Heat source device

The integration of an elastic member between the mounting plate and elbow pipe in a heat pump heat source device addresses accumulator vibrations, enhancing vibration damping and noise reduction.

JP2026110308APending Publication Date: 2026-07-02PALOMA CO LTD

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
PALOMA CO LTD
Filing Date
2024-12-20
Publication Date
2026-07-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The accumulator in a heat pump heat source machine vibrates due to its suspension via an elbow pipe, causing noise during compressor operation.

Method used

An elastic member is interposed between the mounting plate and the elbow pipe, with a receiving groove at the upper end and a contact portion at the lower end to secure the accumulator, preventing vibrations.

Benefits of technology

Vibrations associated with the compressor operation are effectively dampened, reducing noise and preventing displacement of the elastic member.

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Abstract

Effectively prevents vibrations associated with the operation of the compressor. [Solution] The heat pump heat source unit 1 includes a partition plate 103 and a heat pump unit 2 arranged on the partition plate 103, which has a compressor 10, a water heat exchanger 11, an expansion valve 12, a heat absorption section 13, and a circulation path 14 for circulating a heat transfer medium between these. The compressor 10 includes a compressor body 115 and an accumulator 116 connected to the compressor body 115. An elbow pipe 117, whose intermediate section 118 is bent and protrudes upward, is connected to the side of the compressor body 115, and the accumulator 116 is connected to the protruding end of the elbow pipe 117. An elastic member 120 is interposed between the partition plate 103 and the elbow pipe 117.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat source device capable of heating hot and cold water with a heat pump.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a heat pump heat source machine that uses a heat pump to heat water to a predetermined temperature and supply hot water to the outside. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an invention of a heat pump device in which an evaporative heat exchanger (heat absorption section) equipped with a fan, a compressor, a condensation heat exchanger for heating hot and cold water, an expansion valve, and a circulation path through which a heat medium circulates are housed in an exterior case. This device is used as a heat source for circulating and heating hot and cold water between a hot water storage tank provided outside and the condensation heat exchanger. Also, in a heat pump, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, an accumulator for storing a heat medium and preventing its backflow and pulsation is known to be connected to the inlet side of the heat medium in the compressor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the accumulator is small, the connecting pipe between the compressor and the accumulator is connected to the side surface of the compressor, and the intermediate portion is bent to form an elbow pipe that protrudes upward. The accumulator may be connected to the elbow pipe at its lower end in a posture extending in the vertical direction. In this case, the upper end of the accumulator is connected to the circulation pipe extending from the header of the evaporative heat exchanger in the heat absorption section. As a result, the accumulator is suspended in mid-air, connected to the elbow pipe and the circulation pipe. Therefore, when the compressor operates, the accumulator vibrates through the elbow pipe, causing noise.

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a heat source device that can effectively prevent vibrations associated with the operation of a compressor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, this disclosure provides an installation plate and The heat source device includes a heat pump, which is arranged on the aforementioned mounting plate and has a compressor, a water heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a heat absorption section, and a circulation path for circulating a heat transfer medium between these components. The compressor includes a compressor body and an accumulator connected to the compressor body. An elbow pipe, which is bent in the middle and protrudes upward, is connected to the side of the compressor body, and the accumulator is connected to the protruding end of the elbow pipe. Furthermore, an elastic member is interposed between the mounting plate and the elbow pipe. Another aspect of this disclosure is the above configuration, wherein the mounting plate is provided with an upward-facing upright portion, The elastic member is characterized by having an upper contact portion at its upper end, which abuts against the intermediate portion of the elbow pipe, and a lower contact portion at its lower end, which abuts against the upright portion. Another aspect of the present disclosure is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the upper contact portion is a receiving groove into which the intermediate portion is inserted and contacts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, by interposing an elastic member between the mounting plate and the elbow pipe, vibrations associated with the operation of the compressor can be effectively prevented. According to another aspect of this disclosure, in addition to the above effects, by providing the elastic member with an upper contact portion and a lower contact portion, the elastic member can be reliably interposed between the elbow pipe and the mounting plate. In particular, the lower contact portion contacts the upright portion, which prevents the elastic member from shifting position due to vibration. According to another aspect of this disclosure, in addition to the above effects, the upper contact portion is a receiving groove into which the intermediate portion of the elbow pipe is inserted and contacted, thereby ensuring a wider contact area between the intermediate portion of the elbow pipe and the elastic member, increasing integration with the elastic member and improving vibration damping effect, as well as more effectively preventing displacement of the elastic member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a hot water supply system consisting of a heat pump heat source unit and a water heater. [Figure 2] This is a front view of a heat pump heat source unit (the front panel is omitted). [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the upper frame, with all components except the heat pump unit omitted, as seen from the right side. [Figure 4] This is a right-side view of the upper frame, with all components except the heat pump unit omitted. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area along line AA in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6A is a perspective view of the elastic member from the left, and Figure 6B is a perspective view from the right. [Figure 7] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area indicated by line BB in Figure 4. [Figure 8] Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the CC line. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hot water supply system S consisting of a heat pump heat source unit (hereinafter simply referred to as "heat source unit") 1, which is an example of a heat source device of this disclosure, and a water heater 70 connected to the heat source unit 1. The heat source unit 1 comprises a heat pump unit 2, a tank unit 3, a tank drain pipe 4, a heat source side water supply pipe 5, a heat source side hot water outlet pipe 6, and a heat source unit controller 7. The heat pump unit 2 comprises a compressor 10, a water heat exchanger 11, an expansion valve 12, a heat absorption section 13, and a loop-shaped circulation path 14 connecting these in series. A heat transfer medium (e.g., a refrigerant alternative) can circulate through the circulation path 14. The heat pump unit 2 is an example of a heat pump according to this disclosure. The compressor 10 compresses the heat transfer medium absorbed in the heat absorption section 13, making it high temperature and high pressure, and sends it to the water heat exchanger 11. The water heat exchanger 11 is equipped with a heat-side pipe 15 and a water-side pipe 16. The heat-side pipe 15 is incorporated into the circulation path 14. The water-side pipe 16 is incorporated into the tank circulation path 28, which will be described later. The expansion valve 12 depressurizes the heat transfer medium from which heat has been removed in the water heat exchanger 11, making it low temperature and low pressure, and sends it to the heat absorption section 13. The heat absorption section 13 has a fan 17 and an evaporative heat exchanger 18, and performs heat exchange between the outside air drawn in by the fan 17 and the heat transfer medium.

[0010] The tank unit 3 comprises a tank body 20, a supply pipe 21, and a return pipe 22. The tank body 20 is capable of storing a predetermined capacity (for example, 25L) of hot water and is equipped with a tank temperature sensor 23 for detecting the temperature of the hot water. The supply pipe 21 is connected to the bottom of the tank body 20. The supply pipe 21 is connected to the upstream end of the water side piping 16. The supply pipe 21 is equipped with a pump 25, a flow switch 26 for detecting water flow, and a supply temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the hot water. The return pipe 22 is connected to the top of the tank body 20. The return pipe 22 is connected to the downstream end of the water-side piping 16 of the water heat exchanger 11 of the heat pump unit 2. The return pipe 22 is equipped with a return temperature sensor 24 for detecting the temperature of the hot water. The supply pipe 21, return pipe 22, and water-side pipe 16 form a tank circulation path 28 through which the hot and cold water inside the tank body 20 circulates. On the upstream side of the pump 25 in the forward pipe 21, a drain pipe 29 for the forward pipe is connected. At the downstream end of the drain pipe 29 for the forward pipe, a drain plug 30 for the forward pipe is provided.

[0011] The drain pipe 4 for the tank is connected to the lowermost part of the tank body 20. In the drain pipe 4 for the tank, a throttle part 35 for flow rate control and a first solenoid valve 36 for opening and closing the flow path are provided in order from the upstream side. A branch part 4a is provided between the throttle part 35 and the first solenoid valve 36, and a branch pipe 4b is connected to the branch part 4a. At the outlet of the branch pipe 4b, a drain plug 37 is provided. The water supply pipe 5 on the heat source side has its upstream end connected to a water inlet 38 provided in the housing. An external water pipe (not shown) is connected to the water inlet 38. In the water supply pipe 5 on the heat source side, a pressure reducing valve 39 for adjusting the water inlet pressure to the tank body 20, a heat source side flow sensor 40 for detecting the water flow rate, and a heat source side inlet water temperature sensor 41 for detecting the water temperature are provided from the upstream side.

[0012] Downstream of the heat source side inlet water temperature sensor 41, the water supply pipe 5 on the heat source side branches into a first water supply branch pipe 42 and a second water supply branch pipe 43. The first water supply branch pipe 42 is connected to a mixing valve 56 (described later) provided in the heat source side hot water supply pipe 6. In the first water supply branch pipe 42, a check valve 44 and a throttle part 45 for flow rate control are provided. A drain pipe 46 for the water supply pipe is connected between the check valve 44 and the throttle part 45. At the downstream end of the drain pipe 46 for the water supply pipe, a drain plug 47 is provided. The second water supply branch pipe 43 is connected to the lowermost part of the tank body 20. In the second water supply branch pipe 43, a second solenoid valve 48 for opening and closing the flow path and a check valve 49 are provided from the upstream side.

[0013] The heat source side hot water supply pipe 6 includes a first partial pipe 55, a mixing valve 56, and a second partial pipe 57. The first section pipe 55 has its upstream end connected to the top of the tank body 20 and its downstream end connected to the first inlet of the mixing valve 56. A pressure relief pipe 58 is connected to the first section pipe 55. A pressure relief valve 59 is provided in the pressure relief pipe 58. Downstream of the pressure relief pipe 58, the first section pipe 55 is equipped with an upstream temperature sensor 60 for detecting the hot water temperature at the outlet of the first section pipe 55. The mixing valve 56 is electrically operated, with the valve body motor-driven within the flow path of the T-shaped port, allowing for both switching of the flow path and adjustment of the flow path opening. The downstream end of the first water supply branch pipe 42 is connected to the second inlet of the mixing valve 56. The upstream end of the second section pipe 57 is connected to the outlet of the mixing valve 56. The second section pipe 57 is equipped with a downstream temperature sensor 61 for detecting the hot water temperature at the outlet of the second section pipe 57. A hot water outlet 62 is provided at the downstream end of the second section pipe 57.

[0014] The heat source controller 7 includes a CPU and memory connected to the CPU. The heat source controller 7 is electrically connected to the compressor 10, expansion valve 12, fan 17, and temperature sensors (not shown) located in the circulation path 14 of the heat pump unit 2. The heat source controller 7 is electrically connected to the pump 25, the first and second solenoid valves 36 and 48, and the mixing valve 56, and controls the operation of each component, while also receiving detection signals from each sensor and switch. The heat source controller 7 controls the operation of the heat pump unit 2 and the hot water supply operation in the tank body 20, based on the operation commands set by the remote control 74 (described later) and each detection signal, according to a program stored in a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium including memory connected to the CPU. Note that the first solenoid valve 36 of the tank drain pipe 4 is closed during hot water supply operation.

[0015] The water heater 70 includes a gas burner 71, a heat exchanger 72, a water heater controller 73, and a remote control 74. A water supply pipe 75 is connected to the inlet end of the heat transfer tubes of the heat exchanger 72. The upstream end of the water supply pipe 75 is connected to the hot water outlet 62 of the heat source unit 1 via a connecting pipe 76. A hot water outlet pipe 77 is connected to the outlet end of the heat exchanger 72. An external pipe 78 is connected to the downstream end of the hot water outlet pipe 77. A hot water tap 79 is provided on the external pipe 78. A bypass pipe 80 that bypasses the heat exchanger 72 is connected between the water supply pipe 75 and the hot water outlet pipe 77. Upstream of the bypass pipe 80, the water supply pipe 75 is equipped with a flow sensor 81 for detecting water flow, an inlet water temperature sensor 82 for detecting water temperature, and a water flow control valve 83 for controlling the flow rate in the water supply pipe 75. The hot water outlet pipe 77 is equipped with an outlet water temperature sensor 84 for detecting the outlet water temperature. The bypass pipe 80 is equipped with a bypass control valve 85 for controlling the bypass amount. The gas pipe supplying fuel gas to the gas burner 71 is equipped with a main valve, a proportional valve, and a main valve (none of which are shown) from the upstream side.

[0016] The water heater controller 73 consists of a CPU and memory connected to the CPU. The water heater controller 73 is electrically connected to the water volume control valve 83, the bypass control valve 85, the valves of the gas pipe and the igniter for ignition, and a fan (not shown), and controls the operation of each component, and also receives detection signals from each sensor. The water heater controller 73 controls the operation of the water heater 70 according to a program stored in a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium, including memory connected to the CPU, based on the operation commands set by the remote control 74 and each detection signal. The water heater controller 73 is electrically connected to the heat source unit controller 7, enabling them to communicate with each other. The remote control 74 allows the hot water supply system S to be controlled by switches (not shown) to perform both a heat retention operation and a hot water supply operation. The heat retention operation is the operation of the heat pump unit 2 to heat and maintain the temperature of the hot water in the tank body 20. The hot water supply operation is the operation of supplying the hot water in the tank body 20 via the water heater 70.

[0017] In the hot water supply system S configured as described above, when the heat source controller 7 receives an instruction from the remote control 74 to perform a heat retention operation for the heat pump unit 2, it activates the compressor 10 and expansion valve 12 of the heat pump unit 2 and the pump 25 of the tank unit 3. Then, in the heat pump unit 2, the heat transfer medium is compressed by the compressor 10 to become high temperature and high pressure, releases heat in the water heat exchanger 11, becomes low temperature and low pressure in the expansion valve 12, and circulates through the circulation path 14 while absorbing heat in the evaporative heat exchanger 18 of the heat absorption section 13. Meanwhile, in the tank unit 3, the operation of the pump 25 causes the hot water in the tank body 20 to circulate through the tank circulation path 28. That is, the circulation repeats, with the water flowing from the supply pipe 21 through the water-side pipe 16 of the heat exchanger 11 and returning to the tank body 20 via the return pipe 22. As a result, heat exchange occurs in the heat exchanger 11 between the heat transfer medium flowing through the heat-side pipe 15 and the hot water flowing through the water-side pipe 16, heating the hot water in the tank body 20. After the hot water in the tank body 20 is heated to a high temperature (e.g., 75°C), the compressor 10 is controlled ON / OFF based on the temperature detected by the supply temperature sensor 27 to maintain a predetermined temperature (e.g., 65°C).

[0018] Then, when hot water operation is selected on the remote control 74, the heat source unit controller 7 opens the second solenoid valve 48 while keeping the first solenoid valve 36 closed, and switches the mixing valve 56 to a state where the first section pipe 55 and the second section pipe 57 are in communication. When the hot water tap 79 is opened in this state, tap water is supplied from the water inlet 38 to the heat source side water supply pipe 5. This tap water is supplied from the second water supply branch pipe 43 to the lower part of the tank body 20. Then, due to this supply pressure, the hot water in the tank body 20 is pushed out into the first section pipe 55 of the heat source side hot water outlet pipe 6, and flows through the mixing valve 56 to the second section pipe 57. The hot water flowing through the second section pipe 57 then flows through the connecting pipe 76 to the water supply pipe 75 of the water heater 70, and is discharged from the hot water tap 79 after passing through the heat exchanger 72, the hot water outlet pipe 77, and the external piping 78.

[0019] If the hot water temperature detected by the hot water temperature sensor 84 is lower than the set temperature set by the remote control 74, the water heater controller 73 opens the main valve and the main valve to ignite the gas burner 71 and heat the hot water passing through the heat exchanger 72. At the same time, based on the inlet water temperature obtained from the inlet water temperature sensor 82, it adjusts the opening of the water volume control valve 83, the bypass control valve 85, and the proportional valve to perform hot water temperature control to match the hot water temperature to the set temperature. On the other hand, if the hot water temperature is higher than the set temperature, the heat source controller 7 switches the mixing valve 56 to a state where the first section pipe 55, the second section pipe 57, and the first water supply branch pipe 42 are in communication, thereby increasing the amount of water supplied from the first water supply branch pipe 42. When the hot water tap 79 is closed and the flow sensor 81 detects that water has stopped flowing through the water heater 70, the water heater controller 73 closes the main valve and the source valve to stop the combustion of the gas burner 71.

[0020] Next, the specific structure of the heat source unit 1 will be explained. Figure 2 is a front view with the front panel removed, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper frame from the right side, with everything except the heat pump unit omitted, and Figure 4 is a right side view thereof. The housing 100 of the heat source unit 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends vertically. However, the housing 100 is divided into a cubic frame-shaped upper frame 101 and a lower frame 102. The upper frame 101 and the lower frame 102 are stacked vertically and joined together with bolts to form a single unit. A partition plate 103 is provided on the lower surface of the upper frame 101, and a bottom plate 104 and legs 105, 105 are provided on the lower surface of the lower frame 102. Therefore, the interior of the housing 100 is divided into the space within the upper frame 101 and the space within the lower frame 102 by the partition plate 103. The front, back, left, right, and top surfaces of the housing 100 are closed off by panels 106, 106, etc.

[0021] In this configuration, the heat pump unit 2 is housed in the upper frame 101, and the tank unit 3 is housed in the lower frame 102. On the partition plate 103 of the upper frame 101, the heat absorption unit 13 is positioned on the left side, with the fan 17 in front and the evaporative heat exchanger 18 behind. To the right of the heat absorption unit 13 is the heat source controller 7. To the right of the heat source controller 7 is the water heat exchanger 11. Behind the heat source controller 7 are the compressor 10 and the expansion valve 12. The partition plate 103 is an example of an installation plate in this disclosure. In the lower frame 102, the tank body 20 is positioned on the left side. The tank body 20 is fixed to the bottom plate 104 via a support base 107 provided on the bottom surface, and fixed to the partition plate 103 via a fitting (not shown) provided on the top surface. The outer periphery of the tank body 20 is covered with an insulating material (e.g., expanded polystyrene) 108.

[0022] The supply pipe 21 is branched and connected to the tank drain pipe 4, which is connected to the center of the bottom surface of the tank body 20, and its upstream end is shared with the tank drain pipe 4. The supply pipe 21 is drawn out to the right side of the tank body 20, then drawn upward via the pump 25, passes through the partition plate 103 and enters the upper frame 101, and is connected to the lower part of the water heat exchanger 11. The return pipe 22 is connected to the right side of the tank body 20 and drawn upward, passes through the partition plate 103 and enters the upper frame 101, and is connected to the upper part of the water heat exchanger 11. A piping connection section (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the right panel 106 of the lower frame 102. In addition to a water inlet 38 and a hot water outlet 62, the piping connection section is provided with a drain port (not shown) for draining water from a pressure relief pipe 58, drain plugs 30, 37, and 47, and a drain port (not shown) for draining water from a tank drain pipe 4. The piping connection section is covered by a cover 109 attached to the panel. The cover 109 has an opening on its rear side. Each pipe and electrical wiring connected to the piping connection section is routed to the rear through the opening.

[0023] In the heat pump unit 2, an inlet header 110 and an outlet header 111 are connected vertically to the right side of the evaporative heat exchanger 18 of the heat absorption section 13. The inlet header 110 is connected to the inlet side of a plurality of heat absorption tubes through which the heat transfer medium passes. The outlet header 111 is connected to the outlet side of each heat absorption tube. The outlet header 111 is an example of a header in this disclosure. The compressor 10 comprises a compressor body 115 and an accumulator 116 connected to the compressor body 115. The compressor body 115 is circular in plan view and is installed on a partition plate 103. The accumulator 116 is cylindrical and connected to the inlet side of the heat transfer medium in the compressor body 115, and is provided to store the heat transfer medium supplied to the compressor body 115 and prevent backflow and pulsation. The accumulator 116 is connected to the compressor body 115 via an elbow pipe 117. As shown in Figure 5, the elbow pipe 117 extends radially outward from the side of the compressor body 115, and then its intermediate portion 118 bends in a curved shape and protrudes upward. The lower end of the accumulator 116 is connected to the protruding end of the elbow pipe 117 in a position that extends in the vertical direction.

[0024] An elastic member 120 is provided between the elbow pipe 117 and the partition plate 103. As shown in Figure 6, the elastic member 120 is a rubber block having a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the vertical direction. A V-shaped receiving groove 121 is formed on the upper part of the elastic member 120, opening from the top surface to the left side in plan view. A base portion 122 is formed on the lower part of the elastic member 120, projecting to the right. The receiving groove 121 is an example of the upper contact portion of this disclosure. The base portion 122 is an example of the lower contact portion of this disclosure. Upright pieces 123, 123... are formed on all four sides of the partition plate 103. The elastic member 120 is positioned with the receiving groove 121 facing left, the receiving groove 121 fitted into the intermediate portion 118 of the elbow pipe 117 from below, and the base portion 122 in contact with the right-side upright piece 123, and then pushed between the elbow pipe 117 and the partition plate 103. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the elastic member 120 then elastically deforms between the partition plate 103 and the elbow pipe 117, pressing the elbow pipe 117 upward from below. At this time, the inner surface of the receiving groove 121 comes into contact with the outer surface of the intermediate portion 118 over a wide area, gripping the intermediate portion 118. The right-side upright piece 123 is an example of the upright portion of this disclosure.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 8, the circulation path 14 includes a first path pipe 125, a second path pipe 126, a third path pipe 127, and a fourth path pipe 128. The first path pipe 125 extends from the upper end of the compressor body 115, bends to the left side of the water heat exchanger 11, and is connected to the upper part of the water heat exchanger 11. The second path pipe 126 extends from the lower part of the water heat exchanger 11 to the left side, then bends upward and is connected to the expansion valve 12. The third path pipe 127 extends upward from the upper end of the expansion valve 12, then bends backward and descends downward on the right side of the evaporative heat exchanger 18, and is connected to the inlet header 110. The fourth path pipe 128 is connected between the outlet 111a, which is provided downward at the lower end of the outlet header 111, and the inlet 116a, which is provided upward at the upper end of the accumulator 116. Exit 111a and entrance 116a are not located on the same straight line, but are opposite each other on different parallel straight lines with a distance between them in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions.

[0026] The fourth pipe section 128 has a first straight section 130, a first curved section 131, a second straight section 132, a second curved section 133, and a third straight section 134. The upper end of the first straight section 130 is connected to the outlet 111a of the outlet header 111 and extends downward. The first curved section 131 is semicircular in shape, with one end connected to the lower end of the first straight section 130 and the other end pointing upward. The lower end of the second straight section 132 is connected to the other end of the first curved section 131 and extends upward. The second curved section 133 is semicircular in shape, with one end connected to the upper end of the second straight section 132 and the other end pointing downward. The third straight pipe section 134 extends downward, with its upper end connected to the other end of the second curved pipe section 133, and its lower end connected to the inlet 116a of the accumulator 116. Thus, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fourth path pipe 128 includes an S-shaped section P consisting of the first curved pipe section 131, the second straight pipe section 132, and the second curved pipe section 133. The fourth path pipe 128 is an example of a path pipe of the present disclosure. The first curved pipe section 131 and the second curved pipe section 133 are examples of two curved pipe sections of the present disclosure. The second straight pipe section 132 is an example of one straight pipe section of the present disclosure. The first straight pipe section 130 and the third straight pipe section 134 are examples of end-side straight pipe sections of the present disclosure.

[0027] In the fourth pipe section 128, the three straight sections 130, 132, and 134 are of different lengths, becoming shorter in the order of the second straight section 132, the first straight section 130, and the third straight section 134. The first curved section 131 and the second curved section 133 have the same semicircular shape with the same curvature. The outlet 111a and the inlet 116a are located far apart from each other and face each other on different parallel lines, making it easier to set a large curvature for both curved sections 131 and 133. Furthermore, in terms of external dimensions, the total length of the three straight pipe sections 130, 132, and 134 is longer than the total length of the centerlines of the two curved pipe sections 131 and 133. In this connected state, the longest second straight pipe section 132, the lower part 132a shown in Figure 4, overlaps with the compressor body 115 when viewed in the horizontal D1 direction shown in Figure 8. Also, the upper part 132b of the second straight pipe section 132 overlaps with the outlet header 111 when viewed in the horizontal D2 direction shown in Figure 8, which is different from the D1 direction. In other words, the second straight pipe section 132 has a vertical length that spans from the compressor body 115 to the outlet header 111. The D1 direction is an example of a predetermined first horizontal direction in this disclosure. The D2 direction is an example of a predetermined second horizontal direction in this disclosure.

[0028] In the upper frame 101, when the heat pump unit 2 is operated and the compressor body 115 is activated, vibrations are generated in the compressor body 115. However, since the elbow pipe 117 connected to the compressor body 115 is elastically supported between it and the partition plate 103 by the elastic member 120, the vibrations of the compressor body 115 are attenuated when they are transmitted from the elbow pipe 117 to the accumulator 116. Therefore, the noise generated due to the vibrations of the elbow pipe 117 and the accumulator 116 can be reduced. At this time, the elastic member 120 is positioned between the elbow pipe 117 and the upright piece 123 because the upper receiving groove 121 abuts against the intermediate portion 118 of the elbow pipe 117 and the lower base portion 122 abuts against the upright piece 123. Therefore, the elastic member 120 is less likely to shift position, and the noise reduction effect can be maintained even during long operating times. In particular, because the receiving groove 121 is V-shaped, it is less likely to come off the intermediate portion 118, improving the positioning effect.

[0029] On the other hand, even if vibrations from the accumulator 116 are transmitted to the fourth path pipe 128, the fourth path pipe 128 includes an S-shaped section P consisting of a first curved section 131, a second straight section 132, and a second curved section 133. As a result, the entire length of the fourth path pipe 128 becomes longer, making it more flexible and reducing its rigidity. Therefore, vibrations transmitted from the accumulator 116 can be absorbed by the fourth path pipe 128, preventing damage to the fourth path pipe 128 due to vibrations. In particular, since the second straight section 132 has a vertical length that spans from the compressor body 115 to the outlet header 111, its rigidity is further reduced, making it effective in absorbing vibrations. Furthermore, since the accumulator 116 is interposed between the compressor body 115 and the fourth path pipe 128, vibrations generated in the compressor body 115 are not directly transmitted to the fourth path pipe 128. Therefore, vibrations to the fourth path pipe 128 are suppressed, making it suitable for preventing damage. Furthermore, because the fourth path pipe 128 includes an S-shaped section P, there is some leeway in the positional relationship between the first straight pipe section 130 and the third straight pipe section 134 at both ends. Therefore, even if there are some dimensional errors when connecting the outlet header 111 and the accumulator 116, these can be absorbed, and assembly can be carried out without any problems. In addition, as shown in Figure 8, the outlet header 111, the fourth path pipe 128, and the accumulator 116 are located on a plane defined by the D2 direction and the vertical direction perpendicular to the D2 direction. As a result, the vibrations generated are dispersed, and the load is less likely to concentrate and be transmitted to a part of the fourth path pipe 128.

[0030] The heat source unit 1 in the above configuration includes a partition plate 103 and a heat pump unit 2 arranged on the partition plate 103, which has a compressor 10, a water heat exchanger 11, an expansion valve 12, a heat absorption section 13, and a circulation path 14 for circulating a heat transfer medium between these components. The compressor 10 includes a compressor body 115 and an accumulator 116 connected to the compressor body 115. An elbow pipe 117, whose middle section 118 is bent and protrudes upward, is connected to the side of the compressor body 115, and the accumulator 116 is connected to the protruding end of the elbow pipe 117. Furthermore, an elastic member 120 is interposed between the partition plate 103 and the elbow pipe 117. With this configuration, even if the accumulator 116 is suspended in mid-air by being connected to the elbow pipe 117 and the fourth path pipe 128, the elastic member 120 can effectively prevent vibrations associated with the operation of the compressor body 115.

[0031] The partition plate 103 is provided with an upward-facing upright piece 123, and the elastic member 120 has a receiving groove 121 at the top that the intermediate portion 118 of the elbow pipe 117 abuts against, and a base portion 122 at the bottom that abuts against the upright piece 123. Therefore, the elastic member 120 can be reliably interposed between the elbow pipe 117 and the partition plate 103. In particular, the base portion 122 abuts against the upright piece 123, which prevents the elastic member 120 from shifting position due to vibration. The upper contact portion is a receiving groove 121 into which the intermediate portion 118 is inserted and makes contact. Therefore, a larger contact area can be secured between the intermediate portion 118 of the elbow pipe 117 and the elastic member 120, increasing integration with the elastic member 120 and improving vibration damping effect, while also more effectively preventing displacement of the elastic member 120.

[0032] The following describes examples of modifications to this disclosure relating to elastic members. The receiving groove of the elastic member is not limited to a V-shape in plan view. The receiving groove may have other shapes, such as a U-shape in plan view. The upper contact portion is not limited to a receiving groove; it may also consist of multiple protrusions projecting from the upper surface of the elastic member to hold the elbow pipe. Alternatively, the receiving groove and protrusions may be eliminated, and the flat upper surface of the elastic member may be used directly as the upper contact portion, contacting the elbow pipe and allowing it to undergo elastic deformation. The lower contact portion is not limited to the base portion of the above form. The lower contact portion may be formed by a plurality of protrusions that contact the upright piece. Even if it does not protrude toward the upright piece, if the lower part of the elastic member can contact the upright piece when positioned beneath the elbow pipe, that lower part will serve as the lower contact portion. However, if the elastic member can be positioned beneath the elbow pipe, it does not need to contact the upright piece. The upright portion of the partition plate is not limited to an upright piece that rises from the entire length of the edge of the partition plate, as in the above configuration, but may also be an upright piece that rises from a part of the edge. Furthermore, the upright piece may be formed by cutting and bending from the inside of the edge of the partition plate, rather than from the edge itself. If there is no need to contact an elastic member, the upright portion may be omitted. The elbow pipe may also be L-shaped, with no curve in the middle section. The arrangement of the elastic components is not limited to the right side of the housing, but can be changed as appropriate to match the arrangement of the compressor's elbow pipe. The elastic member may be formed not from a single member, but from a combination of multiple elastic bodies. For example, multiple elastic bodies with different spring properties may be combined.

[0033] On the other hand, in the heat source unit 1 of the above configuration, the inlet 116a of the heat transfer medium to the compressor body 115 and the outlet 111a of the heat transfer medium from the outlet header 111 of the evaporative heat exchanger 18 are arranged in opposing directions on different straight lines parallel to each other, and the fourth path pipe 128 connecting the inlet 116a and the outlet 111a in the circulation path 14 includes an S-shaped section P consisting of two first and second curved pipe sections 131 and 133 and one second straight pipe section 132 connecting one end of each curved pipe section 131 and 133. This configuration reduces the rigidity of the fourth pipe 128, allowing it to absorb vibrations generated during the operation of the compressor body 115. In particular, the curvature of the two curved pipe sections 131 and 133 of the S-shaped section P can be set to be large between the outlet 111a and inlet 116a, which are far apart from each other and facing each other, resulting in a shape that easily absorbs vibrations. Therefore, damage to the fourth pipe 128 due to vibrations of the compressor body 115 can be effectively prevented. Furthermore, since errors in mounting dimensions can be absorbed in the S-shaped section P, assembly of the fourth pipe 128 can be easily performed.

[0034] The other ends of the first and second curved pipe sections 131 and 133 are connected to the first straight pipe section 130 and the third straight pipe section 134, respectively, which are shorter than the second straight pipe section 132. The third straight pipe section 134 is connected to the inlet 116a, and the first straight pipe section 130 is connected to the outlet 111a. The total length of the second straight pipe section 132 and the first and third straight pipe sections 130 and 134 is longer than the total length of the two first and second curved pipe sections 131 and 133. Therefore, the entire length of the fourth path pipe 128 can be made more flexible, allowing for more effective vibration absorption. The compressor has a partition plate 103 on which the compressor body 115 and the evaporative heat exchanger 18 are installed, the outlet header 111 is provided above the evaporative heat exchanger 18, and the second straight pipe section 132 extends in the vertical direction, with its lower part overlapping the compressor body 115 in the D1 direction and its upper part overlapping the outlet header 111 in the D2 direction, which is different from the D1 direction. Therefore, the length of the second straight pipe section 132 can be increased, and the rigidity of the S-shaped section P can be further reduced, making it easier to absorb vibrations. The compressor 10 includes a compressor body 115 and an accumulator 116 connected to the compressor body 115, with an inlet 116a provided in the accumulator 116. Therefore, vibrations generated in the compressor body 115 are no longer directly transmitted to the fourth passage pipe 128, which is effective in preventing damage to the fourth passage pipe 128.

[0035] The following describes examples of modifications to this disclosure relating to route pipes including S-shaped sections. The length of each straight pipe section can be changed as appropriate. For example, the third straight pipe section can be made longer than the first straight pipe section, or the first and third straight pipe sections can be made the same length. The length of the second straight pipe section can also be changed. The second straight pipe section may be of a length that does not horizontally overlap with either the compressor body or the outlet header, but only one of them, or it may be of a length that does not horizontally overlap with either. The two curved sections do not have to have the same curvature. The total length of the straight sections may be equal to the total length of the curved sections. In the above configuration, in addition to the S-shaped section, the first curved section and the third curved section are connected to the first straight section and the third straight section, respectively. However, either the first straight section or the third straight section, or both, may be omitted. The routing pipe is not limited to a configuration where the straight section faces vertically. Depending on the positional relationship between the outlet on the header side and the inlet on the compressor side, the straight section may face diagonally or horizontally. In the above embodiment, a compressor in which an accumulator is connected to the compressor body is given as an example, but in this disclosure, a compressor without an accumulator may also be used. In this case, the route pipe will be directly connected to the inlet provided on the compressor body.

[0036] Next, we will explain some examples of changes common to each disclosure. In the above configuration, the solenoid valve is opened by operating the heat source controller to drain the water from the tank. However, the opening of the solenoid valve is not limited to the heat source controller. For example, it may be done by operating a remote control connected to the controller, or a dedicated controller may be provided with a switch to open and close the solenoid valve. Either the heat source controller or the water heater controller can be omitted, and the entire hot water supply system can be controlled by a single controller. The tank capacity is not limited to 25L as described above; it may be increased or decreased as appropriate. The heat exchanger of a water heater may consist of a primary heat exchanger that recovers sensible heat and a secondary heat exchanger that recovers latent heat. Alternatively, a drop-in pipe connected to the bathtub may be branched off from the hot water outlet pipe of the water heater, and a valve installed in the drop-in pipe may be used to fill the bathtub with hot water. In this case, a bath heating unit may be installed alongside the hot water supply unit so that the water in the bathtub can be reheated by the bath heating unit. The external heat source connected to the hot water outlet is not limited to a water heater. This disclosure is not limited to a hot water supply system consisting of a hot water supply device and an external heat source, but may also apply to configurations in which an external heat source is not connected to the hot water outlet.

[0037] Each disclosed heat source device may not house a tank unit within its enclosure. In this case, the water supply pipe and hot water outlet pipe may be connected to an external tank unit, and the hot water may be circulated between the tank unit and the heat source device for heating. Therefore, the enclosure is not limited to being partitioned into an upper frame and a lower frame, but may house only the heat pump. The enclosure is also not limited to being formed from a frame and panels, but may be formed from a frame only or from panels only. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1. Heat pump heat source unit, 2. Heat pump unit, 3. Tank unit, 4. Tank drain pipe, 4a. Branch section, 4b. Branch pipe, 5. Heat source side water supply pipe, 6. Heat source side hot water outlet pipe, 7. Heat source unit controller, 14. Circulation path, 18. Evaporative heat exchanger, 20. Tank body, 25. Pump, 28. Tank circulation path, 36. First solenoid valve, 38. Water inlet, 42. First water supply branch pipe, 43. Second water supply branch pipe, 48. Second solenoid valve, 55. First section pipe, 56. Mixing valve, 57. Second section pipe, 58. Pressure relief pipe, 59. Pressure relief valve, 62. Hot water outlet, 63. Lever, 70. Water heater, 100. Housing, 101 102...Upper frame, 103...Lower frame, 110...Inlet header, 111...Outlet header, 111a...Outlet, 115...Compressor body, 116...Accumulator, 116a...Inlet, 117...Elbow pipe, 118...Intermediate section, 120...Elastic member, 121...Receiving groove, 122...Base section, 12 3... Upright section, 125... First route pipe, 126... Second route pipe, 127... Third route pipe, 128... Fourth route pipe, 130... First straight section, 131... First curved section, 132... Second straight section, 132a... Lower section, 132b... Upper section, 133... Second curved section, 134... Third straight section, P... S-shaped section, S... Hot water supply system.

Claims

1. Installation plate and A heat source device comprising a heat pump arranged on the aforementioned mounting plate and having a compressor, a water heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a heat absorption section, and a circulation path for circulating a heat transfer medium between these, The compressor includes a compressor body and an accumulator connected to the compressor body. An elbow pipe, which is bent in the middle and protrudes upward, is connected to the side of the compressor body, and the accumulator is connected to the protruding end of the elbow pipe. A heat source device in which an elastic member is interposed between the mounting plate and the elbow pipe.

2. The aforementioned mounting plate is provided with an upward-facing upright portion, The heat source device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member has an upper contact portion at its upper end that abuts against the intermediate portion of the elbow pipe, and a lower contact portion at its lower end that abuts against the upright portion.

3. The heat source device according to claim 2, wherein the upper contact portion is a receiving groove into which the intermediate portion is inserted and contacts.