JPH08128678A - Switch box structure for outdoor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To effectively prevent the invasion of rain water into a switch box without reducing heat exhausting function by sufficiently obtaining the open area of the heat exhausting opening of the box installed in an outdoor unit. CONSTITUTION: The upper end part of a front plate 11 of a switch box 10 disposed at the position with a small gap to the front plate 2 of an outdoor unit 1 opposed to the plate 2 is recessed inside, and the sagged part 14b of the top plate 14 of the box is opposed to the recess, thereby forming an opening C for exhausting the heat of a switch group in the box 10. A rain water shut-off plate 20 extended upward from the upper surface of the plate 14 is fixed to the part 14b of the plate 14. The water dropped from a propeller fan 7 is reflected to the plate 14 side by the plate 20 to eliminate scattering of the water to the vicinity of the opening C.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of a switch box provided inside an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and more particularly to measures for preventing rainwater from entering the inside of the switch box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, actual Kaihei 3-46144.
As disclosed in the publication, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is provided with a switch box inside, and an internal unit of an outdoor unit such as a compressor is controlled by the operation of a switch group (electronic device) in the switch box. are doing.

The switch box is made of a sheet metal box and has a heat exhaust structure for exhausting the heat generated by the internal switch group to the outside of the box. 6 to 8, the switch box (a) includes a front plate (b), a bottom plate (c), a rear plate (d), and a top plate.
(e) and side plates (f), (f) on the left and right, and a space (g) for accommodating the switch group is formed inside, and the front plate (b) is formed on the inner surface of the outdoor unit casing (h). Are arranged so as to face each other. The upper end of the front plate (b) is recessed toward the internal space (g) except for the left and right ends of the front plate (b), and the droops provided at the edges of the recess (b1) and the top plate (e). An opening (i) is formed between it and the portion (e1). As a result, the heat inside the switch box (a) is discharged to the outside through this opening (i).

[0004]

By the way, as one type of the outdoor unit casing provided with the switch box (a), as shown in FIG. 6, the air exchanged in the heat exchanger (m) is performed on the upper surface thereof. There is a blowout port (j) formed that blows out this blowout port (j).
In addition, a propeller fan for generating an air flow inside the outdoor unit
(k) is provided.

Then, at the time of rainfall, the rain directly falls on the propeller fan (k), and this rainwater flows down on the upper surface of the propeller fan (k) and enters the outdoor unit. At this time, even when the air conditioner is operating, the propeller fan (k)
Is rotating at a high speed, the rainwater is scattered substantially horizontally from the outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan (k) by the centrifugal force acting on the rainwater, and then flows down along the inner surface of the outdoor unit casing (h). So it's almost a switch box
You will never fall on (a).

However, when the air conditioner is stopped, rainwater collides with the propeller fan (k), causing the propeller fan (k) to rotate at a low speed in a direction opposite to the above, like a water turbine. As a result, rainwater is scattered obliquely downward from the outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan (k), as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6, and depending on the position of the switch box (a), the switch box (a) and the outdoor unit casing. The part of the inner surface of (h) facing the switch box (a) and its surroundings may fall down. Therefore, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 8, rainwater is reflected on the inner surface of the outdoor unit casing (h) and the like so that the switch box (a) is opened through the opening (i).
There is a risk that it will enter the internal space (g) and may interfere with the operation of the switch group.

In order to avoid such infiltration of rainwater,
As shown by the phantom line in Fig. 8, it is possible to extend the hanging part (e1) of the top plate (e) downward to open the opening (i) downward, but in this case, the opening (i) itself. The opening area of the box becomes small, and it becomes impossible to obtain a sufficient heat discharging function in the box (a).

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and it is an object of the present invention to reliably prevent rainwater from entering the switch box without deteriorating the exhaust heat function of the switch box. And

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention cuts off the upper part of the switch box in the rainwater splash path extending from the propeller fan to the exhaust heat opening of the switch box. , Prevented rainwater from splashing around the opening.

Specifically, the invention according to claim 1 is provided inside an outdoor unit (1) having an air circulation opening (4a) on the upper surface, and is spaced from the vertical wall surface of the outdoor unit (1). Exhaust heat opening (C) located at the existing position and facing this vertical wall
It is assumed that the switch box (10) has Then, on the upper side of the exhaust heat opening (C), rainwater that has entered the inside of the outdoor unit (1) from the air circulation opening (4a) is scattered and the exhaust heat opening (C)
A blocking member (20) for blocking the entry into the is provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the switch box structure for the outdoor unit according to the first aspect, the outdoor unit (1)
The propeller fan (7) is installed in the air circulation opening (4a) of
The outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan (7) is connected to the switch box (1
(0) is located above the exhaust heat opening (C), the blocking member (20) prevents the rainwater scattered from the outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan (7) from entering the exhaust heat opening (C). It is configured so that it is blocked.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the switch box structure for an outdoor unit according to the first or second aspect, the switch box (10) has a slight distance from a vertical wall surface of the outdoor unit (1). And front plates (11) extending vertically in opposition to each other
And a top plate (14) disposed above the front plate (11) and extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and the inner space (B) of the switch box (10) at the upper end portion of the front plate (11). A concave portion (16) is provided which is concave toward the side. In addition, the top plate (14), the front plate
A drooping part (14b) facing the recessed part (16) of (11) and forming a heat exhaust opening (C) with the recessed part (16) is provided. The blocking member (20) is formed of a plate material fixed to the outer surface of the hanging portion (14b) of the top plate (14) and extending above the upper surface of the top plate (14).

[0013]

With the above construction, the present invention provides the following actions. According to the first aspect of the invention, rainwater that enters the outdoor unit (1) through the air circulation opening (4a) and is scattered toward the exhaust heat opening (C) of the switch box (10) is discharged. It is reflected by the blocking member (20) on the upper side of the heat opening (C), so that it does not penetrate into the inside of the switch box (10) through the heat exhaust opening (C). For this reason,
It is possible to reliably prevent rainwater from entering the inside of the box (10) while keeping the open area of the exhaust heat opening (C) relatively large, and to maintain the exhaust heat function of the switch box (10) and prevent Both protection can be achieved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, particularly when the outdoor unit (1) is stopped during rainfall, the propeller fan is used.
(7) Rainwater collides with the propeller fan
(7) will rotate at a low speed like a water turbine, and the rainwater on the propeller fan (7) will fall obliquely downward from the outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan (7) and the heat exhaust opening of the switch box (10) will be released. Although it will be scattered near (C), the blocking member (20) avoids this scattering and rainwater will be scattered in the box (10).
Intrusion into the interior of the

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the structure of the exhaust heat opening (C) and the structure of the blocking member (20) formed in the switch box (10) can be specifically obtained, and the blocking is also possible. Since the member (20) is a plate material, it has a simple structure and is a box.
Rainwater can be surely prevented from entering the inside of (10).

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outdoor unit (1) of the air conditioner includes a front plate (2), a rear plate (3), a top plate (4), and a pair of left and right side plates (5), (5). And a bottom plate (not shown), and various devices such as a compressor are housed in the internal space (A). The rear plate (3) is formed with an air inlet (3a) and the top plate (4) is formed with an air outlet (4a) .The heat exchanger faces the air inlet (3a). (6) is installed, while air outlet
A propeller fan (7) having a plurality of blades (7a), (7a), ... Is arranged facing the (4a). As a result, when the air conditioner is driven, the propeller fan (7) rotates, sucking outside air from the air inlet (3a) into the internal space (A) of the outdoor unit (1), and the outside air and heat exchanger (6). ) Heat is exchanged with the refrigerant flowing inside, and then this air is blown into the air outlet (4
It is designed to be discharged from a).

In addition, inside the outdoor unit (1), the front plate
A switch box (10) is arranged at a position facing (2). The switch box (10) will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the switch box (10) includes a front plate (11), a bottom plate (12), a rear plate (13), a top plate (14) and left and right side plates (15), (15). The internal space (B) is made up of a sheet metal box body in which a space (B) is formed.In this internal space (B), a switch group (not shown) composed of electronic devices for controlling internal devices such as a compressor is provided. Is housed.

The switch box (10) will be described in detail. The box front plate (11) has locking plates (11a), (11a) on both left and right sides thereof. Each locking plate (11a), (1
1a) is formed so as to project more laterally than the box side plates (15), (15). As shown in FIG. 2, the side plates (5) of the outdoor unit (1) are provided at both upper and lower ends thereof. , (5) The opening (5
Hook portions (11b), (11b), ... Locked by a), (5a), ... Are bent and formed on the center side of the outdoor unit internal space (A). Also,
A part of the upper end of the box front plate (11) excluding the left and right ends is provided with a recessed part (16) which is recessed toward the box internal space (B) side. As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the recessed portion (16) includes an inclined portion (16a) inclined toward the box internal space (B) side as it goes upward, and the inclined portion (16).
The vertical part (16b) extends vertically upward from the inner end of (a), and the upper end of this vertical part (16b) has a slight gap between it and the box top plate (14).

The box top plate (14) has a rectangular main body (14a) which inclines slightly downward toward the center of the outdoor unit internal space (A), and each of the main body (14a). The hanging parts (14b), (14b), which are bent downward with small dimensions from four sides,
… And consists of: And each of these hanging parts (14b), (14
b), ... are the box rear plate (13) and the left and right box side plates (1
It is joined to the outer surface of the upper edge of 5) and (15) respectively. In addition, since the box front plate (11) is formed with the recessed portion (16) as described above, the recessed portion (16) and the box top plate (1) are
An opening (C) is formed between the hanging part (14b) of 4) and this opening (C) is used as a heat outlet for discharging the heat generated from the switch group to the outside of the box. It has become so. In addition, the box back plate (13) and the box bottom plate (1
An opening (D) that opens downward is formed between it and 2), and this opening (D) is for introducing the air flowing in the outdoor unit internal space (A) into the box internal space (B). It is now used as an entrance.

Due to such a constitution, in this switch box (10), a part of the air in the outdoor unit internal space (A) is separated between the box rear plate (13) and the box bottom plate (12). It is introduced into the internal space (B) of the box through the lower opening (D) between them, and the heat of the switch group is taken away by this air. ) Hanging part (14b)
The switch group is designed to be cooled by leading it to the outdoor unit internal space (A) from the upper opening (C) between the switch and the unit.

The feature of this embodiment is that the switch box (10) is provided with a rainwater blocking plate (20) as a blocking member. This rainwater blocking plate (20) is fixed to the outer surface of the hanging part (14b) of the box top plate (14) facing the box front plate (11). It is set to be slightly shorter than the length of the plate (14) and longer than the length of the recess (16). The upper end position of the rainwater blocking plate (20) is located slightly above the upper surface of the box top plate (14). Specifically, it is projected upward by about 10 mm. That is,
This rainwater blocking plate (20) reflects the rainwater scattered from the propeller fan (7) at the time of rainfall on the top side of the box top plate (14), and the front plate (2) of the outdoor unit (1) and the box. Front plate (11)
It is designed to prevent rainwater from entering between and (see arrows in FIGS. 1 and 4).

Next, a description will be given of the operation in the case of rainfall with the above configuration. When the air conditioner is operating during this rainfall, the propeller fan (7) is rotating at high speed,
Due to the centrifugal force that acts on the rainwater due to this rotation, the rainwater is scattered in a substantially horizontal direction from the edges of the blades (7a) of the propeller fan (7) and then flows down along the inner wall surface of the outdoor unit (1). do it,
Almost no switch box (10) is reached.

On the other hand, when the air conditioner is stopped during the rain, the propeller fan (7) rotates at a low speed in the opposite direction to the above, like a water wheel, due to the weight of rainwater. As a result, the rainwater is scattered obliquely downward from the blades (7a) of the propeller fan (7) (see the arrow in FIG. 1). For this reason,
The scattered rainwater is collected from the outer peripheral edge of the blade (7a) to the ridge between the box top plate (14) and the box front plate (11), and the outdoor unit.
Go down toward the part of the front plate (2) of (1) facing the front plate (12) of the box. At this time, since the rainwater blocking plate (20) is present in the direction in which the rainwater is scattered, the rainwater is reflected by the blocking plate (20) as shown by the arrow in FIG. It is made to flow on the upper surface of the plate (14), and because the box top plate (14) is inclined, it is made to flow down from the box rear surface (13). That is, the front plate (2) of the outdoor unit (1)
Rainwater will not be scattered between the box and the front plate (11) of the box. In other words, it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering the box internal space (B) through the upper opening (C) during such rainfall, and to prevent the operation of the switch group from being disturbed.

Therefore, according to the configuration of this example, the internal space of the box is not used without extending the hanging portion (14b) of the box top plate (14) downward to block the rainwater entry path. Since it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering (B), the opening (C)
Maintain a relatively large open area of the switch box (1
It is possible to reliably prevent rainwater from entering the box internal space (B) and protect the switch group without lowering the exhaust heat function of (0), improving the reliability of the switch box (10). it can.

In this embodiment, the rainwater blocking plate (20) is a flat plate member joined to the hanging portion (14b) of the box top plate (14), but the present invention is not limited to this. An L-shaped plate member joined to the upper surface of the main body portion (14a) of the box top plate (14), or a plate member having an inclined portion that is inclined upward from the upper surface of the main body portion (14a) toward the front plate of the outdoor unit, It may be formed by a curved plate material.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited. According to the invention as set forth in claim 1, a blocking member for blocking rainwater that has infiltrated into the outdoor unit from the air circulation opening from splashing above the exhaust heat opening formed in the switch box and entering the exhaust heat opening. Since it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering the internal space of the box without using a means to prevent the entry of rainwater by reducing the exhaust heat opening, the opening area of the opening can be kept relatively large and the switch Without deteriorating the heat exhausting function of the box, it is possible to surely prevent rainwater from entering the inner space of the box to protect the switch group and improve the reliability of the switch box.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the outer peripheral edge portion of the propeller fan is located above the exhaust heat opening of the switch box, so that, particularly when the outdoor unit is stopped during rainfall, When rainwater collides with the propeller fan, the propeller fan rotates at a low speed like a water turbine, and the rainwater on the propeller fan drops obliquely downward from the outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan to release heat from the switch box. Although it may be scattered toward the vicinity, even in such a case, the blocking member can prevent this scattering and prevent rainwater from entering the inside of the box.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the structure of the heat exhaust opening and the structure of the blocking member formed in the switch box can be specifically obtained, and the blocking member is the hanging portion of the top plate. Since it is made of a plate material that is fixed to the top plate and extends above the top surface of the top plate, it is possible to reliably prevent rainwater from entering the inside of the box with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of an upper part of an outdoor unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a support state of a switch box with a part of an outdoor unit omitted.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a switch box.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view around the upper end of the switch box.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the entire switch box.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Outdoor unit (4a) Air outlet (air circulation opening) (7) Propeller fan (10) Switch box (11) Box front plate (14) Box top plate (14b) Hanging part (16) Recessed part (20) ) Rainwater shutoff plate (shutoff member) (C) Opening (heat exhaust opening)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outdoor unit having an air circulation opening (4a) on its upper surface.
A switch box (10) which is provided inside (1) and is arranged at a position spaced from the vertical wall surface of the outdoor unit (1) and has an exhaust heat opening (C) facing the vertical wall surface. ), A cutoff is provided above the exhaust heat opening (C) to prevent rainwater that has entered the outdoor unit (1) from the air circulation opening (4a) from scattering and entering the exhaust heat opening (C). A switch box structure for an outdoor unit, which is provided with a member (20). 2. A propeller fan (7) is arranged in the air circulation opening (4a) of the outdoor unit (1), and the propeller fan (7) is arranged.
The outer edge of (7) is the heat dissipation opening (C) of the switch box (10).
The upper part of the shield member (20) is designed to prevent rainwater scattered from the outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan (7) from discharging heat (C).
The switch box structure for an outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the switch box structure is configured to block entry into the outdoor unit. 3. The switch box (10) includes a front plate (11) extending in the vertical direction so as to face the vertical wall surface of the outdoor unit (1) at a slight interval and to extend in the vertical direction, and the front plate (11). And a top plate (14) that is arranged above and extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and the front plate (11) has a switch box (10) at its upper end portion.
On the other hand, the top plate (14) faces the recess (16) of the front plate (11) and has the recess (16) recessed toward the inner space (B) of the front plate (11). Section (16) to form a heat dissipation opening (C)
4b), the blocking member (20) is fixed to the outer surface of the hanging portion (14b) of the top plate (14), and is made of a plate material that extends above the top surface of the top plate (14). The switch box structure for an outdoor unit according to claim 1 or 2.