Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a ventilation device to be installed outdoors. This ventilation device includes an exhaust fan, an air supply fan, a heat exchanger, and a casing accommodating these components. The casing has a lower stage portion where the exhaust fan is placed, an upper stage portion where the air supply fan is placed, and a middle stage portion where the heat exchanger is placed. The casing has an exhaust air port bored in its front surface and located at the lower stage portion, a return air opening and a supply air opening each bored in its rear surface and located at the upper stage portion, and outside air ports respectively bored in its left and right side surfaces and located at the middle stage portion. <CIT> relates to a ventilating device having a casing with a top face plate provided with an outdoor inlet opening, an indoor inlet opening, an indoor air supply opening, and an outdoor air exhaust opening. Ducts are connected respectively to these openings. <CIT> discloses a heat exchanger having a first path and a second path through which air passes with heat transferred between the two paths. Exterior moist air is delivered to the first path together with a dissolved desiccant. An exothermic reaction takes place with heat transferred to the second path. Moist air passes through the second path with water in the second path being caused to evaporate thereby cooling air passing along the second path.

According to the ventilation device disclosed in <CIT>, when the air supply fan operates, outdoor air flows into the casing through the outside air port, and then flows through the heat exchanger. The air is then guided indoors through the supply air opening. When the exhaust fan operates, indoor air flows into the casing through the return air opening, and then flows through the heat exchanger. The air is then discharged outdoors through the exhaust air port.

In the ventilation device disclosed in <CIT>, the exhaust air port is bored in the front surface of the casing and is located at the lower stage portion in the casing. The exhaust air port is therefore located near the ground. Consequently, rainwater and the like possibly intrude into the casing through the exhaust air port. At the lower stage portion in the casing, the exhaust fan, an electric wire connected to the exhaust fan, and the like are possibly affected by water intruding into the casing.

An object of the present invention is to suppress intrusion of water into a space where a fan is accommodated, in a ventilation device to be installed outdoors.

(<NUM>) Preferably, the casing includes: a second casing in which the air supply fan and the exhaust fan are accommodated; and a first casing in which the second casing is accommodated,.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", and "right" are indicated by arrows illustrated in <FIG> in conjunction with these terms. Particularly in <FIG>, a first direction indicated by an arrow X is defined as a left-and-right direction, a second direction indicated by an arrow Y is defined as a front-and-rear direction, and a third direction indicated by an arrow Z is defined as an up-and-down direction. However, these definitions are merely exemplary. For example, the first direction X may be regarded as the front-and-rear direction and the second direction Y may be regarded as the left-and-right direction.

The ventilation device <NUM> is configured to exchange air in a building (i.e., air in a room) with air outside the building (i.e., air outside the room), thereby providing ventilation of air in the building. The ventilation device <NUM> is installed outside the building. The ventilation device <NUM> is connected to the inside of the building with two ducts D. The ventilation device <NUM> includes a main casing (a first casing) <NUM> having a rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The ventilation device <NUM> according to this embodiment includes an auxiliary casing <NUM> (to be described later) in addition to the main casing <NUM>.

The main casing <NUM> includes a bottom plate 2e, a top plate 2f, a right side plate 2a, a left side plate 2b, a front side plate 2c, and a rear side plate 2d. The bottom plate 2e and the top plate 2f each have a rectangular shape in plan view and are opposite to each other with a spacing in between in the up-and-down direction. The right side plate 2a, the left side plate 2b, the front side plate 2c, and the rear side plate 2d connect the four sides of the bottom plate 2e and the four sides of the top plate 2f, respectively.

The top plate 2f of the main casing <NUM> has a main return air intake port (a second return air intake port) <NUM> and a main air supply port (a second air supply port) <NUM>. A tubular body 3a and a tubular body 4a are respectively mounted to the main return air intake port <NUM> and the main air supply port <NUM>. The tubular bodies 3a and 4a are respectively connected to one ends of the ducts D. The other ends of the ducts D are connected to the inside of the building. That is, the main return air intake port <NUM> and the main air supply port <NUM> communicate with the inside of the building via the ducts D.

The bottom plate 2e of the main casing <NUM> is provided with a pair of legs <NUM>. The ventilation device <NUM> is installed outside the building in such a manner that the ventilation device <NUM> is fastened using bolts or the like with the legs <NUM> mounted on the ground. The ventilation device <NUM> is not necessarily placed on the ground. For example, the ventilation device <NUM> may be placed on a pedestal mounted to, for example, an outer wall of the building or the roof of the building.

The right side plate 2a of the main casing <NUM> has a main outside air intake port (a second outside air intake port) <NUM>. The left side plate 2b of the main casing <NUM> has a main exhaust port (a second exhaust port) <NUM>.

The main casing <NUM> accommodates a ventilation device main body <NUM>. The ventilation device main body <NUM> according to this embodiment is a known ventilation device designed to be installed in an attic or hung on a wall surface in a building. The ventilation device <NUM> according to the present invention is designed to be installed outdoors in such a manner that a ventilation device designed to be installed indoors is accommodated in the main casing <NUM>. Ventilation devices designed to be installed indoors are not exposed to rain unlike ventilation devices designed to be installed outdoors; therefore, due consideration concerning waterproofness is not given to the ventilation devices designed to be installed indoors. In view of this, the ventilation device <NUM> according to the present invention is installable outdoors in such a manner that a ventilation device designed to be installed indoors is accommodated in the main casing <NUM> excellent in waterproofness. As a matter of course, the ventilation device <NUM> according to the present invention may employ a ventilation device designed to be installed only outdoors, rather than the ventilation device designed to be installed indoors.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the ventilation device main body.

The ventilation device main body <NUM> includes an auxiliary casing (a second casing) <NUM> having a rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The auxiliary casing <NUM> substantially has an accommodation space S for accommodating an air supply fan <NUM>, an exhaust fan <NUM>, and a total heat exchanger <NUM>, which will be described later (see <FIG>). The auxiliary casing <NUM> includes a bottom plate 13e, a top plate 13f, a right side plate 13a, a left side plate 13b, a front side plate 13c, and a rear side plate 13d. The bottom plate 13e and the top plate 13f each have a rectangular shape in plan view and are opposite to each other with a spacing in between in the up-and-down direction. The right side plate 13a, the left side plate 13b, the front side plate 13c, and the rear side plate 13d connect the four sides of the bottom plate 13e and the four sides of the top plate 13f, respectively.

An electric component unit <NUM> is mounted to an upper portion of the right side plate 13a. The electric component unit <NUM> includes a box 27a and electric components, such as a control board and a terminal block, accommodated in the box 27a. The electric component unit <NUM> may alternatively be mounted to one of the other side plates 13b, 13c, and 13d.

The top plate 13f of the auxiliary casing <NUM> has an auxiliary return air intake port (a first return air intake port) <NUM> and an auxiliary air supply port (a first air supply port) <NUM>. A tubular body 14a and a tubular body 17a are respectively mounted to the auxiliary return air intake port <NUM> and the auxiliary air supply port <NUM>.

The bottom plate 13e of the auxiliary casing <NUM> serves as a partition defining a lower end of the accommodation space S for accommodating the air supply fan <NUM>, the exhaust fan <NUM>, and the total heat exchanger <NUM>. The bottom plate 13e of the auxiliary casing <NUM> has an auxiliary outside air intake port (a first outside air intake port) <NUM> and an auxiliary exhaust port (a first exhaust port) <NUM>. A tubular body 15a is mounted to the auxiliary exhaust port <NUM>. However, the tubular body 15a is not necessarily mounted to the auxiliary exhaust port <NUM>.

capable of increasing an amount of supply air through the main outside air intake port <NUM> extended in the up-and-down direction or an amount of exhaust air through the main exhaust port <NUM> extended in the up-and-down direction.

(<NUM>) In the foregoing embodiment, the casing <NUM> includes the first side plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d having the main outside air intake port <NUM> or the main exhaust port <NUM>, the first side plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d spaced horizontally away from the partition 13e (the right side plate 2a having the main outside air intake port <NUM> in the example illustrated in <FIG>). The main outside air intake port <NUM> or main exhaust port <NUM> in the first side plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d extends upward beyond the partition 13e, from the range below the partition 13e in the first side plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. The waterproof panel <NUM> extends from the lower surface of the partition 13e to the position above the main outside air intake port <NUM> in the first side plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. Therefore, the outside air intake chamber <NUM> can be defined between the partition 13e and the first side plate 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, with the waterproof panel <NUM>. The waterproof panel <NUM> is capable of suppressing adhesion, to the auxiliary casing <NUM>, water intruding into the outside air intake chamber <NUM> through the outside air intake port <NUM>.

(<NUM>) In the foregoing embodiment, the casing <NUM>, <NUM> includes the auxiliary casing <NUM> in which the air supply fan <NUM> and the exhaust fan <NUM> are accommodated, and the main casing <NUM> in which the auxiliary casing <NUM> is accommodated. The partition 13e serves as the bottom plate of the auxiliary casing <NUM>. The outside air intake chamber <NUM> and the exhaust chamber <NUM> are defined between the bottom plate 13e of the auxiliary casing <NUM> and the bottom plate 2e of the main casing <NUM>. Therefore, in a case where a known ventilation device designed to be installed indoors is used as the ventilation device main body <NUM>, the outside air intake chamber <NUM> and the exhaust chamber <NUM> can be defined in the main casing <NUM>.

the main outside air intake port <NUM> and the auxiliary outside air intake port <NUM>. The exhaust chamber <NUM> communicates with the main exhaust port <NUM> and the auxiliary exhaust port <NUM>. The waterproof panel <NUM> defines an upper end of the outside air intake chamber <NUM>. Therefore, the waterproof panel <NUM> also serves as a partition in this respect.

The outside air intake chamber <NUM> and the exhaust chamber <NUM> are defined by a divider <NUM> in the left-and-right direction. The divider <NUM> is placed with a slight clearance between the divider <NUM> and bottom plate 2e of the main casing <NUM>. This clearance permits flow of water on the bottom plate 2e from the outside air intake chamber <NUM> to the exhaust chamber <NUM> and vice versa.

The main return air intake port <NUM> in the main casing <NUM> is used for taking air in the building (i.e., return air RA from the building) in the main casing <NUM>. The auxiliary return air intake port <NUM> in the auxiliary casing <NUM> is used for taking the return air RA from the building in the auxiliary casing <NUM>. The main exhaust port <NUM>, exhaust chamber <NUM>, and auxiliary exhaust port <NUM> are used for discharging the return air RA in the main casing <NUM> and auxiliary casing <NUM> outdoors as exhaust air EA. The main outside air intake port <NUM>, outside air intake chamber <NUM>, and auxiliary outside air intake port <NUM> are used for taking air outside the building (i.e., outside air OA) in the main casing <NUM> and auxiliary casing <NUM>. The main air supply port <NUM> and auxiliary air supply port <NUM> are used for supplying the outside air OA in the main casing <NUM> and auxiliary casing <NUM>, indoors as supply air SA.

The main outside air intake port <NUM> extends upward beyond the partition 13e, from a range below the partition 13e in the right side plate 2a. The waterproof panel <NUM> extends from the lower surface of the partition 13e to a position above an upper end of the main outside air intake port <NUM>. On the other hand, the main exhaust port <NUM> is defined in a range below the partition 13e in the left side plate 2b. Therefore, the main exhaust port <NUM> is smaller in area than the main outside air intake port <NUM>. It should be noted that the main exhaust port <NUM> may extend upward beyond the partition 13e, from the range below the partition 13e, as in the main outside air intake port <NUM>. Conversely, the main outside air intake port <NUM> may be defined only in the range below the partition 13e. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the main outside air intake port <NUM> is covered with a protective net <NUM>, and the main exhaust port <NUM> may be covered with a protective net <NUM>. The main outside air intake port <NUM> is further covered with a filter <NUM>.

The bottom plate 2e of the main casing <NUM> has a drain port <NUM>. The drain port <NUM> is located in the exhaust chamber <NUM>. The bottom plate 2e is tilted such that the drain port <NUM> becomes lowest in position. As a result, water on the bottom plate 2e flows toward the drain port <NUM> and then flows out of the main casing <NUM> through the drain port <NUM>.

The total heat exchanger <NUM>, the air supply fan <NUM>, and the exhaust fan <NUM> are placed in the auxiliary casing <NUM>. In the main casing <NUM> and auxiliary casing <NUM>, return air RA taken in the main casing <NUM> and auxiliary casing <NUM> through the main return air intake port <NUM> and auxiliary return air intake port <NUM> flows through the total heat exchanger <NUM> and then flows out of the auxiliary casing <NUM> through the auxiliary exhaust port <NUM>, exhaust chamber <NUM>, and main exhaust port <NUM>, as exhaust air EA. Hereinafter, this flow of air is also referred to as "a first air flow F1". Outside air OA taken in the main casing <NUM> and auxiliary casing <NUM> through the main outside air intake port <NUM>, outside air intake chamber <NUM>, and auxiliary outside air intake port <NUM> flows through the total heat exchanger <NUM> and then flows into the building through the auxiliary air supply port <NUM> and main air supply port <NUM>, as supply air SA. Hereinafter, this flow of air is also referred to as "a second air flow F2".

<FIG> is a perspective view of the total heat exchanger.

The total heat exchanger <NUM> according to this embodiment is an orthogonal total heat exchanger through which the first air flow F1 and the second air flow F2 pass substantially orthogonally. The total heat exchanger <NUM> includes dividers 41a and spacing plates 41b. The dividers 41a and the spacing plates 41b are stacked alternately and bonded together with an appropriate adhesive. The total heat exchanger <NUM> has a substantially quadrangular prism shape as a whole.

The dividers 41a each possess heat conductivity and moisture permeability and have a flat plate shape. The dividers 41a each possess a property that allows transmission of a refrigerant.

The spacing plates 41b each have a corrugated shape made up of consecutive substantially triangular sections. Each spacing plate 41b forms an air passage between adjacent two of the dividers 41a. The spacing plates 41b are stacked with their angles changed <NUM> degrees one by one in the direction along which the dividers 41a and spacing plates 41b are stacked. As a result, an exhaust air-side passage 41c through which the first air flow F1 passes and a supply air-side passage 41d through which the second air flow F2 passes are defined orthogonally with one divider 41a sandwiched therebetween. Each divider 41a possessing heat conductivity and moisture permeability performs exchange between sensible heat and latent heat (i.e., total heat exchange) on air flowing through the exhaust air-side passage 41c and air flowing through the supply air-side passage 41d.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the total heat exchanger <NUM> divides the inside of the auxiliary casing <NUM> into an indoor-side region (an upper side in the auxiliary casing <NUM>) and an outdoor-side region (a lower side in the auxiliary casing <NUM>). As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the auxiliary casing <NUM>, an upstream-side exhaust air path 46a is formed upstream of the total heat exchanger <NUM> in the first air flow F1, and a downstream-side exhaust air path 46b is formed downstream of the total heat exchanger <NUM> in the first air flow F1. The upstream-side exhaust air path 46a and the downstream-side exhaust air path 46b form an exhaust air path <NUM> that causes the inside of the building and the outside of the building to communicate with each other via the total heat exchanger <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the auxiliary casing <NUM>, an upstream-side supply air path 47a is formed upstream of the total heat exchanger <NUM> in the second air flow F2, and a downstream-side supply air path 47b is formed downstream of the total heat exchanger <NUM> in the second air flow F2. The upstream-side supply air path 47a and the downstream-side supply air path 47b form a supply air path <NUM> that causes the inside of the building and the outside of the building to communicate with each other via the total heat exchanger <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a partition wall <NUM> is disposed between the upstream-side exhaust air path 46a and the downstream-side supply air path 47b. A partition wall <NUM> is disposed between the downstream-side exhaust air path 46b and the upstream-side supply air path 47a.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the exhaust fan <NUM> is placed near the auxiliary exhaust port <NUM> on the downstream-side exhaust air path 46b. The exhaust fan <NUM>, when being driven, generates the first air flow F1, so that return air RA from the building flows through the exhaust air path <NUM> and then flows outdoors as exhaust air EA.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the air supply fan <NUM> is placed near the auxiliary air supply port <NUM> on the downstream-side supply air path 47b. The air supply fan <NUM>, when being driven, generates the second air flow F2, so that outside air OA outside the building flows through the supply air path <NUM> and then flows indoors as supply air SA.

A ventilating operation is carried out when the exhaust fan <NUM> and the air supply fan <NUM> are driven. Ventilation of air in the building is thus provided in such a manner that return air RA from the building is discharged from the building while outside air OA outside the building is supplied into the building. In addition, variations in temperature and humidity in the building are suppressed in such a manner that the total heat exchanger <NUM> performs exchange between sensible heat and latent heat on the return air RA from the building and the outside air OA outside the building.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the total heat exchanger <NUM> is extractable sideward (i.e., in a direction indicated by a white arrow) from the auxiliary casing <NUM>. The total heat exchanger <NUM> according to this embodiment includes a portion 41e protruding from the right side plate 13a, and this portion 41e is provided with a handle 41f. A worker grips the handle 41f and pulls the total heat exchanger <NUM> in the direction indicated by the white arrow, thereby extracting the total heat exchanger <NUM> from the auxiliary casing <NUM>. In <FIG>, reference sign K denotes a projection region of the total heat exchanger <NUM> extracted sideward, that is, a spatial region where the total heat exchanger <NUM> passes when the total heat exchanger <NUM> is extracted from the auxiliary casing <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the ventilation device from which a side plate is detached.

In the ventilation device <NUM> according to this embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the right side surface of the main casing <NUM> is opened when the right side plate 2a is detached from the main casing <NUM>. Therefore, the total heat exchanger <NUM> can be extracted sideward from the auxiliary casing <NUM> and main casing <NUM> through this opening. Since the total heat exchanger <NUM> is extractable from the auxiliary casing <NUM> and the main casing <NUM>, the total heat exchanger <NUM> can be maintained or replaced with a new one with ease. When the right side plate 2a of the main casing <NUM> is detached, the electric component unit <NUM> is exposed to the outside. Therefore, the electric component unit <NUM> can be operated or maintained with ease.

<FIG> are sectional views of the main outside air intake port and its surroundings.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the main outside air intake port <NUM> is covered with the protective net <NUM>. The protective net <NUM> includes a frame member 24a having a quadrilateral shape and a net member 24b attached to the frame member 24a. The protective net <NUM> is provided with the filter <NUM>. The frame member 24a of the protective net <NUM> has guide grooves 24c into which front and rear end edges of the filter <NUM> can be inserted in the up-and-down direction.

The frame member 24a has a lower end mounted to the main casing <NUM> so as to be swingable on a pivot 24d in the left-and-right direction. The frame member 24a has an upper end fixed to the right side plate 2a with a fixing member 24e. As illustrated in <FIG>, the fixing of the frame member 24a with the fixing member 24e is released, and the frame member 24a is swung rightward, so that upper ends of the guide grooves 24c are exposed to the outside of the main casing <NUM>. The swinging motion of the frame member 24a is restricted with a stopper 24f of the frame member 24a abutting against the right side plate 2a. The filter <NUM> can be attached to and detached from the guide grooves 24c in this state.

The ventilation device <NUM> may include, instead of the total heat exchanger <NUM>, another heat exchanger such as a heat exchanger through which a heat exchange medium (e.g., a refrigerant) flows.

The ventilation device <NUM> does not necessarily include a heat exchanger. For example, the ventilation device <NUM> may include a filter rather than a heat exchanger.

The main outside air intake port <NUM> may be bored in one of the left side plate 2b, front side plate 2c, and rear side plate 2d of the main casing <NUM>. The main exhaust port <NUM> may be bored in one of the right side plate 2a, front side plate 2c, and rear side plate 2d of the main casing <NUM>. The positional relationship between the main outside air intake port <NUM> and the main exhaust port <NUM> is not limited unless outside air and exhaust air are mixed together.

The ventilation device <NUM> does not necessarily include the auxiliary casing <NUM>. For example, the accommodation space S, the outside air intake chamber <NUM>, the exhaust chamber <NUM>, and the like may be defined in such a manner that the inside of the main casing <NUM> is divided by a partition.

Claim 1:
A ventilation device to be installed outdoors,
the ventilation device comprising:
an air supply fan (<NUM>);
an exhaust fan (<NUM>); and
a casing (<NUM>, <NUM>) having an accommodation space (S) in which the air supply fan (<NUM>) and the exhaust fan (<NUM>) are accommodated,
wherein
the casing (<NUM>) includes a partition (13e) defining a lower end of the accommodation space (S),
the partition (13e) has a first outside air intake port (<NUM>) and a first exhaust port (<NUM>) each passing through the partition (13e) in an up-and-down direction,
the casing (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes a bottom plate (2e) and has an outside air intake chamber (<NUM>) defined between the bottom plate (2e) and the partition (13e) located above the bottom plate (2e), the outside air intake chamber (<NUM>) communicating with the first outside air intake port (<NUM>), and an exhaust chamber (<NUM>) defined between the bottom plate (2e) and the partition (13e) located above the bottom plate (2e), the exhaust chamber (<NUM>) communicating with the first exhaust port (<NUM>), and
the casing (<NUM>) includes side plates (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) respectively having a second outside air intake port (<NUM>) through which the outside air intake chamber (<NUM>) communicates with an outside of the casing (<NUM>) and a second exhaust port (<NUM>) through which the exhaust chamber (<NUM>) communicates with the outside of the casing (<NUM>).