Heat pump apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application is a heat pump apparatus. The heat pump apparatus (10) comprises an enclosure (100), a heat pump assembly (200), a fan (300), a line assembly (500) and an electronic control box (400), wherein the heat pump assembly (200), the fan (300), the line assembly (500) and the electronic control box (400) are mounted in the enclosure (100); a first heat exchanger (220) divides an inner cavity of the enclosure (100) into an air intake cavity (101) and an air discharge cavity (102); a compressor (210), a second heat exchanger (230), the line assembly (500) and the electronic control box (400) are arranged in the air intake cavity (101), and the fan (300) is arranged in the air discharge cavity (102); the second heat exchanger (230) is connected to the compressor (210) and the first heat exchanger (220) by means of a refrigerant line, forming a refrigerant circulation loop; the second heat exchanger (230) is connected to a water intake tube (520) and a water discharge tube (530) via a water flow line (2311), forming a water supply line; and the electronic control box (400) can be turned over so as to move into the air intake cavity (101) or out of the air intake cavity (101) via an opening.

Description

heat pump equipment

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent applications filed on December 31, 2024, with application number 202411999468.6 entitled "Heat Pump Equipment" and application number 202423322775.9 entitled "Heat Pump Equipment", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a heat pump device. Background Technology

[0004] In related technologies, integrated heat pump equipment integrates the refrigerant circulation loop and water flow pipeline into one unit, with a relatively compact internal structure layout. Although this can save space, the refrigerant circulation loop and water supply pipeline structure are relatively complex. Furthermore, the electrical control box is installed in the same space as the pipeline structure, requiring the disassembly of components such as the outer casing and electrical control box during maintenance, which makes it inconvenient to maintain internal parts. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this application proposes a heat pump device that enables quick operation to expose internal components, facilitating the inspection and maintenance of these components.

[0006] A heat pump device according to an embodiment of this application includes a housing, a heat pump assembly, a fan, a piping assembly, and an electrical control box. One side of the housing has an opening and a removable panel covering the opening. The heat pump assembly includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is disposed within the housing and divides the inner cavity of the housing into an air inlet chamber and an air outlet chamber. The compressor and the second heat exchanger are disposed within the air inlet chamber. The second heat exchanger includes a refrigerant piping and a water piping. The refrigerant piping, the compressor, and the electrical control box... The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are connected to form a refrigerant circulation loop; the fan is located in the air outlet cavity; the piping assembly is located in the air inlet cavity, and the piping assembly includes a water pump, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe connected to the water flow pipeline; the electrical control box is located in the air inlet cavity and arranged near the opening, the electrical control box is rotatably connected to the housing, and the electrical control box can be flipped to move into the air inlet cavity through the opening, or moved out of the air inlet cavity through the opening to expose the compressor, the second heat exchanger, and the piping assembly.

[0007] The heat pump device according to the embodiments of this application has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0008] The heat pump assembly, fan, piping assembly, and electrical control box are installed inside the enclosure. A first heat exchanger divides the enclosure's interior into an air inlet chamber and an air outlet chamber. The compressor, second heat exchanger, piping assembly, and electrical control box are located in the air inlet chamber, while the fan is located in the air outlet chamber. The second heat exchanger is connected to the compressor and the first heat exchanger via refrigerant piping to form a refrigerant circulation loop. The second heat exchanger is also connected to the inlet and outlet water pipes via water piping to form a water supply system. Air is drawn in through the air inlet chamber, passes through the first heat exchanger, and is discharged from the air outlet chamber, allowing the first heat exchanger to be exposed to outdoor air. The system facilitates heat exchange between air and water. The electrical control box is positioned within the air inlet cavity and near the opening. The control box is rotatably connected to the housing, allowing it to be rotated to move into or out of the air inlet cavity. When maintenance is required, the panel is opened, and the control box is rotated around its rotatable connection position to open the air inlet cavity, exposing the compressor, second heat exchanger, and piping components. This facilitates maintenance of the compressor, second heat exchanger, refrigerant piping, water piping, water pump, and other components without disassembling the control box, making operation simple, quick, and effectively improving maintenance efficiency.

[0009] According to some embodiments of this application, the housing includes a chassis, side panels, a top cover, and the panel, wherein the side panels surround and define the opening, and the chassis and the top cover are respectively connected to both ends of the side panels;

[0010] The heat pump device also includes a hinge structure, through which the electrical control box is rotatably connected to one of the chassis, the side plate, and the top cover.

[0011] According to some embodiments of this application, the electrical control box is arranged along the height direction of the housing, one side of the electrical control box is rotatably connected to the side plate through the hinge structure, and the other side of the electrical control box away from the hinge structure is provided with a lug, which is detachably connected to the top cover or the chassis.

[0012] According to some embodiments of this application, the hinge structure includes a first hinge and a second hinge that are detachably connected. The first hinge is fixed to the electrical control box, and the second hinge is fixed to the housing. One of the first hinge and the second hinge is provided with a shaft hole, and the other is provided with a hinge shaft that is rotatably connected to the shaft hole.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this application, the electrical control box includes an electrical control board, a box body, and a box cover. The box body and the box cover enclose an installation cavity, and the electrical control board is disposed in the installation cavity and connected to the box body.

[0014] The outer surface of the box is provided with a metal shell, and the first hinge is fixedly connected to the metal shell.

[0015] According to some embodiments of this application, the electrical control box includes an electrical control board, a box body, and a box cover. The box body and the box cover enclose an installation cavity, and the electrical control board is disposed in the installation cavity and connected to the box body.

[0016] The electronic control board is provided with an electronic control component and a heat sink on the side facing the box cover. The electronic control component includes a first heating element, and the heat sink is connected to the electronic control board and abuts against the heating surface of the first heating element.

[0017] The cover has a through hole, through which the radiator protrudes and is at least partially exposed on the outside of the cover. When the electrical control box is located inside the air inlet cavity, the cover is oriented towards the air inlet cavity.

[0018] According to some embodiments of this application, the electronic control element further includes a second heating device, the cover is provided with an air duct, and the second heating device is at least partially located within the air duct;

[0019] The air inlet of the air duct is positioned towards the radiator, and the air outlet of the air duct is located on one side of the electrical control box, and is positioned towards the first heat exchanger when the electrical control box is located inside the air inlet cavity.

[0020] According to some embodiments of this application, the heat sink and the air duct are arranged sequentially from top to bottom along the height direction of the electrical control box. The box cover is provided with a first baffle and a second baffle. The first baffle is arranged horizontally at the air outlet. The second baffle is located in the air duct and is staggered with the first baffle in the vertical direction to form an air guide channel in the air duct. The air guide channel is located between the air inlet and the second heating device.

[0021] At least a portion of the second baffle is inclined downward in a direction away from the second heating device.

[0022] According to some embodiments of this application, the end of the second baffle away from the first baffle extends downward along the air duct and is disposed opposite to the second heating device. In a direction perpendicular to the cover toward the box body, the projection of the second baffle covers the projection of the second heating device.

[0023] According to some embodiments of this application, the box cover has a protrusion on the side away from the direction of the electronic control board. The protrusion is disposed adjacent to the heat sink and located below the heat sink. The air duct is formed in the protrusion, and the air inlet is formed on the side of the protrusion facing the heat sink.

[0024] The lid is also provided with a third baffle extending upwards. Along the direction of the lid toward the box body, the third baffle and the first baffle are arranged sequentially on opposite sides of the air inlet.

[0025] According to some embodiments of this application, the housing includes a back panel and a first housing, the back panel being connected to the electronic control board, and the first housing covering the side of the back panel facing away from the electronic control board;

[0026] The cover includes a cover plate and a second housing. The cover plate is connected to the back plate to define the mounting cavity, and the second housing covers the side of the cover plate opposite to the electronic control board.

[0027] The cover plate has a groove on the side opposite to the electronic control board, and the second housing and the groove define the air duct; both the back plate and the cover plate are insulating components, and both the first housing and the second housing are metal housings.

[0028] According to some embodiments of this application, the air inlet is opened in the second housing, and the first baffle and the second baffle are disposed on the cover plate and are integrally formed with the cover plate.

[0029] The control board is also provided with multiple wiring terminals, which are arranged on the side of the control board facing the cover.

[0030] The heat pump equipment also includes functional components disposed in the air inlet cavity. The functional components include at least one of a sensor and a control valve. The plurality of wiring terminals are electrically connected to the functional components, the compressor and the fan respectively through wires.

[0031] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The present application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of this application (panel removed);

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of this application (the electrical control box is flipped outwards);

[0035] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of this application (wiring status of the electrical control box);

[0036] Figure 4 is a magnified view of part A in Figure 1;

[0037] Figure 5 is a magnified view of part B in Figure 3;

[0038] Figure 6 is an exploded structural diagram of the electrical control box according to an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cover plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 8 is a front view of the electrical control box according to an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the CC direction in Figure 3; and

[0042] Figure 10 is a magnified view of part D in Figure 9.

[0043] Reference numerals: Heat pump equipment 10; Housing 100; Air inlet chamber 101; Air outlet chamber 102; Opening 103; Chassis 110; Side panel 120; Top cover 130; Air inlet 131; Air outlet 132; Duct connector 133; Connection hole 134; Heat pump assembly 200; Compressor 210; First heat exchanger 220; Evaporator 221; Second heat exchanger 230; Plate heat exchanger 231; Water pipe 2311; First refrigerant pipe 240; Second refrigerant pipe 250; Fan 300; Electrical control box 400; air duct 401; air guide channel 4011; air inlet 402; air outlet 403; electrical control board 410; second heating element 411; inductor 4111; terminal block 412; box body 420; back plate 421; first housing 422; lug 4221; box cover 430; through hole 4301; cover plate 431; protrusion 4311; groove 4312; first baffle 4313; second baffle 4314; first plate 4314a; second plate 4314b; second housing 432; cover 4321; opening 4322; third baffle 4323; radiator 440; sealing ring 441; terminal block 450; wire 460; piping assembly 500; water pump 510; water inlet pipe 520; water outlet pipe 530; Hinged structure 600; first hinge 610; bushing 611; second hinge 620; hinge shaft 621. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0045] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0046] In the description of this application, the use of "first" and "second" is for the purpose of distinguishing technical features only, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated or the order of the technical features indicated.

[0047] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, terms such as "setup," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0048] In related technologies, to save installation space, some heat pump water heaters integrate the refrigerant circulation loop and water pipes into a single unit, also known as an integrated heat pump device. It connects to the indoor unit via water pipes to supply domestic hot water and heating for the space. The electrical control box, refrigerant circulation loop, and water pipes are all housed in the same space, resulting in a compact internal structure. In this particular heat pump device, the electrical control box is located below the top cover and above the middle partition. Therefore, maintenance of the electrical control box requires removing the front panel, top cover, and left and right side panels, and then loosening the bolts securing the electrical control box to the middle partition before disassembling the control box itself. This presents an inconvenience for inspecting internal components; furthermore, most water circuit components are obstructed by the electrical control box, requiring significant side space for maintenance.

[0049] Other heat pump products use an integrated casing. When maintenance is required, the entire casing must be removed first, and then the electrical control box must be disassembled before the internal components can be inspected. The operation is also more cumbersome. Moreover, many components are located on both sides of the body, making it difficult to inspect them directly from the front. It is necessary to enter the sides of the body for inspection, and maintenance space must be reserved on both sides of the body.

[0050] Therefore, integrated heat pump equipment in related technologies all have certain requirements for the installation environment, requiring a certain amount of installation and maintenance space, either at the top or to the sides, thus occupying limited indoor space and restricting installation scenarios. Furthermore, since the evaporator needs to exchange heat with the outdoor environment, the heat pump equipment, as an outdoor unit, needs to be installed outdoors. If components such as the water system malfunction and require repair, complex procedures are needed to complete disassembly and repair, increasing costs. Especially for residents on higher floors, installers must work outdoors at heights for both installation and repair, resulting in high installation and maintenance costs and posing significant risks during the installation process.

[0051] Therefore, embodiments of this application propose a heat pump device 10, which adopts a flip-type electrical control box structure, enabling quick operation to expose internal components and facilitating their maintenance. The heat pump device 10 will be described below with specific embodiments.

[0052] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the heat pump device 10 of an embodiment of this application includes a housing 100, a heat pump assembly 200, and a fan 300. The housing 100 has an inner cavity, and the heat pump assembly 200 and the fan 300 are installed in the inner cavity. An opening 103 and a panel (not shown in the figures) are provided on the front side of the housing 100. The opening 103 communicates with the inner cavity, and the panel is detachably installed at the opening 103. The opening 103 is located on the front side of the housing 100, and the opening 103 can be opened or closed through the panel. In some embodiments, the panel and the housing 100 can be connected by a structure such as a snap-fit, screw, or lock, or they can be rotatably connected to the housing 100 by a hinge structure such as a hinge.

[0053] The heat pump assembly 200 includes a compressor 210, a first heat exchanger 220, a second heat exchanger 230, and a throttling component. The first heat exchanger 220 is located in the middle of the inner cavity of the housing 100 and is arranged vertically along the height direction of the housing 100. The first heat exchanger 220 divides the inner cavity of the housing 100 into an air inlet chamber 101 and an air outlet chamber 102. The air inlet chamber 101 is located to the right of the first heat exchanger 220, and the air outlet chamber 102 is located to the left of the first heat exchanger 220. The compressor 210 and the second heat exchanger 230 are located in the air inlet chamber 101, and the fan 300 is located in the air outlet chamber 102.

[0054] In one embodiment, the first heat exchanger 220 is an evaporator 221, and the second heat exchanger 230 is a plate heat exchanger 231. The evaporator 221 is provided with a first refrigerant pipeline 240, and the plate heat exchanger 231 is provided with a second refrigerant pipeline 250 and a water pipeline 2311. The plate heat exchanger 231 is connected to the compressor 210 and the throttling device through the second refrigerant pipeline 250, and the evaporator 221 is connected to the compressor 210 and the throttling device through the first refrigerant pipeline 240, forming a refrigerant circulation loop for refrigerant circulation.

[0055] Referring to Figure 2, the heat pump device 10 also includes a piping assembly 500, which is installed inside the air inlet chamber 101. The piping assembly 500 includes a water pump 510, an inlet pipe 520, and an outlet pipe 530. The inlet pipe 520 and the outlet pipe 530 are respectively connected to the water flow pipe 2311. The water pump 510 can be installed on either the inlet pipe 520 or the outlet pipe 530 to form a water supply pipeline. During operation, the refrigerant output from the compressor 210 passes through the plate heat exchanger 231, where it exchanges heat with water. After throttling, it enters the evaporator 221, where it exchanges heat with air. Then, it returns to the compressor 210 to begin the next cycle. The water pump 510 drives cold water into the plate heat exchanger 231, allowing the water to exchange heat with the refrigerant, thereby producing hot water.

[0056] It should be noted that, referring to Figure 1, the top of the housing 100 is provided with an air inlet 131 and an air outlet 132. The air inlet 131 is connected to the air inlet chamber 101. The air inlet of the fan 300 is positioned facing the evaporator 221, and the air outlet of the fan 300 is connected to the air outlet 132. The air inlet 131 and the air outlet 132 are each provided with a duct connector 133. The air inlet 131 is connected to an air inlet pipe via the duct connector 133, and the air outlet 132 is connected to an air outlet pipe via the duct connector 133. Both the air inlet and outlet pipes are connected to the outdoor environment. Outdoor air enters the air inlet chamber 101 through the air inlet pipe and air inlet 131, exchanges heat with the evaporator 221, and then enters the air outlet chamber 102. Subsequently, it is discharged to the outdoor environment through the air outlet 132 and the air outlet pipe. By using the outdoor air as a heat source and extracting heat through a heat exchange process, hot water is heated. The arrows in Figure 1 indicate the directions of air intake and exhaust.

[0057] It is understood that the heat pump device 10 of the embodiments of this application can provide hot water through the outlet pipe 530 for supplying domestic hot water and heating hot water. Alternatively, the outlet pipe 530 can be connected to a water tank to store the hot water for user use. The inlet of the inlet pipe 520 and the outlet of the outlet pipe 530 are both located on the chassis 110 of the housing 100 to avoid affecting the appearance and structure from being located in the visible area on the front or side.

[0058] The heat pump unit 10 can be installed indoors, specifically in basements, attics, garages, machine rooms, storage rooms, and other similar locations. This provides a wide range of installation options, eliminating the need for outdoor installations and avoiding the high costs, long installation times, and high risks associated with outdoor unit installations. Installation is not limited by the aesthetics of the building's exterior, installation regulations, or outdoor noise. Furthermore, the entire installation and maintenance process is conducted indoors, resulting in low costs and simple operation. During shutdown, it is unaffected by harsh outdoor environments, eliminating the need for extensive redundancy in the design of water supply pipes to prevent freezing and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0059] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the heat pump device 10 of the embodiment also includes an electrical control box 400. The electrical control box 400 is used to electrically connect components such as the compressor 210, fan 300, water pump 510, and functional devices. The functional devices include components such as sensors and control valves. It can also be connected to external devices of the heat pump device 10. For example, the water tank can be equipped with a switch valve. The electrical control box 400 can lead out a line and extend to the outside of the box 100 so that the line is connected to the switch valve to realize the control of the switch valve.

[0060] The control box 400 is connected to the opening 103 of the housing 100. Specifically, the control box 400 is rotatably connected to the housing 100. For example, the control box 400 is connected to the housing 100 by a hinge, so that the control box 400 can rotate around the hinge position and flip the control box 400. In this way, the control box 400 can rotate toward the air inlet cavity 101 and move into the air inlet cavity 101 from the opening 103, so that the control box 400 is stored inside the housing 100. Alternatively, when the control box 400 is inside the air inlet cavity 101, the control box 400 can be flipped toward the outside of the housing 100, so that the control box 400 moves out of the air inlet cavity 101 from the opening 103.

[0061] It is understood that in the embodiment, the electrical control box 400 is roughly rectangular. Since the electrical control box 400 is located near the opening 103 in the air inlet cavity 101, it can cover the air inlet cavity 101 at the opening 103. Components such as the compressor 210, plate heat exchanger 231, first refrigerant pipe 240, second refrigerant pipe 250, water inlet pipe 520, water outlet pipe 530, and water pump 510 are all arranged inside the air inlet cavity 101. Referring to Figure 2, in some embodiments... In this embodiment, the compressor 210 is located near the back of the housing 100, the plate heat exchanger 231 is fixedly connected to the side wall of the housing 100, the water pump 510 is located below the plate heat exchanger 231, and the first refrigerant line 240, the second refrigerant line 250 and the water flow line 2311 are arranged according to the positions of the above-mentioned components. The above-mentioned components can be shielded by the electrical control box 400, and the panel covers the opening 103, thereby shielding the internal structure of the housing 100.

[0062] Referring to Figure 2, when the heat pump equipment 10 needs maintenance, simply open the panel and flip the control box 400 around the hinge position to move the control box 400 out of the air inlet cavity 101. This opens the air inlet cavity 101, exposing the compressor 210, the second heat exchanger 230, and the piping assembly 500. In other words, the user can see the internal piping assembly 500 and refrigerant circulation loop from the front of the housing 100. This facilitates operation during production, installation, commissioning, and maintenance, and also makes it easy to replace parts without disassembling the control box 400. Furthermore, moving the control box 400 out of the air inlet cavity 101 also facilitates wiring and maintenance of the control box 400. The operation is simple and quick, effectively improving work efficiency.

[0063] Considering that water supply lines are more prone to failure than refrigerant lines, in one embodiment, the piping assembly 500 is arranged in the air inlet chamber 101 near the opening 103. That is, along the front-rear direction of the housing 100, the piping assembly 500 is arranged in front of the refrigerant lines and the compressor 210, which makes it easier to inspect and maintain the piping assembly 500.

[0064] It should be noted that the fan 300 is located inside the air outlet cavity 102, spaced apart from the air inlet cavity 101. The fan 300 is exposed after opening the panel, facilitating maintenance. In some embodiments, the fan 300 can be connected to the housing 100 via a guide rail structure, making it easier to move the fan 300 out of the air outlet cavity 102 along the guide rail structure, further simplifying maintenance. The heat pump equipment 10, adopting the layout structure of the above embodiment, requires minimal space, eliminating the need for extensive installation and maintenance space on both sides of the unit. All maintenance can be completed on the front side of the housing 100, facilitating operation.

[0065] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the housing 100 includes a chassis 110, a side panel 120, a top cover 130, and a panel. The side panel 120 defines an opening 103. The chassis 110 and the top cover 130 are respectively connected to the upper and lower ends of the side panel 120. The chassis 110, the side panel 120, the top cover 130, and the panel define the inner cavity. The air inlet 131 and the air outlet 132 are both located on the top cover 130.

[0066] Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, in some embodiments, the control box 400 is rotatably connected to the side plate 120 via a hinge structure 600. The hinge is located on the right side of the opening 103, allowing the control box 400 to flip to the right and move out of the air inlet cavity 101. The hinge structure 600 can be a hinge, a hinge, or similar structure. Taking a hinge as an example, two hinges can be connected to both ends of the control box 400 along its height direction, with both hinges connected to the side plate 120, thus enabling the control box 400 to flip.

[0067] Of course, the control box 400 is not limited to being hinged to the side panel 120. It can also be connected to the top cover 130 or the chassis 110 through the hinge structure 600. For example, the upper end of the control box 400 is hinged to the top cover 130 and can be flipped upward to open the air inlet cavity 101; or the lower end of the control box 400 is hinged to the chassis 110 and can be flipped downward to open the air inlet cavity 101.

[0068] Referring to Figures 3 and 5, in some embodiments, the hinge structure 600 includes a first hinge 610 and a second hinge 620. The first hinge 610 is fixedly connected to the side of the electrical control box 400, and the second hinge 620 is fixedly connected to the edge of the side plate 120. The first hinge 610 is provided with a bushing 611, and the bushing 611 is provided with a shaft hole. The second hinge 620 is provided with a hinge shaft 621, which is inserted into the shaft hole, so that the first hinge 610 and the second hinge 620 can rotate relative to each other, thereby realizing the rotation of the electrical control box 400 around the hinge shaft 621.

[0069] Referring to the example shown in Figure 5, since the bushing 611 and the hinge shaft 621 are connected by a sleeve connection, the bushing 611 can move upward to disengage from the hinge shaft 621, thereby separating the first hinge 610 and the second hinge 620, realizing the disassembly and separation of the electrical control box 400 from the housing 100, facilitating the installation and removal of the electrical control box 400. In some other embodiments, the hinge shaft 621 can be provided on the first hinge 610, and the bushing 611 can be provided on the second hinge 620, which can also realize the disassembly and separation of the first hinge 610 and the second hinge 620.

[0070] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in order to fix the electrical control box 400, in some embodiments, the right side of the electrical control box 400 is connected to the side plate 120 through the aforementioned hinge structure 600, and the left side of the electrical control box 400 is provided with a lug 4221, which is located at the upper end of the electrical control box 400. When the electrical control box 400 is located in the air inlet cavity 101, it is connected to the top cover 130 through the lug 4221 to fix the electrical control box 400. Specifically, the lug 4221 and the top cover 130 are respectively provided with connecting holes 134. Bolts are used to pass through the connecting holes 134 of the lug 4221 and the top cover 130 to fix the electrical control box 400 and prevent the electrical control box 400 from swinging during use.

[0071] Understandably, since the hinge structure 600 provides support and positioning for one side of the electrical control box 400, only one bolt is needed to fix the electrical control box 400 in this embodiment, improving maintenance efficiency. Of course, the lug 4221 is not limited to being connected to the top cover 130 by bolts. For example, the lug 4221 can be provided with a snap-fit, and the top cover 130 can be provided with a slot that matches the snap-fit, achieving quick fixation through a snap-fit ​​method.

[0072] Furthermore, when the control box 400 is close to the chassis 110, the lug 4221 can be installed at the lower end of the control box 400, and the lug 4221 is connected to the chassis 110 by bolts or fasteners. The specific shape of the lug 4221 can be selected according to the actual requirements of the product to meet the requirements for connection with the top cover 130 or the chassis 110.

[0073] Referring to Figure 6, the electrical control box 400 includes an electrical control board 410, a box body 420, and a box cover 430. The box body 420 and the box cover 430 are connected to form a mounting cavity. The electrical control board 410 is disposed in the mounting cavity and connected to the box body 420. The box body 420 serves to fix the electrical control board 410 and protects the electrical control board 410 by enclosing it with the box body 420 and the box cover 430. In some embodiments, a sealing element is provided between the box body 420 and the box cover 430 to improve the overall sealing performance of the electrical control box 400 and enhance its reliability.

[0074] The control board 410 is equipped with electrical control components and wiring terminals 412, which are distributed on the side of the control box 400 facing the cover 430. The wiring terminals 412 are electrically connected to components such as the compressor 210, fan 300, water pump 510, sensors, and control valves via wires 460. In this embodiment, when the control box 400 is moved into the housing 100, the cover 430 faces the air inlet cavity 101; when the control box 400 is moved out of the housing 100, the cover 430 can face the front of the housing 100. After opening the cover 430, it is convenient to wire and maintain the control board 410. Therefore, in this embodiment, the hinge structure 600 is connected to the housing 420. After the control box 400 is flipped out of the housing 100, opening the cover 430 can maintain the connection between the housing 420 and the housing 100, facilitating wiring and maintenance operations.

[0075] In some embodiments, the lid 430 can be connected to the box body 420 by a snap-fit ​​mechanism, facilitating the opening of the lid 430. In other embodiments, it can also be connected by bolts or other means.

[0076] Referring to Figure 6, the housing 420 includes a back plate 421 and a first housing 422. The back plate 421 is connected to the electronic control board 410, specifically by means of clips or screws to fix the electronic control board 410 to the back plate 421. The first housing 422 covers the side of the back plate 421 facing away from the electronic control board 410. The cover 430 includes a cover plate 431 and a second housing 432. The cover plate 431 is connected to the back plate 421, and a mounting cavity is formed between the cover plate 431 and the back plate 421. 32 covers the side of the cover plate 431 away from the control board 410; wherein, the first housing 422 and the second housing 432 are both metal housings, the back plate 421 and the cover plate 431 are both insulating parts, the first housing 422 is used to protect the back plate 421, the second housing 432 is used to protect the cover plate 431, the cover plate 431 and the back plate 421 form an inner plastic housing, and the first housing 422 and the second housing 432 form an outer metal housing, which effectively protects the control board 410.

[0077] It should be noted that the outer metal shell can provide support for the entire electrical control box 400. In one embodiment, the first hinge 610 is connected to the first shell 422, and the connection structure is stronger, ensuring that the connection between the electrical control box 400 and the box 100 is more reliable. After the electrical control box 400 is flipped and removed from the box 100, the box cover 430 can be opened, which is easy to operate.

[0078] Since the electronic control board 410 includes a first heating device, which can be a rectifier bridge, a smart power module, an insulated gate bipolar transistor, etc., in this embodiment, the electronic control board 410 is also provided with a heat sink 440. The heat sink 440 is located on the side of the electronic control board 410 facing the cover 430 and abuts against the heating surface of the first heating device. The heat sink 440 can remove the heat of the first heating device. The heat sink 440 can be a finned heat sink. The heat sink 440 can also contact two or more first heating devices at the same time for heat dissipation. For example, the rectifier bridge and the smart power module are arranged adjacent to each other, and the heat sink 440 contacts the heating surfaces of the rectifier bridge and the smart power module, so that the rectifier bridge and the smart power module can be cooled at the same time.

[0079] Referring to Figure 6, the cover 430 is provided with a through hole 4301. The size of the through hole 4301 matches the size of the heat sink 440, allowing the heat sink 440 to pass through the through hole 4301, and at least a portion of the heat sink 440 is exposed on the outside of the cover 430. Since the cover 430 includes a cover plate 431 and a second housing 432, in this embodiment, both the cover plate 431 and the second housing 432 are provided with through holes 4301, allowing the heat sink 440 to pass through both the cover plate 431 and the second housing 432 simultaneously.

[0080] Referring to Figures 7 and 9, in some embodiments, a sealing ring 441 is provided between the radiator 440 and the cover 430. Part of the structure of the radiator 440 is exposed through the through hole 4301. A flange is provided on the outer periphery of the side of the radiator 440 facing the electronic control board 410. The sealing ring 441 is provided around the radiator 440 and one side of it abuts against the flange. When the cover 430 and the box body 420 are assembled, the cover 430 abuts against the other side of the sealing ring 441 and presses the sealing ring 441 tightly, thereby fixing the sealing ring 441 and making the radiator 440 and the cover 430 have a high sealing performance, thereby improving the overall sealing performance of the electronic control box 400.

[0081] Understandably, when the control box 400 is located inside the air inlet cavity 101, both the cover 430 and the radiator 440 face the air inlet cavity 101, and the side of the box body 420 facing away from the control board 410 faces the front of the enclosure 100. When the heat pump device 10 is working, outdoor air enters the air inlet cavity 101 and flows along the air inlet cavity 101 towards the evaporator 221. Some of the airflow passes through the radiator 440, thereby helping to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiator 440.

[0082] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 2 and 3, the radiator 440 is disposed at the upper end of the electrical control box 400, and after the electrical control box 400 enters the air inlet cavity 101, the radiator 440 is positioned close to the air inlet 131, which is more conducive to airflow through the radiator 440 and results in better heat dissipation. It should be noted that the airflow carries away the heat from the radiator 440 before exchanging heat with the evaporator 221, which can recover the heat carried away by the airflow and improve heating efficiency.

[0083] The embodiments of this application arrange the electronic control components, wiring terminals 412 and heat sink 440 on the side of the electronic control board 410 facing the cover 430. This facilitates heat dissipation of the heat sink 440 and wiring of the wiring terminals 412. At the same time, it ensures that the wiring and heat sink 440 are located on the same side of the electronic control board 410, without the need for special manufacturing processes, which is convenient for production and manufacturing.

[0084] In addition, the electrical control box 400 is provided with a terminal block 450, which is used to connect external power lines, signal lines, temperature sensing coils and other lines. The terminal block 450 is used to transfer the above lines to the electrical control board 410. The terminal block 450 is located below the electrical control board 410. Some of the terminals 412 of the electrical control board 410 are electrically connected to the terminal block 450 through internal adapter wires.

[0085] As shown in Figure 3, after the control box 400 is flipped outwards towards the box 100, the cover 430 is opened. The wiring terminals 412 and 450 of the control board 410 are on the same side. Signal lines, power lines, temperature sensing coils, etc. are all connected to the inside of the control box 400 from the bottom area and plugged into the corresponding 450 or terminal 412.

[0086] It should be noted that the electronic control component also includes a second heat-generating device 411. The second heat-generating device 411 is a non-encapsulated device that generates heat during operation and requires waterproof protection. Therefore, in some embodiments, the second heat-generating device 411 is housed within the electronic control box 400, and an air duct 401 is provided on the electronic control box 400 to dissipate heat from the second heat-generating device 411. The second heat-generating device 411 can be an inductor 4111 or other heat-generating devices.

[0087] Taking inductor 4111 as an example, inductor 4111 is disposed on the side of control box 400 facing cover 430. Air duct 401 is formed on cover 430. Cover 430 is provided with air inlet 402 and air outlet 403, which are respectively connected to air duct 401. Air inlet 402 is disposed facing heat sink 440, and air outlet 403 is disposed on the side wall of cover 430. When control box 400 is flipped into air inlet cavity 101, air outlet 403 faces evaporator 221. At least part of the structure of inductor 4111 is located in air duct 401.

[0088] When the heat pump unit 10 is operating, outdoor air enters the air inlet chamber 101 and flows along it to the evaporator 221. Part of the airflow passes through the radiator 440 and enters the air duct 401 through the air inlet 402, flowing along the air duct 401 to the inductor 4111, and then exits through the air outlet 403. It should be noted that because the evaporator 221 is close to the air outlet 403 of the air duct 401, the airflow from the air inlet chamber 101 accelerates the airflow velocity exiting through the air outlet 403 when it passes through the evaporator 221, creating a suction effect. Therefore, the airflow through the air duct 401 can improve the airflow to the inductor 4111. Furthermore, since the air inlet 402 faces the radiator 440, it can also accelerate the airflow through the radiator 440, which helps improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiator 440.

[0089] Referring to Figure 7, the air duct 401 is formed on the cover 430. Specifically, the cover 431 is made of plastic, and a groove 4312 is provided on the side of the cover 431 away from the electronic control board 410. The groove 4312 can be formed by integral injection molding of the cover 431. A protrusion 4311 is provided on the side of the cover 431 away from the electronic control board 410. A through hole 4301 is provided at the upper end of the cover 431. The protrusion 4311 is adjacent to the through hole 4301. The protrusion 4311 is roughly square. An air inlet 402 is formed on the upper surface of the protrusion 4311, and an air outlet 403 is formed on the right side of the protrusion 4311. The groove 4312 is formed on the surface of the protrusion 4311 away from the box body 420.

[0090] When the second housing 432 covers the cover plate 431, an air outlet 401 is defined between the second housing 432 and the groove 4312. The side of the second housing 432 facing the cover plate 431 has a recessed cover 4321 that matches the protrusion 4311, so that the second housing 432 can cover the cover plate 431. In addition, the second housing 432 is provided with openings 4322 corresponding to the air inlet 402 and the air outlet 403, thereby forming an air outlet 401 on the cover 430.

[0091] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, it should be noted that a through groove is provided on the side of the cover plate 431 facing the electronic control board 410. The through groove is located on the bottom wall of the groove 4312. When the cover plate 431 covers the electronic control board 410, the inductor 4111 can extend into the air duct 401 through the through groove, so that part of the structure of the inductor 4111 is located in the air duct 401.

[0092] The radiator 440 and the air duct 401 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom along the height of the electrical control box 400, and the air inlet 402 of the air duct 401 is set towards the radiator 440, that is, the air inlet 402 is set upwards, and the airflow enters the air duct 401 from top to bottom. Considering that the electrical control box 400 is close to the water supply pipe, and that there is a possibility that rainwater may enter the air intake chamber 101 through the air inlet 131.

[0093] Therefore, in some embodiments, referring to Figures 9 and 10, the cover 430 is provided with a first baffle 4313 and a second baffle 4314. The first baffle 4313 is arranged horizontally on one side of the air outlet 403, and the second baffle 4314 is located in the air duct 401 and is arranged alternately with the first baffle 4313 in the vertical direction, forming an air guide channel 4011 in the air duct 401. Understandably, since the air inlet 402 is oriented upwards, by setting the first baffle 4313 and the second baffle 4314 in an alternating arrangement at the air inlet 402, as shown in Figure 10, the air guide channel 4011 is located between the air inlet 402 and the inductor 4111. The first baffle 4313, the second baffle 4314 and the inductor 4111 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The first baffle 4313 covers part of the air inlet 402. The air guide channel 4011 extends downwards from the air inlet 402, bends at the second baffle 4314 and extends towards the electronic control board 410, and then bends downwards again. In other words, the air guide channel 4011 has a bending section. The bending section can prevent the airflow from directly entering the air duct 401 from top to bottom, thus blocking the water flow from entering the air duct 401.

[0094] Referring to Figure 10, arrow P3 indicates the direction of airflow along the air guide channel 4011. It can be understood that when rainwater enters the air guide channel 4011 from the air inlet 402 with the airflow, the rainwater will fall onto the second baffle 4314 due to gravity, while the airflow will continue to flow along the air guide channel 4011, thereby separating the airflow from the water and effectively reducing the risk of rainwater contacting the inductor 4111. In this way, the air duct 401 can both dissipate heat from the inductor 4111 and provide waterproofing, thus improving the protection performance.

[0095] In one embodiment, both the first baffle 4313 and the second baffle 4314 are disposed on the cover plate 431 and are integrally formed with the cover plate 431, resulting in a robust and reliable structure. For better drainage, the second baffle 4314 is inclined downwards in the direction away from the inductor 4111, forming a downward-sloping surface. This allows rainwater falling onto the second baffle 4314 to slide down the slope, preventing rainwater from flowing towards the inductor 4111.

[0096] It is understood that, referring to FIG10, in one embodiment, the second baffle 4314 may include a first plate 4314a and a second plate 4314b, wherein the first plate 4314a and the first baffle 4313 are arranged alternately, the first plate 4314a is inclined downward, and the second plate 4314b is connected to the end of the first plate 4314a away from the first baffle 4313, and the second plate 4314b extends downward along the air duct 401.

[0097] Specifically, the second baffle 4314 is positioned opposite to the inductor 4111. In a direction perpendicular to the cover 430 and towards the box body 420, the projections of the first plate 4314a and the second plate 4314b cover the projection of the inductor 4111. In this way, after rainwater falls on the first plate 4314a, it flows downward at an angle along the first plate 4314a and then falls downward along the second plate 4314b, preventing the rainwater drained along the second baffle 4314 from contacting the inductor 4111 and further improving the waterproof effect.

[0098] Referring to Figure 7, it can be understood that the second baffle 4314 is located within the air duct 401 and is positioned opposite the through slot, along the direction from the cover plate 431 toward the control board 410. The second baffle 4314 can effectively block the inductor 4111 passing through the through slot. In other words, the second baffle 4314 can block the through slot. Through the combination of the second baffle 4314 and the air guide channel 4011 structure, airflow and water are effectively separated. The specific height of the second baffle 4314 can be set according to the size of the inductor 4111 to ensure that the second baffle 4314 can effectively block the inductor 4111.

[0099] It should be noted that when the second housing 432 covers the cover plate 431, a gap can be formed between the inner wall of the second housing 432 and the second baffle 4314, which facilitates the downward flow of water along the gap. Referring to Figure 9, the direction indicated by the arrow line P1 on the inner side of the air duct 401 in Figure 9 is the direction of water drainage.

[0100] In some embodiments, the second baffle 4314 is not limited to being disposed on the cover plate 431, but may also be disposed on the side wall of the second housing 432 facing the cover plate 431. For example, the second baffle 4314 is added to the inner wall of the cover 4321, and a drain hole is formed between the second baffle 4314 and the inner wall of the cover 4321.

[0101] Referring to Figure 9, considering that the airflow from the air inlet 101 will blow towards the electrical control box 400, the direction indicated by the arrow P2 on the outside of the electrical control box 400 in Figure 9 is the direction of the external airflow. Therefore, in this embodiment, a third baffle 4323 is added to the cover plate 431. The third baffle 4323 is positioned close to the air inlet 402 to block the airflow blowing towards the electrical control box 400 from the side, further reducing the risk of rainwater entering the air duct 401.

[0102] Referring to Figure 10, specifically, the third baffle 4323 is formed on the second housing 432 and located at the top of the cover 4321. Along the direction from the cover 430 toward the housing 420, the third baffle 4323 and the first baffle 4313 are arranged sequentially on opposite sides of the air inlet 402, and the third baffle 4323 extends upward to be higher than the air outlet 403 and the first baffle 4313. In this way, the third baffle 4323 can effectively block the airflow blowing from the side toward the electronic control box 400 from directly entering the air duct 401, reducing the amount of rainwater entering the air duct 401.

[0103] Therefore, in one embodiment, the cover 430, by providing a first baffle 4313, a second baffle 4314, and a third baffle 4323, obstructs the airflow multiple times, thereby changing the flow direction and facilitating the separation of rainwater from the airflow, significantly reducing the risk of rainwater contacting the inductor 4111. In this embodiment, the third baffle 4323 and the second housing 432 can be integrally molded, simplifying manufacturing. The specific dimensions of the third baffle 4323 can be set according to the dimensions of the air inlet 402, ensuring that it can block the air inlet 402 along the direction of the cover 430 towards the control board 410, effectively blocking rainwater.

[0104] Of course, this application is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this application. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A heat pump device, comprising: A housing, wherein one side of the housing has an opening and a removable panel covering the opening; A heat pump assembly includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is disposed inside the housing and divides the inner cavity of the housing into an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity. The compressor and the second heat exchanger are disposed in the air inlet cavity. The second heat exchanger includes a refrigerant pipeline and a water pipeline. The refrigerant pipeline, the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are connected to form a refrigerant circulation loop. A fan is located inside the air outlet cavity; A piping assembly is disposed within the air inlet cavity, and the piping assembly includes a water pump, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe connected to the water flow pipeline; as well as An electrical control box is disposed in the air inlet cavity and arranged near the opening. The electrical control box is rotatably connected to the housing. The electrical control box can be flipped to move into the air inlet cavity through the opening, or to move out of the air inlet cavity through the opening to expose the compressor, the second heat exchanger and the piping assembly.

2. The heat pump device according to claim 1, wherein, The enclosure includes a chassis, side panels, a top cover, and the front panel. The side panels surround and define the opening. The chassis and the top cover are respectively connected to both ends of the side panels. The heat pump device also includes a hinge structure, through which the electrical control box is rotatably connected to one of the chassis, the side plate, and the top cover.

3. The heat pump device according to claim 2, wherein, The electrical control box is arranged along the height direction of the housing. One side of the electrical control box is rotatably connected to the side plate through the hinge structure. The other side of the electrical control box away from the hinge structure is provided with a lug. The lug is detachably connected to the top cover or the chassis.

4. The heat pump device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The hinge structure includes a first hinge and a second hinge that are detachably connected. The first hinge is fixed to the electrical control box, and the second hinge is fixed to the housing. One of the first hinge and the second hinge is provided with a shaft hole, and the other is provided with a hinge shaft that is rotatably connected to the shaft hole.

5. The heat pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The electrical control box includes an electrical control board, a box body, and a box cover. The box body and the box cover enclose a mounting cavity. The electrical control board is disposed within the mounting cavity and connected to the box body. The outer surface of the box is provided with a metal shell, and the first hinge is fixedly connected to the metal shell.

6. The heat pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The electrical control box includes an electrical control board, a box body, and a box cover. The box body and the box cover enclose an installation cavity, and the electrical control board is disposed in the installation cavity and connected to the box body. The control board has an electronic control component and a heat sink on the side facing the cover. The electronic control component includes a first heating element, and the heat sink is connected to the control board and abuts against the heating surface of the first heating element; and The cover has a through hole, through which the radiator protrudes and is at least partially exposed on the outside of the cover. When the electrical control box is located inside the air inlet cavity, the cover is oriented towards the air inlet cavity.

7. The heat pump device according to claim 6, wherein, The electronic control component further includes a second heating element, the cover is provided with an air duct, and the second heating element is at least partially located within the air duct; and The air inlet of the air duct is positioned towards the radiator, and the air outlet of the air duct is located on one side of the electrical control box, and is positioned towards the first heat exchanger when the electrical control box is located inside the air inlet cavity.

8. The heat pump device according to claim 7, wherein, The heat sink and the air duct are arranged sequentially from top to bottom along the height of the electrical control box. The box cover is provided with a first baffle and a second baffle. The first baffle is horizontally positioned at the air outlet, and the second baffle is located within the air duct and is staggered vertically with the first baffle to form an air guide channel within the air duct. The air guide channel is located between the air inlet and the second heating element. At least a portion of the second baffle is inclined downward in a direction away from the second heating device.

9. The heat pump device according to claim 8, wherein, The end of the second baffle away from the first baffle extends downward along the air duct and is positioned opposite the second heating device. In a direction perpendicular to the cover toward the box body, the projection of the second baffle covers the projection of the second heating device.

10. The heat pump device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, The cover has a protrusion on the side facing away from the control board. This protrusion is adjacent to and below the heat sink. An air duct is formed within the protrusion, and an air inlet is formed on the side of the protrusion facing the heat sink. The lid is also provided with a third baffle extending upwards. Along the direction of the lid toward the box body, the third baffle and the first baffle are arranged sequentially on opposite sides of the air inlet.

11. The heat pump device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein, The box body includes a back panel and a first housing. The back panel is connected to the electronic control board, and the first housing covers the side of the back panel that is away from the electronic control board. The cover includes a cover plate and a second housing, the cover plate being connected to the back plate to define the mounting cavity, and the second housing covering the side of the cover plate opposite to the electronic control board; and The cover plate has a groove on the side opposite to the electronic control board, and the second housing and the groove define the air duct; both the back plate and the cover plate are insulating components, and both the first housing and the second housing are metal housings.

12. The heat pump device according to claim 11, wherein, The air inlet is located in the second housing, and the first baffle and the second baffle are located on the cover plate and are integrally formed with the cover plate.

13. The heat pump device according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein, The electronic control board also has multiple wiring terminals, which are arranged on the side of the electronic control board facing the cover; and The heat pump equipment also includes functional components disposed in the air inlet cavity. The functional components include at least one of a sensor and a control valve. The plurality of wiring terminals are electrically connected to the functional components, the compressor and the fan respectively through wires.

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