Air conditioner cover, air conditioning unit, and communication shelter
The inner and outer cover system with a separated exhaust flow path addresses the vulnerability of air conditioners to external air, ensuring efficient operation and energy savings by preventing backflow and external air intrusion.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KK TOSHIBA
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing air conditioners installed in communication shelters are vulnerable to external air, particularly strong winds, which can affect their performance and efficiency.
The design includes an inner and outer cover system with a unique exhaust flow path that separates intake and exhaust directions, using inner and outer plates to guide airflow vertically and prevent backflow, thereby protecting the air conditioner from external elements.
This configuration maintains air conditioning performance by preventing external air intrusion and reducing energy consumption, allowing operation in harsh weather conditions without the need for large shielding boxes.
Smart Images
Figure 2026092456000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an air conditioner cover, an air conditioner, and a communication shelter.
Background Art
[0002] In a communication shelter for storing communication equipment, an air conditioner for maintaining the internal temperature is installed. Such a communication shelter is often installed outdoors. When the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is installed on the outer wall of the shelter, it is easily affected by external air such as strong winds. For this reason, the outdoor unit may be housed in a shielding box.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an air conditioner cover, an air conditioner, and a communication shelter that can protect the air conditioner and ensure the air conditioning performance.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] The cover and the air conditioner cover according to the embodiment include an inner cover having an inner wall portion that is disposed opposite to an exhaust portion provided in an air conditioner disposed on a wall portion of a shelter and has an opening for exhaust, and an outer cover that is disposed opposite to the opposite side of the inner wall portion from the air conditioner and has an outer wall portion that forms an exhaust flow path between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion. The exhaust flow path opens in a direction different from the direction in which an intake portion is provided in the air conditioner.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0006] [Figure 1]A cross-sectional view showing a part of a communication shelter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Front view of the communication shelter. [Figure 3] A plan view showing a portion of the communication shelter. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0007] Hereinafter, a communication shelter (shelter), air conditioning unit 20, and cover portion 30 (air conditioner cover) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a side view showing a part of the communication shelter 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a front view of the communication shelter, and Figure 3 is a top view. In each figure, the components are shown schematically, with appropriate enlargements, reductions, or omissions for explanatory purposes.
[0008] The communication shelter 1 according to this embodiment comprises a housing 10 and an air conditioning unit 20.
[0009] The housing 10 is configured in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes walls on which the air conditioner 22 is installed. Here, as an example, the housing 10 will be described with an orientation in which the installation surface on which the air conditioner is installed is the front, the Y direction is the front-to-back direction, the Z direction is the up-and-down direction, and the width direction is the X direction. For example, the housing 10 has three sets of walls 11a to 11f facing each other in three orthogonal directions. For example, the housing 10 has six walls: an upper wall 11a, a lower wall 11b, a front wall 11c, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls 11e and 11f, forming a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing space 12 on which various information and communication equipment is arranged. In addition, parts of some of the walls 11a to 11f of the housing 10 are configured to be openable and closable. The shape of the housing 10 can be appropriately set according to the surrounding members. The air conditioner 22 of the air conditioning system 20 is installed on the outer wall surface of any of the walls 11a to 11f of the housing 10. As an example, the air conditioner 22 is fastened to the upper part of the outer surface of the front wall 11c by fastening members. As an example, in this embodiment, two air conditioners 22 are installed side by side in the width direction on the outer surface of the wall portion of the housing 10.
[0010] The air conditioning unit 20 comprises an air conditioner 22 installed on the outer wall of the housing 10 and a cover 30 (air conditioner cover). The air conditioning unit 20 cools the housing space 12 inside the housing 10.
[0011] The air conditioner 22 is constructed by incorporating various air conditioning equipment, such as fans, within a rectangular parallelepiped housing 221. The air conditioner 22 has an intake port 222 (intake section) on a pair of sides, which are on both sides in the width direction, and an exhaust port 223 (exhaust section) on the front side, which is on one side in the first direction. In other words, the air conditioner 22 is mounted on the front wall 11c in a position where the exhaust port 223 faces forward, which is one side of the housing 10.
[0012] The cover portion 30 comprises a bottom plate 31, an inner plate 32 (inner wall portion), an outer plate 33 (outer wall portion), a pair of side plates 34 (side wall portions), an intermediate plate 35, and a guide plate 36 (guide member). In the cover portion 30, the inner cover 41 is formed by the bottom plate 31, the inner plate 32, the rear region which is the other side of the side plate 34, the intermediate plate 35, and the guide plate 36. The outer cover 42 is formed by the outer plate 33 and the front region which is one side of the pair of side plates 34. The cover portion 30 covers the air conditioner 22 which is installed on the outer wall portion of the housing 10.
[0013] In the cover portion 30, an exhaust passage A1 is formed by the inner plate 32, the outer plate 33, and a pair of side plates 34, on one side of the inner plate 32, i.e., outward, opening vertically and guiding air along the vertical direction. The exhaust passage A1 opens vertically, in a direction different from the direction in which the intake port 222 of the air conditioner 22 is provided. Furthermore, the exhaust passage A1 is separated from the space outside the side plates 34 by the side plates 34, and therefore the exhaust passage A1 and the intake area A2 to the side of the intake port 222 of the air conditioner 22 are separated by the side plates 34.
[0014] The base plate 31 is a rectangular plate-like member that extends in a first direction (front-to-back direction) and a second direction (width direction) at a predetermined height on the front wall 11c, which is the installation surface. The base plate 31 is positioned opposite to the underside of a pair of air conditioners 22. The base plate 31 is positioned opposite to the underside of the air conditioners 22, with both sides connected to a pair of side plates 34 and one side connected to an inner plate 32.
[0015] The inner plate 32 is positioned opposite one side of the exhaust section of the air conditioner 22. The inner plate 32 has exhaust openings 32a, which are openings for exhaust, and allows the air discharged from the exhaust port 223 on the front of the air conditioner 22 to pass through the front exhaust passage A1. For example, the inner plate 32 is made of sheet metal and has a number of circular or rectangular holes formed as exhaust openings 32a.
[0016] The outer panel 33 is a rectangular plate-like member that extends in the vertical and horizontal directions. The outer panel 33 is positioned opposite the inner panel 32 on one side, on the side opposite the air conditioner 22, with a gap between them, and forms an exhaust passage A1 between them. The outer panel 33 is positioned at an inclination relative to the inner panel 32, with its lower side close to the inner panel 32. Therefore, the width of the opening between the outer panel 33 and the inner panel 32 in the front-rear direction is configured such that the upper part is wider than the lower part. The outer panel 33 has the same width dimension as the inner panel 32 and is positioned overlapping the inner panel 32 when viewed from the front. The upper end of the outer panel 33 is at the same height as the upper ends of the inner panel 32 and the side panel 34, and the lower end is below the lower end of the inner panel 32 and the bottom panel 31.
[0017] The side plates 34 are positioned opposite the intake side of the air conditioner and are erected upright. The side plates 34 extend forward from, for example, the front wall 11c of the shelter, which is the installation wall, passing through both side edges of the inner plate 32 and reaching both side edges of the outer plate 33. A pair of side plates 34 are joined to both side edges of the inner plate 32 and the outer plate 33, respectively. The side plates 34 have an intake opening 34a, which is an opening for intake air. The side plates 34 are rectangular plate-shaped members that extend in the vertical and front-rear directions. Multiple roof members 37 are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the intake opening 34a. Each roof member 37 is positioned with its longitudinal direction aligned with the front-rear direction and inclined in the width direction. That is, the roof members 37 are positioned inclined downwards and outward, so that they open downwards and are installed to allow ventilation. The multiple roof members 37, when viewed from the side, cover the intake opening 34a, thereby providing a waterproof and dustproof function. For example, the intake opening 34a and the roof member 37 are provided only in the first region R1 of the rear part of the side plate 34, which constitutes the inner cover 41. The intake opening 34a is not present in the second region R2 of the side plate 34, which is in front of the inner plate 32 and forms the outer cover 42. Therefore, the side of the exhaust passage A1 is blocked by the second region R2 of the side plate 34. The lower end of the side plate 34 is located below the lower end of the inner plate 32 and the bottom plate 31.
[0018] The side plate 34 acts as a partition wall separating the exhaust passage A1 between the outer plate 33 and the inner plate 32 from the intake area A2 on the intake side of the air conditioner 22.
[0019] The intermediate plate 35 is constructed to have the same shape as the side plate 34 and is a plate-shaped member erected between the pair of air conditioners 22. The intermediate plate 35 extends forward from, for example, the front wall 11c of the shelter, which is the installation wall, and is provided up to the outer plate 33.
[0020] Furthermore, the bottom plate 31, inner plate 32, outer plate 33, pair of side plates 34, and intermediate plate 35 may be connected as a single unit regardless of the joint location, or they may be joined to each other at abutment points. In addition, they may be divided into multiple parts at the points where they intersect with other plate members.
[0021] The guide plate 36 is a plate-like member that extends downward from the lower edge of the inner plate 32. The guide plate 36 serves as a deflector plate that controls the flow of outside air at the lower part of the air conditioner 22. The upper edge of the guide plate 36 is provided at the lower edge of the inner plate 32 and the front edge of the bottom plate 31. The guide plate 36 is formed by bending a sheet metal material and has a guide surface 36a for guiding outside air. For example, the guide surface 36a curves and extends rearward and downward from below the inner plate 32, and with, for example, the same height as the lower edge of the outer plate 33 as the top, further curves forward and downward. For example, the curvature of the upper side of the top of the guide surface 36a is larger than that of the lower side. A part of the guide surface 36a may be configured to be flat, for example, it is formed flat at the lower edge part.
[0022] In the present embodiment, a lower cover 41 that covers the lower, front, and both sides of the two air conditioners 22 is formed by the bottom plate 31, the inner plate 32, the rear part of the side plate 34, and the intermediate plate 35 of the cover part 30. The lower cover 41 closes the lower part of the air conditioner 22 with the bottom plate 31 and covers the front and both sides of the air conditioner 22 so as to allow ventilation by the inner plate 32 and the side plate 34.
[0023] Also, in the cover part 30, an outer cover 42 that is connected to the outside of the inner cover 41 is formed by the outer plate 33 and the region in front of the side plate 34. The region formed between the outer cover 42 and the inner cover 41, that is, the part surrounded by the inner plate 32, the outer plate 33, and the pair of side plates 34, is open at the top and bottom, and forms an exhaust flow path A1 through which outside air flows upward from below. The exhaust flow path A1 is open at the top and bottom and both sides are covered by a pair of side walls. That is, the cover part 30 forms an up-and-down exhaust flow path A1 in front of the air conditioner 22, which is the exhaust side. That is, the side where the intake part of the air conditioner 22 is formed and the direction of the exhaust flow path are set in different directions. Also, in the cover part 30, the side plate 34 partitions between the intake area A2 on the side of the air conditioner 22 and the exhaust flow path A1. That is, in the present embodiment, the side plate 34 partitions the intake area A2, which is the space on the side of the air conditioner 22.
[0024] With the cover section 30, air conditioning unit 20, and communication shelter 1 configured as described above, it is possible to provide a cover section, air conditioning unit, and communication shelter that protect the air conditioner 22 from the outside while ensuring air conditioning performance. In other words, by covering the air conditioner 22 installed outdoors with an inner cover 41 and an outer cover 42, the intrusion of outside air can be prevented and the influence of outside air can be suppressed. For example, the load on the fan of the air conditioner 22 during strong winds such as typhoons can be suppressed, damage can be prevented and operation can be performed even in environments with strong winds. Furthermore, when covered with a shielding box, outside air flows back in from the exhaust port, exhaust heat accumulates inside and flows into the intake side, which worsens the energy consumption efficiency of the air conditioner. However, according to the above embodiment, the exhaust flow path opens upwards, and the flow path is set in a direction different from the direction in which the intake section is located. Furthermore, in the cover section 30, the exhaust passage A1 is blocked on the sides by the side plate 34, thus separating the exhaust passage A1 from the intake area A2 where the intake section is located. As a result, the intake and exhaust can be separated, preventing exhaust from flowing into the intake side and thus preventing a decrease in energy consumption efficiency. Consequently, there is no need to install a large shielding box to reduce the effects of exhaust heat, and the effects of exhaust heat can be reduced with a compact design.
[0025] Furthermore, the cover section 30 can improve cooling performance by providing a slope to the outer cover 42 and widening the opening on the upper side to promote airflow. For example, the exhaust passage A1 is configured such that, in the vertical direction, it is widest at the lower end of the outer panel 33, narrows at the lower end of the inner panel 32 above it, and widens again at the upper end of the outer panel 33 further up. This makes it easier to guide air into the exhaust passage. Also, widening the opening at the upper end promotes upward airflow. In addition, the outer panel 33 has a sloped surface where the upper part is more forward than the lower part, allowing the air exhausted from the air conditioner 22 and hitting the outer panel 33 to be guided upward. Furthermore, by providing a guide plate 36 that acts as a deflection plate at the bottom of the air conditioner 22, exhaust can be efficiently performed by utilizing the air blown upward from below.
[0026] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the shape of each component in the cover portion 30 is not limited to the above. For example, the side plate 34 of the inner cover 41 and the outer cover 42 is shown as being composed of a single side plate 34, but it is not limited to this. For example, it may be composed of two or more plate-like members.
[0027] Furthermore, although the above embodiment shows an example in which two air conditioners 22 are arranged in parallel in the width direction, it is not limited to this, and there may be one, or the accommodation space 12 for multiple air conditioners 22 may not be separated by the intermediate plate 35. Also, both sides of the guide plate 36 may be closed, and for example, there may be guide side plates extending from both side edges of the guide surface 36a to the front wall 11c of the shelter.
[0028] According to at least one embodiment described above, it is possible to protect the air conditioner while ensuring its air conditioning performance.
[0029] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0030] 1...Communication shelter, 10...Enclosure, 11a~11f...Walls, 11a...Top wall, 11b...Bottom wall, 11c...Front wall, 11e...Side wall, 11f...Side wall, 12...Accommodation space, 20...Air conditioning unit, 22...Air conditioner, 30...Cover section, 31...Bottom plate, 32...Inner plate, 32a...Exhaust opening, 33...Outer plate, 34...Side plate, 34a...Intake opening, 35...Intermediate plate, 36...Guide plate, 36a...Guide surface, 37...Roof member, 41...Inner cover, 42...Outer cover, 221...Housing, 222...Intake port, 223...Exhaust port, A1...Exhaust passage, A2...Intake area.
Claims
1. An inner cover having an inner wall portion that is positioned opposite the exhaust portion of an air conditioner located in the wall of the shelter and has an opening for exhaust, The outer cover comprises an outer wall portion that is positioned opposite the inner wall portion to the air conditioner and has an outer wall portion that forms an exhaust passage between itself and the inner wall portion, The exhaust passage is an air conditioner cover that opens in a direction different from the direction in which the intake section of the air conditioner is provided.
2. The air conditioner cover according to claim 1, wherein the outer cover covers one side of the exhaust passage in a first direction and both sides in a second direction different from the first direction, and has openings at the top and bottom.
3. The air conditioner cover according to claim 1, wherein the inner cover comprises a side wall portion that is positioned opposite to the side where the intake portion of the air conditioner is provided and has an opening for intake.
4. The air conditioner cover according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member extending downward from the exhaust passage.
5. The air conditioner cover according to claim 4, wherein the outer wall portion is inclined with respect to the inner wall portion, and the lower portion is positioned closer to the inner wall portion than the upper portion.
6. The air conditioner cover according to claim 2, wherein the inner cover comprises a bottom plate positioned opposite to the air conditioner below it.
7. An air conditioner cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, An air conditioning system comprising: an air conditioner mounted on the wall of the shelter, having an exhaust port on one side in a first direction and an intake port on a side opposite to the first direction.
8. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, It has an internal enclosure for housing communication equipment and a wall section for installing the air conditioner. Shelter.