Heat pump unit installation structure

Abstract

To provide a heat pump unit installation structure allows a heat pump union to be easily moved together with a door of a meter box.SOLUTION: A heat pump unit installation structure is for installing a heat pump unit (12) of a hot water storing and supplying device (10) in a meter box (MB) in which a water pipe and a gas pipe are routed. The meter box (MB) is equipped with a door (3). The heat pump unit (12) is installed and fixed to a movable pedestal (17) having a connection part (19) to be connected to the door (3) of the meter box (MB). The pedestal (17) can move together with the door (3) by opening the door (3) of the meter box (MB) connected via the connection part (19).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation structure for a hot water storage unit heater having a heat pump unit, and more particularly to an installation structure for a heat pump unit of a hot water storage unit heater installed in a meter box. [Background technology]

[0002] A storage-type hot water heater has been widely used in the past. The storage-type hot water heater stores hot water heated by a heat pump unit with excellent operating efficiency in a hot water tank and uses the hot water from the storage tank to supply hot water. The storage-type hot water heater is equipped with a combustion-type auxiliary heat source that uses the heat of combustion of fuel gas to heat the hot water so that hot water can be supplied even when the hot water tank does not contain hot water at a temperature that can be used for hot water supply.

[0003] When a hot water storage unit is installed in an apartment building, for example, it is installed in a meter box provided in each unit. The meter box contains, for example, water pipes and gas pipes, and is equipped with a water meter and a gas meter that display the cumulative usage of these pipes. The opening of the meter box is equipped with a metal frame and door, which conceals the inside of the meter box from view, but can be opened as needed.

[0004] The auxiliary heat source unit is fixed to the meter box frame with its exhaust port facing outward to discharge combustion exhaust outside the meter box, but is fixed to the upper half of the frame so that the exhaust is discharged from a high position to prevent people from directly being hit by the combustion exhaust. The heat pump unit heats water using the heat of the air introduced into the meter box, and is installed below the auxiliary heat source unit near a door equipped with a ventilation louver to make it easier to discharge this air outside the meter box. The hot water tank is installed behind the heat pump unit and auxiliary heat source unit (at the back of the meter box).

[0005] When reading the water meter and gas meter inside the meter box, the meter reader opens the door to visually inspect them. However, even when the door is open, it is not easy to visually inspect the water meter, etc., because the auxiliary heat source unit is installed in the upper half of the frame and the heat pump unit is installed below that.

[0006] For this reason, it is conceivable to equip a heavy heat pump unit with casters for moving it so that the heat pump unit can be moved during meter reading so that the water meter and gas meter can be visually checked, as in Patent Document 1. It is also conceivable to integrate the heat pump unit with the door by fixing the components of the heat pump unit to the door of the meter box, as in Patent Document 2, and move the heat pump unit by opening the door during meter reading. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Jikko No. 62-152123 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4413838 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, even if the heat pump unit is equipped with casters for moving it as in Patent Document 1, it is still time-consuming to open the meter box door and move the heat pump unit every time a meter is read, and then return the heat pump unit to its original position and close the door after the meter reading. This places a heavy burden on meter readers, especially in apartment buildings where there are many meter readings.

[0009] Furthermore, when integrating a heat pump unit with the meter box door as in Patent Document 2, a dedicated heat pump unit is required instead of the usual heat pump unit common to outdoor hot water storage units used in detached houses, which increases manufacturing costs. Furthermore, assembling the heat pump unit on-site increases the burden on the installer, and integrating it with the door is not easy.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a heat pump unit installation structure that allows the heat pump unit to be easily moved together with the meter box door. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The heat pump unit installation structure of the invention of claim 1 is a heat pump unit installation structure for installing a heat pump unit of a hot water storage and hot water supply system in a meter box to which water pipes and gas pipes are installed, the meter box is equipped with a door, and the heat pump unit is installed and fixed to a movable stand having a connecting part for connecting to the door, and the stand is The heat pump unit has a base on which the heat pump unit is placed and legs fixed to the base, and the legs are equipped with casters for movement, The door is connected via the connecting portion, and when the door is opened, the door moves together with the door.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the movable stand on which the heat pump unit is installed and fixed is connected to the meter box door via a connector and moves with the door when the door is opened. Therefore, the heat pump unit can be moved with the door during meter reading to make it easier to visually check the water meter and gas meter. After meter reading, the heat pump unit can be easily moved back to its original position together with the door, reducing the burden on the meter reader. In addition, a standard heat pump unit, which is the same as that for outdoor installation, can be installed and fixed on the stand, preventing increases in manufacturing costs and the burden on the installer.

[0013] On top of thatThe base of the stand on which the heat pump unit is placed is supported by legs equipped with casters for easy movement. This prevents the weight of the heat pump unit from impairing the ability to open and close the meter box door, making it easy to move the heat pump unit by opening and closing the door, reducing the burden on meter readers.

[0014] Claim 2 The heat pump unit installation structure of the invention is as follows: 1 In the invention of the present invention, the base portion teeth, The legs are fixed to the door via the connecting portion, and the legs are fixed to the base portion. The opposite side of the door It is characterized by being established in According to the above configuration, the base of the stand on which the heat pump unit is mounted is supported by the door and legs of the meter box. The legs reduce the weight of the heat pump unit on the meter box door, preventing the door from being impaired in opening and closing. Opening and closing the door allows the heat pump unit to be easily moved, reducing the burden on the meter reader. Furthermore, because the door can be prevented from moving when it is closed, there is no need to lock the casters in place after the door is closed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the heat pump unit installation structure of the present invention, the heat pump unit can be easily moved together with the meter box door. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of equipment arrangement in a meter box. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view showing a heat pump unit installation structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedestal connected to a lower door. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a stand fixed to a lower door according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fixing bracket for fixing the base and the lower door. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a heat pump unit installation structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on Examples 1 to 3. [Example]

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in an apartment building, a meter box MB is installed facing, for example, a common corridor, for installing water pipes, gas pipes, etc. extending vertically and meters such as a water meter W and a gas meter G. This meter box MB is equipped with upper doors 1 and 2 and a lower door 3 that can be opened and closed. A hot water storage and heating device 10 may be installed inside this meter box MB. In the figures, arrow U indicates the upward direction, arrow L indicates the left side of the meter box MB, and arrow F indicates the front of the meter box MB. The meter box MB is also sometimes called a pipe shaft or pipe space.

[0019] The upper doors 1 and 2 are installed as double-hinged doors in the upper half of a metal frame 4 that is installed at the opening of the meter box MB, and the lower door 3 is installed as a single-hinged door in the lower half of the frame 4. Gaps are provided above the upper doors 1 and 2 and below the lower door 3 to allow air to flow in and out. The lower door 3 also has a ventilation opening (louver 3a) equipped with multiple louvers.

[0020] The hot water storage tank heater 10 installed in the meter box MB is composed of components common to hot water storage tank heaters for outdoor installation in detached houses, and includes a hot water storage tank 11, a heat pump unit 12, an auxiliary heat source unit 13, and a control unit (not shown). Hot water heated by the hot water storage operation of the heat pump unit 12 is stored in the hot water storage tank 11. The auxiliary heat source unit 13 heats the hot water by combustion operation in which fuel gas is combusted with a burner. The control unit controls the hot water storage operation and combustion operation, and adjusts the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 11 or the hot water heated by the auxiliary heat source unit 13 to, for example, a hot water supply setting temperature and supplies the hot water.

[0021] The auxiliary heat source unit 13 is fixed to the frame 4 of the opening of the meter box MB with the exhaust port 13a facing forward of the meter box MB to make it easier to discharge the combustion exhaust gas during combustion operation outside the meter box MB. At this time, the auxiliary heat source unit 13 is fixed to the upper half of the frame 4 to prevent the combustion exhaust gas from being discharged from a high position and hitting people directly. The upper door 2 is provided with an opening 2a through which the exhaust port 13a of the auxiliary heat source unit 13 passes.

[0022] The heat pump unit 12 has a blower fan 12a and heats hot water by utilizing the heat of the air introduced into the meter box MB. To facilitate the air used to heat the hot water being discharged outside the meter box MB by the blower fan 12a, the heat pump unit 12 is installed below the auxiliary heat source unit 13 and close to the lower door 3 equipped with a louver 3a.

[0023] The auxiliary heat source unit 13 and heat pump unit 12 are installed on the door side (front) of the meter box MB, and the hot water tank 11 is installed behind these at the back side (rear) of the meter box MB in a position that does not obstruct visual observation of the water meter W and gas meter G. The control unit may be housed within the meter box MB or may be installed indoors. Although not shown, the piping, pump, etc. of the hot water storage and hot water supply device 10 are installed in the available space.

[0024] 2 and 3 show a heat pump unit installation structure for installing a heat pump unit 12 of a hot water storage and heating device 10 inside a meter box MB. A lower door 3 of the meter box MB can be opened around a hinge portion that is rotatably supported on a frame 4 of the meter box MB. The heat pump unit 12 is installed and fixed to a movable stand 17 having a base portion 15 and legs 16. The stand 17 is configured to move together with the lower door 3 when the lower door 3 is opened. Although not shown in the figures, a flexible pipe or hose is used for the passage of hot water that circulates between the hot water storage tank 11 and the heat pump unit 12 during hot water storage operation, and this is connected to the heat pump unit 12 on the hinge side.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the base 15 is, for example, a rectangular metal frame, and the heat pump unit 12 is installed and fixed to the base 15 via fixing members 12b. The legs 16 are configured to support the base 15 with four legs 16a to 16d provided at the four corners of the base 15. These four legs 16a to 16d are equipped with casters 18a to 18d for movement on the floor. The casters 18a to 18d for movement are each rotatable around a vertical axis. The base 15 is equipped with a connecting portion 19 for connecting to the lower door 3.

[0026] The base 17, which is connected to the lower door 3 by the connecting portion 19, moves together with the lower door 3 as the lower door 3 is opened by the moving casters 18a to 18d on the legs 16, and moves to the front of the meter box MB. The connecting portion 19 is, for example, a metal hook, and the connecting portion 19 engages with the base portion 15 and the lower door 3, respectively, thereby connecting the base portion 15 to the lower door 3. The connecting portion 19 may be, for example, a chain or a wire, and may also be configured to fix the base portion 15 to the lower door 3 by fastening members such as bolts and nuts, or by welding.

[0027] Because the base 17 supports the heat pump unit 12, the weight load of the heat pump unit 12 is not placed on the hinge portion of the lower door 3, and the ease of opening and closing the lower door 3 is not impaired. When the single-wing lower door 3 is opened outward from the meter box MB as shown in Figure 3, the lower door 3 moves around the hinge portion. At this time, the base 17 connected to the lower door 3 moves together with the lower door 3, so the heat pump unit 12 installed and fixed on the base 17 moves easily together with the lower door 3 when the lower door 3 is opened. As a result, the water meter W and gas meter G at the back of the meter box MB are no longer hidden by the heat pump unit 12, and can be read visually.

[0028] Furthermore, when the lower door 3 is closed, the base 17 on which the heat pump unit 12 is fixed moves together with the lower door 3 toward the inside of the meter box MB and returns to its original position. The closed lower door 3 can be maintained in a closed state by, for example, a door latch 3b, which can restrict the movement of the base 17. [Example]

[0029] 5 and 6, the stand 17 has a rectangular base 15, two legs 16 (legs 16a and 16b), and a connecting portion 29, and the base 15 is fixed to and supported by the lower door 3 via the connecting portion 29, and can also be configured to be supported by the leg 16 provided on the side of the base 15 opposite the lower door 3. The connecting portion 29 is a fixing metal fitting formed by bending, for example, a metal plate, and is fastened and fixed to the bottom of the lower door 3 and the base 15 of the stand 17 by a plurality of fastening members 29a to 29c. The legs 16a and 16b have casters 18a and 18b for movement.

[0030] When heat pump unit 12 is installed and fixed to this stand 17, the weight of heat pump unit 12 placed on lower door 3 is reduced by legs 16, and the ease of opening and closing lower door 3 is not impaired. Furthermore, legs 16 are movable using casters 18a and 18b for movement, so heat pump unit 12 installed and fixed to stand 17 can easily move together with lower door 3 as lower door 3 is opened and closed.

[0031] For example, when the lower door 3 is kept closed by the door latch 3b, movement of the platform 17 is prohibited, so there is no need to prevent the moving casters 18a, 18b from moving by, for example, a stopper after the lower door 3 is closed. Note that the connecting portion 29 may be fixed to the base portion 15 by welding, or the base portion 15 may be directly fixed to the lower door 3 by, for example, welding. [Example]

[0032] For example, as shown in Figure 7, there may be a step in the frame 4 of the meter box MB because it has a lower edge 4a, or there may be a step in the floor surface between the inside and outside of the meter box MB. When such a step exists, it is not easy for the four-legged or two-legged legs 16 of the stand 17 to overcome the step, and therefore it is not easy to move the stand 17, on which the heat pump unit 12 is fixed, together with the lower door 3.

[0033] Therefore, the stand 17 has a rectangular base 15, a connecting portion 29, and a single leg 16 (leg 16a), and the base 15 is fixed to the lower door 3 via the connecting portion 29 as shown in Fig. 6, and is supported by the single leg 16 (leg 16a) provided on the side of the base 15 opposite the lower door 3, on the hinge side of the lower door 3, as shown in Fig. 7. When the heat pump unit 12 is installed and fixed to this stand 17, the weight of the heat pump unit 12 placed on the lower door 3 is reduced by the leg 16, and the opening and closing ability of the lower door 3 is not impaired.

[0034] The legs 16a have casters 18a for movement, which allow the legs 16a (leg portions 16) to move within the meter box MB when the lower door 3 is open. Because the legs 16 do not climb over the lower side portion 4a of the frame 4 or steps on the floor, the heat pump unit 12 installed and fixed to the stand 17 can be easily moved together with the lower door 3. Because the legs 16a are movable within the meter box MB, the lower door 3 can only be opened to an angle of less than 90° from the closed state, but the heat pump unit 12 can be moved so that the water meter W and gas meter G can be clearly seen.

[0035] Furthermore, by closing the lower door 3, the heat pump unit 12 installed and fixed to the base 17 can be easily moved to its original position within the meter box MB. For example, when the lower door 3 is kept closed by the door latch 3b, movement of the base 17 is prohibited, so there is no need to prevent the moving casters 18a from moving using, for example, a stopper after the lower door 3 is closed. Note that the connecting portion 29 may be fixed to the base 15 by welding, or the base 15 may be directly fixed to the lower door 3 by welding.

[0036] The operation and effect of the heat pump unit installation structure will be described below. The frame 17 on which the heat pump unit 12 is installed and fixed is connected to the lower door 3 of the meter box MB via connectors 19, 29, and moves together with the lower door 3 when the lower door 3 is opened. Therefore, because the heat pump unit 12 moves together with the lower door 3, it can be easily viewed when reading a water meter W or a gas meter G, for example, and can be easily returned to its original position after the meter reading, reducing the burden on the meter reader. Furthermore, a normal heat pump unit 12 that is common to outdoor hot water storage and hot water supply devices can be installed and fixed on the frame 17, which prevents increases in manufacturing costs and the burden on the installer.

[0037] The base 15 of the stand 17 on which the heat pump unit 12 is placed is supported by legs 16 equipped with casters 18a for movement, etc. Therefore, the weight of the heat pump unit 12 does not impair the ability to open and close the lower door 3 of the meter box MB, and the heat pump unit 12 can be moved by opening and closing the lower door 3, reducing the burden on the meter reader.

[0038] The base 15 of the stand 17 on which the heat pump unit 12 is placed may be supported by the lower door 3 and legs 16 of the meter box MB. In this case, the legs 16 reduce the weight of the heat pump unit 12 placed on the lower door 3, preventing the lower door 3 from being impaired in its openability. The heat pump unit 12 can be moved by opening and closing the lower door 3, reducing the burden on the meter reader. Furthermore, because the lower door 3 can prevent the stand 17 from moving when it is closed, there is no need to prevent the moving casters 18a, for example, from moving after the lower door 3 is closed.

[0039] The heat pump unit installation structure described above can be applied to cases where the meter box MB has a single door at its opening, a pair of doors that swing both ways, or a lower door that swings both ways, to facilitate visual inspection during meter reading. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can implement various modifications to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention includes such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1,2: Upper door 3: Lower door (door) 3a: Garari 4: Frame 4a: bottom part 10: Hot water storage unit 11: Hot water tank 12: Heat pump unit 12a: Blower fan 13:Auxiliary heat source machine 13a: Exhaust port 15: Base 16: Legs 16a~16d: Legs 17: Stand 18a~18d: Casters for moving 19,29:Connection part MB: Meter box G: Gas meter W: Water meter

Claims

1. A heat pump unit installation structure for installing a heat pump unit of a hot water storage system in a meter box where water pipes and gas pipes are installed, The meter box is equipped with a door, The heat pump unit is installed and fixed to a movable base having a connecting portion for connecting to the door, The heat pump unit installation structure is characterized in that the stand has a base for placing the heat pump unit and legs fixed to the base, and the legs are equipped with casters for movement, and is configured to move together with the door connected via the connecting part by opening the door.

2. The base portion is fixed to the door via the connecting portion, The heat pump unit installation structure according to claim 1 , wherein the legs are provided on a side of the base opposite to the door.

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