This application is a 371 application of the International PCT application serial no. PCT/JP2019/032779, filed on Aug. 22, 2019, which claims the priority benefits of Japan Patent Application No. 2018-180338, filed on Sep. 26, 2018. The entirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The present invention relates to a hot water device such as a hot water supply device or the like which includes a heat exchanger.
As the hot water device, there is a device including a heat exchanger in which a heat transfer tube with water flowing inside is accommodated in a case. When this heat exchanger is connected to a desired apparatus to be connected to (for example, another heat exchanger or a burner case of a combustion device), a flange connection mechanism is often employed (for example, see Patent literature 1). In the flange connection mechanism, each of a case of the heat exchanger and a case of the apparatus to be connected to is equipped with a flange portion, and these flange portions are overlapped and bonded with each other. The bonding is realized by, for example, welding. According to this configuration, connection strength between the heat exchanger and the apparatus to be connected to can be improved. An airtightness of the connection location of the flange portion can also be improved.
However, in the conventional technique described above, there is still room for improvement as described below.
That is, when each case of the heat exchanger and the apparatus to be connected to is manufactured, the number of the constituent components thereof is desired to be reduced and a manufacturing cost is desired to be lowered. Therefore, a mechanism is often employed in which a metal plate which is a raw material of the case is bent and a plurality of side wall portions of the case are connected via corner portions. In the mechanism, before the metal plate is bent, a flange portion is bent and formed previously on the metal plate, and when the metal plate is bent to form the corner portion, the flange portion is also bent at the same time. Therefore, if a protrusion dimension of the flange portion is large, the bending process for forming the corner portion on the metal plate becomes difficult. In addition to this, there is a possibility that a damage such as cracking or the like may occur at a location of the flange portion corresponding to the corner portion. On the other hand, if the protrusion dimension of the flange portion is reduced in order to solve this problem, the heat capacity of the flange portion is reduced. In addition, during the welding, cooling using chill blocks also becomes difficult. Thus, there is a possibility that when the welding is performed in the flange portion, a temperature of the flange portion may become abnormally high, which causes a welding defect.
An object of the present invention is to provide a hot water device capable of appropriately preventing or suppressing the above-described problems.
In order to solve the problems described above, a following technical mechanism is taken in the present invention.
A hot water device provided by the present invention includes: a heat exchanger having a first case, wherein the first case includes a plurality of first side wall portions connected via at least one first corner portion, and first flange portions protruding to an outside of the first case in a form bent from the plurality of first side wall portions; and an apparatus to which the heat exchanger is to be connected having a second case, wherein the second case includes a plurality of second side wall portions connected via at least one second corner portion, and second flange portions protruding to an outside of the second case in a form bent from the plurality of second side wall portions. The first flange portions and the second flange portions are laid over each other and welded together, the first flange portions and the second flange portions are each demarcated into a corner flange portion corresponding to the first corner portion and the second corner portion, and into a non-corner flange portion other than the corner flange portion, and the non-corner flange portions protrude more to the outside of the first case and the second case than the corner flange portions.
Preferably, the corner flange portion has a curved portion which is curved in a plan view in a manner of corresponding to a bending shape of the first corner portion and the second corner portion, and a pair of straight portions which is non-curved in a plan view, is connected to both ends of the curved portion, and has a protrusion dimension towards the outside of the first case and the second case which is the same as a protrusion dimension of the curved portion.
Preferably, a boundary region between the corner flange portion and the non-corner flange portion is an inclined region in which a front end portion of the inclined region is inclined in a manner that the more a part of the non-corner flange portion approaches the corner flange portion from the non-corner flange portion the less a protrusion dimension towards the outside of the first case and the second case.
Preferably, the first case includes a first case main body portion in which the plurality of first side wall portions are connected in a Π-shape in a plan view so as to form a first side surface opening portion, and a first side plate portion which is bonded to the first case main body portion so as to close the first side surface opening portion. The second case includes a second case main body portion in which the plurality of second side wall portions are connected in a Π-shape in a plan view so as to form a second side surface opening portion, and a second side plate portion which is bonded to the second case main body portion so as to close the second side surface opening portion. The first flange portion and the second flange portion are arranged in the first case main body portion and the second case main body portion. The first side plate portion and the second side plate portion include a third flange portion and a fourth flange portion laid over each other and welded together.
Preferably, the hot water device according to the present invention further includes: a case corner welding portion in which a first case corner portion and a second case corner portion are welded to each other, wherein in the first case corner, the first flange portion and the third flange portion are adjacent to each other, and in the second case corner portion, the second flange portion and the fourth flange portion are adjacent to each other. At each end portion of the first to fourth flange portions, an inclined portion is formed in which a front end portion of the inclined portion is inclined in a manner that the more a part approaches the case corner welding portion the less a protrusion dimension towards the outside of the case.
Preferably, the first case main body portion and the second case main body portion further include a first longitudinal flange portion and a second longitudinal flange portion which extend in a vertical height direction of the first case main body portion and the second case main body portion and are abutted and bonded to the first side plate portion and the second side plate portion. In a part of the first and second longitudinal flange portions and the first and second side plate portions which is close to the case corner welding portion, an additional inclined portion is formed in which a front end portion of the additional inclined portion is inclined in a manner that as the more a part approaches the case corner welding portion the less a protrusion dimension towards the outside of the case.
Preferably, the heat exchanger is a primary heat exchanger which collects heat from a heating gas, and the apparatus to be connected to is a secondary heat exchanger which further collects heat from a heating gas that has passed through the primary heat exchanger.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to accompanying drawings.
A preferable embodiment of the present invention is specifically described below with reference to drawings.
A hot water device WH shown in
The primary heat exchanger H1 corresponds to an example of a “heat exchanger” in the present invention, and the secondary heat exchanger H2 corresponds to an example of an “apparatus to be connected to” in the present invention.
The burner 6 is of a so-called reverse combustion type known conventionally. In the burner 6, a fuel gas is mixed with combustion air discharged from a fan (not shown), and the air-fuel mixture is injected into the primary heat exchanger H1 via an air-fuel mixture injection member 60 having air permeability. The air-fuel mixture is ignited, and the combustion gas used as a heating gas is supplied into the primary heat exchanger H1.
The primary heat exchanger H1 includes a first case C1, a heat transfer tube 3 accommodated inside the first case C1, a plurality of fins 4 for heat absorption, a plurality of body pipes 39, and a plurality of header portions 35a and 35b connecting the plurality of body pipes 39 to each other. The body pipes 39 are arranged along inner surfaces of a plurality of side wall portions (first side wall portions) 10a to 10c of the first case C1, and play a role of absorbing heat for heating water and cooling the plurality of side wall portions 10a to 10c of the first case C1.
As shown by break-line arrows in
The secondary heat exchanger H2 includes a second case C2 and a plurality of heat transfer tubes 7 accommodated inside the second case C2. The heat transfer tube 7 is, for example, a meandering heat transfer tube which is obtained in a manner that a plurality of straight tube body portions 70 disposed at intervals in a vertical height direction are connected in a series via connection tube body portions 71 having a semi-circular arc shape or the like. The plurality of heat transfer tubes 7 are disposed in a width direction of the second case C2 (a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of
The first case C1 has a rectangular tubular shape in which both upper and lower surface portions are open, and as shown in
The first flange portion 5A has a Π-shape in a plan view, which is the same as the plurality of side wall portions 10a to 10c, and the first flange portion 5A is demarcated into a corner flange portion 50 protruding to the outside of the case from each first corner portion 12 at the lower end portions of the first case C1, and into a non-corner flange portion 51 protruding to the outside of the case from a part different from the first corner portion 12. A protrusion dimension Lb of the non-corner flange portion 51 to the outside of the case is relatively large, whereas a protrusion dimension La of the corner flange portion 50 to the outside of the case is smaller than the protrusion dimension Lb.
As clearly shown in an enlarged plan cross-sectional view of a relevant part in
A third flange portion 5C is arranged at a lower end portion of the first side plate portion 1A. The third flange portion 5C is arranged by bending the lower end portion of the first side plate portion 1A to the outside of the case. Downward surfaces of the first and third flange portions 5A and 5C are surfaces that are bonded facing second and fourth flange portions 5B and 5D described later, and the downward surfaces are set to a flush height.
Fifth and sixth flange portions 5E and 5F are arranged at each upper end portion of the first case main body portion 1 and the first side plate portion 1A. The fifth and sixth flange portions 5E and 5F are portions used to mount and connect the burner 6 on the primary heat exchanger H1. In the embodiment, the flange connection mechanism that the present invention intends is not employed for the connection between the primary heat exchanger H1 and the burner 6. However, unlike the embodiment, the flange connection mechanism that the present invention intends can also be employed. The fifth flange portion 5E has the same shape in a plan view as the first flange portion 5A and has a corner flange portion 50′ and a non-corner flange portion 51′ having the same configurations as the corner flange portion 50 and the non-corner flange portion 51 in the first flange portion 5A. An auxiliary member 1B having a Π-shape in a plan view is bonded to a back surface side of the fifth flange portion 5E to reinforce the fifth flange portion 5E.
As shown in
The second and fourth flange portions 5B and 5D are arranged at upper end portions of the second case main body portion 2 and the second side plate portion 2A. The second flange portion 5B has the same shape in a plan view as the first flange portion 5A and has, the same as the first flange portion 5A, a corner flange portion 50 and a non-corner flange portion 51. Portions among each portion of the second flange portion 5B which are common to the first flange portion 5A are designated by the same reference signs as each portion of the first flange portion 5A, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. The fourth flange portion 5D is arranged by bending an upper end of the second side plate portion 2A to the outside of the case.
The first and second flange portions 5A and 5B are laid over each other, the third and fourth flange portions 5C and 5D are laid over each other, and edge welding is performed on the first and second flange portions 5A and 5B and the third and fourth flange portions 5C and 5D.
Moreover, the flange portion is not arranged at a lower end portion of the second case main body portion 2. However, alternatively, when a flange portion is also arranged at the lower end portion of the second case main body portion 2, this flange portion is expected to have the same configuration as the first and second flange portions 5A and 5B.
As clearly shown in
At each end portion of the first to fourth flange portions 5A to 5D which is near the case corner welding portion Wa, inclined portions 53a to 53d are formed in which front end portions are inclined in a manner that the protrusion dimension towards the outside of the case is reduced as a part approaches the case corner welding portion Wa. At front end portions of the first and second case main body portions 1 and 2, first and second longitudinal flange portions 13 and 23 are arranged which extend in a vertical height direction and are abut against and bonded to the first and second side plate portions 1A and 1B. Here, additional inclined portions 13a and 23a are formed at a lower part or an upper part of the first and second longitudinal flange portions 13 and 23 which is near the case corner welding portion Wa. The first and second side plate portions 1A and 2A have a form in which both end portions thereof in the lateral width direction protruding out of the case from the first and second case main body portions 1 and 2, and additional inclined portions 13b and 23b are formed at a lower part or an upper part of the first and second side plate portions 1A and 2A which is near the case corner welding portion Wa.
Similar to the inclined portions 53a to 53d, the additional inclined portions 13a, 13b, 23a, and 23b are parts in which front end portions are inclined in a manner that the protrusion dimension towards the outside of the case is reduced as a part approaches to the case corner welding portion Wa. According to this configuration, the inclined portions 53a to 53d and the additional inclined portions 13a, 13b, 23a, and 23b have an outward expanding form centered on the case corner welding portion Wa. Therefore, when the welding work for arranging the case corner welding portion Wa is performed, for example, when a welding torch 9 is made to approach the portion to be welded, the first to fourth flange portions 5A to 5D, the first and second longitudinal flange portions 13 and 23, and the first and second side plate portions 1A and 1B can be prevented from becoming obstructions.
Next, an action of the above-described hot water device WH is described.
The first case main body portion 1 of the primary heat exchanger H1 is formed by bending the metal plate, in which the first flange portion 5A is formed previously, into a Π-shape in a plan view. Meanwhile, in the embodiment, the protrusion dimensions of the corner flange portions 50 and 50′ are reduced, and thus the corner flange portions 50 and 50′ do not become a large resistance in the work of bending the metal plate to form the first corner portion 12, and the work can be facilitated and smoothed. In addition, a large load can be prevented from being generated in the corner flange portions 50 and 50′, and cracking can also be prevented from occurring in these parts. The corner flange portions 50 and 50′ have a configuration in which the straight portions 50b are connected to both ends of the curved portion 50a, and a rapid shape change is avoided, and thus cracking can be more reliably prevented from occurring in these parts.
On the other hand, the second case main body portion 2 of the secondary heat exchanger H2 is formed by bending the metal plate, in which the second flange portion 5B is formed previously, into a Π-shape in a plan view. Meanwhile, the corner flange portion 50 of the second flange portion 5B has the reduced protrusion dimension and has the same configuration as the corner flange portions 50 and 50′ of the first flange portion 5A. Therefore, the bending process is facilitated and smoothed, and problems such as cracking occurring in the corner flange portion 50 are also appropriately solved. Thus, reduction of a manufacturing cost of the first and second case main body portions 1 and 2 and the like can be achieved.
The edge welding of the first and second flange portions 5A and 5B can be performed, for example, in an aspect as shown in
When the edge welding is performed on the first and second flange portions 5A and 5B, for example, as shown in
As described with reference to
The present invention is not limited to the contents of the embodiment described above. The specific configuration of each portion of the hot water device according to the present invention can be variously and freely designed and changed within the scope that the present invention intends.
In the embodiment described above, the first and second cases C1 and C2 have the first and second case main body portions 1 and 2 which have the Π-shape in the plan view, and correspondingly, the first and second flange portions 5A and 5B also have the Π-shape in the plan view, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, each of the first and second cases can also be formed in, for example, a rectangular tubular shape in which the three corner portions obtained by bending one metal plate are arranged, and the one corner portion is further arranged by bonding the both ends of the metal plate to each other. In this case, the first and second flange portions can also be formed in a rectangular frame shape covering the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the first and second cases having the rectangular tubular shape.
The first and second flange portions are configured in a manner that the protrusion dimension of the non-corner flange portion to the outside is larger than that of the corner flange portion, but the specific dimensions and the dimensional difference between the non-corner flange portion and the corner flange portion are not limited.
The welding of the first and second flange portions is not limited to the edge welding and can also be flip-chip bonding other than the edge welding, or welding other than the flip-chip bonding.
The heat exchanger in the present invention is not limited to the above-described primary heat exchanger H1 and can be a heat exchanger having a configuration other than the configuration of the primary heat exchanger H1.
The apparatus to be connected to in the present invention is not limited to the heat exchanger (the secondary heat exchanger). As the apparatus to be connected to, for example, an exhaust collecting cylinder (also including a simple duct and the like) for exhausting the gas passing through the heat exchanger, or a combustion device for supplying the combustion gas to the heat exchanger can also be applied.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2018-180338 | Sep 2018 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2019/032779 | 8/22/2019 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2020/066385 | 4/2/2020 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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5347958 | Gordon, Jr. | Sep 1994 | A |
20180224337 | Nagasaka | Aug 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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S4728244 | Nov 1972 | JP |
S57132774 | Aug 1982 | JP |
S6311752 | Jan 1988 | JP |
S6366749 | May 1988 | JP |
H0611192 | Jan 1994 | JP |
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2003279286 | Oct 2003 | JP |
2012241955 | Dec 2012 | JP |
2017009231 | Jan 2017 | JP |
20010000164 | Jan 2001 | KR |
2018037857 | Mar 2018 | WO |
Entry |
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Kim, Translation and originial of KR20010000164 (Year: 2001). |
“International Search Report (Form PCT/ISA/210) of PCT/JP2019/032779,” dated Nov. 12, 2019, with English translation thereof, pp. 1-4. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210325083 A1 | Oct 2021 | US |