JP2009287845A - Drain pan for outdoor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drain pan for an outdoor unit preventing closing of drain holes due to freezing of drain water. <P>SOLUTION: The drain pan 2 has the drain holes 3, 4 for discharging drain water. The drain holes 3, 4 are provided to intersect with a nodal line formed by intersection of two faces forming projections in the lower direction on cross sections of bent parts 23, 24 of a bottom part 21. Thus, since this structure can break surface tension of the drain water in the drain holes 3, 4, formation of a water screen of the drain water on the drain holes 3, 4 is prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drain pan of an outdoor unit used in, for example, an air conditioner, a hot water supply device, a heating hot water supply device, and the like.

  Conventionally, as a drain pan of an outdoor unit, there is one described in JP 2007-240099 A (Patent Document 1). This drain pan is disposed below the heat exchanger. In the heat exchanger, condensed water and defrost water (hereinafter referred to as “drain water”) are generated, and this drain water flows down to the drain pan through the heat exchanger. For this reason, a drain hole for draining drain water is provided at the bottom of the drain pan.

  A drain outlet is connected to the drain hole. The drain port protrudes downward from the bottom of the drain pan. The drain outlet has a cylindrical shape, and the tip end surface is inclined obliquely with respect to the horizontal plane. As a result, the drain water that has entered the drain port is concentrated and dropped along the inclination direction of the front end surface of the drain port.

  As described above, in the above-described conventional drain pan, the drain water is concentrated and dropped at one place on the front end surface of the drain port, so that the drain water is prevented from staying in the drain port, and the accumulated drain water is frozen and drained. The mouth is not blocked.

  By the way, when a conventional drain pan is used in a very cold cold region such as Northern Europe, the surface tension of the drain water becomes high, and the water film of the drain water is formed in the drain hole due to the surface tension.

Therefore, when the conventional drain pan is used in the cold region, there arises a problem that the water film formed in the drain hole freezes and closes the drain hole.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-240099 (FIG. 5)

  Then, the subject of this invention is providing the drain pan of the outdoor unit which can prevent that a drain hole is closed by freezing of drain water.

In order to solve the above problems, the drain pan of the outdoor unit of the present invention is
While receiving drain water, comprising a bottom portion having a drain hole for draining the drain water,
The drain hole includes a water film prevention structure for preventing formation of a water film due to surface tension of the drain water.

  According to the drain pan of the outdoor unit configured as described above, drain water is drained from the drain hole at the bottom while receiving drain water. Since this drain hole includes a water film prevention structure that prevents the formation of a water film due to the surface tension of the drain water, even in a very cold cold area such as Northern Europe, the drain hole is affected by the surface tension of the drain water. The film is difficult to form in the drain hole.

  Therefore, even in the cold district, it is possible to prevent the drain water film from freezing and closing the drain hole.

In the drain pan of the outdoor unit of one embodiment,
The water film prevention structure is the drain hole provided so as to intersect an intersecting line formed by the intersection of two surfaces that form a convex downward in the cross section of the bottom.

  According to the drain pan of the outdoor unit of the above embodiment, the drain hole is provided so as to intersect with the intersection line formed by the intersection of two surfaces that form a convex downward in the cross section of the bottom portion. The surface tension of drain water can be broken.

In the drain pan of the outdoor unit of one embodiment,
The water film prevention structure is the drain hole provided with unevenness on the periphery.

  According to the drain pan of the outdoor unit of the embodiment, since the unevenness is provided on the periphery of the drain hole, the surface tension of the drain water can be broken in the drain hole.

In the drain pan of the outdoor unit of one embodiment,
The water film prevention structure is a hydrophilic material applied to the peripheral portion of the drain hole.

  According to the drain pan of the outdoor unit of the embodiment, since the hydrophilic material is applied to the peripheral portion of the drain hole, the drain water can be drained from the drain hole before the drain water forms a water film.

  According to the drain pan of the outdoor unit of the present invention, the drain hole at the bottom includes a structure that makes it difficult to form a water film due to the surface tension of the drain water. However, since the film due to the surface tension of the drain water is hardly formed in the drain hole, it is possible to prevent the drain water film from freezing and closing the drain hole.

  Hereinafter, the drain pan of the outdoor unit of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an essential part of a heat pump unit according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

  The heat pump unit includes an air heat exchanger 1 and a drain pan 2 disposed below the air heat exchanger 1. The air heat exchanger 1 and the drain pan 2 are accommodated in a casing (not shown). A compressor (not shown) that compresses the refrigerant and a blower fan (not shown) that sends outside air to the air heat exchanger 1 are installed in the casing.

  The air heat exchanger 1 has a substantially L shape in a top view and faces the suction port of the casing. As the blower fan is driven, air flows into the casing from the suction port, and the air and the air heat exchanger 1 exchange heat. That is, the air heat exchanger 1 takes in heat in the air.

  The drain pan 2 receives drain water from the air heat exchanger 1. The drain pan 2 has drain holes 3 and 4 for draining drain water. Only a part of the drain holes 3 and 4 overlaps the air heat exchanger 1.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the main part of the heat pump unit as viewed from the side.

  A water heat exchanger 5 is disposed below the drain pan 2. The water heat exchanger 5 is connected to the air heat exchanger 1 through a refrigerant circuit (not shown). Moreover, the said water heat exchanger 5 is connected also to the water circuit which is not shown in figure, and heats the water in a water circuit.

  A drain pan 6 is disposed below the water heat exchanger 5. The drain pan 6 has drain holes 7 and 8 having the same shape as the drain holes 3 and 4.

  FIG. 3 is a view of the drain pan 2 as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 4 is a view of the drain pan 2 as viewed from above.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drain pan 2 includes a bottom portion 21, and a side wall 22 provided on a peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion 21. The upper surface (surface on the air heat exchanger 1 side) of the bottom portion 21 is an uneven surface. The uneven surface is formed such that drain water on the uneven surface flows into the drain holes 3 and 4 by its own weight.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a circle A in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the drain hole 4 is provided in the bent portion 23 of the bottom portion 21 of the drain pan 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the bent portion 23 has a shape protruding downward. The bending angle α on the upper side of the bending portion 23 is 95 degrees or less. In such a cross section of the bent portion 23, a drain hole 3 is provided so as to intersect with an intersecting line formed by the intersection of two surfaces that form a convex downward (see FIG. 5). The drain hole 3 is also provided in the bent portion 24 of the bottom portion 21 of the drain pan 2 (see FIG. 4), similarly to the drain hole 4.

  The drain pan 2 configured as described above receives drain water generated in the air heat exchanger 1 at the bottom 21. If it does so, the said drain water will be guided to the uneven surface of the upper surface of the bottom part 21, will reach the drain holes 3 and 4, and will be dripped below from the drain holes 3 and 4. FIG. At this time, the drain holes 3 and 4 are provided so as to intersect with the intersecting line formed by the intersection of the two surfaces forming the downward projection in the cross section of the bent portions 23 and 24 of the bottom portion 21. The surface tension of the drain water can be broken in the holes 3 and 4. This effect can be obtained even in cold districts such as Northern Europe where the surface tension of the drain water increases.

  Therefore, even in the cold region, a film due to the surface tension of the drain water is not easily formed in the drain holes 3 and 4, and the drain water film can be prevented from freezing and closing the drain holes 3 and 4. .

  In the above embodiment, the drain holes 7 and 8 of the drain pan 6 may also be provided at the bent portion of the bottom of the drain pan 6, similarly to the drain holes 3 and 4.

  When the drain holes 7 and 8 are provided in the bent portion at the bottom of the drain pan 6, the drain holes 7 and 8 can be prevented from being closed due to freezing of the water film of the drain water.

  In the above embodiment, a drain pan 202 as shown in FIG. 7 may be used instead of the drain pan 2. The drain pan 202 has a bottom 221 provided with a drain hole 204. Although not shown, the upper surface of the bottom 221 is an uneven surface that guides drain water to the drain hole 204.

  The drain hole 204 is provided in the flat part of the bottom part 221, and the opening edge of the drain hole 204 is formed with irregularities in the vertical direction over the entire circumference.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

  The irregularities are composed of convex portions 231 and concave portions 232 that are alternately formed along the periphery of the drain hole 204. The convex portion 231 is formed so as to protrude in a direction substantially parallel to the vertical direction. Moreover, the said recessed part 232 is formed so that it may dent toward the direction substantially parallel to a perpendicular direction.

  Even such a drain pan 202 has the same effect as the drain pan 2. That is, the drain hole 204 can be prevented from being closed due to the freezing of the drain water film.

  The drain hole 204 is provided in the flat portion of the bottom portion 221, but may be provided in a bent portion of the bottom portion 221.

  In addition, although one drain hole 204 is provided in the bottom portion 221 of the drain pan 202, a plurality of drain holes 204 may be provided in the bottom portion 221 of the drain pan 202 as necessary.

  Further, the formation position of the drain hole 204 may be set so that only a part of the drain hole 204 overlaps the air heat exchanger 1, similarly to the drain holes 3 and 4.

  In the above embodiment, a drain pan 302 as shown in FIG. 9 may be used instead of the drain pan 2. The drain pan 302 has a bottom portion 321 provided with a drain hole 304. Although not shown, the upper surface of the bottom 321 is an uneven surface that guides drain water to the drain hole 304.

  The drain hole 304 is provided in a flat portion of the bottom portion 321, and a hydrophilic resin 310 is applied around the opening edge of the drain hole 204. The hydrophilic resin 310 is an example of a hydrophilic material.

  Examples of the hydrophilic resin 310 include a polymer having a hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group. More specifically, as the hydrophilic resin 310, for example, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyethylene-acrylic acid (EAA), or the like can be used.

  Even such a drain pan 302 has the same effect as the drain pan 2. That is, the drain hole 304 can be prevented from being closed due to the freezing of the drain water film.

  The drain hole 304 is provided in the flat portion of the bottom portion 321, but may be provided in a bent portion of the bottom portion 321.

  Further, although one drain hole 304 is provided in the bottom portion 321 of the drain pan 302, a plurality of drain holes 304 may be provided in the bottom portion 321 of the drain pan 302 as necessary.

  Further, the formation position of the drain hole 304 may be set so that only a part of the drain hole 304 overlaps the air heat exchanger 1, similarly to the drain holes 3 and 4.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a main part of a heat pump unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the main part of the heat pump unit as viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drain pan of the heat pump unit. FIG. 4 is a top view of the drain pan. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in a circle A in FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a modified example of the drain pan. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a modified example of the drain pan.

Explanation of symbols

2, 6, 202, 302 Drain pan 3, 4, 204, 304 Drain hole 21, 221, 321 Bottom 23, 24 Bend 310 Hydrophilic resin

Claims (4)

While receiving drain water, comprising a bottom (21, 221 321) having drain holes (3,4, 204, 304) for draining the drain water,
A drain pan for an outdoor unit, wherein the drain hole (3,4, 204, 304) includes a water film prevention structure for preventing formation of a water film due to surface tension of the drain water. In the drain pan of the outdoor unit according to claim 1,
The water film prevention structure is the drain hole (3, 4) provided so as to intersect with an intersecting line formed by the intersection of two surfaces forming a convex downward in the cross section of the bottom (21). Drain pan of outdoor unit characterized by In the drain pan of the outdoor unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The drain pan for an outdoor unit, wherein the water film prevention structure is the drain hole (204) having irregularities on the periphery. In the drain pan of the outdoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The drain pan for an outdoor unit, wherein the water film prevention structure is a hydrophilic material (310) applied to a peripheral portion of the drain hole (304).

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