Lead Wire Sealing Structure for Refrigerant-Tight Heat Pump Boxes

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Solution Overview

Problem

In heat pump apparatuses, refrigerant leaks can enter electrical equipment boxes through the path of lead wires, posing a risk of refrigerant accumulation and potential hazards.

Innovation Solution

A lead wire relay module with a fixing frame and sleeves is used to seal and hold lead wires within the electrical equipment box, featuring a tapered structure and O-ring for enhanced airtightness, preventing refrigerant entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lead wires are drawn into the electrical equipment box for electrical connections, then electrical functionality is achieved, but refrigerant can enter the electrical equipment box through the lead wire path

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical functionalityVSAvoidrefrigerant entry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A lead wire relay module is introduced as an intermediary component between the external lead wires and the electrical equipment box. This module includes a through opening for lead wire passage and sealing structures (O-rings, gaskets) that prevent refrigerant from traveling along the lead wire path into the electrical equipment box, while still allowing electrical connections to be made

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lead wire relay module segments the electrical connection function from the electrical equipment box interior. By creating a separate modular component with its own sealing mechanisms, the design isolates the potential refrigerant contamination path from the main electrical equipment box, allowing lead wires to pass through while maintaining protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the electrical equipment box is sealed to prevent refrigerant entry, then safety is improved, but lead wires cannot be drawn into the box for electrical connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant preventionVSAvoidlead wire installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lead wire relay module is pre-configured with through openings and sealing structures before installation. The O-rings and gaskets are pre-positioned in the module, so that when the module is installed on the electrical equipment box, the sealing path is already established. This allows lead wires to be drawn through the pre-prepared openings without compromising the sealed environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The lead wire relay module serves as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of sealing and wire access. It provides a controlled interface where lead wires can pass through while the integrated sealing structures maintain the barrier against refrigerant, making the installation process straightforward without requiring complex modifications to the electrical equipment box

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution effectively prevents refrigerant from entering the electrical equipment box, ensuring improved airtightness and safety by using a lead wire relay module with a tapered structure and chloroprene rubber O-ring for effective sealing.

Implementation Method 1

the sleeves for insertion thereby coming into close contact with the fixing frame so as to seal and hold lead wires to be drawn into the electrical equipment box body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentEP4345388A1Heat pump apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4345388A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4345388A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4345388A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a heat pump apparatus capable of preventing a refrigerant from entering an electrical equipment box when the refrigerant leaks from a refrigerant circuit. A heat pump apparatus including a machine room and a blower room each in a housing, the machine room being a room in which a compressor and an expansion device are disposed, the blower room being a room in which a heat exchanger and a blower device are disposed, the heat pump apparatus including an electrical equipment box, wherein the electrical equipment box includes an electrical equipment box body and a cover member, the electrical equipment box body having a through opening, the through opening is provided with a lead wire relay module that draws in a plurality of lead wires, and the lead wire relay module includes a fixing frame and sleeves for insertion, the fixing frame having a plurality of insertion openings, the sleeves for insertion being inserted into the respective insertion openings, the sleeves for insertion thereby coming into close contact with the fixing frame so as to seal and hold the lead wires to be drawn into the electrical equipment box body.