US20130143481A1

US20130143481A1 - Ceiling-embedded ventilation fan

Info

Publication number: US20130143481A1
Application number: US13/812,966
Authority: US
Inventors: Satoshi Kagawa; Hideki Hayashi; Taichi Kadono
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-01-20
Filing date: 2012-01-19
Publication date: 2013-06-06
Also published as: CN103026142B; WO2012098882A1; CN103026142A

Abstract

In a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan, a connection opening is formed in a side surface of a circuit case, an upper part of the connection opening and a side surface of the circuit case are covered with a shade, a bottom part of the shade is arranged at a position lower than an insertion hole of the connection opening, a drain board is arranged under the insertion hole in a frontal view of the insertion hole viewed from an end face of the shade in parallel with the top surface, and the drain board has a downward slope from a side of the connection terminal to a side of the power supply electric wire.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

BACKGROUND ART

In a conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan, connection terminals are covered with a wall against drippages infiltrating from a roof space, and an insertion hole for the connection terminals is formed at an inner position. (Refer to PTL 1, for example). A conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan will be described below with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17.
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan disclosed in PTL 1, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan includes frame 103, motor 104, fan 105, casing 106, dressed panel 107, control circuit 108, and circuit case 109.
Frame 103 has suction opening 101 corresponding to an opening in a ceiling board and formed in a lower surface, and has discharge opening 102 in a side surface. Motor 104 is fixed to a top surface of frame 103. Fan 105 is driven by motor 104. Casing 106 covers the circumference of fan 105. Dressed panel 107 is detachably mounted to cover the opening in the lower surface of frame 103 from a room side. Control circuit 108 is mounted on the top surface of frame 103 to drive and control motor 104. Circuit case 109 stores control circuit 108 therein.
FIG. 16 is a view showing a periphery of a connection opening of the circuit case of the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. On a side surface of circuit case 109, connection terminal 110 that connects control circuit 108 and power supply electric wire 113 to each other is arranged. An upper portion of connection terminal 110 is covered with shade 111, and insertion hole 112 of connection terminal 110 is arranged at an inner position.
As shown in FIG. 16, in the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan, dew condensation water 115 going down along power supply electric wire 113 adheres to bottom part 114 of the shade and remains thereon. Dew condensation water 115 may infiltrate in connection terminal 110.
PTL 2 describes a connector connecting unit to be connected to a control circuit of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. FIG. 17 is an exploded view showing a DC motor of the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan disclosed in PTL 2. As shown in FIG. 17, connector connecting unit 157 formed on DC motor 155 is arranged in parallel with top board 116 shown in FIG. 14. Connector connecting unit 157 is connected to control circuit 108 shown in FIG. 14.
In the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan, as shown in FIG. 14, since control circuit 108 for controlling DC motor 155 is complicated and large in size, control circuit 108 cannot be disadvantageously mounted in an internal space of frame 103. Furthermore, since a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan is required to be reduced in size, the area of frame 103 on the top surface becomes small to make it disadvantageously difficult to mount circuit case 109 on the top surface.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-164202
PTL 2: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-164253

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the present invention includes a frame configured by a top surface, a side surface, and a lower surface and having a suction opening in the lower surface and a discharge opening in the side surface, a motor fixed to the top surface, a fan driven by the motor, a casing that covers a circumference of the fan, a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the motor, and a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein, wherein a side surface of the circuit case has a connection opening for a connection terminal that connects the control circuit and a power supply electric wire, an upper part of the connection opening and the side surface of the circuit case are covered with a shade, a bottom part of the shade is arranged at a position lower than an insertion hole of the connection opening, a drain board is arranged under the insertion hole in a frontal view of the insertion hole viewed from an end face of the shade in parallel with the top surface, and the drain board has a downward slope from a side of the connection terminal to a side of the power supply electric wire.
With the above configuration, waterdrops going down along the power supply electric wire is brought into contact with the drain board, grow up, go down along the slope of the drain board, and fall down to the top surface of the lower frame. For this reason, dew condensation water can be prevented from infiltrating in the power supply terminal.
A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the present invention includes a frame configured by a top surface, a side surface, and a lower surface and having a suction opening in the lower surface and a discharge opening in the side surface, a DC motor fixed to the top surface, a fan driven by the DC motor, a fan casing that covers a circumference of the fan, a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the DC motor, and a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein, wherein the DC motor includes a connector connecting unit connected to the control circuit, and the connector connecting unit is arranged to be upward perpendicularly to the top surface.
Since the connector connecting unit is upward perpendicularly to the top surface of the frame, the connector is perpendicular to the top surface when a connector is inserted. For this reason, a used area on the top surface decreases, and the circuit case is mounted on the top surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of an insertion hole of a connection terminal of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an interior of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a flow of water going down along a power supply electric wire of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 5 is a view of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan when viewed from the bottom.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a periphery of a drain hole of the circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing a configuration of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a connector connecting unit of a DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 12 is a detail view showing a height of a connector connecting unit of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a periphery of a connection opening of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

FIG. 17 is an exploded view showing a DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan shown in FIG. 1 is fitted in a roof space (not shown) of a room by being embedded in the roof space. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan includes frame 3, motor 5, fan 6, casing 7, dressed panel 8, control circuit 9, and circuit case 10. Frame 3 includes top surface 4, side surface 23, and lower surface 24. Frame 3 has suction opening 1 corresponding to an opening of a ceiling board in lower surface 24 and has discharge opening 2 in side surface 23. Motor 5 is fixed to top surface 4 of frame 3 with two screws, and receives a DC current. Fan 6 is a sirocco fan driven by motor 5. Casing 7 covers the circumference of fan 6. Dressed panel 8 is fitted to cover suction opening 1 from a room side and detachably mounted with spring 21. Control circuit 9 is mounted on top surface 4 and adjusts a voltage applied to motor 5 to drive and control a rotating speed of motor 5. Circuit case 10 stores control circuit 9 therein.

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of an insertion hole of connection terminals of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing an interior of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in side surface 25 of the circuit case, connection opening 13 of connection terminal 12 that connects control circuit 9 and power supply electric wire 11 to each other is formed. An upper part of U-shaped connection opening 13 and side surface 25 of the circuit case are covered with shade 14. Bottom part 14 a of shade 14 also serves as top surface 4. Bottom part 14 a is arranged at a position lower than insertion hole 15 for connection opening 13, and space 26 is present under shade 14.

Four insertion holes 15 for connection terminals 12 are formed to adjust a speed of motor 5. Furthermore, in a frontal view of insertion hole 15 viewed from end face 16 of shade 14 in parallel with top surface 4, drain board 17 is arranged under insertion hole 15. A thickness of drain board 17 on the connection terminal 12 side has a slope obtained by making the thickness larger than that on the opposite side. More specifically, drain board 17 has a downward slope from the side of connection terminals 12 to the side of power supply electric wire 11.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a flow of water going down along the power supply electric wire of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, when dew condensation water 22 generated in the roof space goes down along power supply electric wire 11, dew condensation water 22 is brought into contact with drain board 17 to increase waterdrops in size. Dew condensation water 22 goes down along the slope of drain board 17 and drops down to top surface 4, or drops down to the lower part of shade 14, i.e., to top surface 4. Since top surface 4 is located under insertion hole 15 to have a long distance to insertion hole 15, the water does not reach the level of insertion hole 15 to prevent water from infiltrating in connection terminals 12.

FIG. 5 is a view of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the bottom. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, wall 18 is arranged inside shade 14 to partition insertion hole 15 from the level of drain board 17 to shade 14 thereabove. More specifically, in space 26 surrounded by the upper part of connection opening 13 and side surface 25 of the circuit case and covered with shade 14, wall 18 is arranged to extend from the level of drain board 17 to shade 14. Wall 18 is made thicker on the connection terminal 12 side than on the opposite side to obtain a slope. More specifically, wall 18 is arranged at a position between insertion hole 15 and wall 18 extending from the side of connection terminal 12 to the side of drain board 17. A thickness of wall 18 on the side of connection terminal 12 is larger than that on the side of drain board 17. As a result, when power supply electric wire 11 is connected to connection terminal 12, a distal end of power supply electric wire 11 is in contact with wall 18 to make it easy to insert the distal end of power supply electric wire 11 into insertion hole 15. More specifically, a problem of difficult connection of power supply electric wire 11 posed when shade 14 is arranged to hide insertion hole 15 from view can be solved.

FIG. 6 is a view of a periphery of a drain hole of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, drain hole 19 is formed at a position under connection terminal 12 in circuit case 10. Rib 20 is formed to have a upward slope extending from outlet port 19 a of drain hole 19 to the inside of circuit case 10. With this configuration, when an amount of dew condensation water 22 generated inside circuit case 10 becomes a predetermined amount or more, dew condensation water 22 goes down along rib 20 and is discharged to the outside of circuit case 10. Since water that drops down from drain board 17 does not easily infiltrate in circuit case 10, the water is prevented from adhering to control circuit 9 in circuit case 10.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan shown in FIG. 7 is fitted in a roof space of a room by being embedded in the roof space. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan includes frame 53, DC motor 55, centrifugal blowing fan 56, fan casing 57, dressed panel 58, control circuit 59, and circuit case 60. Connector connecting unit 61 connected to control circuit 59 is arranged on DC motor 55. Connector connecting unit 61 is arranged to be upward perpendicularly to top surface 54 of frame 53.

Frame

53 includes top surface 54, side surface 83, and lower surface 84. Frame 53 has suction opening 51 corresponding to an opening in a ceiling board and formed in lower surface 84, and has discharge opening 52 in side surface 83. DC motor 55 is fixed to top surface 54 of frame 53. Centrifugal blowing fan 56 is driven by DC motor 55. Fan casing 57 covers the circumference of centrifugal blowing fan 56. Dressed panel 58 is detachably mounted on frame 53 to cover the opening in the lower surface of frame 53 from the room side. Control circuit 59 is mounted on top surface 54 to drive and control DC motor 55. Circuit case 60 stores control circuit 59 therein.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing a configuration of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, screw portion 62 is formed on DC motor 55. Screw portions 62 are arranged such that a line that connects connector connecting unit 61 to the center of DC motor 55 is orthogonal to a straight line that connects two screw portions 62. DC motor 55 is fixed to top surface 54 at screw portions 62 with two screws. Control circuit 59 is formed to surround the circumference of DC motor 55 in a U shape. Connector portion 63 formed on control circuit 59 is arranged near connector connecting unit 61 of DC motor 55.

Circuit case

60 is formed in the same shape as that of control circuit 59. Screw clamp portions 64 at two positions on diagonal lines of top surface 54 are arranged outside an outline of centrifugal blowing fan 56, and circuit case 60 is fixed to top surface 54 by using screws.

DC motor

55 is diagonally fitted on straight line portion 65 of circuit case 60. A gap between circuit case 60 and DC motor 55 is minimized, and a project area obtained when circuit case 60 is viewed from the top is made smaller than that of top surface 54. On top surface 54, connector connecting unit 61 and cover 68 that covers an upper part of connector 73 connected to connector connecting unit 61 are arranged.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a connector connecting unit of the DC motor of ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, connector connecting unit 61 has four connector pins 66 arranged to be upward perpendicularly (illustrated by an arrow in FIG. 9) to top surface 54, and has locking portion 67. Connector portion 63 of control circuit 59 shown in FIG. 8 and connector connecting unit 61 are connected to each other by using connector pin 66 and locking portion 67.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing a configuration of the circuit case of ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, circuit case 60 includes lower case 69 and upper case 70. Lower case 69 and upper case 70 are engaged with lower locking portion 71 arranged on lower case 69 and upper engaging portion 72 arranged on upper case 70 and fixed. Lower locking portion 71 and upper engaging portion 72 are arranged outside circuit case 60.

FIG. 12 is a detail view showing a height of a connector connecting unit of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, cover 68 and circuit case 60 share upper case 70 and side wall 75 and are integrated with each other. Cover 68 includes side surface portion 76, and side surface portion 76 is arranged to surround the circumference of DC motor 55 shown in FIG. 10.

Circuit case

60 and cover 68 have the same level. In order to prevent lead wire 74 for connecting a connector in connection of connector 73 from being forcibly bent, the levels of circuit case 60 and cover 68 are set to be about 1.5 times a height H (shown in FIG. 12) from top surface 54 to the root of lead wire 74. Lead wire 74 mentioned here is exposed from connector 73.

According to the above configuration, connector connecting unit 61 is not on a level with top surface 54 but is upward perpendicularly to top surface 54. For this reason, since connector 73 is upward perpendicularly to top surface 54 when connector 73 is inserted so as to reduce a used area on top surface 54, control circuit 59 can be mounted in a space on top surface 54.

Connector connecting unit

61 is covered with cover 68. For this reason, for example, even though dew condensation water drops down from the ceiling, since the dew condensation water adheres to cover 68, the dew condensation water does not adhere to connector connecting unit 61. Since cover 68 covers the circumference of DC motor 55, even though dew condensation water intends to flow from a position other than the upper part of DC motor 55, the water does not adhere to connector connecting unit 61. As a result, tracking or the like does not occur in an electric connection unit to improve safety.

Circuit case

60 and cover 68 are integrally formed. Since a side surface part of cover 68 is shared with circuit case 60, an excess space is reduced. Since a gap such as a seam is eliminated, water can be completely prevented from being infiltrated.

As shown in FIG. 8, in a project area obtained when the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan is viewed from the top, circuit case 60 is smaller than top surface 54. For this reason, DC motor 55 and top surface 54 are removed from the room side together with fan casing 57. As a result, DC motor 55 is easily removed when motors are exchanged so as to improve ease of maintenance.

Screw clamp portion

64 of circuit case 60 is arranged outside the outline of centrifugal blowing fan 56. For this reason, since a screw to fix circuit case 60 can be prevented from being in contact with centrifugal blowing fan 56, safety is improved.

As shown in FIG. 11, lower locking portion 71 and upper engaging portion 72 are arranged outside circuit case 60. For this reason, a gap between DC motor 55 and circuit case 60 can be narrowed, and a used area on top surface 54 is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 12, since circuit case 60 and cover 68 are formed at the same level, resin molding can be easily performed. Since upper surfaces of circuit case 60 and cover 68 become flat, labeling and imprinting on the upper surface of circuit case 60 can be performed.

Cover

68 covers connector 73 and lead wire 74 connected to connector connecting unit 61 from the top and the side surface. For this reason, lead wire 74 is not bitten by a mouse or the like in the roof space, electric leakage or the like does not occur, and safety is improved.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the present invention is embedded in a ceiling and used, and is widely useful to an air-conditioner to which power supply electric wires are directly connected.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

- 1, 51 suction opening
- 2, 52 discharge opening
- 3, 53 frame
- 4, 54 top surface
- 5 motor
- 6 fan
- 7 casing
- 8, 58 dressed panel
- 9, 59 control circuit
- 10, 60 circuit case
- 11 power supply electric wire
- 12 connection terminal
- 13 connection opening
- 14 shade
- 14 a bottom part
- 15 insertion hole
- 16 end face
- 17 drain board
- 18 wall
- 19 drain hole
- 19 a outlet port
- 20 rib
- 21 spring
- 23, 83 side surface
- 24, 84 lower surface
- 25 side surface of circuit case
- 55 DC motor
- 56 centrifugal blowing fan
- 57 fan casing
- 61 connector connecting unit
- 62 screw portion
- 63 connector portion
- 64 screw clamp portion
- 65 straight line portion
- 66 connector pin
- 67 locking portion
- 68 cover
- 69 lower case
- 70 upper case
- 71 lower locking portion
- 72 upper engaging portion
- 73 connector
- 74 lead wire
- 75 side wall
- 76 side surface portion

Claims

1. A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan comprising:

a frame configured by a top surface, a side surface and a lower surface, and having a suction opening in the lower surface and a discharge opening in the side surface;

a motor fixed to the top surface;

a fan driven by the motor;

a casing that covers a circumference of the fan;

a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the motor; and

a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein,

wherein a side surface of the circuit case has a connection opening for a connection terminal that connects the control circuit and a power supply electric wire, an upper part of the connection opening and the side surface of the circuit case are covered with a shade, a bottom part of the shade is arranged at a position lower than an insertion hole of the connection opening, a drain board is arranged under the insertion hole in a frontal view of the insertion hole viewed from an end face of the shade in parallel with the top surface, and the drain board has a downward slope from a side of the connection terminal to a side of the power supply electric wire.

2. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to claim 1,

wherein, in a space covered with the shade of the upper part of the connection opening and the side surface of the circuit case, a wall is arranged at a position between the insertion holes, the wall extending from the side of the connection terminal to a side of the drain board and from a level of the drain board to the shade, and the wall is formed such that a thickness on the side of the connection terminal is larger than a thickness on the side of the drain board.

3. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to claim 1,

wherein a drain hole is formed in the circuit case, and a rib has a upward slope extending from an outlet port of the drain hole to the inside of the circuit case.

4. A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan comprising:

a DC motor fixed to the top surface;

a fan driven by the DC motor;

a fan casing that covers a circumference of the fan;

a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the DC motor; and

a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein,

wherein the DC motor includes a connector connecting unit connected to the control circuit, and the connector connecting unit is arranged to be upward perpendicularly to the top surface.

5. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to claim 4

comprising a cover that covers the connector connecting unit and an upper part of a connector connected to the connector connecting unit.

6. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to claim 5,

wherein the cover is formed integrally with the circuit case.

7. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to claim 2,