Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a heat pump apparatus that includes: a refrigerant circuit that circulates a flammable refrigerant; a heat medium circuit that causes a heat medium to flow; a heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium; an outdoor unit that houses the refrigerant circuit and the heat medium heat exchanger; and an indoor unit that houses part of the heat medium circuit, in which: the outdoor unit has at least one of the pressure relief valve and the air vent valve provided in the heat medium circuit as a refrigerant release valve; and the refrigerant release valve is provided outside the housing of the outdoor unit. <CIT> describes another example of heat pump apparatus including an electrical equipment box.

The present invention provides a heat pump apparatus capable of preventing a refrigerant from entering an electrical equipment box when the refrigerant leaks from a refrigerant circuit.

A heat pump apparatus of the present invention according to claim <NUM> is a heat pump apparatus including a machine room and a blower room each in a housing, the machine room being a room in which a compressor and an expansion device are disposed, the blower room being a room in which a heat exchanger and a blower device are disposed, the heat pump apparatus using a flammable refrigerant, the heat pump apparatus including an electrical equipment box, wherein the electrical equipment box includes an electrical equipment box body and a cover member, the electrical equipment box body has a through opening, the through opening is provided with a lead wire relay module that draws in a plurality of lead wires, the lead wire relay module is provided with a plurality of insertion openings into each of which a lead wire block is inserted, and the lead wire block includes a fixing sleeve and a sleeve for insertion, the sleeve for insertion being disposed in close contact with the fixing sleeve, the sleeve for insertion sealing and holding the lead wires.

The present invention makes it possible to prevent the refrigerant from entering the electrical equipment box when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant circuit.

At the time when the inventors came up with the present disclosure, there was a technique for preventing ignition of a flammable refrigerant in a heat pump apparatus.

The heat pump apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit that circulates the flammable refrigerant; a heat medium circuit that causes a heat medium to flow; a heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium; an outdoor unit that houses the refrigerant circuit and the heat medium heat exchanger; and an indoor unit that houses part of the heat medium circuit. The outdoor unit has at least one of a pressure relief valve and an air vent valve provided in the heat medium circuit as a refrigerant release valve, and the refrigerant release valve is provided outside the housing of the outdoor unit.

The above heat pump apparatus is further provided with a machine room in the outdoor unit. The machine room is provided with devices such as a compressor and a heat medium heat exchanger that form a refrigerant circuit, and an electrical component box that is an electrical equipment box that houses electrical components. The electrical components in the electrical component box are electrically connected to various devices in the machine room by lead wires.

However, the inventors have found a problem with such a configuration that, if the refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant may fill the machine room and may enter the electrical equipment box through a part where the lead wires are drawn into the electrical equipment box, and have come to constitute the subject of the present disclosure to solve the problem.

Therefore, the present invention provides a heat pump apparatus capable of preventing a refrigerant from entering an electrical equipment box when the refrigerant leaks from a refrigerant circuit.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description from becoming more redundant than necessary and to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art.

Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to allow those skilled in the art to sufficiently understand the present invention, and are not intended to limit the subject described in the claims.

Embodiment <NUM> is to be described below with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a heat pump apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the heat pump apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view showing a state in which a front panel <NUM> of the heat pump apparatus <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> is removed.

The heat pump apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> is an outdoor unit that can be used for a what is called heat-pump hot-water heater.

As shown in <FIG>, the heat pump apparatus <NUM> includes a box-shaped housing <NUM>. In the present embodiment, each part of housing <NUM> is made of a steel plate.

Inside the housing <NUM>, there is provided a partition plate <NUM> extending in the up-down direction. The partition plate <NUM> partitions the internal space of the housing <NUM> into a blower room <NUM> and a machine room <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes a bottom plate <NUM> that forms the bottom surface of the housing <NUM>, a pair of side panels <NUM> that covers the machine room <NUM> of the housing <NUM> from the front and rear, a front panel <NUM> that covers the front surface of the blower room <NUM>, and a top plate <NUM> that covers the upper surface of the housing <NUM>.

The front panel <NUM> is provided with a ventilation portion <NUM> that is formed like a mesh and allows air to pass through.

The blower room <NUM> has a heat exchanger <NUM> and a blower device <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> of the present embodiment extends almost fully in the height direction of the housing <NUM>, and is formed in a substantially L-shape in plan view of the housing <NUM> so as to face the rear surface 10A and the side surface 10B of the housing <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> to be used is, for example, a fin-tube heat exchanger.

The blower device <NUM> to be used is, for example, an axial fan having a propeller-shaped impeller. The air blower device <NUM> is disposed so that the axial flow direction faces the ventilation portion <NUM>.

The machine room <NUM> houses various devices forming a refrigerant circuit, such as a compressor <NUM>, a water heat exchanger (heat medium heat exchanger) <NUM>, and an expansion device <NUM> (see <FIG>), and refrigerant piping <NUM> connecting these to each other.

The water heat exchanger <NUM> to be used is, for example, a plate heat exchanger.

The upper part of the partition plate <NUM> has a cutout portion <NUM>, and the cutout portion <NUM> has the electrical equipment box <NUM> installed therein.

<FIG> is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit according to Embodiment <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a compressor <NUM>, a four-way valve <NUM>, a water heat exchanger <NUM>, an expansion device <NUM>, and a heat exchanger <NUM> are annularly connected via predetermined refrigerant piping <NUM> to form the refrigerant circuit.

The water heat exchanger <NUM> is connected to predetermined water supply piping <NUM>, and the water supply piping <NUM>, in the water heat exchanger <NUM>, exchanges heat with the refrigerant that circulates in the refrigerant circuit.

The refrigerant, which has been compressed by the compressor <NUM> to have a high-temperature and a high-pressure, flows as indicated by solid arrows in <FIG> and is sent to the water heat exchanger <NUM>. The refrigerant then exchanges heat with the water flowing through the water supply piping <NUM> in the water heat exchanger <NUM>, and is cooled and condensed. The water receives the heat of the refrigerant and turns into hot water, which is supplied to, for example, a device on the use side (not shown).

The refrigerant discharged from the water heat exchanger <NUM> is depressurized by the expansion device <NUM> to evaporate, undergoes heat exchange in the heat exchanger <NUM>, turns into a gas refrigerant, and is returned to the compressor <NUM> again.

The refrigerant circuit is also configured so that it can switch the four-way valve <NUM> to cause the refrigerant to: flow as indicated by dashed arrows in <FIG>; exchange heat with the outside air in the heat exchanger <NUM>; be depressurized with expansion device <NUM>; and then be sent to the water heat exchanger <NUM>, so that the water flowing through the water supply piping <NUM> is cooled. The cooled water is supplied to a use side device (not shown).

Here, in the present embodiment, the refrigerant to be used is a flammable refrigerant. The flammable refrigerant is R32 or a mixed refrigerant containing <NUM> weight percent or more of R32, or propane or a mixed refrigerant containing propane.

Note that the refrigerant to be used may be a nonflammable refrigerant instead of a flammable refrigerant.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing the electrical equipment box <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the electrical equipment box <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>. <FIG> is a plan view showing the electrical equipment box <NUM> of Embodiment <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an electrical equipment box <NUM> is disposed above the blower room <NUM> and the machine room <NUM> across the machine room <NUM> and the blower room <NUM>.

The electrical equipment box <NUM> is installed in the cutout portion <NUM> at the upper part of the partition plate <NUM> and is supported by the partition plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the electrical equipment box <NUM> includes a box-shaped electrical equipment box body <NUM> made of sheet metal and having an opening <NUM> with an open upper surface, and a cover member <NUM> formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape and made of resin for closing the opening <NUM>. The electrical equipment box body <NUM> is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as a metal material. The cover member <NUM> is attached to the electrical equipment box body <NUM> via an O-ring <NUM>.

Note that, in the present embodiment, the electrical equipment box body <NUM> is entirely made of a metal material, but may be made of a metal material only in a part located above the blower room <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the electrical equipment box body <NUM> includes a rectangular blower-side portion 32A located on the side of the blower room <NUM>, and a substantially trapezoidal machine-side portion 32B located on the side of the machine room <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> includes a rectangular blower-side portion 33A located on the side of the blower room <NUM> and a substantially trapezoidal machine-side portion 33B located on the side of the machine room <NUM>.

The blower-side portion 32A of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> is provided with a control board <NUM> made of a printed wiring board.

Although not shown, the control board <NUM> has electronic components including a semiconductor chip such as a CPU, transistors, capacitors, and resistors, mounted thereon to form an electric circuit.

The lower surface of the control board <NUM> is provided with a heat sink <NUM> including a plurality of fins, and the control board <NUM> is installed so as to protrude downward from a bottom surface opening <NUM> provided on the bottom surface of the blower-side portion 32A. The heat sink <NUM> is disposed on the bottom surface of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> in the blower-side portion 32A located near the machine-side portion 32B. In the present embodiment, one end of the heat sink <NUM> is located at the boundary between the machine-side portion 32B and the blower-side portion 32A. In other words, the one end is located at the boundary partitioned by the partition plate <NUM>.

The circumferential portion of the bottom surface opening <NUM> has a sealing material <NUM> disposed thereon, and the control board <NUM> is fixed via the sealing material <NUM> so that the bottom surface opening <NUM> is closed.

The machine-side portion 32B of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> has a main power line relay portion <NUM> located on the front side and a lead wire relay portion <NUM> located on the rear side. The main power line relay portion <NUM> has a terminal block <NUM> for connecting the main power line, and a cable gland <NUM> that draws in and seals the main power line. A cable <NUM> drawn into the cable gland <NUM> is connected to a predetermined device such as the compressor <NUM>. The lead wire relay portion <NUM> has a lead wire relay module <NUM> for drawing in a lead wire.

The main power line relay portion (space) <NUM> has the terminal block <NUM> for connecting a cable (main power line) <NUM>. The main power line relay portion <NUM> in which the terminal block <NUM> is disposed is partitioned off by a partition plate <NUM>, and the main power line relay portion <NUM> is sealed inside the electrical equipment box body <NUM>. The terminal block <NUM> is disposed on a partition plate 154A formed obliquely and faces a window opening <NUM> formed on a side surface of the electrical equipment box body <NUM>. The window opening <NUM> has a window cover body <NUM> screwed thereto with a sealing material (not shown) interposed therebetween. The window cover body <NUM> seals off the main power line relay portion <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> is fixed to the upper end of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> with fixing screws 37A to 37F via an O-ring <NUM>. Thereby, the inside of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> is made into a sealed space. More specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the electrical equipment box body <NUM> has an upper end having a circumferential portion. The circumferential portion has a flange 32F formed by bending a sheet metal. As shown in <FIG>, an O-ring groove <NUM> is formed in the circumferential portion of the lower surface of the cover member <NUM>. The O-ring <NUM> is fitted into the O-ring groove <NUM>, and the cover member <NUM> is fixed to the flange 32F with six fixing screws 37A to 37F. The O-ring <NUM> is made of foam rubber or chloroprene rubber.

The cover member <NUM> is fixed to the flange 32F of the machine-side portion 32B of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> with four fixing screws 37A to 37D, and is fixed to the flange 32F of the blower-side portion 32A of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> with two fixing screws 37E and 37F.

In the electrical equipment box body <NUM>, the ratio of the volume occupied by the machine-side portion 32B is smaller than the ratio of the volume occupied by the blower-side portion 32A. The machine-side portion 32B of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> is formed into a trapezoidal shape by cutting a corner of the machine-side portion 32B.

This causes the machine-side portion 32B of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> to have a shorter length of the sealing portion (the length of the O-ring <NUM>) between the electrical equipment box body <NUM> and the cover member <NUM>.

Further, the intervals P1 to P3 between fixing screws 37A to 37D, which fix the machine-side portion 32B, are set shorter than the intervals P4 to P6 between the fixing screws 37D to 37F which fix the blower-side portion 32A. Thus, the machine-side portion 32B has a shorter sealing portion length and has shorter intervals P1 to P3 between the fixing screws 37A to 37D. This can improve the sealing performance between the electrical equipment box body <NUM> and the cover member <NUM> in the machine-side portion 32B.

The heat exchanger <NUM> is formed in an L-shape facing the rear surface 10A and the side surface 10B of the housing <NUM>. There is a shielding member <NUM> provided between the header pipe of the heat exchanger <NUM> facing the rear surface 10A of the housing <NUM> and the machine-side portion 32B of the electrical equipment box body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The shielding member <NUM> is thus provided in the vicinity of the sealing portion of the machine-side portion 32B near the header pipe, to prevent the refrigerant from directly colliding with the vicinity of the sealing portion even if the refrigerant blows out from the refrigerant circuit. This can reduce the mass transfer coefficient of the refrigerant permeating into the O-ring <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a space where ventilation is allowed is formed between the lower surface of the top plate <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the upper surface of the cover member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the upper surface of the cover member <NUM> is provided with a partition member <NUM>. The partition member <NUM> is disposed at the boundary between the blower-side portion 33A and the machine-side portion 33B so as to close the space. The partition member <NUM> has a plurality of openings (not shown) at equal intervals, which allows ventilation between the machine room <NUM> and the blower room <NUM>.

During operation of the heat pump apparatus <NUM>, the inside of the blower room <NUM> has a negative pressure due to operation of the blower device <NUM>. As a result, the air on the side of the machine room <NUM> flows to the side of the blower room <NUM> through the plurality of openings of the partition member <NUM>. The air flow causes the air to cool the entire upper surface of the cover member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the lead wire relay portion <NUM> has an electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM> having a through opening 34a. The through opening 34a is a hole communicating between the inside and the outside of the electrical equipment box <NUM>, and has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The through opening 34a is covered with the lead wire relay module <NUM> from above, that is, from the inside of the electrical equipment box <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a lead wire relay module <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the lead wire relay module <NUM>. The lead wire relay module <NUM> is a module that draws a plurality of lead wires, which connect the control board <NUM> and various devices such as the compressor <NUM>, into the electrical equipment box. The lead wire relay module <NUM> has a fixing frame <NUM> to be fixed to the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM> and lead wire blocks 100a and 100b to be inserted into the fixing frame <NUM>. The lead wire blocks 100a and 100b respectively have sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b that are in close contact with the lead wires, and respectively have fixing sleeves 90a and 90b that are in close contact with the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b. The lead wire relay module <NUM> brings sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b into close contact with lead wires, to seal and hold the lead wires, thereby preventing the refrigerant from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>. The lead wire relay module <NUM> brings sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b into close contact with lead wires, to seal and hold the lead wires, thereby preventing the refrigerant from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>.

The fixing frame <NUM> is a frame made of resin, and has a substantially rectangular shape with one corner cut off in plan view. The fixing frame <NUM> has a frame portion <NUM> and a flange portion <NUM>.

The frame portion <NUM> is provided in the center of the fixing frame <NUM>, and is a portion into which the lead wire blocks 100a and 100b are inserted. The frame portion <NUM> has an outer frame portion 71a that is erected upward and is a rectangular tubular portion in plan view, and a plate-shaped partition plate portion 71b that divides the outer frame portion 71a into two portions in the front-rear direction. The outer frame portion 71a and the partition plate portion 71b surround two areas that respectively have insertion openings Sa and Sb penetrating through the fixing frame <NUM> in the up-down direction. The upper ends of the insertion openings Sa and Sb are opened into the electrical equipment box <NUM>, and the lower ends communicate with the through opening 34a. The frame portion <NUM> has an inner circumferential surface 71a1 and the partition plate portion 71b that have lower ends along which edges 71d protruding substantially horizontally are formed.

The flange portion <NUM> is a plate-shaped portion that surrounds the frame portion <NUM> and has fixing holes 73a for screwing. The flange portion <NUM> is screwed on the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM>, so that the fixing frame <NUM> is fixed to the electrical equipment box <NUM>.

The sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b are sleeves made of rubber and are respectively disposed in the insertion openings Sa and Sb of the frame portion <NUM>. The sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b respectively have body portions 85a and 85b each of which extends in the front-rear direction and has both ends in contact with the inner circumferential surface 71a1 of the frame portion <NUM>. The body portions 85a and 85b respectively have centers in the front-rear direction, and the centers respectively have projections 81A, 81B and projections 81C, 81D that project in the left-right direction. The projections 81A to 81D have a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view, and have the same external shape. The projections 81A to 81D have ends that respectively have holes 81A1 to 81D1 penetrating through the projections 81A to 81D in the up-down direction. The holes 81A1 to 81D1 are open at the respective ends of the projections 81A to 81D, and sandwich the lead wires in the open portions in the front-rear direction. Each of the holes 81A1 to 81D1 is set to have a cross-sectional shape that matches the shape of the lead wires to be sandwiched.

The fixing sleeves 90a and 90b are sleeves disposed in the insertion openings Sa and Sb of the frame portion <NUM>, and respectively have a pair of sleeve bodies 91A, 91B and a pair of sleeve bodies 91C, 91D. The sleeve bodies 91A to 91D are members made of resin, and respectively have recesses 93A to 93D into which the projections 81A to 81D of the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b are fitted respectively. The recesses 93A to 93D penetrate the sleeve bodies 91A to 91D in the up-down direction and are recessed in the same shape corresponding to the projections 81A to 81D having the same shape. Therefore, each of the sleeve bodies 91A to 91D can fit with any one of the projections 81A to 81D. This allows the projections and the sleeve bodies to fit together in a combination other than the combination shown in <FIG>, such as the projection 81A and the sleeve body 91B, resulting in easy assembly. Further, the recesses 93A to 93D respectively have grooves 95A to 95D that penetrate the sleeve bodies 91A to 91D in the up-down direction. The grooves 95A to 95D are respectively connected to the holes 81A1 to 81D1 when the projections 81A to 81D fit into the recesses 93A to 93D.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the lead wire relay module <NUM>, showing a vertical cross section obtained by cutting the insertion opening Sa in the left-right direction. Although the inside of the insertion opening Sa is to be described below with reference to <FIG>, the same applies to the insertion opening Sb.

As shown in <FIG>, the sleeve bodies 91A and 91B are inserted downward from above into the insertion opening Sa, and are fixed to the fixing frame <NUM> in contact with the edge 71d. The sleeve for insertion 80a is inserted downward from above into the insertion opening Sa, and the projections 81A and 81B are fitted into the recesses 93A and 93B of the sleeve bodies 91A and 91B, so that the sleeve for insertion 80a is fixed to the fixing frame <NUM>.

The sleeve for insertion 80a has a side surface (outer circumferential portion) 87a having a tapered structure that narrows from the upper side toward the lower side, that is, in the insertion direction of the sleeve for insertion 80a. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the sleeve for insertion 80a decreases in the insertion direction of the sleeve for insertion 80a. The sleeve bodies 91A and 91B have side surfaces (outer circumferential portions) 92A and 92B each of which has a tapered structure that inclines along the side surface 87a of the sleeve for insertion 80a, and the recesses 93A and 93B narrow from the upper side toward the lower side. Therefore, when the sleeve for insertion 80a is pushed in the insertion direction, the side surface 87a is pushed inward by the side surfaces 92A and 92B. As a result, the sleeve for insertion 80a is horizontally compressed, and the inner surfaces of the holes 81A1 and 81B1 are easily brought into close contact with the lead wires. Further, surface pressure is applied between the side surface 87a of the sleeve for insertion 80a and the side surfaces 92A, 92B of the sleeve bodies 91A, 91B, so that the side surface 87a comes into closer contact with the side surfaces 92A and 92B.

As shown in <FIG>, the fixing frame <NUM> has a guide portion <NUM> that is inserted into the through opening 34a. The guide portion <NUM> is a tubular portion that is formed to have substantially the same shape as the inner circumferential edge of the through opening 34a in plan view and protrudes downward. The guide portion <NUM> is formed at a position surrounding the frame portion <NUM> in plan view. Therefore, when the guide portion <NUM> is inserted into the through opening 34a downward from above, the frame portion <NUM> is positioned at a position overlaying the through opening 34a from above. As a result, the insertion openings Sa and Sb in the frame portion <NUM> communicates with the through opening 34a, and a lead wires can be routed inside and outside the electrical equipment box <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the lead wire relay module <NUM>, showing the lead wire relay module <NUM> as viewed from below. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the lower end of the fixing frame <NUM> has an upwardly recessed O-ring groove <NUM> outside the guide portion <NUM>. The inner circumferential side surface of the O-ring groove <NUM> is formed along the outer surface of the guide portion <NUM>. The O-ring groove <NUM> has a rubber O-ring 77a disposed therein. The O-ring 77a is positioned at a position surrounding the through opening 34a by the guide portion <NUM> inserted into the through opening 34a downward from above. The O-ring 77a is fixed to the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM> of the fixing frame <NUM>, to be squashed between the O-ring groove <NUM> and the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM>, which closes the gap between the fixing frame <NUM> and the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM>. This makes it difficult for the refrigerant to enter the electrical equipment box <NUM> through the gap between the fixing frame <NUM> and the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM>.

In addition, the rubber used for the O-ring 77a is chloroprene rubber, which has a particularly low permeability to propane contained in the refrigerant. Therefore, the refrigerant is less likely to enter the electrical equipment box <NUM>.

Further, the chloroprene rubber used for the O-ring 77a is foam rubber made through foaming. Therefore, when the O-ring 77a is squashed, the O-ring 77a is easily deformed along the O-ring groove <NUM> and the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM>, and can come into closer contact with the O-ring groove <NUM> and the electrical-equipment-box bottom surface <NUM>. In addition, the O-ring 77a, which is made of foam rubber, easily fits in the O-ring groove <NUM> when squashed if the cross-sectional area of the O-ring 77a is increased. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the cross section of the O-ring 77a is set to a size that protrudes downward from the O-ring groove <NUM>, increasing the force of close contact.

Also, the length of the O-ring 77a is set shorter than the length of the O-ring groove <NUM>. Specifically, the length of the inner circumference of the O-ring 77a is shorter than the length of the inner circumference of the O-ring groove <NUM> when the O-ring 77a is not stretched. Therefore, the inner circumference of the O-ring 77a placed in the O-ring groove <NUM> comes into close contact with the side surface of the inner circumference of the O-ring groove <NUM>, so that a gap is less likely to occur between the O-ring 77a and the O-ring groove <NUM>.

Next, the operation of the heat pump apparatus <NUM> configured as above is to be described.

When the heat pump apparatus <NUM> is driven, the compressor <NUM> and the blower device <NUM> are operated, and the axial fan is also started to operate.

When hot water is used, the refrigerant, which has been compressed by the compressor <NUM> to have a high-temperature and a high-pressure, flows as indicated by the solid arrows in <FIG>. Then, the refrigerant is sent to the water heat exchanger <NUM>, and is cooled in the water heat exchanger <NUM> by exchanging heat with the water flowing through the water supply piping <NUM>. Meanwhile, the water receives the heat of the refrigerant and turns into hot water and is supplied to a predetermined location.

The refrigerant discharged from the water heat exchanger <NUM> is depressurized by the expansion device <NUM>, exchanges heat in the heat exchanger <NUM>, is turned into a gas refrigerant, and is returned to the compressor <NUM> again.

When cooled water is used, the four-way valve <NUM> is switched, so that the refrigerant flows as indicated by the dashed arrows in <FIG>. Then, the refrigerant exchanges heat with outside air in the heat exchanger <NUM>, is depressurized in the expansion device <NUM>, and is sent to the water heat exchanger <NUM>, to cool the water flowing through the water supply piping <NUM>.

Operation of the blower device <NUM> during these operations causes air to flow to the electrical equipment box <NUM> located in the blower room <NUM>.

In addition, a space where ventilation is allowed is formed between the lower surface of the top plate <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the upper surface of the cover member <NUM> of the electrical equipment box <NUM>, so that air also flows through the upper surface of the cover member <NUM>.

These air flows can cause air to cool the entire surface of the electrical equipment box <NUM>, and can prevent the temperature rise of the electronic components housed inside the electrical equipment box <NUM>.

Also, the operation of the blower device <NUM> causes the air to flow to the heat sink <NUM>. Thereby, the heat sink <NUM> can be cooled, and the control board <NUM> can be cooled.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the heat pump apparatus <NUM> includes an electrical equipment box <NUM>; the electrical equipment box <NUM> includes an electrical equipment box body <NUM> and a cover member <NUM>; the electrical equipment box body <NUM> includes a lead wire relay module <NUM> that draws a plurality of lead wires into the through opening 34a; the lead wire relay module <NUM> includes a plurality of insertion openings Sa and Sb into which the lead wire blocks 100a and 100b are inserted; and the lead wire blocks 100a and 100b include fixing sleeves 90a, 90b and sleeves for insertion 80a, 80b disposed in close contact with the fixing sleeves 90a, 90b to seal and hold the lead wires.

This makes it possible to improve the airtightness of the electrical equipment box <NUM> while drawing the lead wires into the electrical equipment box <NUM>. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>. Also, in the present embodiment, each of the lead wire blocks 100a and 100b seals and holds a plurality of lead wires. Therefore, assembly of the lead wire relay module <NUM> is simplified.

In the present embodiment, the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b are each divided into a plurality of sleeve bodies 91A to 91D, and the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b are sandwiched and clamped by the plurality of sleeve bodies 91A to 91D.

This allows the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b to come into closer contact with the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b to prevent the refrigerant from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>. In addition, in the present embodiment, the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b are respectively clamped by a pair of sleeve bodies 91A, 91B and a pair of sleeve bodies 91C, 91D so as to be sandwiched from both sides in the left-right direction. This makes it easier for the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b to come into further closer contact with the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b.

In the present embodiment, the fixing sleeves 90a, 90b and the sleeves for insertion 80a, 80b each have a tapered structure in which, as the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b are inserted into the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b, the side surfaces 92A and 92B come into closer contact with the side surface 87a.

This brings the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b closer contact with the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b as the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b are inserted. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>. Further, in the present embodiment, the holes 81A1 and 81B1 that are in close contact with the lead wires make it easier for the sleeve for insertion 80a to come into closer contact with the lead wires in the holes 81A1 and 81B1 as the sleeve for insertion 80a is inserted.

In the present embodiment, the insertion openings Sa and Sb are formed in the fixing frame <NUM> made of resin; the fixing frame <NUM> has an O-ring groove <NUM> into which the O-ring 77a is inserted; and the fixing frame <NUM> is fixed to the through opening 34a of the electrical equipment box body <NUM> with an O-ring 77a interposed therebetween.

As a result, the gap between the fixing frame <NUM> and the electrical equipment box body <NUM> is closed by the O-ring 77a. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the fixing frame <NUM> has a guide portion <NUM>. Therefore, the fixing frame <NUM> can be easily positioned with respect to the through opening 34a.

In the present embodiment, the O-ring 77a is made of foam rubber.

As a result, the O-ring 77a is easily deformed, so that the gap between the fixing frame <NUM> and the electrical equipment box body <NUM> is easily closed by the O-ring 77a. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>. Further, in the present embodiment, the O-ring 77a to be used is made of foam rubber that is easily deformed. This allows the O-ring 77a to easily fit into the O-ring groove <NUM> when squashed by the electrical equipment box body <NUM> if the cross-sectional area of the O-ring 77a is increased. Therefore, an O-ring 77a having a large cross-sectional area can be used so as to be pressed out from the O-ring groove <NUM>, resulting in closer contact of the O-ring 77a.

In the present embodiment, the O-ring 77a is made of chloroprene rubber.

This makes it difficult for a flammable refrigerant such as propane gas to permeate the O-ring.

Therefore, the refrigerant is less likely to enter the electrical equipment box.

In the present embodiment, the length of the O-ring 77a is set shorter than the length of the O-ring groove <NUM>.

This configuration allows the O-ring 77a to be inserted into the O-ring groove <NUM> in a stretched state. Therefore, the O-ring 77a is not loosened and can easily come into close contact with the O-ring groove <NUM>, so that the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the electrical equipment box <NUM> is disposed above the machine room <NUM> and the blower room <NUM> across the machine room <NUM> and the blower room <NUM>.

As a result, the portion of the electrical equipment box <NUM> located on the blower room <NUM> is easily cooled by the blown air, and the lead wires extending from devices in the machine room <NUM> can be drawn into the electrical equipment box <NUM> via the lead wire relay module <NUM>.

As described above, Embodiment <NUM> has been described as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application. However, the techniques in the present disclosure are not limited to this, and can also be applied to embodiments with modifications, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. It is also possible to combine the components described in above-described Embodiment <NUM> to form a new embodiment.

Here, other embodiments are to be illustrated below.

In Embodiment <NUM> described above, the heat pump apparatus <NUM> is an outdoor unit that can be used for a what is called heat pump hot water heater. However, the heat pump apparatus <NUM> is not limited to this, and can be applied to any other various apparatuses each having a refrigerant circuit, such as a water heater and an air conditioner.

In the above-described embodiment, the O-ring 77a is made of foamed chloroprene rubber, but this is just an example. For example, the O-ring 77a may be made of rubber other than chloroprene rubber, and does not have to be foamed. However, when foamed chloroprene rubber is used for the O-ring 77a as in the present embodiment, the O-ring 77a easily comes into close contact with the O-ring groove <NUM> and the electrical equipment box body <NUM> and does not cause propane to easily pass therethrough.

In the above-described embodiment, the fixing frame <NUM> has two insertion openings Sa and Sb, and the lead wire relay module <NUM> has two lead wire blocks 100a and 100b, but this is just an example. For example, the fixing frame <NUM> may have one or three or more insertion openings, and the lead wire relay module <NUM> may have one or three or more lead wire blocks.

In the embodiment described above, the fixing sleeves 90a is composed of two sleeve bodies 91A and 91B and the fixing sleeves 90b is composed of two sleeve bodies 91C and 91D, but this is just an example. For example, each of the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b may composed of one or three or more sleeve bodies. However, when the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b are each composed of one sleeve body, the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b have difficulties in respectively sandwiching the sleeves for insertion 80a and 80b. When the fixing sleeves 90a and 90b are each composed of three or more sleeve bodies, the mounting of the lead wire blocks 100a and 100b becomes more complicated than in the above embodiment.

Note that the above-described embodiments are for illustrating the techniques in the present disclosure, and various modifications, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. can be made within the scope of the claims.

(Technique <NUM>) A heat pump apparatus including a machine room and a blower room each in a housing, the machine room being a room in which a compressor and an expansion device are disposed, the blower room being a room in which a heat exchanger and a blower device are disposed, the heat pump apparatus using a flammable refrigerant, the heat pump apparatus including an electrical equipment box, wherein the electrical equipment box includes an electrical equipment box body and a cover member, the electrical equipment box body has a through opening, the through opening is provided with a lead wire relay module that draws in a plurality of lead wires, the lead wire relay module is provided with a plurality of insertion openings into each of which a lead wire block is inserted, and the lead wire block includes a fixing sleeve and a sleeve for insertion, the sleeve for insertion being disposed in close contact with the fixing sleeve, the sleeve for insertion sealing and holding the lead wires.

This configuration makes it possible to improve the airtightness of the electrical equipment box while drawing the lead wires into the electrical equipment box. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box.

(Technique <NUM>) The heat pump apparatus according to Technique <NUM>, wherein the fixing sleeve is divided into a plurality of sleeve bodies, and the sleeve for insertion is sandwiched and clamped by a plurality of the sleeve bodies.

This configuration makes it possible to bring the sleeve body into close contact with the sleeve for insertion in a plurality of directions. This then allows the fixing sleeve to come into closer contact with the sleeves for insertion to prevent the refrigerant from entering the electrical equipment box.

(Technique <NUM>) The heat pump apparatus according to Technique <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein the fixing sleeve and the sleeve for insertion have a tapered structure that brings an outer circumferential portion of the fixing sleeve into closer contact with an outer circumferential portion of the sleeve for insertion as the sleeve for insertion is inserted into the fixing sleeve.

This configuration brings the fixing sleeve into closer contact with the sleeve for insertion as the sleeve for insertion is inserted. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box.

(Technique <NUM>) The heat pump apparatus according to any of Techniques <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the insertion openings are formed in a fixing frame made of resin, and the fixing frame includes an O-ring groove into which an O-ring is inserted, and is fixed to the through opening of the electrical equipment box body with the O-ring interposed therebetween.

This configuration closes the gap between the fixing frame and the electrical equipment box body with the O-ring. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box.

(Technique <NUM>) The heat pump apparatus according to Technique <NUM>, wherein the O-ring is made of foam rubber.

This configuration allows the O-ring to be easily deformed, so that the gap between the fixing frame and the electrical equipment box body is easily closed by the O-ring. Therefore, the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box.

(Technique <NUM>) The heat pump apparatus according to Technique <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein the O-ring is made of chloroprene rubber.

This configuration makes it difficult for a flammable refrigerant such as propane gas to permeate the O-ring. Therefore, the refrigerant is less likely to enter the electrical equipment box.

(Technique <NUM>) The heat pump apparatus according to any of Techniques <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein a length of the O-ring is set shorter than a length of the O-ring groove.

This configuration allows the O-ring to be inserted into the O-ring groove in a stretched state. Therefore, the O-ring is not loosened and can easily come into close contact with the O-ring groove, so that the refrigerant can be prevented from entering the electrical equipment box.

(Technique <NUM>) The heat pump apparatus according to any of Techniques <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the electrical equipment box is disposed above the machine room and the blower room across the machine room and the blower room.

This configuration allows the electrical equipment box to be cooled easily in a part located above the blower room by the blown air and to draw the lead wires extending from devices in the machine room into the electrical equipment box via the lead wire relay module.

Claim 1:
A heat pump apparatus (<NUM>) including a machine room (<NUM>) and a blower room (<NUM>) each in a housing (<NUM>), the machine room being a room in which a compressor (<NUM>) and an expansion device (<NUM>) are disposed, the blower room being a room in which a heat exchanger (<NUM>) and a blower device (<NUM>) are disposed, the heat pump apparatus using a flammable refrigerant, the heat pump apparatus comprising an electrical equipment box (<NUM>),
wherein the electrical equipment box includes an electrical equipment box body (<NUM>) and a cover member (<NUM>),
the electrical equipment box body has a through opening (<NUM>),
the through opening is provided with a lead wire relay module (<NUM>) that draws in a plurality of lead wires,
the heat pump apparatus (<NUM>) being characterized in that
the lead wire relay module is provided with a plurality of insertion openings (Sa, Sb) into each of which a lead wire block (100a, 100b) is inserted, and
the lead wire block includes a fixing sleeve (90a, 90b) and a sleeve for insertion (80a, 80b), the sleeve for insertion being disposed in close contact with the fixing sleeve, the sleeve for insertion sealing and holding the lead wires.