AU2020438508B2 - Hot water generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a hot water generating device such that it is possible to efficiently accommodate a cylindrical expansion tank within a rectangular housing. This hot water generating device (1) comprises: a rectangular housing (51) that has a front surface (51f), a rear surface (51r), a top surface (51t), a bottom surface (51b), and a pair of side surfaces (51s); and an expansion tank (31) that is cylindrical in shape, that has a length dimension L in the direction of a central axis C which is greater than the diameter dimension D, and that is accommodated in the housing (51) such that the central axis (C) is oriented in the direction of the pair of side surfaces (51s) of the housing (51).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a hot

water generator.

BACKGROUND

[0002]

A hot water supply system of a heat pump type is known

as a hot water generator. This conventional hot water supply

system includes an outdoor unit (i.e., heat source unit) and

a hydro unit (i.e., water/heat exchange unit). The hydro

unit includes: a housing; an expansion tank that is provided

inside the housing that alleviates pressure rise in piping

due to hot water having risen in temperature; and a water

heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and a high

temperature refrigerant supplied from the heat source unit.

PRIOR ART Document

PATENT DOCUMENT

[0003]

[Patent Document 1] WO 2007/142144 Al

[0004]

The hydro unit of the conventional hot water supply

system generally includes a rectangular housing that has a

front face, a rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of left and right side faces. The expansion tank provided in the housing may be a rectangular tank or a cylindrical tank.

[0005]

The rectangular tank can efficiently utilize the space

inside the housing. However, the rectangular tank requires

sufficient strength at the corners. Thus, the rectangular

tank may be heavier and/or more expensive than the

cylindrical tank that does not have a corner.

[0006]

The cylindrical tank has a larger internal volume per

unit weight than the rectangular tank. Thus, the cylindrical

tank is cheaper and lighter than the rectangular tank having

approximately the same internal volume. However, when the

cylindrical tank is housed in a rectangular housing, a gap is

generated between the cylindrical tank and the housing. That

is, it is difficult for the cylindrical tank to efficiently

utilize the space inside the housing as compared with the

rectangular tank.

[0007]

It is desired to overcome or alleviate one or more

difficulties of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful

alternative. At least some embodiments of the present

invention aim to provide a hot water generator that can

efficiently accommodate a cylindrical expansion tank in a

rectangular housing of its hydro unit.

SUMMARY

[0007a]

In accordance with some embodiments of the present

invention there is provided a hot water generator comprising:

an outdoor unit that includes therein a compressor and

a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being configured to

exchange heat between a refrigerant and air; and

a hydro unit including

a water heat exchanger that exchanges heat

between water and the refrigerant flowing in from the outdoor

unit,

a rectangular housing that has a front face, a

rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side

faces, and

an expansion tank that has a cylindrical shape,

the expansion tank having length dimension in a centerline

direction larger than diameter dimension, and being

accommodated in the housing with the centerline directed

toward the pair of side faces, wherein

the expansion tank includes a cylindrical body, and a

convex part that protrudes outward in a radial direction of the

cylindrical body and extends in a circumferential direction of

the cylindrical body, and

the hot water generator further comprises a fixing

band that has a hole configured to be interdigitated with the

convex part, and fixes the expansion tank to a rear plate that forms the rear face of the housing, in a manner that the fixing band extends on the cylindrical body from above to below the cylindrical body.

[0008]

A hot water generator according to one aspect of the

invention includes an outdoor unit that includes therein a

compressor and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat

between a refrigerant and air, a hydro unit including a water

heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and the

refrigerant flowing in from the outdoor unit. The hydro unit

includes a rectangular housing that has a front face, a rear

face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces,

and an expansion tank that has a cylindrical shape. The

expansion tank has length dimension in a centerline direction

larger than diameter dimension, and is accommodated in the

housing with the centerline directed toward the pair of side

faces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]

One or more embodiments of the present invention are

hereinafter described, by way of example only, with reference

to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a hot

water generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a hydro unit of the

hot water generator according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hydro

unit of the hot water generator according to the present

embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the internal structure

of the hot water generator according to the present

embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the internal structure of

the hot water generator according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the

hot water generator according to the present embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010]

Embodiments of a hot water generator according to the

present invention will be described by referring to Fig. 1 to

Fig. 6. The same reference signs are given to identical or

equivalent components in each figure.

[0011]

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a hot

water generator 1 according to one embodiment of the present

invention.

[0012]

As shown in Fig. 1, the hot water generator 1 according to the present embodiment is a heat pump type. The hot water generator 1 includes: an outdoor unit 2 that is a heat source unit configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and a refrigerant; a hydro unit 3 (i.e., water/heat exchange unit) that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and water supplied from the outside of the generator; a remote controller 4 that accepts operations by a user as an input device; and a controller 5 that controls the outdoor unit 2 and the hydro unit 3 on the basis of the operations inputted to the remote controller 4.

[0013]

The hot water generator 1 circulates the refrigerant

between the outdoor unit 2 and the hydro unit 3, and heats

water by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and water in

a water heat exchanger 15 in the hydro unit 3 so as to supply

hot water at the first temperature (for example, 40 degrees

Celsius) to the outside of the generator. The hot water at

the first temperature is returned to the hydro unit 3 through

an external heating device (not shown) such as a floor

heating system. In other words, water circulates between the

hydro unit 3 and the external heat radiating device such as a

heat radiator of the heating device.

[0014]

In addition, the hot water generator 1 can supply

high-temperature hot water at the second temperature (for

example, about 70 degrees Celsius) to the outside of the generator by applying both of heat exchange between the refrigerant and water as well as heating with the use of a backup heater 67 described below. When only the heat exchange between the refrigerant and water is applied, though it depends on the type of refrigerant to be used, the maximum temperature is about 55 degrees Celsius in the case of using the R410A refrigerant. The hot water at the second temperature is stored in a hot water storage device outside the generator and then is used. The hot water stored in the hot water storage device is supplied to, for example, a washroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Normally, the outdoor unit 2 is installed outdoors and the hydro unit 3 is installed indoors. The outdoor unit 2 and the hydro unit 3 are interconnected by crossover pipes 21 and 22 of refrigerant piping 16 and a communication line (not shown).

In the hot water generator 1 as described above, the water

pipe is not laid outdoors, and thus, freezing of water in the

water pipe does not occur at low temperature in winter.

[0015]

The number of the included remote controller(s) 4 is

one or more. For example, one remote controller 4 is

installed in the hydro unit 3 and another remote controller

(not shown) is installed indoors (e.g., on a wall surface).

[0016]

The hot water generator 1 includes a refrigeration

circuit 10. The refrigeration circuit 10 transfers heat from a low temperature portion to a high temperature portion by using outdoor air as a heat source so as to heat water into hot water.

[0017]

The refrigeration circuit 10 includes: a compressor

11; an air heat exchanger 12 as an evaporator; an expansion

valve 13; the water heat exchanger 15 as a condenser; and

refrigerant piping 16 that connects the compressor 11, the

air heat exchanger 12, the expansion valve 13, and the water

heat exchanger 15 so as to circulate the refrigerant. The

refrigeration circuit 10 transfers heat from the air heat

exchanger 12 to the water heat exchanger 15 so as to heat the

water into hot water in the water heat exchanger 15.

[0018]

The refrigeration circuit 10 further includes: a four

way valve 17 that sends the refrigerant having discharged

from the compressor 11 to one of the air heat exchanger 12

and the water heat exchanger 15 and returns the refrigerant

having passed through the other of the air heat exchanger 12

and the water heat exchanger 15 back to the compressor 11;

and an accumulator 18 disposed in the refrigerant piping 16

between the four-way valve 17 and the compressor 11.

[0019]

The water heat exchanger 15 is housed in the hydro

unit 3, and the rest of the other components of the

refrigeration circuit 10 are housed in the outdoor unit 2.

[0020]

When the refrigeration circuit 10 heats water, the air

heat exchanger 12 functions as an evaporator (also called a

heat absorber) and the water heat exchanger 15 functions as a

condenser (also called a radiator).

[0021]

The compressor 11 compresses, boosts, and discharges

the refrigerant. The compressor 11 can change the operating

frequency by known inverter control. The amount of heat to

be transferred to the high temperature portion increases by

increasing the rotation speed of the compressor 11 and

decreases by decreasing the rotation speed of the compressor

11. In addition, the power consumption of the compressor 11

increases along with the increase in the rotation speed of

the compressor 11.

[0022]

The expansion valve 13 is, for example, an electronic

expansion valve (PMV: Pulse Motor Valve). The expansion

valve 13 can adjust the valve opening degree. Although it is

not shown, the expansion valve 13 includes: a valve body

having a through hole; a needle that can advance and retreat

with respect to the through hole; and a power source for

advancing and retreating the needle, for example. When the

through hole is closed with the needle, the expansion valve

13 stops, i.e., blocks the flow of the refrigerant in the

refrigeration circuit 10. At this time, the expansion valve

13 is in the closed state and the opening degree of the

expansion valve 13 is the smallest. When the needle is

farthest from the through hole, the flow rate of the

refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit 10 is maximized and

the opening degree of the expansion valve 13 is the largest.

[0023]

The power source of the expansion valve 13 is, for

example, a stepping motor. The rotation of the stepping

motor causes the needle to move forward and backward, which

changes the distance to the through hole and thereby changes

the opening degree.

[0024]

The refrigerant piping 16 connects the compressor 11,

the accumulator 18, the four-way valve 17, the air heat

exchanger 12, the expansion valve 13, and the water heat

exchanger 15. The refrigerant piping 16 includes: a first

refrigerant pipe 16a that connects the discharge side of the

compressor 11 and the four-way valve 17; a second refrigerant

pipe 16b that connects the suction side of the compressor 11

and the four-way valve 17; a third refrigerant pipe 16c that

connects the four-way valve 17 and the water heat exchanger

; a fourth refrigerant pipe 16d that connects the air heat

exchanger 12 and the water heat exchanger 15; and a fifth

refrigerant pipe 16e that connects the air heat exchanger 12

and the four-way valve 17.

[0025]

The accumulator 18 is provided on the second

refrigerant pipe 16b. The expansion valve 13 is provided on

the fourth refrigerant pipe 16d.

[0026]

The four-way valve 17 switches the direction of the

refrigerant flow in the refrigerant piping 16. When the

water is heated into hot water by the refrigeration circuit

, the four-way valve 17 circulates the refrigerant from the

first refrigerant pipe 16a to the third refrigerant pipe 16c

and circulates the refrigerant from the fifth refrigerant

pipe 16e to the second refrigerant pipe 16b (refrigerant flow

shown by the solid line in Fig. 1).

[0027]

When water is heated into hot water, the hot water

generator 1 discharges the compressed high-temperature and

high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor 11 and then

sends the refrigerant to the water heat exchanger 15 via the

four-way valve 17. The water heat exchanger 15 exchanges

heat between the water passing through the water heat

exchanger 15 and the refrigerant passing through the water

heat exchanger 15. In this manner, the water is heated and

the refrigerant is cooled so as to be in a high-pressure

liquid state. That is, when water is heated into hot water,

the water heat exchanger 15 functions as a radiator. The

refrigerant having passed through the water heat exchanger 15

passes through the expansion valve 13 and is decompressed to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and then reaches the air heat exchanger 12. The air heat exchanger 12 cools the outdoor air by exchanging heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant passing through the air heat exchanger 12. At this time, the air heat exchanger 12 functions as a heat absorber that evaporates the refrigerant into a gaseous state. The refrigerant having passed through the air heat exchanger 12 is sucked into the compressor 11.

[0028]

The refrigeration circuit 10 can perform defrosting

operation by causing the four-way valve 17 to switch the

direction of the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant piping

16. When performing the defrosting operation, the hot water

generator 1 inverts the four-way valve 17 such that the flow

of the refrigerant is generated in the refrigeration circuit

in the direction opposite to the flow of the refrigerant

heating up the water into hot water. In the case of the

defrosting operation, the four-way valve 17 causes the

refrigerant to circulate from the first refrigerant pipe 16a

to the fifth refrigerant pipe 16e and from the third

refrigerant pipe 16c to the second refrigerant pipe 16b

(refrigerant flow indicated by the broken line in Fig. 1).

In the case of the defrosting operation, the air heat

exchanger 12 functions as a condenser and the water heat

exchanger 15 functions as an evaporator.

[0029]

Further, the refrigeration circuit 10 may be dedicated

to heating water without including the four-way valve 17. In

this case, the discharge side of the compressor 11 is

connected to the water heat exchanger 15 via the refrigerant

piping 16, and the suction side of the compressor 11 is

connected to the air heat exchanger 12 via the refrigerant

piping 16.

[0030]

The hydro unit 3 includes: the water heat exchanger 15

of the refrigeration circuit 10; an expansion tank 31 (i.e.,

expansion vessel); a water leading pipe 32 that leads the

water before being heated from the outside of the hydro unit

3 to the water heat exchanger 15; a hot-water leading pipe 33

that leads the hot water heated by the water heat exchanger

to the expansion tank 31; a hot-water supplying pipe 35

that supplies the hot water heated by the water heat

exchanger 15 to the outside of the hydro unit 3; a backup

heater 67 that is disposed in the hot-water supplying pipe 35

and heats the hot water to be sent from the expansion tank 31

to the outside of the hot-water supplying pipe 35 up to a

higher temperature; and a pump 36 that is disposed in the

hot-water supplying pipe 35 and sends the hot water from the

expansion tank 31 to the outside of the hydro unit 3.

[0031]

The hydro unit 3 may be used for circulating hot water

between the hydro unit 3 and a device outside the hydro unit

3 or may be used for heating water outside the hydro unit 3

into hot water and supplying the hot water to the outside of

the hydro unit 3. The device outside the hydro unit 3 is,

for example, a heating device (not shown) or a hot water

storage device (not shown) that heats water using the

circulating hot water and stores the water heated by the hot

water.

[0032]

The hydro unit 3 further includes: refrigerant pipe

connection joints 25 and 26 that connect the crossover pipes

21 and 22 of the refrigerant piping 16 to the refrigerant

piping 16 in the hydro unit 3; a water-leading-pipe

connection joint 46 that connects a water pipe 45 outside the

hydro unit 3 to the water leading pipe 32; and a hot-water

pipe connection joint 48 that connects a hot-water pipe 47

outside the hydro unit 3 to the hot-water supplying pipe 35.

These connection joints 25, 26, 46 and 48 are screw-in pipe

joints.

[0033]

The crossover pipes 21 and 22 of the refrigerant

piping 16 allow the refrigerant to flow between the outdoor

unit 2 and the hydro unit 3. The crossover pipe 21 is part

of the third refrigerant pipe 16c and is laid outside the

outdoor unit 2 and outside the hydro unit 3. The crossover

pipe 22 is part of the fourth refrigerant pipe 16d and is

laid outside the outdoor unit 2 and outside the hydro unit 3.

The portion provided in the hydro unit 3 as part of the third

refrigerant pipe 16c for connecting the refrigerator pipe

connection joint 25 to the water heat exchanger 15 is

referred to as a first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27.

The portion provided in the hydro unit 3 as part of the

fourth refrigerant pipe 16d for connecting the refrigerant

pipe connection joint 26 to the water heat exchanger 15 is

referred to as a second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28.

[0034]

The hot-water pipe 47 is a crossover pipe that

connects the hydro unit 3 and the hot water supply place, and

the water pipe 45 is a crossover pipe that connects the hydro

unit 3 and the water supply place. In the case of the

circulation type, the hot water supply place and the water

supply place are connected.

[0035]

The hot-water leading pipe 33 connects the upstream of

the pump 36 and the downstream of the backup heater 67 in the

hot-water supplying pipe 35 to the expansion tank 31. The

hot-water leading pipe 33 leads the warmed and expanded hot

water in the hot-water supplying pipe 35 to the expansion

tank 31. The expansion tank 31 has a function of absorbing

the expansion (increase in volume) of the warmed hot water.

[0036]

The hot water, which is heated in the water heat

exchanger 15 by the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration circuit 10, is sucked into the hot-water supplying pipe 35 by the driven pump 36 and then is supplied to the hot water supply place through the hot-water pipe 47 outside the hydro unit 3.

[0037]

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hydro unit 3 when

viewed from the diagonally right front and from below.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hydro

unit 3 when viewed from the diagonally right front and from

above.

[0038]

As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the hydro unit 3 of the

hot water generator 1 according to the present embodiment

includes a longitudinally elongated rectangular housing 51.

[0039]

The housing 51 has a front face 51f, a rear face 51r,

a top face 51t, a bottom face 51b, and a pair of side faces

51s. The housing 51 includes: a front plate 52 that covers

the front face 51f; a rear plate 53 that covers the rear face

51r, a top plate 54 that covers the top face 51t; a bottom

plate 55 that covers the bottom face 51b; and a pair of side

plates 56 and 57 that cover the respective side faces 51s.

[0040]

The housing 51 accommodates the expansion tank 31, the

water leading pipe 32, the hot-water leading pipe 33, the

hot-water supplying pipe 35, the pump 36, the water heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10, the first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, and the second intra hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28.

[0041]

The housing 51 further accommodates: a controller

accommodation box 61 that houses the controller 5; and a

controller supporting plate 62 that supports the controller

accommodation box 61 inside the housing 51. The controller

accommodation box 61 is a box that opens toward the front of

the housing 51. In the controller accommodation box 61, a

board on which the controller 5 is mounted is supported.

[0042]

The front plate 52 has an operation window 63 for

disposing the remote controller 4. The back side of the

front plate 52 is provided with a controller supporting plate

that supports the remote controller 4 disposed in the

operation window 63. The controller supporting plate 65 has

a function of a lid that covers the controller accommodation

box 61.

[0043]

The front plate 52, the rear plate 53, the top plate

54, the bottom plate 55, the side plates 56 and 57, the

controller accommodation box 61, the controller supporting

plate 62, and the controller supporting plate 65 are

processed sheet metal products.

[0044]

The water leading pipe 32, the hot-water leading pipe

33, the hot-water supplying pipe 35, the pump 36, the water

heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10, the first

intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, and the second intra

hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 are disposed in the space that

is sandwiched between the rear plate 53 and the controller

supporting plate 62. The expansion tank 31 is disposed in

the space that is above the controller supporting plate 62

and sandwiched between the front plate 52 and the rear plate

53.

[0045]

As shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 5, the rear plate 53 of the

housing 51 in the hot water generator 1 according to the

present embodiment supports the expansion tank 31 and the

water heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10.

[0046]

The expansion tank 31 has a cylindrical shape in which

the length L in the direction of the centerline C is larger

in dimension than the diameter D. The expansion tank 31 is

housed in the housing 51 such that the centerline C is

oriented in the direction toward the pair of side faces 51s.

In other words, the length L of the expansion tank 31 is

smaller in dimension than the width of the housing 51.

Further, the diameter D of the expansion tank 31 is smaller

in dimension than the height and the depth of the housing 51.

The expansion tank 31 is disposed at the uppermost part of the housing 51. The expansion tank 31 includes a cylindrical body 31a and a pair of end plates 31b and 31c that close both ends of the body 31a. The expansion tank 31 is fixed to the rear plate 53 by a saddle-shaped tank fixing band 66 extending on the body 31a. The tank fixing band 66 fixes the expansion tank 31 to the rear plate 53 like a saddle band used for fixing pipes. That is, the tank fixing band 66 is bent along the body 31a from the upper part to the lower part of the body 31a so as to fix the expansion tank 31 to the rear plate 53 of the housing 51.

[0047]

The water leading pipe 32, the hot-water leading pipe

33, the hot-water supplying pipe 35, the pump 36, the water

heat exchanger 15 of the refrigeration circuit 10, the first

intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, and the second intra

hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 are disposed below the

expansion tank 31.

[0048]

The water heat exchanger 15 is disposed directly under

the expansion tank 31 and near the side plate 56 on one of

the left and right sides of the housing 51 (on the left side,

in this case). The backup heater 67 is disposed directly

under the expansion tank 31 and near the side plate 57 on the

other of the left and right sides of the housing 51 (on the

right side, in this case). The backup heater 67 is fixed to

the rear plate 53. Under the circumstances where the outside temperature is so extremely low that heating the water into hot water by the refrigeration circuit 10 is difficult, the backup heater 67 is used for assisting the heating of water and for further heating the hot water that is already heated by the refrigeration circuit 10 into hotter water.

[0049]

The pump 36 is disposed below the expansion tank 31,

directly in front of the backup heater 67, and on the bottom

plate 55 of the housing 51. Directly below the pump 36, the

hot-water pipe connection joint 48 is provided. The hot

water pipe connection joint 48 protrudes toward the outside

of the housing 51. The hot-water pipe connection joint 48

protrudes downward from the bottom plate 55 so as to be

exposed to the outside of the housing 51.

[0050]

The water-leading-pipe connection joint 46 is provided

behind the obliquely left side of the hot-water pipe

connection joint 48. The water leading pipe 32 connected to

the water-leading-pipe connection joint 46 bends toward the

water heat exchanger 15 at the portion that enters the back

side of the housing 51 from the bottom plate 55 of the

housing 51, extends in the vicinity of the bottom plate 55 in

parallel to the bottom plate 55, and is connected to the back

side of the lower end of the right side-face of the water

heat exchanger 15. The hot-water supplying pipe 35 is

connected to the back side of the upper end of the right side-face of the water heat exchanger 15. The hot-water supplying pipe 35 extends from the water heat exchanger 15 toward the side plate 57 of the housing 51, bends at an intermediate position between the water heat exchanger 15 and the backup heater 67 toward the bottom plate 55 of the housing 51, hangs directly downward so as to extend in parallel to the bottom plate 55 at a portion reaching the lower end of the backup heater 67, and is connected to the lower end of the left side-face of the backup heater 67. The hot-water leading pipe 33 branches from the hot-water supplying pipe 35 via a cross-shaped branch at the upper end of the front face of the backup heater 67, rises toward the top face plate 54 of the housing 51, reaches substantially the same height as the centerline C of the expansion tank 31, and bypasses the front of the expansion tank 31 so as to be connected to the end plate 31b on the left side of the expansion tank 31.

[0051]

The hot-water supplying pipe 35 extends downward from

the cross-shaped branch so as to reach the pump 36. That is,

the pump 36 is connected to the outlet end of the hot-water

supplying pipe 35.

[0052]

The first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27 and the

second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 enter the housing

51 through a refrigerant-pipe insertion hole 71 provided on the bottom plate 55 of the housing 51.

[0053]

The first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27 extends

on the right side of the water heat exchanger 15 toward the

expansion tank 31, bends toward the water heat exchanger 15

near the front of the upper end of the right side-face of the

water heat exchanger 15, and is connected to the water heat

exchanger 15. The first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27

rises and extends almost directly in front of the hanging

portion of the hot-water supplying pipe 35. The refrigerant

pipe connection joint 25 is provided at the end of the first

intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27 disposed outside the

housing 51.

[0054]

The second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 rises

in parallel to the first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27

in the vicinity closer to the water heat exchanger 15 than

the first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 27, bends toward

the water heat exchanger 15 near the front of the lower end

of the right side-face of the water heat exchanger 15, and is

connected to the water heat exchanger 15. The refrigerant

pipe connection joint 26 is provided at the end of the second

intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe 28 disposed outside the

housing 51.

[0055]

Next, the fixing structure of the expansion tank 31 will be described.

[0056]

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the

hot water generator according to the present embodiment.

[0057]

As shown in Fig. 6 in addition to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5,

the expansion tank 31 of the hot water generator 1 according

to the present embodiment includes at least one convex part

81 that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the

cylindrical body 31a and extends in the circumferential

direction of the body 31a.

[0058]

The convex parts 81 annularly circle the body 31a and

are connected in a row. The number of the convex parts 81 is

two or more including the first convex part 81a and the

second convex part 81b. The convex parts 81 are, for

example, joint parts that join two members to form an

integrated body 31a or holding parts that hold diaphragms

(not shown) in the expansion tank 31 on the inner

circumferential face of the body 31a. The plurality of

convex parts 81a and 81b are separated from each other in the

direction of the centerline of the expansion tank 31 and are

arranged in parallel.

[0059]

The convex parts 81 may be provided in the body 31a

annularly and discretely (i.e., discontinuously or at intervals).

[0060]

The tank fixing band 66 may be in a shape of hexagonal

saddle as shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, may be in a shape of

polygonal saddle such as triangular, rectangular, and

pentagonal saddles, or may be in a shape of arc-shaped

saddle. The hexagonal saddle-shaped tank fixing band 66 has:

a first part 66a that is in contact with the top of the

expansion tank 31 and is fixed to the rear plate 53; a second

part 66b that is continuous with the first part 66a and

slopes down toward the front of the expansion tank 31 while

partially contacting the expansion tank 31; a third part 66c

that is continuous with the second part 66b and is located in

front of the expansion tank 31 while partially contacting the

expansion tank 31; a fourth part 66d that is continuous with

the third part 66c and slopes down toward the bottom of the

expansion tank 31 while partially contacting the expansion

tank 31; a fifth part 66e that is continuous with the fourth

66d and is fixed to the rear plate 53 so as to be in contact

with the bottom of the expansion tank 31.

[0061]

The tank fixing band 66 has at least one hole 82 that

is interdigitated with the convex part 81. The respective

holes 82 are provided at positions where the convex parts 81

can be fitted from one end to the other end of the tank

fixing band 66. The plurality of holes 82 are arranged and include: a first hole 82a into which the first convex part

81a is fitted; and a second hole 82b into which the second

convex part 81b is fitted. The plurality of holes 82a and

82b are separated from each other in the band width direction

of the tank fixing band 66 and are arranged in parallel.

[0062]

In the polygonal saddle-shaped tank fixing band 66,

the holes 82 are preferably provided discretely (i.e.,

discontinuously or at intervals) so as to avoid the vertices

as shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. In this case, the tank fixing

band 66 can readily obtain sufficient strength for supporting

the expansion tank 31. In the hexagonal saddle-shaped tank

fixing band 66, the holes 82 are discretely provided from the

first part 66a to the fifth part 66e of the tank fixing band

66 and are interrupted at the ridges connecting the

respective parts 66a to 66e.

[0063]

The rear plate 53 includes: a band fixing hole 85

provided above the expansion tank 31; a band fastening hole

86 provided below the expansion tank 31; and a pair of anti

rolling stoppers 87 that prevents the expansion tank 31 from

rolling against the rear plate 53.

[0064]

The band fastening hole 86 is provided in the flange

53a for fixing the top plate 54 to the rear plate 53.

[0065]

The pair of anti-rolling stoppers 87 are disposed

below the band fixing hole 85 and above the band fastening

hole 86 and have a convex shape extending in a direction

parallel to the longitudinal direction of the expansion tank

31. The expansion tank 31 is in contact with the rear plate

53 at the portion sandwiched between the pair of anti-rolling

stoppers 87. It is preferred that the expansion tank 31 is

also in contact with the pair of anti-rolling stoppers 87.

[0066]

The tank fixing band 66 has: a folded part 66f that is

inserted into the band fixing hole 85 of the rear plate 53;

and a flange 66g that is fixed to the band fastening hole 86

by a fastening member 89. The folded part 66f is provided at

the upper end part of the tank fixing band 66, i.e., at the

root part of the first part 66a. The folded part 66f is a

cut-up formed on the tank fixing band 66, which is a

processed sheet metal product, and is formed by bending a

material of this sheet product. The flange 66g is provided

at the lower end of the tank fixing band 66, i.e., at the

root part of the fifth part 66e.

[0067]

In addition to or instead of the folded part 66f, a

fastening member may be used for fixing the root part of the

first part 66a of the tank fixing band 66, which has the

folded part 66f, to the flange 53a of the rear plate 53.

[0068]

As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 5, when the

expansion tank 31 is housed in the housing 51 in such a

manner that the centerline C of the cylindrical expansion

tank 31 matches the up-and-down direction of the housing 51,

the height dimension of the housing 51 significantly

increases.

[0069]

The depth dimension of the housing 51 depends on the

diameter dimension D of the expansion tank 31 and does not

change substantially regardless of whether the accommodation

state of the expansion tank 31 in the housing 51 is an

upright state or a lying state. Since the width dimension of

the housing 51 depends on the size and disposition of devices

in the housing 51 excluding the expansion tank 31, when the

expansion tank 31 is housed in the housing 51 in the upright

state, a large-capacity space in which no device is placed,

i.e., so-called dead space is generated in the housing 51.

When the expansion tank 31 is housed in the housing 51 in the

state of being laid down, the width dimension of the housing

51 can be effectively utilized as shown in Fig. 5. That is,

when the expansion tank 31 is accommodated in the housing 51

in the lying state, the height dimension of the housing 51

can be suppressed and the hydro unit 3 can be miniaturized.

Further, when the expansion tank 31 is accommodated in the

housing 51 in the lying state, the length L of the expansion

tank 31 is extended to the extent that the expansion tank 31 fits within the width dimension of the housing 51, and thus, the internal volume of the expansion tank 31 is expanded.

[0070]

As described above, the hot water generator 1

according to the present embodiment includes the cylindrical

expansion tank 31 that has the length L in the direction of

the centerline C larger in dimension than the diameter D and

is housed in the housing 51 with its centerline C directed

toward the pair of side faces 51s of the housing 51. Hence,

the hot water generator 1 can accommodate the cylindrical

expansion tank 31, which is cheaper and lighter than a

rectangular tank having almost the same internal volume, and

can efficiently utilize the space in the housing 51. As a

result, the hydro unit 3 of the hot water generator 1 can be

small and lightweight that provides a satisfactory

appearance, high workability at the time of installation, and

small occupation space in the installed state.

[0071]

In addition, the hot water generator 1 according to

the present embodiment includes the expansion tank 31

disposed in the uppermost part of the housing 51. Thus, in

the hot water generator 1, the size of the hydro unit 3 can

be reduced while the expansion tank 31 and other devices to

be housed in the housing 51 can be efficiently disposed.

[0072]

Further, the hot water generator 1 according to the present embodiment includes the tank fixing band 66 that has the holes 82 to be interdigitated with the convex parts 81 of the expansion tank 31 and fixes the expansion tank 31 to the rear plate 53 of the housing 51 by extending on the body 31a of the expansion tank 31 from above to below the body 31a.

Hence, the hot water generator 1 can reliably fix the

expansion tank 31 at a predetermined position and prevent the

installation position of the expansion tank 31 from shifting.

[0073]

Moreover, the hot water generator 1 according to the

present embodiment includes: the pair of anti-rolling

stoppers 87 that prevents the expansion tank 31 from rolling

against the rear plate 53; and the tank fixing band 66 that

has the folded part 66f to be inserted into the band fixing

hole 85 of the rear plate 53 and the flange 66g to be fixed

to the band fastening hole 86 of the rear plate 53 by the

fastening member 89. Thus, the hot water generator 1 can

readily and firmly fix the expansion tank 31 to the rear

plate 53.

[0074]

According to the hot water generator 1 of the present

embodiment, the cylindrical expansion tank 31 can be

efficiently accommodated in the rectangular housing 51.

[0075]

While certain embodiments have been described, these

embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions.

Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be

embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various

omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the

embodiments described herein may be made without departing

from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims

are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would

fall within the scope of the inventions.

[0076]

Throughout this specification and claims which follow,

unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise",

and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be

understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step

or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any

other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0077]

The reference in this specification to any prior

publication (or information derived from it), or to any

matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an

acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that

that prior publication (or information derived from it) or

known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in

the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0078]

1 hot water generator

2 outdoor unit

3 hydro unit

water heat exchanger

27 first intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe

28 second intra-hydro-unit refrigerant pipe

31 expansion tank

31a body

31b, 31c end plate

51 housing

51f front face

51r rear face

51t top face

51b bottom face

51s side face

52 front plate

53 rear plate

53a flange

54 top plate

bottom plate

56, 57 side plate

66 tank fixing band

66a first part

66b second part

66c third part

66d fourth part

66e fifth part

66f folded part

66g flange

67 backup heater

81 convex part

82 hole

band fixing hole

86 band fastening hole

87 anti-rolling stopper

89 fastening member

IP Australia Cover Sheet: Response to Examination Report

Requested by Davies Collison Cave Pty Ltd

Request date 20-Nov-2023

Customer's service request 35582442/NNR

reference

Application numbers Customer's IP Right Reference

2020438508 35582442/NNR

Request supported by No physical media? Fee Unit Count 1

Fee Total Amount $0.00

Attachment(s)

response to 1st ER.pdf

Our ref. E1481WOAU1_TCCEnglish translation of PCT application + 1spa - clean.pdf

Our ref. E1481WOAU1TCCEnglish translation of PCT application + 1spa - marked up.pdf

1/6

47 45 supply Hot-water / Heating 48 46 Defrosting / Cooling

P 36

35

4 5 33 32

31 15 35 67

28 FIG. 1

27 25 26

3 22 21 1 2 16d

16 16c

13 X

12

16b

17 16a 18 16e

V 11

2/6 2/6

51f, 52 51t, 54

3 51

51r, 53

4

51s, 57

63

51s, 56

48

51b, 55

46

26 25

FIG. 2

3/6

FIG.3

4/6 4/6

31 66 82,82a 81,81a 81,81b 31b 82,82b

31a 33 31c

51r

53

15

35

67

0

35

28 71 O 27

32 76 36 55 FIG. 4 51b 75

5/6 5/6

C 81,81a 81, 81b 51 31 82, 82a 82,82b

31b 31 66 D L 31a 31c 31

53

C

33

+ 35 15 67

35 99 98 96 97 + 98 95 72

O 76 75 36

55,51r 28 27 32 73 48 46 47 26 FIG. 5 25

6/6 6/6

31,31a

81 82 81 82 66a

82 66f 53a

81 85 87 82 66b

82

81

82

66c 51r

82 87 81 53

82 -86 66d 66g 82 81 82 66e 89

FIG. 6