 3, wherein a plurality of strip grooves are formed on the bottom surface of the seal along the insertion direction into the air heat insulation layer, and the cross section presents a wave shape.

Images