Heat pump unit

Abstract

To provide a heat pump unit that omits members for fitting an outside air temperature thermistor and facilitates fitting of an outside air temperature thermistor to a heat pump unit.SOLUTION: A heat pump unit (4) of a water heater (1) includes an outside air temperature thermistor (47) for detecting an outside air temperature on an upstream side in a flow direction of an outside air flow of a heat exchanger (38). An end plate (46) for supporting a heat exchange tube (38b) is installed to an end of the heat exchanger (38). Holding parts (48, 49) for holding the outside air temperature thermistor (47) are provided in the end plate (46).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat pump unit, and particularly to an improved mounting structure for an outdoor air sensor that detects the outdoor air temperature.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, heat pump units have been widely used as external heat source machines such as hot water storage and supply devices that store heated hot water for hot water supply. A heat pump unit is a heat source machine that utilizes the heat of the outside air for heating hot water. A hot water storage and supply device equipped with a heat pump unit stores the heated hot water in a hot water storage tank and uses the stored hot water for hot water supply and the like.

[0003] By the way, an outdoor air temperature sensor for detecting the outdoor air temperature is provided in the heat pump unit. For example, in Patent Document 1, a synthetic resin sensor case that houses an outdoor air temperature sensor is attached to the upper part of the back side of a heat exchanger located on the back side of the outdoor unit main body.

[0004] The above sensor case includes a sensor holding part for fixing the outdoor air temperature sensor and a box-shaped sensor cover part provided with a plurality of ventilation holes for taking in the outside air and covering the sensor holding part. The outdoor air temperature sensor is fixed with the claw part of the sensor holding part, and after pulling out the lead wire of the fixed outdoor air temperature sensor from the sensor holding part, the outdoor air temperature sensor is housed inside by coupling the sensor holding part and the sensor cover part.

[0005] The sensor case in which the outdoor air temperature sensor is housed is attached to the heat exchanger by hooking the upper locking piece of the sensor holding part on the upper end part of the back side of the heat exchanger and inserting the clamping piece of the sensor holding part between the heat dissipation fins of the heat exchanger to clamp the heat transfer pipe. Further, the sensor case is fixed to the outdoor unit main body by inserting the side locking piece of the sensor holding part into the locking space part of the locking part formed on the side panel of the outdoor unit main body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in Patent Document 1, as described above, when an outside air temperature sensor is attached to the outdoor unit, it is necessary to perform the operations of housing the outside air temperature sensor in the sensor case, attaching the sensor case to the back side of the heat exchanger, and fixing the sensor case to the outdoor unit main body. This not only takes time and labor but also incurs the material cost of the sensor case, resulting in high manufacturing costs.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a heat pump unit that can easily attach an outside air temperature thermistor to the heat pump unit by omitting the member for attaching the outside air temperature thermistor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The invention according to claim 1 is a heat pump unit of a water heater having a compressor, a heat exchanger having fins and tubes, a blower provided opposite to the heat exchanger, and an exterior case that houses these components. The heat pump unit is provided with an outside air temperature thermistor for detecting the outside air temperature on the upstream side in the flow direction of the outside air flow of the heat exchanger. An end plate for supporting the tube is provided at an end of the heat exchanger, and a holding portion for holding the outside air temperature thermistor is provided on the end plate.

[0010] According to the above configuration, in order to combine the function of supporting the tube and the function of holding the outside air temperature thermistor on the end plate provided at the end of the heat exchanger, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, the outside air temperature thermistor can be easily attached to the heat pump unit via the holding portion formed on the end plate.

[0011] The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, characterized in that a first holding part and a second holding part are provided on the end plate, the outside air temperature thermistor is held by the first holding part, and the lead wire of the outside air temperature thermistor is held by the second holding part. According to the above configuration, the outside air temperature thermistor and the lead wire can be held in a stable posture, and it is possible to prevent the outside air temperature thermistor and the lead wire from falling off the end plate due to vibration or the like.

[0012] The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a housing part protruding upstream in the flow direction of the outside air flow is provided at an end of a cover member which is a part of the exterior case fixed to the heat exchanger, and the first holding part and the outside air temperature thermistor are housed in the housing part.

[0013] According to the above configuration, since the outside air temperature can be detected in a state where the outside air temperature thermistor is held by the first holding part, the outside air temperature can be accurately detected in a stable posture, and foreign matter adhesion to the outside air temperature thermistor can be prevented by the housing part. In addition, since the outside air temperature thermistor can be housed in a state of being held by the first holding part, the outside air temperature thermistor can be easily housed in the housing part. Further, since the cover member which is a part of the exterior case has both a cover function and a housing function for housing the outside air temperature thermistor, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0014] The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, characterized in that a waterproof sealing material is provided at an end of the cover member. According to the above configuration, the waterproof sealing material can prevent liquid such as raindrops from entering the cover member.

Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the heat pump unit of the present invention, members for attaching the outside air temperature thermistor are omitted, and the outside air temperature thermistor can be easily attached to the heat pump unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described based on examples.

Examples

[0018] First, a hot water storage and supply device 1 equipped with a heat pump unit 4 of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water storage and supply device 1 includes a hot water storage unit 3 equipped with a hot water storage tank 2, a heat pump unit 4, and, for example, a combustion type auxiliary heat source machine 5. This hot water storage and supply device 1 performs a hot water storage operation of storing hot water heated to a predetermined target hot water storage temperature in the hot water storage tank 2 by the heat pump unit 4. The auxiliary heat source machine 5 heats the hot water discharged from the hot water storage unit 3 according to its temperature or supplies it to the hot water supply faucet 6 without heating in order to supply hot water at the hot water supply set temperature from the hot water supply faucet 6 as indicated by the arrow HW.

[0019] Next, the hot water storage unit 3 will be described. At the bottom of the hot water storage tank 2, an outgoing passage 8 equipped with a hot water storage pump 7 is connected to supply the hot and cold water of the hot water storage tank 2 to the heat pump unit 4. At the top of the hot water storage tank 2, a return passage 9 for storing the hot water heated by the heat pump unit 4 in the hot water storage tank 2 is connected. In the middle of the return passage 9, a switching valve 10 for switching the flow path of the hot water is arranged, and a return branch passage 9a branched from the return passage 9 in this switching valve 10 is connected to an upstream portion of the hot water storage pump 7 in the outgoing passage 8.

[0020] On the upstream side of the switching valve 10 in the return passage 9, a return temperature sensor 9b for detecting the temperature of the hot water heated by the heat pump unit 4 is arranged. For example, when the detected temperature of the return temperature sensor 9b immediately after the start of the heat pump unit 4 is lower than a predetermined hot water storage set temperature, the switching valve 10 is switched from the hot water storage tank 2 side to the return branch passage 9a side, and the hot water can be circulated without returning it to the hot water storage tank 2 until it can be sufficiently heated.

[0021] A water supply passage 11 for supplying incoming water indicated by the arrow CW is connected to the bottom of the hot water storage tank 2. At the top of the hot water storage tank 2, a hot water outlet passage 12 for discharging the hot water from the hot water storage tank 2 to the hot water storage unit 3 is connected. A mixing valve 14 is arranged in the middle of the hot water outlet passage 12, and a water supply branch passage 11a branched from the middle of the water supply passage 11 is connected to the mixing valve 14. Then, the hot water from the hot water storage tank 2 and the incoming water from the water supply branch passage 11a are mixed by the mixing valve 14 and supplied to the hot water outlet passage 12.

[0022] In the hot water storage tank 2, a plurality of hot water storage temperature sensors 2a to 2d are arranged at predetermined intervals in the height direction, and the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 2 and the storage amount of the hot water at that temperature can be detected. And in order to prevent the stored hot water from cooling down, a heat insulating material (not shown) is arranged to cover these hot water storage temperature sensors 2a to 2d and the hot water storage tank 2.

[0023] A feed water temperature sensor 11b for detecting the temperature of the city water (feed water temperature) flowing through the feed water passage 11 is disposed in the feed water passage 11. In the hot water outlet passage 12, a hot water flow rate sensor 12a for detecting the hot water flow rate from the hot water storage unit 3, a hot water storage tank hot water outlet temperature sensor 12b for detecting the temperature of the hot water and cold water discharged from the hot water storage tank 2 and supplied to the mixing valve 14, and a hot water outlet temperature sensor 12c for detecting the hot water outlet temperature from the hot water storage unit 3 are disposed. The hot water outlet passage 12 is connected to the water inlet 5a of the auxiliary heat source machine 5 via the hot water and cold water passage 15, and the hot water outlet 5b of the auxiliary heat source machine 5 is connected to the hot water faucet 6 via the hot water and cold water passage 16.

[0024] The hot water storage unit 3 has a hot water storage unit control unit 18 (control unit) that controls, for example, the hot water storage operation and controls the temperature adjustment of the hot water discharged from the hot water storage unit 3. The hot water storage unit control unit 18 drives the heat pump unit 4 and the hot water storage pump 7 to perform a hot water storage operation of storing the hot water heated by the heat pump unit 4 from the upper part of the hot water storage tank 2. Further, when the hot water flow rate sensor 12a detects a flow rate equal to or higher than a predetermined flow rate, the mixing ratio of the mixing valve 14 is adjusted based on the detected temperatures of the feed water temperature sensor 11b and the hot water storage tank hot water outlet temperature sensor 12b so that the detected temperature of the hot water outlet temperature sensor 12c becomes a predetermined hot water outlet temperature, and hot water is discharged.

[0025] An operation terminal 19 for a hot water supply user to set, for example, a hot water supply set temperature is connected to the hot water storage unit control unit 18 and the auxiliary heat source machine 5. A plurality of operation terminals 19 may be connected. The operation terminal 19 corresponding to the hot water storage unit 3 may be connected to the hot water storage unit control unit 18, and the operation terminal corresponding to the auxiliary heat source machine 5 may be connected to the auxiliary heat source machine 5.

[0026] Next, the heat pump unit 4 of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the exterior case 25 of the heat pump unit 4 is formed into a rearwardly open box by a top plate 26, a front side plate 27, a right side plate 28, a left side plate 29, and a bottom plate (not shown) made of a thin metal plate member. In the figure, the arrow F indicates the front of the heat pump unit 4, the arrow R indicates the right side of the heat pump unit 4, and the arrow U indicates the upper side of the heat pump unit 4.

[0027] On the front side plate 27, a front opening 27a is formed, and a net-like guard member 31 is provided on the front thereof. On the inner surface side of the front side plate 27, a bellmouth (not shown) for guiding the outside air flow is provided. On the right side plate 28, a cover member 32 having a shape in which the lower portion bulges outward is attached.

[0028] Inside the exterior case 25, an evaporation heat exchanger 38 for absorbing heat from the outside air, a blower (not shown) provided opposite to the evaporation heat exchanger 38, a compressor (not shown) for compressing the refrigerant, a condensation heat exchanger (not shown) capable of heating hot water, a control device (not shown) for driving and controlling the blower, compressor, etc., valves such as an expansion valve (not shown), pipes connected to the valves, etc. are provided.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the evaporation heat exchanger 38 is a fin-and-tube type heat exchanger composed of a plurality of vertically long heat radiation fins 38a and a plurality of heat exchange tubes 38b passing through the heat radiation fins 38a. The evaporation heat exchanger 38 is bent in a substantially L shape in plan view along the left side plate 29 and the back surface of the exterior case 25 and is arranged so as to surround the blower. The back side of the exterior case 25 facing the long side of the L shape of the evaporation heat exchanger 38 is open, and an outside air suction port (not shown) for sucking outside air from the upstream side of the flow direction of the outside air flow is opened in the left side plate 29 facing the short side of the L shape.

[0030] During the heating operation, due to the driving of the blower, outside air is taken into the exterior case 25 as an outside air flow from the back side of the evaporation heat exchanger 38 and the air intake port (not shown) of the left side plate 29. This outside air is cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant in the evaporation heat exchanger 38 and is discharged to the outside from the front opening 27a.

[0031] At the right end of the heat exchange tube 38b, an end plate 46 of a vertically long plate member made of metal that supports the end of the heat exchange tube 38b is provided. Note that an end plate is also provided at the left end of the heat exchange tube 38b. The end plate 46 is formed with tube insertion holes 46a (see FIG. 5) into which the ends of a plurality of heat exchange tubes 38b can be inserted at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. On the back side of the evaporation heat exchanger 38, an outside air temperature thermistor 47 for detecting the outside air temperature on the upstream side in the flow direction of the outside air flow is provided. The lead wire 47a of the outside air temperature thermistor 47 is connected to a control device inside the exterior case 25.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, holding portions 48 and 49 for holding the outside air temperature thermistor 47 are integrally formed on the end plate 46 provided at the right end of the heat exchange tube 38b. The end plate 46 is fixed to the right end portion of the evaporation heat exchanger 38 by a fixture 50.

[0033] The holding portions 48 and 49 include a first holding portion 48 for holding the outside air temperature thermistor 47 and a second holding portion 49 for holding the lead wire 47a of the outside air temperature thermistor 47. The first holding portion 48 has a projecting portion 48a in the shape of a pedestal in side view that projects rearward from one end edge portion in the width direction between the tube insertion holes 46a adjacent to the upper and lower sides of the upper end portion of the end plate 46, and a notch portion 48b formed in the projecting portion 48a and notched in a U shape. The second holding portion 49 has a projecting portion 49a in the shape of a pedestal in front view that projects rightward from the other end edge portion in the width direction facing the first holding portion 48, and a notch portion 49b formed in the projecting portion 49a and notched in a U shape.

[0034] When holding the outside air temperature thermistor 47 and the lead wire 47a in the first and second holding portions 48 and 49, the middle portion of the lead wire 47a connected to the control device is brought into contact with and held against the bottom of the notch portion 49b of the second holding portion 49, and further, the outside air temperature thermistor 47 bent substantially at a right angle from the end plate 46 to the back side of the evaporation heat exchanger 38 is brought into contact with and held against the bottom of the notch portion 48b of the first holding portion 48.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a cover member 51 having a cross-section L shape formed of a part of the right side plate 28 of the exterior case 25 is provided. One side portion of the cover member 51 is formed so as to wrap around a part of the back side of the evaporative heat exchanger 38 so as to cover a part of the end plate 46 and a part of the back side of the evaporative heat exchanger 28, and is fixed to a part of the back side of the evaporative heat exchanger 38.

[0036] At one end of the cover member 51, a housing portion 52 having a pedestal shape protruding rearward in a side view is integrally formed. The housing portion 52 is provided at a height position facing the first holding portion 48 when the cover member 51 covers the end plate 46. Further, the housing portion 52 is set to a size such that the front and left sides are open and the outer peripheral edge portion of the first holding portion 48 abuts against the inner peripheral wall portion of the housing portion 52 so that the first holding portion 48 and the outside air temperature thermistor 47 can be housed.

[0037] A waterproof seal material 53 is provided on the inner surface of the end of the cover member 51 on the side of the housing portion 52. The waterproof seal material 53 is made of a porous material, for example, porous PTFE, and has a function of preventing liquid such as raindrops from entering between the end plate 46 and the end of the cover member 51 including the housing portion 52.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the cover member 51 is fixed to the evaporative heat exchanger 38 with a fixture 54 and covers the end plate 46, in the housing portion 52, the first holding portion 48 is housed in a state where its outer peripheral edge portion abuts along the inner wall of the housing portion 52, and the outside air temperature thermistor 47 held by the first holding portion 48 is housed in a state of being held at a position facing the back side of the evaporative heat exchanger 38 with a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction without contacting the inner wall of the housing portion 52. Then, the outside air temperature thermistor 47 detects the outside air temperature on the upstream side in the flow direction of the outside air flow taken into the exterior case 25 from the back side of the evaporative heat exchanger 38.

[0039] The operation and effect of the heat pump unit 4 described above will be described. In the heat pump unit 4 of the hot water storage and supply device 1 having a compressor, an evaporative heat exchanger 38 having a plurality of fins 38a and heat exchange tubes 38b, a blower provided opposite to the evaporative heat exchanger 38, and an exterior cover 25 that houses these components, holding portions 48 and 49 for holding an outside air temperature thermistor 47 are provided on an end plate 46 that supports the tube 38b provided at the right end of the evaporative heat exchanger 38. Since the end plate 46 can have both the function of supporting the heat exchange tube 38b and the function of holding the outside air temperature thermistor 47, the number of components can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be lowered. Further, the outside air temperature thermistor 47 can be easily attached to the heat pump unit 4 via the holding portions 48 and 49 formed on the end plate 46.

[0040] A first holding portion 48 and a second holding portion 49 are provided on the end plate 46. The outside air temperature thermistor 47 is held by the first holding portion 48, and the lead wire 47a of the outside air temperature thermistor 47 is held by the second holding portion 49. Therefore, the outside air temperature thermistor 47 and the lead wire 47a can be held in a stable posture, and the outside air temperature thermistor 47 and the lead wire 47a can be prevented from falling off the end plate 46 due to vibration or the like.

[0041] A housing portion 52 that protrudes upstream in the flow direction of the outside air is provided at an end of a cover member 51 that is a part of the exterior case 25 fixed to the evaporative heat exchanger 38. Since the outside air temperature thermistor 47 held by the first holding portion 48 can detect the outside air temperature in the housing portion 52, the outside air temperature can be accurately detected in a stable posture, and foreign matter can be prevented from adhering to the outside air temperature thermistor 47 by the housing portion 52. Further, since the outside air temperature thermistor 47 can be housed while being held by the first holding portion 48, the outside air temperature thermistor 47 can be easily housed in the housing portion 52. Also, since the cover member 51, which is a part of the exterior case 25, has both a cover function and a housing function for housing the outside air temperature thermistor 47, the number of components can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be lowered.

[0042] Since the waterproof sealing material 53 is provided at the end of the cover member 51, it is possible to prevent liquid such as raindrops from entering between the end plate 46 and the end of the cover member 51.

[0043] 1) The shape and structure of the holding portions 48 and 49 and the accommodating portion 52 are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and may be a holding portion having a shape and structure capable of holding the outside air temperature thermistor 47, and an accommodating portion having a shape and structure capable of accommodating the holding portion and the outside air temperature thermistor 47. 2) The present invention is applicable to a hot water supply device (for example, a heating hot water supply device) provided with a heat pump unit 4 in addition to the above-described hot water storage and supply device 1. 3) In addition, those skilled in the art can implement the present invention in a form in which various changes are added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes such modified forms.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 1 Hot water storage and supply device 4 Heat pump unit 25 Exterior case 38 Evaporative heat exchanger 38a Fin 38b Tube 46 End plate 47 Outside air temperature thermistor 48 First holding portion 49 Second holding portion 51 Cover member 52 Accommodating portion 53 Waterproof sealing material

Claims

1. In a heat pump unit of a water heater having a compressor, a heat exchanger having fins and tubes, a blower provided opposite to the heat exchanger, and an exterior case that houses these components, an outside air temperature thermistor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided on the upstream side in the flow direction of the outside air flow of the heat exchanger, an end plate for supporting the tubes is provided at an end of the heat exchanger, A heat pump unit, characterized in that a holding portion for holding the outside air temperature thermistor is provided on the end plate.

2. A first holding portion and a second holding portion are provided on the end plate, The heat pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the outside air temperature thermistor is held by the first holding portion, and the lead wire of the outside air temperature thermistor is held by the second holding portion.

3. A housing portion protruding upstream in the flow direction of the outside air flow is provided at an end of a cover member that is a part of the exterior case fixed to the heat exchanger, The heat pump unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first holding portion and the outside air temperature thermistor are housed in the housing portion.

4. The heat pump unit according to claim 3, characterized in that a waterproof sealing material is provided at an end of the cover member.

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