JP2006250483A - Valve unit mounting structure for gas equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To mount/demount in a well workable manner a valve unit which has a cylindrical gas flow-in portion fitted to a valve connection portion protruded into an exterior case, on/from a gas piping joint member which is mounted on the outer face of the exterior case of gas equipment. <P>SOLUTION: At the end of the gas flow-in portion 63 of the valve unit 6, a protruded portion 65 is formed which is protruded outward to the radial direction. In the exterior case 11, an engaging pawl 13 engageable with the protruded portion 65 is provided which is located in a turn track of the protruded portion 65 when the valve unit 6 is turned in the state that the gas flow-in portion 63 is fitted to the valve connection portion 53 of the joint member 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a valve unit mounting structure in a gas appliance in which a valve unit for controlling gas supply is installed in an outer case of the gas appliance such as a water heater.

  Conventionally, in a gas appliance having an outer case such as a water heater, a valve connecting portion protruding into the outer case is formed in a joint member for gas piping attached to the outer surface of the outer case, and fitted into the valve connecting portion. A cylindrical gas inflow portion is formed in the valve unit, and the gas main pipe and the valve unit are connected via a joint member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Conventionally, when mounting the valve unit, first, one piece for temporary fixing formed on the flange portion with the flange portion formed at the end of the gas inflow portion of the valve unit seated on the inner surface of the outer case. Screw the screw into the screw hole from the outer surface side of the outer case, temporarily fix the valve unit in the outer case, and then fit the valve connection part of the joint member to the gas inflow part of the valve unit, The flange part formed in the intermediate part of the joint member is seated on the outer surface of the outer case, and finally the flange of the joint member from the outer surface side of the outer case to the two fixing screw holes formed in the flange part of the valve unit. Screw the screw through the part and fasten the flange part of the valve unit and the flange part of the joint member with the outer case sandwiched between them. It is to be permanently fixed to the unit and the joint member to the outer case.

As described above, the temporary fixing and the main fixing of the valve unit are performed by screw tightening work from the outer surface side of the outer case, and therefore, the screw hole of the flange portion of the valve unit in the outer case cannot be visually observed during the screw tightening work. The work becomes troublesome and the assemblability deteriorates. Further, when removing the valve unit during maintenance, it is necessary to unfasten the flange portion of the valve unit and the flange portion of the joint member. For this purpose, it is necessary to insert a tool into the flange portion of the joint member so as to sew between the pipes on the outer surface side of the outer case, which makes the work troublesome and deteriorates maintainability.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-26283 (FIG. 4)

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a valve unit mounting structure in a gas appliance that is excellent in assembling and maintenance so that the valve unit can be mounted and removed with good workability.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a gas pipe joint member attached to the outer surface of an outer case of a gas appliance, wherein a valve connecting portion is formed so as to protrude into the outer case. In the mounting structure of the valve unit in the gas appliance in which the valve unit having the cylindrical gas inflow portion to be fitted is installed in the outer case, a protrusion projecting radially outward is formed at the end of the gas inflow portion, The outer casing can be engaged with the protrusion by being positioned within the rotation locus of the protrusion when the valve unit is rotated with the gas inflow portion fitted to the valve connecting portion. An engaging claw is provided.

  According to the present invention, when the joint member is attached to the outer surface of the exterior case, and the gas inflow portion is fitted to the valve connection portion of the joint member and the valve unit is rotated, the protrusion at the end of the gas inflow portion Is engaged with the engaging claw of the outer case, and the valve unit is prevented from coming off from the joint member. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a screw tightening operation from the outer surface side of the outer case in order to fix the valve unit, so that the valve unit can be easily attached and the assemblability is improved. Further, if the valve unit is rotated in the opposite direction to that at the time of attachment, the protrusion is detached from the engaging claw, and the valve unit can be removed. Therefore, the valve unit can be easily removed while the joint member is attached to the exterior case, and the maintainability is improved.

  In order to securely fix the valve unit in the exterior case, it is necessary to prevent the valve unit from rotating in a state where the protrusion engages with the engaging claw. In this case, a bracket may be provided in the exterior case, and the valve unit may be prevented from rotating by screwing a part of the valve unit to the bracket. However, this requires a bracket and increases the number of parts. Here, a gas piping member connected to the gas outflow portion of the valve unit is disposed in the exterior case. If this gas piping member is formed of a metal molded product formed by casting or forging, the rigidity of the gas piping member can be increased and used as a strength member. If the valve unit is screwed to the gas piping member, the valve unit is reliably prevented from rotating by the gas piping member. As a result, a separate part such as a bracket becomes unnecessary, and the number of parts can be reduced to reduce the cost.

  Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer case of a water heater as a gas appliance, and the front surface of the outer case 1 is constituted by a detachable front panel 1a. In the outer case 1, a combustion housing 2 and a heat exchanger 3 on the upper side of the combustion housing 2 are arranged. A plurality of burners 4 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that are longitudinal in the front-rear direction are arranged in the combustion housing 2 side by side. The burner 4 is connected to the gas pipe joint member 5 attached to the lower surface of the lower plate portion 11 of the outer case 1 through the valve unit 6, the gas pipe member 7, and the manifold 8 attached to the combustion housing 2. Gas is supplied. The heat exchanger 3 is provided with a hot water supply heat exchanging portion 3a and a bath-heating heat exchanging portion 3b. The burner 4 is arranged in the combustion housing 2 separately for the hot water supply heat exchanging section 3a and for the bath reheating heat exchanging section 3b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the joint member 5 includes a flange portion 51 fixed to the lower surface of the lower plate portion 11 of the outer case 1 with a screw 51 a, a gas pipe connection portion 52 positioned below the flange portion 51, and a flange portion. A valve connecting portion 53 that is located above 51 and protrudes above the lower plate portion 11 through a through hole 12 formed in the lower plate portion 11. Further, the valve unit 6 incorporates an upstream electromagnetic on-off valve 61 that controls on / off of gas supply to the burner 4 and a downstream electromagnetic proportional valve 62 that controls increase / decrease of the gas supply amount to the burner 4. Yes. The valve unit 6 further includes a cylindrical gas inflow portion 63 that fits into the valve connection portion 53 of the joint member 5 and a gas outflow portion 64 that is connected to the gas piping member 7.

  Further, at the end of the gas inflow portion 63, a pair of projecting portions 65 protruding outward in the radial direction are formed apart from each other by 180 ° in the circumferential direction. Then, in the rotation trajectory of the protrusion 65 when the valve unit 6 is rotated with the gas inflow portion 63 fitted to the valve connecting portion 53 of the joint member 5 on the lower plate portion 11 of the outer case 1. The engaging claws 13 that can be engaged with the protrusions 65 are provided in pairs so as to correspond to the pair of protrusions 65. Each engaging claw 13 is formed in a bowl shape having a rising portion that contacts one side edge of each protruding portion 65 and a bent portion at the upper end of the rising portion that engages with the upper surface of each protruding portion 65. Further, in this embodiment, each engaging claw 13 is formed by cutting and raising the lower plate portion 11, and the engaging claw 13 extending and protruding radially outward from the through hole 12 in the lower plate portion 11. A notch 14 is formed for the purpose. Therefore, the protrusion 65 is formed wider than the notch 14 so as not to fall into the notch 14.

  When mounting the valve unit 6, first, as shown in FIG. 2A, the flange portion 51 of the joint member 5 is screwed to the lower surface of the lower plate portion 11. Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the gas inflow portion 63 of the valve unit 6 is positioned so that the projection 65 is located at a position away from the engagement claw 13 in the clockwise direction when viewed from above. It is made to fit in the valve connection part 53 of the joint member 5 protruding above the part 11. Thereafter, the valve unit 6 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from above, and the protrusion 65 is engaged with the engaging claw 13 as shown in FIG. As a result, the valve unit 6 is prevented from being detached from the joint member 5. Further, when the valve unit 6 is in a phase in which the projection 65 is engaged with the engagement claw 13, the gas outflow portion 64 faces forward. Next, the manifold 8 is attached to the combustion housing 2 from the front, and the lower end portion of the gas piping member 7 is moved forward by screws 71 that are screwed into screw holes 66 formed on both sides of the gas outflow portion 64 of the valve unit 6. To the valve unit 6 with screws.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to fix the valve unit 6 in the outer case 1 by screwing from the lower side of the lower plate portion 11, and the mounting operation of the valve unit 6 is facilitated and the assemblability is improved.

  By the way, in order to securely fix the valve unit 6 in the outer case 1, it is necessary to prevent the valve unit 6 from rotating in a state in which the protrusion 65 is engaged with the engaging claw 13. Here, the gas piping member 7 is made of a cast metal product such as aluminum. Therefore, the rigidity of the gas piping member 7 is increased, and the valve unit 6 is reliably prevented from rotating by being screwed to the gas piping member 7.

  In addition, it is also possible to comprise the gas piping member 7 with a simple pipe. However, it is difficult for the pipe to secure rigidity enough to securely prevent the valve unit 6 from rotating. Therefore, in order to securely prevent the valve unit 6 from rotating, it is necessary to provide a bracket for the valve unit in the outer case 1 and to screw a part of the valve unit 6 to this bracket. As the number increases, the number of man-hours increases and the cost increases. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of cost reduction that the gas piping member 7 is made of a metal molded product as in this embodiment and the valve unit 6 is screwed thereto.

  Further, when the gas piping member 7 and the manifold 8 are removed from the valve unit 6 and the combustion housing 2 during maintenance, if the valve unit 6 is rotated in the clockwise direction when viewed from above, the protrusion 65 is moved from the engaging claw 13. The valve unit 6 can be removed by detachment. Therefore, the valve unit 6 can be easily removed while the joint member 5 is attached to the lower plate portion 11, and the maintainability is improved.

  Next, the manifold 8 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the manifold 8 is attached to the combustion housing 2 so as to close the opening 22 formed in the lower portion of the front plate portion 21 of the combustion housing 2. The gas inlet 4 a of each burner 4 in the combustion housing 2 is located on the back side of the opening 22. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of gas nozzles 81 corresponding to the plurality of burners 4 in the combustion housing 2 are provided on the rear surface of the manifold 8, and gas flows from each gas nozzle 81 toward the gas inlet 4 a of each burner 4. It is made to erupt. The burner 4 is composed of a dark and light combustion type burner in which gas inlets 4 a are provided in a pair of upper and lower sides, and a gas nozzle 81 is also provided in a pair of upper and lower sides for each burner 4. Further, the lower portion of the manifold 8 extends below the lower edge of the front plate portion 21 of the combustion housing 2, and the upper end portion of the gas pipe member 7 that is formed horizontally is screwed to the lower rear surface of the manifold 8. Yes. A plurality of solenoid valves 72 for switching the number of burners 4 are attached to the upper end of the gas piping member 7. The manifold 8 is formed with a passage groove 83 covered with a cover plate 82 that guides the gas that has passed through each electromagnetic valve 72 to a predetermined number of gas nozzles 81.

  An air supply chamber 2a partitioned by a distribution plate 20 with respect to the arrangement part of the burner 4 is provided in the lower part of the combustion housing 2, and air from a combustion fan (not shown) is supplied to the air supply chamber 2a. Supplied. The distribution plate 20 has a front rising portion 20a facing the rear surface of the manifold 8 with a gap, and a burring hole is formed in the rising portion 20a to be fitted to the gas inlet 4a of each burner 4. ing. A part of the air supplied to the air supply chamber 2a is supplied as primary air to the gas inlet 4a of each burner 4 through the gap between the rear surface of the manifold 8 and the rising portion 20a, and the remaining air is supplied. Secondary air is supplied to the arrangement portion of the burner 4 through a number of distribution holes (not shown) formed in the distribution plate 20.

  Here, the opening formation location of the front plate portion 21 of the combustion housing 2 is offset backward with respect to the portion of the front plate portion 21 above the location, and the rising portion of the distribution plate 20 is located at the upper edge of the opening formation location. A step surface 23 in the front-rear direction reaching the upper edge of 20a is formed. In addition, one screw hole 24 is formed on each side of the opening forming portion in the lateral direction, and two screw holes 24 are formed on the lower edge portion of the opening forming portion. Then, four mounting holes 84 corresponding to these screw holes 24 are formed in the manifold 8, and the manifold 8 is attached to the peripheral portion of the rear surface thereof with a seal member 9 made of a frame-shaped packing attached thereto. Screws 85 are inserted into the holes 84 and screwed to both lateral sides and the lower edge of the opening forming portion.

  The upper side 9 a of the seal member 9 is brought into contact with the upper edge of the manifold 8. The upper edge of the manifold 8 is brought into contact with the stepped surface 23 at the upper edge of the opening formation portion from below via the upper side portion 9a of the seal member 9. Thereby, the sealing performance between the manifold 8 and the front plate portion 21 at the upper edge portion of the opening forming portion is ensured. Therefore, it is not necessary to form an extending portion that overlaps the front surface of the upper portion of the opening forming portion of the front plate portion 21 at the upper edge of the manifold 8, and the manifold 8 can be reduced in size and cost can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 5, one first protrusion 86 is formed on each lateral side of the rear surface of the manifold 8, and a pair of left and right second protrusions 87 are formed on the upper edge of the manifold 8. . In addition, each of the first engagement holes 25 with which the first protrusions 86 are engaged is formed on both lateral sides of the opening formation portion of the front plate portion 21, and the step surface 23 at the upper edge of the opening formation portion. In addition, a pair of left and right second engagement holes 26, 26 with which the second protrusions 87 are engaged are formed. Then, by engagement of the first protrusion 86 with the first engagement hole 25, the manifold 8 is positioned at a vertical position where the upper side portion 9 a of the seal member 9 can be compressed between the upper edge of the manifold 8 and the step surface 23. It is to be retained.

  In order to facilitate the insertion of the first protrusion 86 into the first engagement hole 25, as shown in FIG. 6, the tip of the first protrusion 86 is rounded, and the first engagement hole 25 is rounded at the corner. It is formed by burring holes with The seal member 9 has a hole 91 corresponding to the mounting hole 84 of the manifold 8 and holes 92 and 93 corresponding to the first and second protrusions 86 and 87.

  When mounting the manifold 8, first, the manifold 8 is tilted backward to engage the second protrusions 87 with the second engagement holes 26, and then the manifold 8 is placed at the opening formation position of the front plate portion 21. Push back toward you. According to this, the first protrusion 86 is pushed into the first engagement hole 25 with a strong force by the lever action with the second protrusion 87 engaged with the second engagement hole 26 as a fulcrum. At this time, the manifold 8 is pushed upward by the upward component force caused by the reaction force of the first protrusion 86 into the first engagement hole 25, and the seal member 9 is formed between the upper edge of the manifold 8 and the step surface 23. The upper side portion 9a is compressed, and the sealing property between the upper edge of the manifold 8 and the step surface 23 is ensured. Finally, the manifold 8 is screwed to each side hole and the lower edge of the opening portion of the front plate portion 21 in each mounting hole 84.

  Here, if the first protrusion 86 and the first engagement hole 25 are not provided, the operator can connect the manifold 8 so that the upper side portion 9a of the seal member 9 is compressed between the upper edge of the manifold 8 and the step surface 23. Is forced to screw the manifold 8 in a state where it is pushed up against the compression reaction force of the upper side portion 9a of the seal member 9, and the operation becomes difficult. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the upper side portion 9 a of the seal member 9 can be compressed between the upper edge of the manifold 8 and the step surface 23 by the engagement of the first protrusion 86 with the first engagement hole 25. Since the manifold 8 is held in the vertical position, it is not necessary to push the manifold 8 up manually when screwing the manifold 8, and the screwing operation is facilitated.

  Further, in this embodiment, the upper edge of the manifold 8 is stepped by the engagement of the second protrusion 87 with the second engagement hole 26 without screwing the upper edge portion of the manifold 8 to the front plate portion 21. The separation from the surface 23 can be prevented. Therefore, the number of screwing points can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of assembly work steps of the manifold 8. Further, as described above, the first protrusion 86 is moved between the upper edge of the manifold 8 and the step surface 23 by the lever action with the second protrusion 87 engaged with the second engagement hole 26 as a fulcrum. The upper side portion 9a can be easily pushed into the first engagement hole 25 while being compressed, and the assembly operation of the manifold 8 is further facilitated.

  As described above, the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the water heater has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a gas appliance other than the water heater as a mounting structure of a valve unit to be mounted in the exterior case.

The front view of the gas appliance which comprises the structure of embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the attachment structure of the valve unit of embodiment. Sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the III-III line | wire of FIG. The perspective view of the separation state of the combustion housing and manifold of the gas appliance of FIG. The perspective view seen from the slanting back of the manifold. The expanded sectional view in the manifold attachment state cut | disconnected by the VI-VI line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Exterior case, 13 ... Engagement claw, 5 ... Joint member, 53 ... Valve connection part, 6 ... Valve unit, 63 ... Gas inflow part, 64 ... Gas outflow part, 65 ... Projection part, 7 ... Gas piping member

Claims (2)

A valve member having a cylindrical gas inflow portion that is fitted to the valve connection portion is formed in a joint member for gas piping attached to the outer surface of the outer case of the gas appliance so as to protrude into the outer case. In the mounting structure of the valve unit in the gas appliance for mounting the unit in the exterior case,
A protrusion projecting radially outward is formed at an end of the gas inflow portion,
The outer casing can be engaged with the protrusion by being positioned within the rotation locus of the protrusion when the valve unit is rotated with the gas inflow portion fitted to the valve connection portion. A fitting structure for a valve unit in a gas appliance, wherein a proper engaging claw is provided.   The gas piping member connected to the gas outflow portion of the valve unit disposed in the outer case is formed of a metal molded product, and the valve unit is screwed to the gas piping member. Item 3. A valve unit mounting structure in a gas appliance according to Item 1.

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