DESCRIPTION
COOLER FOR HEATING-BODY CABINET
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a cooler for a heating-body cabinet
for cooling a cabinet containing a precision device incorporating
heating bodies such as electronic components whose performance and
life are largely influenced by the temperature.
BACKGROUND ART
In recent years, higher performance of electronic components and
higher density of those on a control board have been achieved, thereby
rapidly increasing the heating value from the control board.
Following this, the temperature inside a heating-body cabinet
containing a control board tends to rise, and thus the guarantee of
proper operation and the product life of an electronic component on the
control board are largely influenced by the temperature inside the
heating-body cabinet. Accordingly, the reliability of an electronic
component cannot be ensured unless the temperature inside the
heating-body cabinet is cooled below a certain level. Meanwhile, with
heating-body cabinets increasingly placed in urban areas, noise
reduction of the apparatus is demanded.
Conventionally, as a cooler for a heating-body cabinet cooling this
type of heating-body cabinet by heat exchange, one placed inside the
heating-body cabinet is known (refer to patent literature 1, for
instance).
Hereinafter, a description is made of a configuration of the cooler
for a heating-body cabinet, referring to FIG. 14 (a structural drawing
of a conventional cooler for a heating-body cabinet) and FIG. 15 (an
installation drawing of the cooler). As shown in FIG. 14, heating-body
cabinet cooler 101 includes inside-air path 107 that draws in air from
the heating-body cabinet into case 102 and returns the air to the
heating-body cabinet; and outside-air path 108 that draws in outside
air and discharges the air to an outside-air space. Further, cooler 101
includes inside-air blower 103 conveying air in inside-air path 107,
outside-air blower 104 conveying air in outside-air path 108,
heat-exchanging element 105, and heater 106.
Here, heat-exchanging element 105 exchanges sensible heat
between inside air in inside-air-side rectangular flow path 109 and
outside air in outside-air-side rectangular flow path 110. Flow path
109 and flow path 110 are disposed at the intersecting point of path 108
and path 107,' have a large number of barrier ribs (produced from a
corrugated thin plate) formed evenly spaced apart; and their
lengthwise both ends are connected by a bridge alternately.
Heater 106 heats air in inside-air path 107 so that electronic
components inside the heating-body cabinet normally operate even if
used at low temperature in a cold climate area.
As shown in FIG. 15, device 101 is attached to the inside of
openable door 112 of heating-body cabinet 111.
With such conventional heating-body cabinet cooler 101,
outside-air blower 104 communicates with an outside-air inlet, and
thus noise generated from outside-air blower 104 (i.e. the main source
of noise) is undesirably discharged directly outside device 101.
[Patent literature l] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No.
2001-156478
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cooler for a heating-body cabinet of the present invention
includes an inside-air path that draws in air inside the heating-body
cabinet and returns the air into the heating-body cabinet for
circulation; and an outside-air path that draws in outside air and
discharges the air to an outside-air space. Further, the device
includes an outside-air blower conveying air in the outside-air path, an
inside-air blower conveying air in the inside-air path, and a
heat-exchanging element disposed at the intersecting point of the
outside-air path and inside-air path, exchanging sensible heat between
air in the inside-air path and air in the outside-air path. The device is
structured so that a bellmouth-shaped silencing member having an
opening concentric with the orifice of the outside-air blower, with a
diameter equal to or larger than that of the opening of the orifice, from
the outside-air inlet drawing in outside air to the outside-air blower
communicates with the orifice.
Such a cooler for a heating-body cabinet, with the opening of the
bellmouth-shaped member being equal to or larger than that of the
orifice, suppresses reduction of the air volume of the outside-air blower.
Noise discharged from the outside-air blower is resonantly cancelled by
the orifice of the outside-air blower communicating with the
bellmouth-shaped member, from the outside-air inlet to the outside-air
blower.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a structural drawing of a cooler for a heating-body
cabinet according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is an outline sectional view of the silencer joined and placed
at the bottom.
FIG. 3 is an outline installation sectional view of the silencer of
the cooler.
FIG. 4 is an installation drawing of the silencer of the cooler.
FIG. 5 is an assembly drawing of the silencer of the cooler.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an inducer-attached air blower of
the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to the second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an outline exploded view showing the heat-exchanging
element of the cooler.
FIG. 8 is an outline installation sectional view of the
inducer-attached air blower of the cooler.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a centrifugal air blower of the cooler.
FIG. 10 is an installation drawing of the fixing members of the
inside-air blower of the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to
the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a shape diagram of the fixing members of the inside-air
blower of the cooler.
FIG. 12 is a layout drawing of the panel-fixing members of the
cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to the fourth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a layout drawing of the mounting members of the
outside-air blower of the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to
the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a structural drawing of a conventional cooler for a
heating-body cabinet.
FIG. 15 is an installation drawing of the cooler.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, a description is made of some embodiments of the
present invention with reference to the related drawings.
FIRST EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a structural drawing of a cooler for a heating-body
cabinet of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Heating-body cabinet cooler 50 is attached to door 52 of heating-body
cabinet 51. The upper part of the inside of case 1 has inside-air
blower 2 disposed therein, and has inside-air path 53 formed therein
that draws in air inside heating-body cabinet 51 and returns the air
into heating-body cabinet 51 to circulate inside air (i.e. air inside
heating-body cabinet 51). The lower part of the inside of case 1 has
outside-air blower 3 disposed therein, and has outside-air path 54
formed therein that draws in outside air and discharges the air to
outside-air space 55. Here, inside-air blower 2 conveys air in
inside-air path 53, and outside-air blower 3 conveys air in outside-air
path 54.
At the intersecting point of inside-air path 53 and outside-air path
54, heat-exchanging element 4 is provided for exchanging sensible heat
between air in outside-air path 54 and air in inside-air path 53.
Outside-air blower 3 is attached heading to outside-air inlet 5 so as to
draw in air from outside-air inlet 5 of case 1.
FIG. 2 is an outline sectional view of a silencer joined and placed
at the bottom of the cooler according to the first embodiment of the
present invention. Bellmouth-shaped silencing member 7 is provided
having opening 46 concentric with orifice 6 placed on outside-air
blower 3, with a diameter equal to or larger than that of opening 45 of
orifice 6, between outside-air inlet 5 and outside-air blower 3,
communicating with orifice 6. Silencing member 7 has a shape in
which a pipe with a diameter equal to or larger than that of opening 45
of orifice 6 is joined to a ring-shaped plain plate having opening 46 at
its center, and disposed with its plain plate side meeting outside-air
inlet 5. At the inlet part of outside-air inlet 5, silencing member 7 and
orifice 6 form U-shaped space 41.
With opening 46 of bellmouth-shaped silencing member 7 being
equal to or larger than opening 45 of orifice 6 in diameter, the device
suppresses reduction of the air volume of outside-air path 54 and
resonantly cancels noise discharged from outside-air blower 3 by
making orifice 6 communicate with silencing member 7 from
outside-air inlet 5 to outside-air blower 3.
Furthermore, sound waves that have been discharged from
outside-air blower 3 and have entered U-shaped space 41 resonantly
cancel noise with sound waves that have been reflected on the wall
surface of U-shaped space 41, thereby reducing the noise.
FIG. 3 is an outline installation sectional view of the silencer of
the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to the first exemplary
embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, cushioning
material 21 may be placed on the inner surface of silencing member 7.
A material of cushioning material 21 is urethane. With this structure,
sound absorbing effect by cushioning material 21 and resonance
silencing effect by U-shaped space 41 increase silencing effect and
reduce noise. Cushioning material 21 may be a material other than
urethane.
As shown in FIG. 2, U-shaped notch 22 is provided at the bottom of
silencing member 7. U-shaped notch 22 is connected to a hole
provided in conical drain pan 23 disposed on the bottom surface of
heating-body cabinet 51 in the lower part of case 1 to form drainage
path 24 leading to the outside of heating-body cabinet 51. With this
structure, if heating-body cabinet 51 is installed outdoors and
rainwater enters the inside of silencing member 7 through outside-air
inlet 5, the water can be easily discharged outside heating-body
cabinet 51 through drainage path 24.
FIG. 4 is an installation drawing of the silencer of the cooler for a
heating-body cabinet according to the first embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 5 is an assembly drawing of the silencer. Silencing
member 7 includes upper projection 42 for fixing the upper part; lower
projection 43 for fixing the lower part; and ring-shaped projection 26
bulging toward outside-air inlet 5 around the opening at the front of
silencing member 7. Upper projection 42 fits into notch 28 in element
arrangement member 27 for arranging heat-exchanging element 4.
Lower projection 43 fits into recess 29 in conical drain pan 23 disposed
on the bottom surface of heating-body cabinet 51. Ring-shaped
projection 26 can be fitted into the end of outside-air inlet 5.
With such a structure, silencing member 7 can be easily positioned
and fixed. Further, ring-shaped projection 26 is placed so as to fit into
outside-air inlet 5, which prevents the edge of outside-air inlet 5 to be
exposed directly to rainwater, thus preventing rust.
SECOND EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
For the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
the description of a component same as that of the first embodiment is
omitted and only different points are described.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an inducer-attached air blower of
the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to the second
embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 6, inducer-attached air blower 8 is composed of
side plate 10, blade 11, and main plate 12. Side plate 10 has a
bellmouth as inlet 9. Blade 11 has outlet angle y56 smaller than 90
degrees, heads opposite to rotation direction 57, and has inducer 13 at
inlet 58. Air drawn in through inlet 9 flows to the outer
circumferential side along blade 11. In this case, inducer 13 being
attached further induces and pressurizes the inlet air, thereby
enhancing effect of send air to main plate 12. Such inducer-attached
air blower 8 supplies more air volume to main plate 12.
FIG. 7 is an outline exploded view showing the heat-exchanging
element of the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to the second
embodiment of the present invention. Heat-exchanging element 4 is
formed by laminating a large number of first heat transfer plates 14
and second heat transfer plates 15. Both plates have L-shaped air
paths 60 formed by vacuum-molding a polystyrene sheet, with different
air path lengths 59. The large number of laminated first and second
heat transfer plates 14, 15 form indoor-side air path 16 and
outdoor-side air path 17, independent of each other. Then, air path 16
and air path 17 are integrated by being heat-deposited at their outer
surfaces (in FIG. 7, only four heat transfer plates are shown in an
exploded view for brevity).
L-shaped air path 60 (indoor-side air path 16, outdoor-side air
path 17) closer to the discharge-outlet face of heat-exchanging element
4 has a shorter air path length; farther from the discharge-outlet face,
has a longer air path length, which produces difference in pressure loss
in each air path.
FIG. 8 is an outline installation sectional view of the
inducer-attached air blower of the cooler according to the second
embodiment of the present invention. Inducer-attached air blower 8
is used for inside-air blower 2 and outside-air blower 3, which are
disposed at element's discharge outlet side 19 of heat-exchanging
element 4 communicating with air blower inlet 18. In other words,
long air path side 20 of heat-exchanging element 4 (with the longest air
path length) is disposed at the side of main plate 12 of
inducer-attached air blower 8.
With such a structure, the volume of air is increased that is sent to
long air path side 20 (the side of main plate 12 of inducer-attached air
blower 8) with a higher pressure loss than the short air path side of
heat-exchanging element 4 (arrow A in the figure) to make the velocity
of air passing through each air path of heat-exchanging element 4 more
uniform. Consequently, the cooling performance can be increased and
the rotation speed of inducer-attached air blower 8 can be decreased.
FIG. 9 is a front view of the centrifugal air blower of the cooler
according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The
cross-sectional area in axial direction 64 varies between inner
diameter part 61 (or point 62 between the inner diameter part and the
outer diameter part) and outer diameter part 63 of blade 11 of
inside-air blower 2 and outside-air blower 3. Blade 11 is shaped so as
to pass more air at the side of main plate 12, and is twisted toward
outer diameter part 63 so that main plate side outlet angle a
sequentially decreases toward side plate side outlet angle 6 according
to a state pressurized.
Consequently, air can be sent and pressurized without resisting an
air flow. Further, turbulent flow vortexes can be decreased, thereby
reducing noise.
THIRD EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
For the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
description of a component same as that of the first embodiment is
omitted and only different points are described.
FIG. 10 is an installation drawing of the fixing members of the
inside-air blower of the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to
the third embodiment of the present invention. Fixing members 30
disposed at both ends of inside-air blower 2 are connected to integral
fixing part 31 at two fixing holes 32 provided at the front ends of the
U-shaped part of integral fixing part 31. Inside-air blower 2 and
integral fixing part 31 forms a quadrangle rigid body.
In other words, integral fixing part 31 is fixed to side surface 33a
and inside-air-side wall surface 33b that form heating-body cabinet 51
and adjoin each other. Then, heater 34 having an L-shaped
reinforcing member is attached to integral fixing part 31. Here,
heater 34 heats air in inside-air path 53 so that electronic components
inside heating-body cabinet 51 operate normally. Inside-air blower 2
and heater 34 are thus attached to integral fixing part 31.
Consequently, axial and horizontal vibration of inside-air blower 2,
which is a cause of a noise increase, is reduced. A mounting plate for
components is eliminated, and thus the number of components
decreases. Further, inside-air blower 2 and heater 34 are detached
and attached as an integral component, and thus they are maintained
simultaneously.
FIG. 11 is a shape diagram of the fixing members of the cooler for a
heating-body cabinet according to the third embodiment of the present
invention. Integral fixing part 31 is formed in a thin overturned bowl
shape and is disposed in a dual structure with space 35 provided
parallel to side surface 33a and inside-air-side wall surface 33b.
Herewith, when noise from inside-air blower 2 is discharged from
the back surface of case 1, the noise is discharged through double wall
surfaces, thereby enhancing sound insulation against noise. Routing
wiring 36 of heater 34 and inside-air blower 2 in space 35 prevents
wiring from contacting heater 34 (i.e. a heating part) and inside-air
blower 2 (i.e. a moving part), thereby enhancing safety.
FOURTH EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
For the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
description of a component same as that of the first embodiment is
omitted and only different points are described.
FIG. 12 is a layout drawing of the panel-fixing member of the
cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to the fourth embodiment of
the present invention. Above outside-air blower 3, eave-shaped
reinforcing part 38 is provided at panel fixing member 37 for
positioning heat-exchanging element 4 and for fixing the panel. Here,
panel 39 is a panel for checking heating-body cabinet cooler 50.
Consequently, heat-exchanging element 4 is reliably fixed, and
panel 39 tending to generate vibration due to its large area is strongly
fixed, thereby reducing vibration that is a cause of noise generation.
FIFTH EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
For the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
description of a component same as that of the first embodiment is
omitted and only different points are described.
FIG. 13 is a layout drawing of the mounting members of the
inside-air blower of the cooler for a heating-body cabinet according to
the fifth embodiment of the present invention. At both right and left
sides of outside-air blower 3, the surface of outside-air blower
mounting member 44 is disposed that is parallel to the main plate of a
blade, without an opening provided.
With such a configuration, air discharged from outside-air blower
3 flows along the flat surface of outside-air blower mounting member
44, which leads to rectifying action to reduce noise.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention is useful for a cooler of a heating-body
cabinet that is a case structure placed outdoors such as a base station
for mobile telephones and a simple wireless station, contains a heating
body such as a communication device, requires cooling even in winter
due to its large heating value, and includes a precision device whose
performance and life are influenced by such as temperature, humidity,
dust, and rainwater.
CLAIMS
1. A cooler for a heating-body cabinet, comprising:
an inside-air path drawing in air inside the heating-body
cabinet and returning the air into the heating-body cabinet to circulate
the air!
an outside-air path drawing in outside air and discharging the
outside air to an outside-air space!
an outside-air blower conveying air in the outside-air path;
an inside-air blower conveying air in the inside-air path; and
a heat-exchanging element disposed at an intersecting point of
the outside-air path and the inside-air path, the heat-exchanging
element exchanging sensible heat between air in the outside-air path
and air in the inside-air path,
wherein a bellmouth-shaped silencing member having an opening
concentric with an orifice of the outside-air blower, with a diameter
equal to or larger than a diameter of the opening of the orifice, between
an outside-air inlet drawing in the outside air and the outside-air
blower, and communicating with the orifice.
2. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of claim 1, wherein a
cushioning material is disposed on an inner surface of the silencing
member.
3. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein a U-shaped notch is provided at a lower part of the silencing
member, and a drainage path is formed leading to an outside of the
heating-body cabinet.
4. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein the silencing member fits into a notch provided in an element
arrangement member for arranging the heat-exchanging element at an
upper projection provided at an upper part of the silencing member,
wherein the silencing member fits into a drain pan disposed at a
bottom surface of the heating-body cabinet at a lower projection
provided at a lower part of the silencing member, and
wherein a ring-shaped projection provided around the opening of the
silencing member fits into the outside-air inlet.
5. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein the inside-air blower and a heater are detachably attached to
an integral fixing part fixed to a side surface and a wall surface at an
inside-air side, each forming the heating-body cabinet and adjoining
each other.
6. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of claim 5, wherein a space is
provided between the integral fixing part; and the side surface and the
wall surface at the inside-air side.
7. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein an eave-shaped reinforcing part is provided above the
outside-air blower so as to contact the heat-exchanging element.
8. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein an outside-air blower mounting member having a surface
parallel to a main plate of the outside-air blower, without an opening
provided is disposed at both right and left sides of the outside-air
blower.
9. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of claim 1,
wherein the cooler includes an inducer-attached air blower having:
an outlet angle of a blade of which heads opposite to a rotation
direction of the blade; and
an inlet part of the blade which has an inducer rotating together
with the blade!
wherein the heat-exchanging element has Lrshaped air paths with
different air path lengths; and
wherein a longer air path side of the heat-exchanging element is
disposed at a main plate side of the inducer-attached air blower.
10. The cooler for a heating-body cabinet of claim 9,
wherein an axial cross-sectional area varies from an inner diameter
part to an outer diameter part, or from a point between the inner
diameter part and the outer diameter part, to the outer diameter part,
and
wherein the blade is twisted toward the outer diameter part so that an
outlet angle at a main plate side sequentially decreases toward an
outlet angle at a side plate side according to a state in which air flows
to the main plate and is pressurized.

The cooler for a heating-body cabinet includes an inside-air path
that draws in air inside the heating-body cabinet and returns the air
into the heating-body cabinet for circulation; an outside-air path that
draws in outside air and discharges the air to an outside-air space; an
outside-air blower that conveys air in the outside-air path; an
inside-air blower that conveys air in the inside-air path; and a
heat-exchanging element disposed at the intersecting point of the
outside-air path and inside-air path, exchanging sensible heat between
air in the outside-air path and air in the inside-air path. A
bellmouth-shaped silencing member having an opening concentric with
an orifice of the outside-air blower, with a diameter equal to of larger
than that of the opening of the orifice, between an outside-air inlet
drawing in the outside air and the outside-air blower communicates
with the orifice.