EMBEDDED VENTILATION FAN

Abstract

An embedded ventilation fan includes a housing, a decorative panel, an air supply blower, an air exhaust blower, and a heat exchange element. The heat exchange element is disposed at a position where an air supply passage and an air exhaust passage cross each other in the housing. The decorative panel includes a front surface, a rear surface, an air supply slit opening, an air exhaust slit opening, and a non-open zone. The rear surface includes a protruding wall protruding toward an inner side of the housing. The non-open zone is a zone having no opening. The air exhaust slit opening is partitioned from the non-open zone by the protruding wall on the rear surface. The heat exchange element is disposed directly above the non-open zone and is not disposed directly above the air supply slit opening and the air exhaust slit opening.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an embedded ventilation fan.

2. Description of the Related Art

An embedded ventilation fan of the related art includes a decorative panel (design louver) on a lower surface of a housing. A configuration in which the decorative panel includes an opening such as an air supply slit opening or an air exhaust slit opening is known.

Citation List

Patent Literature

PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-245870

SUMMARY

Such an embedded ventilation fan of the related art has a problem that water due to dew condensation or the like may drop into the room via the opening of the decorative panel in a case where dew condensation occurs inside the housing.

Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in order to solve the above-described problem of the related art, and an object thereof is to provide an embedded ventilation fan in which entering of water due to dew condensation or the like into a room is suppressed.

Then, in order to achieve this object, an embedded ventilation fan according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing, a decorative panel, an air supply blower, an air exhaust blower, and a heat exchange element. The housing includes a side surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface, the decorative panel is disposed on the lower surface, an air supply passage through which air is blown from an outside of a room into the room by the air supply blower is formed, an air exhaust passage through which air is blown from the room to the outside of the room by the air exhaust blower is formed, the heat exchange element is disposed at a position where the air supply passage and the air exhaust passage cross each other in the housing, the decorative panel includes a front surface, a rear surface, an air supply slit opening, an air exhaust slit opening, and a non-open zone, the front surface is a surface opposite to the rear surface, the rear surface includes a protruding wall protruding toward an inner side of the housing, the air supply slit opening is connected to the air supply passage, the air exhaust slit opening is connected to the air exhaust passage, the non-open zone is a zone having no opening, the air exhaust slit opening is partitioned from the non-open zone by the protruding wall on the rear surface, and the heat exchange element is disposed directly above the non-open zone, and is not disposed directly above the air supply slit opening and the air exhaust slit opening.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the embedded ventilation fan in which the entering of water into the room is suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embedded ventilation fan according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an inside of a housing;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the housing and an inner lid;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the inside of the housing as viewed from below;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the housing;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an installation state of the embedded ventilation fan;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a portion near an adapter set;

FIG. 8 is a sectional perspective view illustrating an air supply blower or an air exhaust blower;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of a decorative panel;

FIG. 9B is a front view illustrating the rear surface of the decorative panel;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of another decorative panel;

FIG. 10B is a front view illustrating the rear surface of another decorative panel; and

FIG. 11 is a transparent front view illustrating disposition of a heat exchange element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

First, a basic configuration of embedded ventilation fan 1 will be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, embedded ventilation fan 1 includes housing 2, adapter set 3, and air supply blower 7.

Housing 2 includes first side surface 2a, second side surface 2b, third side surface 2c, adapter installation surface 2d, lower surface 2e, and upper surface 2f, which will be described later.

Adapter set 3 includes air supply adapter 3a, air exhaust adapter 3b, air exhaust shutter 3c, and adapter support portion 3d. Adapter set 3 is provided on adapter installation surface 2d.

Air supply blower 7 includes air supply casing 7a, air supply impeller 7b, air supply motor support plate 7c, air supply motor 7d, and air supply rotation shaft 7e, which will be described later.

Decorative panel 4 is provided on lower surface 2e of housing 2. Decorative panel 4 includes air supply slit opening 4a, air supply slit 4b, air exhaust slit openings 4c, and air exhaust slits 4d. Decorative panel 4 includes front surface 61a facing a space of a room.

Air exhaust slit openings 4c include first air exhaust slit opening 4c1, second air exhaust slit opening 4c2, and third air exhaust slit opening 4c3.

Metal fitting 5 is a component for embeddably providing housing 2 on a building ceiling or a building wall surface.

Metal fitting guide 6 is a component for preventing metal fitting 5 from falling off from housing 2. Metal fitting guide 6 is fixed to first side surface 2a and adapter installation surface 2d by using a fixing method such as a screw.

Metal fitting 5 and metal fitting guide 6 are attached to housing 2 substantially horizontally and substantially coaxially with each other, for example. Here, the term “substantially horizontally” includes an angle inclined within ±10° From a horizontal direction. The term “substantially coaxially” also includes an angle inclined within ±10° From the same axis.

Screw hole 19 is a hole for connecting housing 2 and a beam provided on the building ceiling or the building wall surface with a screw.

Inner lid opening 8b is provided on lower surface 2e of housing 2. Inner lid 8 is provided to cover a part or the whole of inner lid opening 8b.

Connection member 9b is a member that forms an air passage near air supply blow-out port 9 of inner lid 8. Connection member 9b connects air supply blower 7 and air supply blow-out port 9.

Inner lid 8 includes air supply blow-out port 9 and air exhaust suction port 28. Air supply blow-out port 9 is formed by, for example, a space surrounded by inner air supply blowing unit 68.

Control board 10 that controls an operation of embedded ventilation fan 1 is provided, for example, on inner lid 8.

Display unit 11 that displays a state of embedded ventilation fan 1 is provided, for example, on inner lid 8.

Inner lid 8 includes first spring engagement portion 26 and second spring engagement portion 27.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, embedded ventilation fan 1 includes air exhaust blower 12. Air exhaust blower 12 includes air exhaust casing 12a, air exhaust impeller 12b, air exhaust motor support plate 12c, air exhaust motor 12d, and air exhaust rotation shaft 12e, which will be described later.

Air supply side heat insulating plate 17 is provided between first side surface 2a and air supply motor support plate 7c. Air supply side heat insulating plate 17 is a plate that insulates heat between air supply passage 21 and housing 2. Air supply side heat insulating plate 17 is made of, for example, expanded polystyrene having excellent heat insulating performance. A thickness of air supply side heat insulating plate 17 is preferably equal to or more than 5 mm, and more preferably equal to or more than 10 mm.

Air exhaust side heat insulating plate 18 is provided between second side surface 2b and air exhaust motor support plate 12c. Air exhaust side heat insulating plate 18 is a plate that insulates heat between air exhaust passage 22 and housing 2. When air exhaust side heat insulating plate 18 is not provided, there is a possibility that the heat of air exhaust passage 22 is transferred to the room via housing 2. Air exhaust side heat insulating plate 18 is made of, for example, expanded polystyrene having excellent heat insulating performance. A thickness of air exhaust side heat insulating plate 18 is preferably equal to or more than 5 mm, and more preferably equal to or more than 10 mm.

Air supply passage 21 through which air is blown from an outside of the room into the room by air supply blower 7 is formed.

Air exhaust passage 22 through which air is blown from an inside of the room to the outside of the room by air exhaust blower 12 is formed.

Heat exchange element 15 is provided at a position where air supply passage 21 and air exhaust passage 22 cross each other. Heat exchange element 15 is disposed, for example, between air supply blower 7 and adapter set 3. Heat exchange element 15 is provided, for example, directly overhead of or directly above air exhaust suction port 28. Heat exchange element 15 is provided, for example, between air exhaust blower 12 and third side surface 2c.

Air passes through air supply adapter 3a, air supply filter 13, heat exchange element 15, air supply blower 7, air supply blow-out port 9, and air supply slit opening 4a in this order in air supply passage 21.

Air passes through air exhaust slit openings 4c, air exhaust suction port 28, air exhaust filter 14, heat exchange element 15, air exhaust blower 12, and air exhaust adapter 3b in this order in air exhaust passage 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a surface facing lower surface 2e of housing 2 is upper surface 2f.

Power supply connection box 16 that houses a power supply cord is provided, for example, on first side surface 2a. Power supply connection box 16 may be, for example, near control board 10 inside housing 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, housing 2 of embedded ventilation fan 1 is embedded in a wall surface of the room or the like in an orientation in which decorative panel 4 provided on lower surface 2e faces downward. The wall surface mainly refers to a ceiling, but also includes a side wall of the room other than the ceiling. In this case, lower surface 2e does not face downward. At the time of installation, decorative panel 4 is exposed from the wall surface.

In the present disclosure, the “lower surface” indicates, for example, a position where embedded ventilation fan 1 faces downward in a scene in FIG. 6. In a scene where embedded ventilation fan 1 is provided on the wall surface other than the ceiling, the “lower surface” includes a case where embedded ventilation fan 1 does not face downward (in a direction in which gravity acts). However, the “lower surface” broadly means a position corresponding to this position. The same applies to “upper surface”, “directly below”, “directly above”, “up direction”, “down direction”, and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, air supply damper 51 is provided near air supply adapter 3a.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, air supply blower 7 and air exhaust blower 12 may have similar configurations. Air supply impeller 7b is provided in air supply casing 7a. Air supply motor 7d is connected to air supply impeller 7b via air supply rotation shaft 7e. Air supply motor support plate 7c supports air supply motor 7d. Air supply motor support plate 7c faces first side surface 2a.

Air supply blower 7 is disposed inside housing 2 in a state where an axial direction of air supply rotation shaft 7e is substantially in the horizontal direction. Here, the term “substantially in the horizontal direction” includes an angle inclined within ±10° From a horizontal direction.

Air exhaust impeller 12b is provided in air exhaust casing 12a. Air exhaust motor 12d is connected to air exhaust impeller 12b via air exhaust rotation shaft 12e. Air exhaust motor support plate 12c supports air exhaust motor 12d. Air exhaust motor support plate 12c faces second side surface 2b.

Air exhaust blower 12 is disposed inside housing 2 in a state where an axial direction of air exhaust rotation shaft 12e is substantially in the horizontal direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, decorative panel 4 includes first spring 24 and second spring 25. First spring 24 is engaged with first spring engagement portion 26 (see FIG. 3). Second spring 25 is engaged with second spring engagement portion 27 (see FIG. 3).

Decorative panel 4 includes outer frame 47, reinforcing portion 48, and end portion 49. Outer frame 47 is an outer frame portion of decorative panel 4 on rear surface 61b. Reinforcing portion 48 reinforces outer frame 47. End portion 49 is a portion of an end present further outside outer frame 47.

A characteristic configuration of the present exemplary embodiment will be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, decorative panel 4 includes rear surface 61b.

Rear surface 61b is a surface opposite to front surface 61a (see FIG. 1). Rear surface 61b includes protruding wall 46 protruding toward the inside of housing 2.

Decorative panel 4 includes non-open zone 62. Non-open zone 62 is a zone having no opening.

Air exhaust slit openings 4c (first air exhaust slit opening 4c1, second air exhaust slit opening 4c2, and third air exhaust slit opening 4c3) are partitioned from non-open zone 62 by protruding wall 46 on rear surface 61b.

Heat exchange element 15 is disposed directly above non-open zone 62. Heat exchange element 15 is not disposed directly above air supply slit opening 4a. Heat exchange element 15 is not disposed directly above air exhaust slit openings 4c (first air exhaust slit opening 4c1, second air exhaust slit opening 4c2, and third air exhaust slit opening 4c3).

Heat exchange element 15 is disposed in such a manner, and thus, even in a case where dew condensation occurs in heat exchange element 15, water due to the dew condensation drops into non-open zone 62. Then, the reaching of water dropped into non-open zone 62 to air exhaust slit openings 4c (first air exhaust slit opening 4c1, second air exhaust slit opening 4c2, and third air exhaust slit opening 4c3) is suppressed by protruding wall 46. Thus, the entering of water into the room can be suppressed.

In a case where a large amount of water drops into non-open zone 62, the water is accumulated in non-open zone 62 by protruding wall 46. As described above, non-open zone 62 forms, for example, a pool shape by protruding wall 46.

Rear surface 61b may include outer air supply blowing unit 69 protruding toward the inside of housing 2. Outer air supply blowing unit 69 is connected to inner air supply blowing unit 68 of FIG. 3. At the time of connection, outer air supply blowing unit 69 is located outside air supply blowing unit 68. As a result, leakage of air flowing through air supply passage 21 to the outside of air supply passage 21 can be suppressed.

The reaching of water dropped into non-open zone 62 into air supply slit opening 4a can be suppressed by outer air supply blowing unit 69. Thus, the entering of water into the room can be suppressed.

A region of non-open zone 62 directly below heat exchange element 15 is defined as directly lower region 63. In this case, protruding wall 46 is provided to surround directly lower region 63. Then, directly lower region 63 is present in non-open zone 62.

However, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, protruding wall 46 may not surround directly lower region 63. Even in this case, air exhaust slit openings 4c (first air exhaust slit opening 4c1, second air exhaust slit opening 4c2, and third air exhaust slit opening 4c3) are partitioned from non-open zone 62 by protruding wall 46. Thus, similarly to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the entering of water into the room can be suppressed.

Rear surface 61b may include a warpage suppressing rib 65 in non-open zone 62. Warpage suppressing rib 65 suppresses warpage of a plate portion of decorative panel 4.

Protruding wall 46 is, for example, a continuous wall without a gap. Such a protruding wall 46 is formed, and thus, even in a case where dew condensation water drops from heat exchange element 15, the dropping of the dew condensation water into the room via air exhaust slit openings 4c and/or air supply slit opening 4a can be suppressed.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams of rear surface 61b of decorative panel 4 having basically the same configuration as viewed from different angles. FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams of rear surface 61b of decorative panel 4 having basically the same configuration as viewed from different angles.

However, for example, FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the concept of the disclosure and do not have completely the same configuration, and there are different portions. These different portions are not errors. This is because FIG. 10A is one disclosure and FIG. 10B is disclosed as another modification different from FIG. 10A.

As viewed in front views in FIGS. 9B and 10B, the entire region other than the opening portions in decorative panel 4 can be considered as a remaining region (remaining area). That is, the remaining region is a region other than air exhaust slit openings 4c and a region other than air supply slit opening 4a in decorative panel 4. As described above, the remaining region refers to the entire region of decorative panel 4 other than the opening portions (air exhaust slit openings 4c and air supply slit opening 4a). In this case, non-open zone 62 is a part or the whole of the remaining region. That is, non-open zone 62 is a zone that is the same as the remaining region or is included in the remaining region.

Specifically, in the case of FIGS. 9A and 9B, non-open zone 62 is a zone included in the remaining region (a part of the remaining region). On the other hand, in the case of FIGS. 10A and 10B, non-open zone 62 is not exactly the same as the remaining region, but is approximately the same.

FIG. 11 is a front transparent view of front surface 61a of decorative panel 4 as viewed from the room. As illustrated in FIG. 11, heat exchange element 15 is provided, for example, between first air exhaust slit opening 4c1 and second air exhaust slit opening 4c2.

Hereinafter, the present exemplary embodiment will be supplemented.

Embedded ventilation fan 1 according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes housing 2, decorative panel 4, air supply blower 7, air exhaust blower 12, and heat exchange clement 15. Housing 2 includes side surfaces (first side surface 2a, second side surface 2b, third side surface 2c, and adapter installation surface 2d), upper surface 2f, and lower surface 2e. Decorative panel 4 is disposed on lower surface 2e. Air supply passage 21 through which air is blown from an outside of a room into the room by air supply blower 7 is formed. Air exhaust passage 22 through which air is blown from an inside of the room to the outside of the room by air exhaust blower 12 is formed. Heat exchange clement 15 is disposed in housing 2 at a position where air supply passage 21 and air exhaust passage 22 cross each other. Decorative panel 4 includes front surface 61a, rear surface 61b, air supply slit opening 4a, air exhaust slit opening 4c, and non-open zone 62. Front surface 61a is a surface opposite to rear surface 61b, and rear surface 61b includes protruding wall 46 protruding toward an inside of housing 2. Air supply slit opening 4a is connected to air supply passage 21, and air exhaust slit opening 4c is connected to air exhaust passage 22. Non-open zone 62 is a zone having no opening, air exhaust slit opening 4c is partitioned from non-open zone 62 by protruding wall 46 on rear surface 61b, and heat exchange element 15 is disposed directly above non-open zone 62 and is not disposed directly above air supply slit opening 4a and air exhaust slit opening 4c.

According to this configuration, for example, dew condensation water generated in heat exchange element 15 does not drop directly into air supply slit opening 4a and air exhaust slit opening 4c. Thus, the dropping of dew condensation water into the room can be suppressed.

In addition, when a region of non-open zone 62 directly below heat exchange element 15 is defined as directly lower region 63, protruding wall 46 may be disposed so as to surround directly lower region 63, and directly lower region 63 may exist in non-open zone 62.

According to this configuration, for example, dew condensation water generated in heat exchange element 15 drops into non-open zone 62 surrounded by protruding wall 46. Thus, the dropping of dew condensation water into the room can be further suppressed.

In addition, protruding wall 46 may be a continuous wall without a gap.

According to this configuration, the dew condensation water dropped from heat exchange element 15 is accumulated in non-open zone 62 by protruding wall 46. Thus, the dropping of dew condensation water into the room via air supply slit opening 4a and/or air exhaust slit opening 4c can be suppressed.

In addition, housing 2 may include inner lid opening 8b on lower surface 2e, inner lid 8 may be disposed to cover inner lid opening 8b, inner lid 8 may be positioned between housing 2 and decorative panel 4, inner lid 8 may include air supply blow-out port 9 and air exhaust suction port 28, air supply blow-out port 9 may be connected to air supply passage 21, air exhaust suction port 28 may be connected to air exhaust passage 22, and heat exchange element 15 may be disposed directly above air exhaust suction port 28.

According to this configuration, not only air supply passage 21 and air exhaust passage 22 are formed by inner lid 8, but also respective air passages are separated inside housing 2. Thus, a supply air and an exhaust air can move as independent air without being mixed through heat exchange element 15.

In addition, an opening area of air exhaust suction port 28 may be smaller than an area of non-open zone 62.

According to this configuration, the dew condensation water generated near air exhaust suction port 28 drops into non-open zone 62. Thus, the dropping of dew condensation water into the room can be suppressed.

In addition, air exhaust filter 14 may be disposed between heat exchange element 15 and decorative panel 4, and air exhaust filter 14 may be disposed to cover air exhaust suction port 28.

According to this configuration, air passing through air exhaust suction port 28 is exhausted through air exhaust filter 14. Air passing through air exhaust passage 22 is cleaned by air exhaust filter 14 and is then sucked into air exhaust blower 12. Thus, performance deterioration of air exhaust blower 12 due to dust or the like can be suppressed.

Rear surface 61b may include warpage suppressing rib 65 in non-open zone 62.

According to this configuration, warpage at the time of molding of decorative panel 4 can be suppressed. Thus, for example, an appearance defect of decorative panel 4 due to deformation at the time of molding can be suppressed.

In addition, although inner lid 8 is disposed on lower surface 2e of housing 2 as a separate member from housing 2, inner lid 8 may have another configuration. For example, inner lid 8 may be disposed on lower surface 2e integrally with housing 2.

In addition, air supply blower 7 and/or air exhaust blower 12 may be disposed outside housing 2. This is because air supply passage 21 and/or air exhaust passage 22 can be formed even though air supply blower 7 and/or air exhaust blower 12 are outside housing 2.

For example, outer air supply blowing unit 69 and/or warpage suppressing rib 65 may not be disposed. This is because embedded ventilation fan 1 in which the entering of water into the room is suppressed by protruding wall 46 even though the outer air supply suction unit and/or warpage suppressing rib 65 are disposed or are not disposed.

Although the embedded ventilation fan according to the present disclosure has been described based on the first exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to the first exemplary embodiment. Configurations in which various variations conceived by those skilled in the art are applied to the first exemplary embodiments, and configurations established by combining components of different exemplary embodiments also fall within the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

The embedded ventilation fan according to the present disclosure is useful as an embedded ventilation fan, a heat exchange ventilation device, or the like, embedded in a wall surface such as a ceiling.

Claims

1. An embedded ventilation fan comprising: a housing;a decorative panel;an air supply blower;an air exhaust blower; anda heat exchange element,wherein the housing includes a side surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface,the decorative panel is disposed on the lower surface,an air supply passage through which air is blown from an outside of a room into the room by the air supply blower is formed,an air exhaust passage through which air is blown from the room to the outside of the room by the air exhaust blower is formed,the heat exchange element is disposed at a position where the air supply passage and the air exhaust passage cross each other in the housing,the decorative panel includes a front surface,a rear surface,an air supply slit opening,an air exhaust slit opening, anda non-open zone,the front surface is a surface opposite to the rear surface,the rear surface includes a protruding wall protruding toward an inner side of the housing,the air supply slit opening is connected to the air supply passage,the air exhaust slit opening is connected to the air exhaust passage,the non-open zone is a zone having no opening,the air exhaust slit opening is partitioned from the non-open zone by the protruding wall on the rear surface, andthe heat exchange element is disposed directly above the non-open zone, and is not disposed directly above the air supply slit opening and the air exhaust slit opening.

2. The embedded ventilation fan according to claim 1, wherein, when a region of the non-open zone directly below the heat exchange element is a directly lower region, the protruding wall is disposed to surround the directly lower region, andthe directly lower region is present in the non-open zone.

3. The embedded ventilation fan according to claim 1, wherein the protruding wall is a continuous wall without a gap.

4. The embedded ventilation fan according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes an inner lid opening on the lower surface,an inner lid is disposed to cover the inner lid opening,the inner lid is positioned between the housing and the decorative panel,the inner lid includes an air supply blow-out port and an air exhaust suction port,the air supply blow-out port is connected to the air supply passage,the air exhaust suction port is connected to the air exhaust passage, andthe heat exchange element is disposed directly above the air exhaust suction port.

5. The embedded ventilation fan according to claim 4, wherein an opening area of the air exhaust suction port is smaller than an area of the non-open zone.

6. The embedded ventilation fan according to claim 4, further comprising an air exhaust filter between the heat exchange element and the decorative panel, wherein the air exhaust filter is disposed to cover the air exhaust suction port.

7. The embedded ventilation fan according to claim 1, wherein the rear surface is a warpage suppressing rib that suppresses warpage of the decorative panel in the non-open zone.