OUTDOOR UNIT

Abstract

An outdoor unit included in a heat pump apparatus is disclosed. The outdoor unit includes a housing including a bottom plate (120). The bottom plate (120) includes a drain hole (131), a side wall (132), and a lid (133). The side wall (132) is erected along a portion of an outer circumference of the drain hole (131). The lid (133) extends from a tip end portion of the side wall (132) to cover at least a portion of the drain hole (131). According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent entry of water from the drain hole (131) of the bottom plate (120).

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit included in a heat pump apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

JP 2011-163634 A discloses a technology related to an outdoor unit included in a water heater that is a heat pump apparatus. The just-mentioned patent publication discloses the technique of thawing the ice accumulated on a bottom plate of a housing of the outdoor unit by the heat of an evaporator disposed in the housing, by bringing the bottom plate of the housing into contact with the evaporator, which becomes high temperature at the time of defrosting.

SUMMARY

In an outdoor unit, water that thaws from the ice formed inside the housing, water that enters from outside of the housing, and the like, are drained out of the housing from a drain hole disposed in the bottom plate of the housing. The inventors of the present application have found that water such as rainwater and sprinkled water bounces off the ground surface on which the outdoor unit is installed, and enters the inside of the outdoor unit.

The present disclosure has been accomplished based on the findings made by the inventors, and provides an outdoor unit that is able to prevent entry of water from below the outdoor unit through the drain hole.

According to the present disclosure, an outdoor unit is included in a heat pump apparatus. The outdoor unit according to the present disclosure includes a housing including a bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a drain hole, a side wall, and a lid. The side wall is erected along a portion of an outer circumference of the drain hole. The lid extends from a tip end portion of the side wall so as to cover at least a portion of the drain hole.

The present disclosure makes it possible to prevent entry of water from below the outdoor unit through a drain hole disposed in the bottom plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of an outdoor unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the external appearance of the outdoor unit according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a bottom plate.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a machine region, which is viewed transparently through a portion of a frame of the bottom plate.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a drain part, which is viewed transparently through a portion of the frame of the bottom plate.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a first additional example of the drain part.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a second additional example of the drain part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, outdoor unit 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The following exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, constituent elements, relative arrangements, connections, numerical values, mathematical expressions, contents and orders of the steps in methods, etc., described in the following exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative examples, and may include what are not described below.

Geometrical expressions such as parallel, orthogonal, and the like are used in some cases. These expressions do not indicate mathematical strictness and may include substantially permissible errors and deviations. The terms such as simultaneous, same, and identical may also include substantially permissible ranges.

The drawings are schematic representations with emphasis, omissions, or proportional adjustments that are made as necessary to illustrate the present disclosure, which may be different from actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions.

The X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis shown in the drawings are orthogonal coordinates that are defined for illustration in the drawings. In the present exemplary embodiment, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis extend in the depth direction, the lateral direction, and the vertical direction, respectively. In the present disclosure, the phrase “viewed from the front” means when an object is viewed along the X-axis. The phrase “viewed from side” means when an object is viewed along the Y-axis. The phrase “viewed in plan” means when an object is viewed along the Z-axis.

Hereinbelow, a plurality of disclosures may be described collectively as one exemplary embodiment. Some of the content described in the following may be described as optional to the constituent elements of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of outdoor unit 100. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the external appearance of outdoor unit 100. Outdoor unit 100 is included in a heat pump apparatus that transfers heat by compression and expansion of a heat transfer medium.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, housing 110 of outdoor unit 100 accommodates the constituent elements of a heat pump circuit, such as a compressor (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown), a first heat exchanger (not shown), a control circuit board (not shown), and air blower device 101 (see FIG. 2). For example, when outdoor unit 100 is used for a water heater, outdoor unit 100 is connected to a second heat exchanger (not shown) that exchanges heat between water and a heated heat transfer medium via a pipe (not shown), to constitute a heat pump circuit.

The compressor compresses the heat transfer medium that has been heated in the first heat exchanger by the air to liquefies at least a portion thereof, and further heats and discharges the heat transfer medium. It is also possible that an accumulator may be connected to a suction side of the compressor.

The expansion valve is a decompression device for increasing the volume of the heat transfer medium that has been cooled by heat exchange with water or the like in the second heat exchanger to cool the heat transfer medium.

The first heat exchanger carries out heat exchange between the heat transfer medium cooled by the expansion valve and the air sent in by air blower device 101. In the heat pump circuit, the first heat exchanger functions as a condenser when the second heat exchanger absorbs heat, and functions as an evaporator when the second heat exchanger releases heat.

Air blower device 101 includes a motor and a fan, and it forms the air flow that passes through housing 110 and makes contact with the first heat exchanger. The fan included in air blower device 101 may be, for example, an axial fan. This air flow is passed through the first heat exchanger from a ventilation opening disposed in one surface of housing 110 and is discharged from another ventilation opening disposed in the other surface of housing 110 that is opposite the one surface thereof. This air flow allows heat exchange with the heat transfer medium when it passes through the first heat exchanger.

The control circuit board includes a processor that performs control of the compressor disposed within housing 110, control of air blower device 101, and the like, and a semiconductor memory that stores the information thereof.

Housing 110 is an outer shell of outdoor unit 100. Housing 110 includes bottom plate 120 disposed at the lower part thereof. Housing 110 is installed on a mount base (not shown) supported by mount metal fittings 102 that are installed on the ground surface not directly on the ground surface. This forms the space that allows the air to flow through below housing 110.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating bottom plate 120. As illustrated in FIG. 3, bottom plate 120 constitutes the bottom part of housing 110. Bottom plate 120 supports the components accommodated in housing 110, such as the compressor, the control circuit board, the first heat exchanger, and air blower device 101.

In the present exemplary embodiment, bottom plate 120 has a rectangular shape including four edges 126 and four corners 127, when viewed in plan. Four edges 126 and four corners 127 of bottom plate 120 correspond to the four sides and the four apexes of bottom plate 120 that is in a rectangular shape, respectively.

Bottom plate 120 includes machine region 122. Machine region 122 is disposed in contact with two adjacent edges 126 of four edges 126 and with one corner 127 that is in contact with these two adjacent edges 126. These two adjacent edges 126 are first edge 126a and second edge 126b. The one corner 127 that is in contact with these two adjacent edges 126 is referred to as corner 127a.

Bottom plate 120 also includes air flow circuit regions 121 (the two regions surrounded by dash-dot-dot lines in FIG. 3) in a region other than machine region 122. Bottom plate 120 includes protrusion 125 that is disposed at the boundary between air flow circuit region 121 and machine region 122 and protrudes upward from bottom surface 124. Protrusion 125 restrains the water on bottom surface 124 from traveling between air flow circuit region 121 and machine region 122.

Protrusion 125 is located more inward of bottom plate 120 than machine region 122 when viewed in plan. A portion of protrusion 125 is electrical component mount region 123 (the region surrounded by dashed line in FIG. 3). The first heat exchanger, air blower device 101, and the like are disposed in air flow circuit region 121. Electrical component 111 is mounted on electrical component mount region 123.

Electrical component 111 includes electrical and electronic devices that are disposed in machine region 122 and supported by machine region 122. In the present exemplary embodiment, electrical component 111 includes the compressor and the control circuit board.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of machine region 122, which is viewed transparently through a portion of the frame of bottom plate 120. As illustrated in FIG. 4, bottom plate 120 includes three drain parts 130 that have the same structure, namely, first drain part 130a, second drain part 130b, and third drain part 130c, which are disposed on bottom surface 124 of machine region 122. First drain part 130a, second drain part 130b, and third drain part 130c respectively include first drain hole 131a, second drain hole 131b, and third drain hole 131c.

In some cases, water that has condensed in the accumulator or the like disposed in housing 110 may accumulate in machine region 122. In other cases, water that has entered through through-holes disposed in side walls of housing 110 may accumulate on bottom surface 124 of machine region 122. The water accumulated on bottom surface 124 of machine region 122 is drained out of housing 110 through drain parts 130.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, first drain part 130a and second drain part 130b are disposed respectively in contact with first edge 126a and second edge 126b in machine region 122. First edge 126a is one edge 126 of two adjacent edges 126 of bottom plate 120. Second edge 126b is the other edge 126 of two adjacent edges 126 of bottom plate 120.

Third drain part 130c is disposed in contact with corner 127a of four corners 127 of bottom plate 120 that is in contact with first edge 126a and second edge 126b. By disposing drain parts 130 in this way, the water accumulated in machine region 122 can be drained outside through any of drain parts 130 even when the surface on which outdoor unit 100 is installed is inclined to a certain degree.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of drain part 130, which is viewed transparently through a portion of the frame of bottom plate 120 and is an enlarged view of region C shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. 5, drain part 130 includes drain hole 131, side wall 132, and lid 133. In FIG. 5, drain part 130 is third drain part 130c, and drain hole 131 is third drain hole 131c.

Drain hole 131 is a through-hole for draining the water accumulated on bottom surface 124 of bottom plate 120 in housing 110 out of housing 110. Drain hole 131 includes rectangular shaped portion 141 and slit portion 142 connected to rectangular shaped portion 141. Rectangular shaped portion 141 is a rectangular shaped hole, and slit portion 142 is an elongated hole.

The length of slit portion 142 along its longitudinal axis is longer than one side of rectangular shaped portion 141 that is in contact with slit portion 142. Accordingly, drain hole 131 has a T shape when viewed in plan.

Side wall 132 is erected toward the inside of housing 110 along a portion of an outer circumference of drain hole 131. In the present exemplary embodiment, side wall 132 is disposed between drain hole 131 and electrical component 111 disposed in electrical component mount region 123 of bottom plate 120.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, even when water enters from below housing 110 through drain hole 131, side wall 132 prevents the water from attaching to electrical component 111.

Side wall 132 is erected along a portion of the outer circumference of rectangular shaped portion 141 of drain hole 131. In the present exemplary embodiment, a portion of the outer circumference of rectangular shaped portion 141 means three sides of rectangular shaped portion 141 that is other than one side that is in contact with slit portion 142, of the four sides of rectangular shaped portion 141. Side wall 132 is disposed continuously along these three sides. This means that side wall 132 has a C shape when viewed in plan.

Side wall 132 may be erected upright with respect to bottom surface 124, or may be erected in an inclined condition with respect to bottom surface 124.

Lid 133 extends from a tip end portion that is the top edge of side wall 132 and covers at least a portion of drain hole 131. Lid 133 may cover the entirety of drain hole 131. In the present exemplary embodiment, lid 133 covers rectangular shaped portion 141, which is a portion of drain hole 131. Lid 133 is connected to the entirety of the tip end portion of side wall 132 of drain hole 131.

As described above, side wall 132 is disposed along three sides of rectangular shaped portion 141 except for one side thereof that is in contact with slit portion 142, of the four sides of rectangular shaped portion 141. Side wall 132 is not disposed on one side of rectangular shaped portion 141 that is in contact with slit portion 142, of the four sides of rectangular shaped portion 141.

In other words, drain part 130 includes upright opening 143 that is surrounded by one side of rectangular shaped portion 141 on which side wall 132 is not provided, two side edges of side wall 132 facing slit portion 142, and a side edge of lid 133 facing slit portion 142.

With this configuration, the path of the water that enters housing 110 through rectangular shaped portion 141 of drain hole 131 from below housing 110 can be restricted to the path in the direction from drain hole 131 toward upright opening 143. The traveling path of the water that enters through slit portion 142 is also restricted by side wall 132 and lid 133. This prevents water from entering the region in which electrical component 111 is disposed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, all of upright openings 143 of drain parts 130 are disposed so as to face toward the outside of housing 110. This serves to limit the traveling path of the water that enters through drain holes 131 to the directions opposite the region in which electrical component 111 is disposed. As a result, it is possible to reduce adverse effects on the parts and the like that are accommodated in housing 110.

In the present exemplary embodiment, bottom plate 120 is manufactured by press working a sheet metal. The various elements of drain parts 130 are also integrally formed by press forming a sheet metal. Drain hole 131 includes slit portion 142, which enables side wall 132 and lid 133 to be formed easily by press working.

In addition, side wall 132 and lid 133 are integrally formed with bottom plate 120 by press working. However, side wall 132 and lid 133 may be separate parts from bottom plate 120. The method of joining bottom plate 120 with side wall 132 and joining side wall 132 with lid 133 may be effected by, for example, welding, adhesive bonding using an adhesive agent, or the like. However, the materials and the manufacturing methods of bottom plate 120 are not limited to those described above.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a first additional example of drain part 130. As illustrated in FIG. 6, side wall 132 may be disposed only on one side of drain hole 131. Lid 133 may cover the entirety of drain hole 131.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a second additional example of drain part 130. As illustrated in FIG. 7, drain hole 131 may have a shape that is other than a rectangular shape, such as a circular shape. Side wall 132 does not need to be in contact with the circumferential edge of drain hole 131 and may be disposed away from the circumferential edge of drain hole 131.

The present disclosure is not limited to the present exemplary embodiment. For example, various other embodiments implemented by any combinations of the constituent elements described in the present disclosure, and various other embodiments implemented by omitting some of the constituent elements described above, are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

CONCLUSION

Outdoor unit 100 according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is an outdoor unit included in a heat pump apparatus. Outdoor unit 100 according to this aspect includes housing 110 including bottom plate 120. Bottom plate 120 includes drain hole 131, side wall 132, and lid 133. Side wall 132 is erected along a portion of an outer circumference of drain hole 131. Lid 133 extends from a tip end portion of side wall 132 to cover at least a portion of drain hole 131.

The first aspect is able to restrict the traveling direction of water or the like that bounces off the installation surface and enters the inside of housing 110 through drain hole 131 of bottom plate 120 in outdoor unit 100 that is installed with a space provided between the installation surface and bottom plate 120. This prevents the water that has entered the inside of housing 110 from adversely affecting the operations of the parts inside the housing 110.

In outdoor unit 100 according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, side wall 132 is disposed between drain hole 131 and electrical component 111 accommodated in housing 110, in addition to the first aspect. The second aspect is able to prevent water that has entered the inside of housing 110 through drain hole 131 from attaching to electrical component 111, which is likely to be adversely affected by water, among the components accommodated in housing 110.

In outdoor unit 100 according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, drain hole 131 includes rectangular shaped portion 141 that is a hole in a rectangular shape, and side wall 132 is disposed along three sides of rectangular shaped portion 141 of drain hole 131, in addition to the first aspect. The third aspect is able to limit the path of water that has entered through drain hole 131.

In outdoor unit 100 according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, bottom plate 120 includes a plurality of drain holes including first drain hole 131a and second drain hole 131b, each of first drain hole 131a and second drain hole 131b being drain hole 131 according to the first aspect. Bottom plate 120 is in a rectangular shape including four edges.

First drain hole 131a and second drain hole 131b are disposed in contact with one edge 126 (first edge 126a) and the other edge 126 (second edge 126b) of two adjacent edges 126 (first edge 126a and second edge 126b), respectively.

Specifically, bottom plate 120 further includes machine region 122. Machine region 122 is disposed in contact with above-mentioned two adjacent edges 126 of and with one corner 127 of bottom plate 120 that is in contact with above-mentioned two adjacent edges 126. Machine region 122 supports electrical component 111 accommodated in housing 110. First drain hole 131a and second drain hole 131b are disposed respectively in contact with one edge 126 and the other edge 126 of above-mentioned two adjacent edges 126 of bottom plate 122.

The fourth aspect enables the water accumulated in machine region 122 to be drained effectively through one of first drain hole 131a and second drain hole 131b even when outdoor unit 100 is inclined with respect to the horizontal surface.

The present disclosure is applicable to apparatuses equipped with a heat pump, such as water heaters and air conditioners.

Claims

1. An outdoor unit included in a heat pump apparatus, the outdoor unit comprising: a housing including a bottom plate,the bottom plate including: a drain hole;a side wall erected along a portion of an outer circumference of the drain hole; anda lid extending from a tip end portion of the side wall to cover at least a portion of the drain hole.

2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is disposed between the drain hole and an electrical component accommodated in the housing.

3. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein: the drain hole includes a rectangular shaped portion being a rectangular shaped hole; andthe side wall is disposed along three sides of the rectangular shaped portion of the drain hole.

4. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein: the bottom plate includes a plurality of drain holes including a first drain hole and a second drain hole, each of the first drain hole and the second drain hole being the drain hole;the bottom plate is in a rectangular shape including four edges; andthe first drain hole and the second drain hole are disposed respectively in contact with one edge and the other edge of two adjacent edges of the bottom plate.