【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、空気調和機に係わり、特に室内機と室外機を接続する端子台周辺の構造に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
分離型空気調和機の室内機と室外機を接続するケーブルには室外機に搭載された圧縮機を運転するための大きな電流が流れるため、端子台へのケーブルの接続は確実に行なう必要がある。万一、接続が不確実で接触抵抗が大きい状態で運転を行なうと、運転中の電流によるジュール熱により端子台が過熱し、周囲に可燃物がある場合には延焼する恐れがある。
【０００３】
このため、端子台の周囲を覆う延焼防止カバーを設け万一の延焼防止を図った例として、特開平１１−２４２８号公報、特開２００１−６５９１３号公報などに記載の技術がある。
【０００４】
また、ケーブルの接続作業時に製品外郭を全て開放して行なうのでは作業工数が大きいため、例えば特開平１０−２６７３１２号公報の中で記述があるように製品の外郭に作業用の開口部を設け、作業完了後に開口部を蓋で閉じる構造とし据付け現場での作業を容易にするのが一般的である。この場合の作業手順としては、開口部蓋、端子台周囲の延焼防止カバーを取り外した状態でケーブルを端子台に接続した後、延焼防止カバーを取り付け、最後に開口部蓋を閉じ作業完了となる。
【０００５】
開口部蓋を難燃性の材料で製作すること、または、開口部蓋の背面に金属板等で製作したカバーを取り付けること等により、端子台周囲延焼防止の機能を兼用させることも可能であるが、端子台周囲を十分に覆い隠すためには構造的な制約が多く、結果として十分な隠蔽製を得られないことが多い。
【０００６】
【特許文献１】
特開平１１−２４２８号公報
【特許文献２】
特開２００１−６５９１３号公報
【特許文献３】
特開平１０−２６７３１２号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来技術により、端子台周囲の延焼防止カバーを取り付けた後、開口部蓋を取り付ける構造を採用した場合には、万一、作業者が延焼防止カバーの取り付けを忘れた場合においても作業完了後には外見からそのことを発見することが難しく、端子台からの延焼防止機能が無い状態で製品を使用することになり、ケーブルの接続が確実に行なわれず端子台が過熱した場合は周囲の可燃物に延焼する可能性がある。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明では端子台へのケーブル接続作業用の開口部の蓋を取り付ける際に、既に内部に取り付けてあるべき端子台周囲の延焼防止カバーに対して蓋の固定を行なうものである。
【０００９】
これにより、延焼防止カバーを取り付け忘れた場合には開口部の蓋を取り付けることができず、延焼防止カバーが存在していないことに気がつき、作業不良を未然に防ぐことができる。
【００１０】
また、作業者以外の者でも外観より容易に作業の不備を発見することができる。
【００１１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の一実施例を図によって説明する。
【００１２】
図１は本発明の一実施例による空気調和和機の外観図、図２は同空気調和機の端子台近傍縦断面図である。
【００１３】
図１に示す室内機１は一般に室内の壁面上部の天井近くに設置され、本実施例では特に説明しないが冷媒を循環する冷媒配管および電力の供給および運転操作を行なう接続ケーブルを介して室外に設置される室外機と接続して空気調和機を構成し、リモコン等の運転操作指示により冷房、暖房、除湿、空気清浄、送風、およびその他の運転を行なうものである。
【００１４】
室内ユニット１の外観は直方体の横長形状をしており、吐出口３より冷気、暖気等、運転状態に応じた空気を吐出し室内の空調を行なう。通常は前面パネル２を閉じた状態で使用するが、図１、図２では本発明の説明を行なうため前面パネル２を開放した状態として示す。前面パネル２を開放した内部には開口部蓋６があり、これを取り外すことで接続ケーブル１１を端子台１０に接続する作業が可能となる。
【００１５】
製品の内部構造は図２で示す通りであり、熱交換器４を通過した空気は送風ファン５により吐出口３に導かれる。また、端子台１０は金属板等の難燃物で作られた電装品箱１２に納められており、その前面は同難燃物で作られた延焼防止カバー８により閉じられている。更に延焼防止カバー８の前面には開口部蓋６があり開口部蓋固定ねじ７により延焼防止カバー８に固定されている。
【００１６】
この状態で端子台１０は電装品箱１２と延焼防止カバー８により覆われており、万一、端子台１０が過熱した場合においても外部への延焼を防止できる。また、製品を外部から見ると開口部蓋６により外殻の開口部を塞いでいるため、外観が良好であり、また、製品使用者が不用意に製品内部に触れる恐れが無く、開口部より異物が侵入することもない。
【００１７】
次に接続ケーブル１１を端子台１０に接続した後に延焼防止カバー８、開口部蓋６を取り付ける作業過程を図３、図４により説明する。
【００１８】
図３に示す状態は接続ケーブル１１の接続が完了し、延焼防止カバー８を取り付けようとしている状態である。
【００１９】
端子台１０に接続ケーブル１１を接続し、ケーブルの取りまとめ状態を確認後、延焼防止カバー８の延焼防止カバー取り付け爪８ａを電装品箱１２の端部に引っ掛け、閉じた後、延焼防止カバー固定ねじ９により固定する。続いて図４に示す様に開口部蓋６により開口部１３を閉じ、開口部蓋固定ねじ７により延焼防止カバー８に開口部蓋６を固定する。
【００２０】
図５、図６に他の実施例を示す。
【００２１】
図５の実施例では開口部蓋６の固定を爪構造により行なったものであり、開口部蓋固定爪６ａを延焼防止カバー８の取り付け穴に引っ掛けることで固定する。蓋を取り外す場合は固定解除用穴６ｂにマイナスドライバー等を挿入して、それにより開口部固定爪６ｂを押し曲げることで延焼防止カバー８への爪の掛かりを解除して行なう。
【００２２】
また、図６の実施例では開口部蓋６の固定を開口部蓋固定爪６ｃと開口部蓋固定ねじ７により行なったものであり、先ず開口部蓋固定爪６ｃをケーブル接続作業用開口部１３の端部に引っ掛けた後、蓋を閉じ、つづいて開口部蓋固定ねじ７により延焼防止カバー８に対し開口部蓋６を固定する。この方法は開口部蓋６の形状がが大きく、延焼防止カバー８への固定のみでは取り付けが不安定な場合に有効である。なお、この場合、開口部蓋固定ねじ７の代わりに爪構造を用いて延焼防止カバー８への固定を行なっても同様の効果が得られる。
【００２３】
以上の説明では室内機を実施例として示したが、室外機においても本発明は有効であり、同様の端子台周囲構造を採用することで同様の効果を得ることができる。
【００２４】
【発明の効果】
本発明の空気調和機では延焼防止カバーに対し開口部蓋の固定を行なうことを特徴としている。このため開口部蓋の取り付けを行うためには延焼防止カバーが既に取り付けられている必要があり、空気調和機の据付け作業において、端子台に接続ケーブルを接続し、接続作業用開口部を開口部蓋で閉じて作業を完了するためには延焼防止カバーが取り付けられていることが欠かせない。
【００２５】
このため、万一、据付け作業者が端子台に接続ケーブルを接続した後に延焼防止カバーの取り付けを忘れたまま開口部蓋の取り付けを行おうとしても、開口部蓋の固定ができず、延焼防止カバーが存在していないことに気がつき、作業不良を未然に防ぐことができる。
【００２６】
また、開口部蓋が固定されていないこの状態は据付け作業者以外の者にも容易に発見できるため、作業の不備を指摘することができる。
【００２７】
本発明によれば、延焼防止カバーの取り付け忘れを防止でき、また、取り付けを忘れた状態を容易に発見できるため、延焼防止カバーの無い状態で空気調和機の運転を開始してしまうことを防止できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施例による空気調和和機の外観図。
【図２】同空気調和機の端子台近傍の縦断面図。
【図３】開口部蓋と延焼防止カバーを開放した状態のケーブル接続用開口部内部説明図。
【図４】開口部蓋をねじで固定した実施例の説明図。
【図５】開口部蓋を爪で固定した実施例の説明図。
【図６】開口部蓋をねじと爪で固定した実施例の説明図。
【符号の説明】
１…室内機、２…前面パネル、３…吐出口、４…熱交換器、５…送風ファン、６…開口部蓋、６ａ…開口部蓋固定爪、６ｂ…固定解除用穴、６ｃ…開口部蓋固定爪、７…開口部蓋固定ねじ、８…延焼防止カバー、８ａ…延焼防止カバー固定爪、９…延焼防止カバー固定ねじ、１０…端子台、１１…接続ケーブル、１２…電装品箱、１３…ケーブル接続作業用開口部。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and particularly to a structure around a terminal block connecting an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since a large current flows to operate the compressor mounted on the outdoor unit, the cable connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the separation type air conditioner must be securely connected to the terminal block. . If the operation is performed in a state where the connection is uncertain and the contact resistance is large, the terminal block may be overheated due to the Joule heat due to the current during the operation, and if there is a combustible material in the surroundings, the fire may spread.
[0003]
For this reason, as examples in which a fire spread prevention cover covering the periphery of the terminal block is provided to prevent fire spread, there are techniques described in JP-A-11-2428 and JP-A-2001-65913.
[0004]
In addition, since it is necessary to perform the operation of connecting the cable by opening the entire outer shell of the product, the number of working steps is large. For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-267212, an opening for the operation is provided in the outer shell of the product. In general, the opening is closed with a lid after the operation is completed to facilitate the operation at the installation site. In this case, the work procedure is as follows. After connecting the cable to the terminal block with the opening cover and the fire prevention cover around the terminal block removed, attach the fire prevention cover, and finally close the opening cover to complete the work. .
[0005]
It is also possible to combine the function of preventing the spread of fire around the terminal block by manufacturing the opening lid with a flame-retardant material, or attaching a cover made of a metal plate or the like to the back of the opening lid. However, there are many structural restrictions in order to sufficiently cover the periphery of the terminal block, and as a result, it is often difficult to obtain sufficient concealment.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-2428 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-65513 A [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-2673112
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of adopting a structure to attach the opening cover after attaching the fire spread prevention cover around the terminal block according to the conventional technology, even if the worker forgets to attach the fire spread prevention cover, after the work is completed, It is difficult to find out from the appearance, and the product will be used without the function of preventing the spread of fire from the terminal block.If the cable is not securely connected and the terminal block is overheated, the surrounding combustible materials May spread fire.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, when the cover of the opening for connecting the cable to the terminal block is attached, the cover is fixed to the fire spread prevention cover around the terminal block which should be already attached inside.
[0009]
Thereby, if the fire spread prevention cover is forgotten to be attached, the lid of the opening cannot be mounted, and it is noticed that the fire spread prevention cover does not exist, so that operation failure can be prevented beforehand.
[0010]
Further, even a person other than the worker can easily find work deficiencies from the appearance.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view near a terminal block of the air conditioner.
[0013]
The indoor unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 is generally installed near the ceiling at the upper part of the wall surface in the room. Although not particularly described in this embodiment, the indoor unit 1 is connected to the outside via a refrigerant pipe for circulating the refrigerant and a connection cable for supplying and operating power. The air conditioner is configured by connecting to an installed outdoor unit, and performs cooling, heating, dehumidification, air cleaning, air blowing, and other operations according to operation instructions from a remote controller or the like.
[0014]
The exterior of the indoor unit 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped horizontally long shape, and discharges air according to an operation state such as cool air or warm air from the discharge port 3 to perform air conditioning in the room. Normally, the front panel 2 is used in a closed state, but FIGS. 1 and 2 show the front panel 2 in an open state for the purpose of describing the present invention. An opening cover 6 is provided inside the opened front panel 2, and by removing the opening cover 6, it is possible to connect the connection cable 11 to the terminal block 10.
[0015]
The internal structure of the product is as shown in FIG. 2, and the air that has passed through the heat exchanger 4 is guided to the discharge port 3 by the blower fan 5. The terminal block 10 is housed in an electrical component box 12 made of a flame retardant such as a metal plate, and its front face is closed by a fire spread prevention cover 8 made of the flame retardant. Further, an opening cover 6 is provided on the front surface of the fire spread prevention cover 8 and is fixed to the fire spread prevention cover 8 by an opening cover fixing screw 7.
[0016]
In this state, the terminal block 10 is covered by the electrical component box 12 and the fire spread prevention cover 8, so that even if the terminal block 10 is overheated, fire spread to the outside can be prevented. In addition, when the product is viewed from the outside, the opening of the outer shell is closed by the opening cover 6, so that the appearance is good, and there is no risk of the product user accidentally touching the inside of the product. No foreign matter enters.
[0017]
Next, an operation process of attaching the fire spread prevention cover 8 and the opening cover 6 after connecting the connection cable 11 to the terminal block 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0018]
The state shown in FIG. 3 is a state in which the connection of the connection cable 11 has been completed and the fire spread prevention cover 8 is to be mounted.
[0019]
After connecting the connection cable 11 to the terminal block 10 and checking the assembled condition of the cables, hook the claws 8 a of the fire spread prevention cover 8 on the end of the electrical component box 12, close the cover, and fix the fire spread prevention fixing screw. 9 to fix. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4, the opening 13 is closed by the opening cover 6, and the opening cover 6 is fixed to the fire prevention cover 8 by the opening cover fixing screw 7.
[0020]
5 and 6 show another embodiment.
[0021]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the opening cover 6 is fixed by a nail structure, and the opening cover fixing claw 6a is fixed by being hooked on a mounting hole of the fire prevention cover 8. To remove the lid, a flathead screwdriver or the like is inserted into the fixing release hole 6b, and the opening fixing claw 6b is pressed and bent thereby to release the hook on the fire spread prevention cover 8, thereby performing the operation.
[0022]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the opening cover 6 is fixed by the opening cover fixing claw 6c and the opening cover fixing screw 7. First, the opening cover fixing claw 6c is connected to the opening 13 for cable connection work. Then, the lid is closed, and then the opening lid 6 is fixed to the fire spread prevention cover 8 with the opening lid fixing screw 7. This method is effective when the opening lid 6 has a large shape and the fixing to the fire spread prevention cover 8 alone is unstable. In this case, the same effect can be obtained even when the fixing to the fire spread prevention cover 8 is performed using a claw structure instead of the opening cover fixing screw 7.
[0023]
In the above description, the indoor unit is described as an embodiment, but the present invention is also effective in an outdoor unit, and the same effect can be obtained by adopting a similar structure around a terminal block.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
The air conditioner of the present invention is characterized in that the opening cover is fixed to the fire spread prevention cover. For this reason, in order to attach the opening cover, it is necessary that the fire spread prevention cover has already been attached.In the installation work of the air conditioner, the connection cable is connected to the terminal block and the opening for the connection work is opened. In order to complete the work by closing with the lid, it is indispensable that a fire spread prevention cover is attached.
[0025]
For this reason, even if the installer attempts to attach the opening cover after connecting the connection cable to the terminal block and forgets to attach the fire prevention cover, the opening cover cannot be fixed, preventing the fire from spreading. The user notices that the cover is not present, and can prevent a work defect.
[0026]
In addition, since this state in which the opening cover is not fixed can be easily found by a person other than the installation worker, it is possible to point out a defect in the work.
[0027]
Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent forgetting to attach the fire spread prevention cover, and to easily find the state in which the fire spread prevention cover has been forgotten, thereby preventing the air conditioner from starting operation without the fire spread prevention cover. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view near a terminal block of the air conditioner.
FIG. 3 is an internal explanatory view of the cable connection opening in a state where the opening cover and the fire prevention cover are opened.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an embodiment in which an opening cover is fixed with screws.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an embodiment in which an opening cover is fixed with claws.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of an embodiment in which an opening cover is fixed with screws and claws.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Indoor unit, 2 ... Front panel, 3 ... Discharge port, 4 ... Heat exchanger, 5 ... Blower fan, 6 ... Opening lid, 6a ... Opening lid fixing claw, 6b ... Fixing release hole, 6c ... Opening Opening lid fixing claw, 7: Opening lid fixing screw, 8: Fire protection cover, 8a: Fire protection cover fixing claw, 9: Fire protection cover fixing screw, 10: Terminal block, 11: Connection cable, 12: Electrical component box , 13 ... Cable connection opening.
