JP2003074911A - Structure of outside air suction part of outdoor machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of preventing entrance of snow to an internal part, in the outside air suction part of an outdoor machine 140. SOLUTION: A snow fall sensor 24 to detect mixing of snow in sucked outside air is arranged in a flow of air between an outside air suction port 18 and a drip plate 19 or in the vicinity thereof, and planar heater 23 to warm the drip plate 19 is provided. A control device 150 is operated such that when it is detected by the snow fall sensor 24 that snow is mixed in sucked outside air, the drip plate 19 is warmed by the planar heater 23. This constitution makes snow, coming in through an outside air suction port 18, contact with the drip plate 19 situated on its downstream side and warmed by the planar heater 23, melted, changed into fine water drips. Thus, the constitution enables prevention of entrance of snow to the internal part of the outside machine 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an outdoor air intake portion of an outdoor unit such as an air conditioner, and more particularly to a structure for preventing a trouble caused by snow entering the outdoor unit operating due to snowstorm or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows the overall structure of a conventional air conditioner. As the structure of the outdoor air intake section of the outdoor unit 140, a drainer plate 19 is provided inside the outdoor air intake port 18 to separate the contained rainwater by inhaling the outside air, and the intake duct 20 is provided further inside the drainer plate 19. Figure 3
To form a labyrinth structure, and the outdoor unit 14
It prevents rainwater from entering the inside of 0. The rainwater separated by the draining plate 19 falls downward and drains 22
Is discharged from the outside.

[0003]

However, when the outdoor unit 140 is operated for heating or the like in winter, a small amount of snow may be sucked together with the outside air. In this case, in the above structure, since the draining plate 19 is also cooled at the same temperature as the outside air, it does not melt to water even if snow comes in contact with it.
Because it is light, it may enter the outside air as it is, penetrate into the inside, and melt at the internal electrical connections etc., which may cause a malfunction.

As shown in FIG. 3, measures against the inclusion of snow are taken by adding a snow-proof duct 25 to the outside of the outside air intake port 18, but it is likely that the wind and snow will be blown off by the snowstorm. In some cases, there is a problem that this snow entry cannot be completely prevented.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a structure capable of preventing the entry of snow into the inside of an outdoor air suction portion of an outdoor unit.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the snow detecting means (24) for detecting that the sucked outside air is mixed with snow is provided in the air flow between the outside air suction port (18) and the draining member (19). In the case where the heating means (23) for warming the draining member (19) is provided in the vicinity thereof and the control means (150) is detected by the snow detection means (24) that snow is mixed with the outside air taken in. In addition, the draining member (19) is heated by the heating means (23).

As a result, the snow that has entered from the outside air intake port (18) is placed immediately downstream of the air and melts by contacting the draining member (19) warmed by the heating means (23) and forming fine water droplets. Because it can be changed, the outdoor unit (1
40) It is possible to prevent snow from entering the inside. Also,
As a result, the snow protection duct (25) that has been added to the outside of the outside air intake port (18) in the related art can be eliminated.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the snow detecting means (2
It is characterized by using a snowfall sensor in 4). As a result, it is possible to easily detect that the inhaled outside air is mixed with snow. The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that it is used as an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. As a result, in a situation where heating operation is essential in winter, it is possible to prevent problems due to snow entering. By the way,
The reference numerals in parentheses of the above-mentioned means are examples showing the correspondence with the concrete means described in the embodiments described later.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an engine-driven heat pump air conditioner (hereinafter, simply referred to as air conditioner) 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a water-cooled engine 1 that uses kerosene or light oil as a fuel
It will be described as being applied to a stationary type air conditioner that is driven by the air conditioner and cools and heats the inside of the room.

First, the overall structure will be described. A compressor 2 driven by an engine 1, an oil separator 3 for separating oil in a refrigerant, a four-way valve 4 for switching a flow path of the refrigerant, and an evaporator during cooling. An indoor heat exchanger 5 that functions as a condenser during heating, a cooling expansion valve 6 that is a pressure reducing means during cooling, a heating expansion valve 7 that is a pressure reducing means during heating, and a condenser that functions during cooling and during heating. The outdoor heat exchanger 8 acting as an evaporator, the refrigerant heater 9 that heats the refrigerant with hot water warmed by the engine exhaust heat, the accumulator 10 that separates the refrigerant into gas-liquid and discharges the gas refrigerant have a refrigerant pipe line (one point). The chain lines 110 are sequentially connected to form a basic refrigeration cycle.

Here, the compressor 2 is driven by a V-belt 1a which works in conjunction with a crank pulley of the engine 1. Reference numeral 11 is an indoor fan that is a blower fan of the indoor heat exchanger 5, and 12 is an outdoor fan that is a blower fan of the outdoor heat exchanger 8. Both fans 11 and 12 are driven by an electric motor. Here, reference numeral 12a is the outdoor fan 12
Is the motor of.

As is well known, as the cooling expansion valve 6 and the heating expansion valve 7, the refrigerant temperature and refrigerant pressure at the outlet of the heat exchanger, which serves as an evaporator during operation, are respectively measured by a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor. And an electronic expansion valve that controls the valve opening degree in accordance with the detection signals from these sensors.

The cooling expansion valve 6 decompresses and expands the liquid refrigerant during cooling, does not decompress by fully opening during heating, and the heating expansion valve 7 expands under reduced pressure during heating. During cooling, it is controlled so that it is fully opened and decompression is not performed.

On the other hand, a hot water circuit (broken line) 120 that circulates hot water (engine cooling water) to the refrigerant heater 9 radiates from the engine 1 via a thermostat (three-way valve) 13.
The water pump 15 circulates a circuit that returns to the engine 1 through the water heater 14 and a circuit that returns from the engine 1 to the engine 1 via the thermostat 13 to the refrigerant heater 9.

When the hot water temperature is higher than the set temperature of the thermostat 13 (in this example, during cooling), the former circuit is used. When the hot water temperature is lower than the set temperature (in this example, during heating), the latter circuit is set to hot water. It's flowing. Engine 1
The exhaust gas after fuel combustion is discharged from the exhaust pipe 1b, and a muffler 16 for silencing is provided in the middle of the exhaust pipe 1b.

In the air conditioner 100 having such a configuration, the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the indoor fan among the respective components constitute the indoor unit 130 and are installed at appropriate places in the room, and the other components are the outdoor unit 140. It is constructed and installed in a suitable place outside the room. The air conditioner 100 has a control device (control means) 150 composed of an electronic circuit or the like at an appropriate place in the outdoor unit 140, and the control device 150 controls the operation of both the units 130 and 140. There is.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described based on the above configuration.

During cooling: When the cooling switch of the control device 150 is activated, the four-way valve 3 is switched to the cooling side (broken line), and the high temperature gas refrigerant leaving the compressor 2 is transferred to the four-way valve 3 and the refrigerant heater 9. Through the outdoor heat exchanger 8, the heat is condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger 8, the pressure is reduced by the expansion valve 6, the endothermic vapor is absorbed by the indoor heat exchanger 5, and the air is cooled.

After that, the gas and liquid are separated again by passing through the four-way valve 3 by the accumulator 10 and then returned to the compressor 2 again. At this time, in the hot water circuit 120, the hot water from the engine 1 passes through the thermostat 13 and the radiator 14 and returns to the engine 1 again.

During heating: When the heating switch of the controller 150 is activated, the four-way valve 3 is switched to the heating side (solid line), and the high temperature gas refrigerant that has exited the compressor 2 passes through the four-way valve 3.
The indoor heat exchanger 5 condenses and heats.

Thereafter, the expansion valve 7 reduces the pressure, and the outdoor heat exchanger 8 exchanges heat with the air (endothermic heat to the outside air) to evaporate. Further, in the refrigerant heater 9, the heat of the engine 1 is heat-exchanged with the recovered hot water to evaporate, pass through the four-way valve 3 again, and pass through the accumulator 1
Return to compressor 2 from 0. At this time, in the hot water circuit 120, the hot water from the engine 1 flows from the thermostat 13 to the refrigerant heater 9 and returns to the engine 1 again.

Next, the structure of the portion relating to the present invention will be described. As a structure of an outdoor air intake portion of the outdoor unit 140, an external air intake port 18 for taking in external air for cooling the engine 1 is provided in a part of the outer plate 17.

A draining plate (draining member) 19 for separating the contained rainwater by applying the sucked outside air is provided inside the outside air intake port 18, and an intake duct 20 is further provided inside the draining plate 19. 1 to form a labyrinth structure to prevent rainwater from entering the outdoor unit 140. The rainwater separated by the draining plate 19 falls downward and is discharged to the outside from the drain hole 22. Reference numeral 21 is an outside air intake fan that is a blower fan for the engine 1.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a snowfall sensor as snow detecting means for detecting that the outside air that has been sucked in is mixed with snow, and is arranged in the air flow between the outside air intake port 18 and the drain plate 19 or in the vicinity thereof. . The outside air intake port 18
In addition to the above position, it may be arranged in the vicinity of the outside air intake port 18 or in the vicinity of the drain plate 19 side as long as it can detect the intrusion of snow.

Thus, it is possible to easily detect that the inhaled outside air is mixed with snow. 23 is a planar heater (heating means) for heating the draining plate 19,
It is provided on the back side of the drain plate 19 that does not face the outside air intake port 18.

FIG. 2 shows the detailed construction of the snow entry prevention mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention. Three-phase 200V is connected to the controller 150 as an operating power source. When it is detected by the snowfall sensor 24 that the inhaled air is mixed with snow during operation, electricity is supplied to the planar heater 23 to heat the draining plate 19.

As a result, the snow entering through the outside air intake port 18 is arranged immediately downstream of the air, and the sheet heater 2 is provided.
Since it contacts with the draining plate 19 heated by 3 and is melted to be converted into fine water droplets, it is possible to prevent the entry of snow into the outdoor unit 140, and to prevent the entry of snow in the winter when heating operation is indispensable. It is possible to prevent the trouble caused by. Further, by doing so, it is possible to eliminate the snow-proof duct 25 which is conventionally added to the outside of the outside air intake port 18.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of an engine-driven heat pump air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of a snow entry prevention mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

18 Outside air intake 19 Draining plate (draining member) 23 Planar heater (heating means) 24 Snowfall sensor (snow detection means) 140 outdoor unit 150 Control device (control means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outdoor unit (140) which is installed outdoors and contains electric equipment such as a control means (150), and an outdoor air intake port (1) for inhaling outdoor air into the outdoor unit (140).
8) and a water draining member (19) which is arranged on the air downstream side of the outside air suction port (18) and separates rainwater contained in the outside air to prevent the rainwater from entering the inside of the outdoor unit. A snow detecting means (24) for detecting that the inhaled outside air is mixed with snow is arranged in or near the air flow between the outside air inlet (18) and the draining member (19), and A heating means (23) for heating the draining member (19) is provided, and the control means (150) is configured to perform the heating means when the snow detection means (24) detects that the intake air is mixed with snow. (23) The structure for heating the water draining member (19) to warm the water draining member (19). 2. The outdoor air intake structure of an outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein a snowfall sensor is used for the snow detecting means (24). 3. The structure of the outdoor air intake section of an outdoor unit according to claim 1, which is used in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.