Heat pump device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat pump devices have refrigerant tubes that make maintenance inspection of electric wiring and connector sections difficult due to their placement within the machinery room, which is inaccessible when the outer casing is removed.
Innovation Solution
The heat pump device is designed with a refrigerant circuit and a connector section positioned outside the compressor, allowing easy access when the cover is removed, and an outer casing with a removable cover to facilitate maintenance, while ensuring safety by concealing fastening portions from non-qualified personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the connector section is disposed inside the compressor within the machinery room, then the compressor structure is compact, but the maintenance inspection of electric wiring and connector section becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connector section is extracted from the interior of the compressor and disposed on the outer surface of the compressor housing. This allows the connector section to be accessible from the front of the heat pump device when the front panel is removed, while the compressor maintains its compact internal structure. The extraction principle resolves the contradiction by separating the accessibility requirement from the structural integrity requirement.
2Ease of operation
If the outer casing is completely removed to access the machinery room, then all components become accessible, but the device structure loses protection and requires full disassembly for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The outer casing is segmented into removable panels (front panel, side panels) that can be selectively removed to access specific components. The connector section is positioned to be accessible when only the front panel is removed, rather than requiring removal of the entire outer casing. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access the connector section with minimal disassembly, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and structural protection.
3Ease of repair
If the connector section is positioned to face the opening for easy access, then maintenance becomes easier, but the compressor orientation may be constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The connector section is disposed on the outer surface of the compressor housing in a position that faces the front opening, creating a new access dimension. Instead of requiring access from the rear or side of the compressor, the connector section becomes accessible from the front when the front panel is removed. This dimensional change in accessibility resolves the contradiction by providing easy access without constraining the compressor's internal orientation or refrigerant circuit connections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies maintenance inspection by making the connector section between the compressor and electric wiring easily examinable and workable, while preventing a decrease in heat-exchanging performance and ensuring safety by restricting access to fastening portions.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor for compressing refrigerant to generate the refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure
Implementation Method 2
a pressure-reducing device for expanding the compressed refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air
Implementation Method 4
a fan for blowing the air to the evaporator
Implementation Method 5
a water-refrigerant heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure produced in the refrigerant circuit and heating medium of low temperature to produce the heating medium of high temperature
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Heat pump device (1a) of the invention includes a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an expansion valve and an air heat exchanger, a fan for blowing air to the air heat exchanger, a soundproof board separating a machinery room having the compressor from a ventilation room having the fan, outer casing (29) that encloses the machinery room and the ventilation room, and supply connector section (16) disposed inside outer casing (29) and connecting the compressor to electric wiring for supplying electric power to the compressor. Outer casing (29) has opening (21a) provided with removable cover (22a), and supply connector section (16) is so disposed as to become accessible from outside of outer casing (29) when cover (22a) is removed. According to the invention, maintenance inspection of heat pump device (1a) becomes easier since supply connector section (16) becomes easily observable and readily workable when cover (22a) is removed.