US20130143481A1 - Ceiling-embedded ventilation fan - Google Patents

Abstract

In a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan, a connection opening is formed in a side surface of a circuit case, an upper part of the connection opening and a side surface of the circuit case are covered with a shade, a bottom part of the shade is arranged at a position lower than an insertion hole of the connection opening, a drain board is arranged under the insertion hole in a frontal view of the insertion hole viewed from an end face of the shade in parallel with the top surface, and the drain board has a downward slope from a side of the connection terminal to a side of the power supply electric wire.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates to a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
BACKGROUND ART
• In a conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan, connection terminals are covered with a wall against drippages infiltrating from a roof space, and an insertion hole for the connection terminals is formed at an inner position. (Refer toPTL 1, for example). A conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan will be described below with reference toFIGS. 14 to 17.
• FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan disclosed inPTL 1, andFIG. 15 is a perspective view of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown inFIGS. 14 and 15, the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan includesframe103,motor104,fan105,casing106, dressedpanel107,control circuit108, andcircuit case109.
• Frame103 hassuction opening101 corresponding to an opening in a ceiling board and formed in a lower surface, and has discharge opening102 in a side surface.Motor104 is fixed to a top surface offrame103.Fan105 is driven bymotor104. Casing106 covers the circumference offan105. Dressedpanel107 is detachably mounted to cover the opening in the lower surface offrame103 from a room side.Control circuit108 is mounted on the top surface offrame103 to drive and controlmotor104.Circuit case109stores control circuit108 therein.
• FIG. 16 is a view showing a periphery of a connection opening of the circuit case of the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. On a side surface ofcircuit case109,connection terminal110 that connectscontrol circuit108 and power supplyelectric wire113 to each other is arranged. An upper portion ofconnection terminal110 is covered withshade111, andinsertion hole112 ofconnection terminal110 is arranged at an inner position.
• As shown inFIG. 16, in the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan,dew condensation water115 going down along power supplyelectric wire113 adheres tobottom part114 of the shade and remains thereon.Dew condensation water115 may infiltrate inconnection terminal110.
• PTL 2 describes a connector connecting unit to be connected to a control circuit of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.FIG. 17 is an exploded view showing a DC motor of the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan disclosed inPTL 2. As shown inFIG. 17,connector connecting unit157 formed onDC motor155 is arranged in parallel withtop board116 shown inFIG. 14.Connector connecting unit157 is connected tocontrol circuit108 shown inFIG. 14.
• In the conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan, as shown inFIG. 14, sincecontrol circuit108 for controllingDC motor155 is complicated and large in size,control circuit108 cannot be disadvantageously mounted in an internal space offrame103. Furthermore, since a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan is required to be reduced in size, the area offrame103 on the top surface becomes small to make it disadvantageously difficult to mountcircuit case109 on the top surface.
CITATION LISTPatent Literature
• PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-164202
• PTL 2: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-164253
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the present invention includes a frame configured by a top surface, a side surface, and a lower surface and having a suction opening in the lower surface and a discharge opening in the side surface, a motor fixed to the top surface, a fan driven by the motor, a casing that covers a circumference of the fan, a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the motor, and a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein, wherein a side surface of the circuit case has a connection opening for a connection terminal that connects the control circuit and a power supply electric wire, an upper part of the connection opening and the side surface of the circuit case are covered with a shade, a bottom part of the shade is arranged at a position lower than an insertion hole of the connection opening, a drain board is arranged under the insertion hole in a frontal view of the insertion hole viewed from an end face of the shade in parallel with the top surface, and the drain board has a downward slope from a side of the connection terminal to a side of the power supply electric wire.
• With the above configuration, waterdrops going down along the power supply electric wire is brought into contact with the drain board, grow up, go down along the slope of the drain board, and fall down to the top surface of the lower frame. For this reason, dew condensation water can be prevented from infiltrating in the power supply terminal.
• A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the present invention includes a frame configured by a top surface, a side surface, and a lower surface and having a suction opening in the lower surface and a discharge opening in the side surface, a DC motor fixed to the top surface, a fan driven by the DC motor, a fan casing that covers a circumference of the fan, a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the DC motor, and a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein, wherein the DC motor includes a connector connecting unit connected to the control circuit, and the connector connecting unit is arranged to be upward perpendicularly to the top surface.
• Since the connector connecting unit is upward perpendicularly to the top surface of the frame, the connector is perpendicular to the top surface when a connector is inserted. For this reason, a used area on the top surface decreases, and the circuit case is mounted on the top surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a frontal view of an insertion hole of a connection terminal of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 3 is a view showing an interior of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 4 is a view showing a flow of water going down along a power supply electric wire of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 5 is a view of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan when viewed from the bottom.
• FIG. 6 is a view showing a periphery of a drain hole of the circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a top view showing a configuration of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 9 is a view showing a connector connecting unit of a DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 12 is a detail view showing a height of a connector connecting unit of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 16 is a view showing a periphery of a connection opening of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
• FIG. 17 is an exploded view showing a DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
• Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan shown inFIG. 1 is fitted in a roof space (not shown) of a room by being embedded in the roof space. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan includesframe3,motor5,fan6,casing7, dressedpanel8,control circuit9, andcircuit case10.Frame3 includestop surface4,side surface23, andlower surface24.Frame3 hassuction opening1 corresponding to an opening of a ceiling board inlower surface24 and hasdischarge opening2 inside surface23.Motor5 is fixed totop surface4 offrame3 with two screws, and receives a DC current.Fan6 is a sirocco fan driven bymotor5.Casing7 covers the circumference offan6.Dressed panel8 is fitted to coversuction opening1 from a room side and detachably mounted withspring21.Control circuit9 is mounted ontop surface4 and adjusts a voltage applied tomotor5 to drive and control a rotating speed ofmotor5.Circuit case10 stores controlcircuit9 therein.
• FIG. 2 is a frontal view of an insertion hole of connection terminals of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3 is a view showing an interior of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, inside surface25 of the circuit case, connection opening13 ofconnection terminal12 that connectscontrol circuit9 and power supplyelectric wire11 to each other is formed. An upper part ofU-shaped connection opening13 and side surface25 of the circuit case are covered withshade14.Bottom part14aofshade14 also serves astop surface4.Bottom part14ais arranged at a position lower thaninsertion hole15 forconnection opening13, and space26 is present undershade14.
• Four insertion holes15 forconnection terminals12 are formed to adjust a speed ofmotor5. Furthermore, in a frontal view ofinsertion hole15 viewed from end face16 ofshade14 in parallel withtop surface4, drainboard17 is arranged underinsertion hole15. A thickness ofdrain board17 on theconnection terminal12 side has a slope obtained by making the thickness larger than that on the opposite side. More specifically, drainboard17 has a downward slope from the side ofconnection terminals12 to the side of power supplyelectric wire11.
• FIG. 4 is a view showing a flow of water going down along the power supply electric wire of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4, whendew condensation water22 generated in the roof space goes down along power supplyelectric wire11,dew condensation water22 is brought into contact withdrain board17 to increase waterdrops in size.Dew condensation water22 goes down along the slope ofdrain board17 and drops down totop surface4, or drops down to the lower part ofshade14, i.e., totop surface4. Sincetop surface4 is located underinsertion hole15 to have a long distance toinsertion hole15, the water does not reach the level ofinsertion hole15 to prevent water from infiltrating inconnection terminals12.
• FIG. 5 is a view of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the bottom. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5,wall18 is arranged insideshade14 to partitioninsertion hole15 from the level ofdrain board17 to shade14 thereabove. More specifically, in space26 surrounded by the upper part ofconnection opening13 and side surface25 of the circuit case and covered withshade14,wall18 is arranged to extend from the level ofdrain board17 to shade14.Wall18 is made thicker on theconnection terminal12 side than on the opposite side to obtain a slope. More specifically,wall18 is arranged at a position betweeninsertion hole15 andwall18 extending from the side ofconnection terminal12 to the side ofdrain board17. A thickness ofwall18 on the side ofconnection terminal12 is larger than that on the side ofdrain board17. As a result, when power supplyelectric wire11 is connected toconnection terminal12, a distal end of power supplyelectric wire11 is in contact withwall18 to make it easy to insert the distal end of power supplyelectric wire11 intoinsertion hole15. More specifically, a problem of difficult connection of power supplyelectric wire11 posed whenshade14 is arranged to hideinsertion hole15 from view can be solved.
• FIG. 6 is a view of a periphery of a drain hole of a circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 6, drainhole19 is formed at a position underconnection terminal12 incircuit case10.Rib20 is formed to have a upward slope extending fromoutlet port19aofdrain hole19 to the inside ofcircuit case10. With this configuration, when an amount ofdew condensation water22 generated insidecircuit case10 becomes a predetermined amount or more,dew condensation water22 goes down alongrib20 and is discharged to the outside ofcircuit case10. Since water that drops down fromdrain board17 does not easily infiltrate incircuit case10, the water is prevented from adhering tocontrol circuit9 incircuit case10.
Second Embodiment
• FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a configuration of a ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan shown inFIG. 7 is fitted in a roof space of a room by being embedded in the roof space. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan includesframe53,DC motor55, centrifugal blowingfan56,fan casing57, dressedpanel58,control circuit59, andcircuit case60.Connector connecting unit61 connected to controlcircuit59 is arranged onDC motor55.Connector connecting unit61 is arranged to be upward perpendicularly totop surface54 offrame53.
• Frame53 includestop surface54,side surface83, andlower surface84.Frame53 has suction opening51 corresponding to an opening in a ceiling board and formed inlower surface84, and has discharge opening52 inside surface83.DC motor55 is fixed totop surface54 offrame53. Centrifugal blowingfan56 is driven byDC motor55.Fan casing57 covers the circumference of centrifugal blowingfan56.Dressed panel58 is detachably mounted onframe53 to cover the opening in the lower surface offrame53 from the room side.Control circuit59 is mounted ontop surface54 to drive and controlDC motor55.Circuit case60 stores controlcircuit59 therein.
• FIG. 8 is a top view showing a configuration of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 8,screw portion62 is formed onDC motor55.Screw portions62 are arranged such that a line that connectsconnector connecting unit61 to the center ofDC motor55 is orthogonal to a straight line that connects twoscrew portions62.DC motor55 is fixed totop surface54 atscrew portions62 with two screws.Control circuit59 is formed to surround the circumference ofDC motor55 in a U shape.Connector portion63 formed oncontrol circuit59 is arranged nearconnector connecting unit61 ofDC motor55.
• Circuit case60 is formed in the same shape as that ofcontrol circuit59.Screw clamp portions64 at two positions on diagonal lines oftop surface54 are arranged outside an outline of centrifugal blowingfan56, andcircuit case60 is fixed totop surface54 by using screws.
• DC motor55 is diagonally fitted onstraight line portion65 ofcircuit case60. A gap betweencircuit case60 andDC motor55 is minimized, and a project area obtained whencircuit case60 is viewed from the top is made smaller than that oftop surface54. Ontop surface54,connector connecting unit61 and cover68 that covers an upper part ofconnector73 connected toconnector connecting unit61 are arranged.
• FIG. 9 is a view showing a connector connecting unit of the DC motor of ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 10 is a perspective view of the DC motor of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10,connector connecting unit61 has fourconnector pins66 arranged to be upward perpendicularly (illustrated by an arrow inFIG. 9) totop surface54, and has lockingportion67.Connector portion63 ofcontrol circuit59 shown inFIG. 8 andconnector connecting unit61 are connected to each other by usingconnector pin66 and lockingportion67.
• FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing a configuration of the circuit case of ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 11,circuit case60 includeslower case69 andupper case70.Lower case69 andupper case70 are engaged withlower locking portion71 arranged onlower case69 and upper engagingportion72 arranged onupper case70 and fixed. Lower lockingportion71 and upper engagingportion72 are arranged outsidecircuit case60.
• FIG. 12 is a detail view showing a height of a connector connecting unit of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the circuit case of the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan. As shown inFIGS. 12 and 13,cover68 andcircuit case60 shareupper case70 andside wall75 and are integrated with each other.Cover68 includesside surface portion76, andside surface portion76 is arranged to surround the circumference ofDC motor55 shown inFIG. 10.
• Circuit case60 and cover68 have the same level. In order to preventlead wire74 for connecting a connector in connection ofconnector73 from being forcibly bent, the levels ofcircuit case60 and cover68 are set to be about 1.5 times a height H (shown inFIG. 12) fromtop surface54 to the root oflead wire74.Lead wire74 mentioned here is exposed fromconnector73.
• According to the above configuration,connector connecting unit61 is not on a level withtop surface54 but is upward perpendicularly totop surface54. For this reason, sinceconnector73 is upward perpendicularly totop surface54 whenconnector73 is inserted so as to reduce a used area ontop surface54,control circuit59 can be mounted in a space ontop surface54.
• Connector connecting unit61 is covered withcover68. For this reason, for example, even though dew condensation water drops down from the ceiling, since the dew condensation water adheres to cover68, the dew condensation water does not adhere toconnector connecting unit61. Sincecover68 covers the circumference ofDC motor55, even though dew condensation water intends to flow from a position other than the upper part ofDC motor55, the water does not adhere toconnector connecting unit61. As a result, tracking or the like does not occur in an electric connection unit to improve safety.
• Circuit case60 and cover68 are integrally formed. Since a side surface part ofcover68 is shared withcircuit case60, an excess space is reduced. Since a gap such as a seam is eliminated, water can be completely prevented from being infiltrated.
• As shown inFIG. 8, in a project area obtained when the ceiling-embedded ventilation fan is viewed from the top,circuit case60 is smaller thantop surface54. For this reason,DC motor55 andtop surface54 are removed from the room side together withfan casing57. As a result,DC motor55 is easily removed when motors are exchanged so as to improve ease of maintenance.
• Screw clamp portion64 ofcircuit case60 is arranged outside the outline of centrifugal blowingfan56. For this reason, since a screw to fixcircuit case60 can be prevented from being in contact with centrifugal blowingfan56, safety is improved.
• As shown inFIG. 11,lower locking portion71 and upper engagingportion72 are arranged outsidecircuit case60. For this reason, a gap betweenDC motor55 andcircuit case60 can be narrowed, and a used area ontop surface54 is reduced.
• As shown inFIG. 12, sincecircuit case60 and cover68 are formed at the same level, resin molding can be easily performed. Since upper surfaces ofcircuit case60 and cover68 become flat, labeling and imprinting on the upper surface ofcircuit case60 can be performed.
• Cover68 coversconnector73 andlead wire74 connected toconnector connecting unit61 from the top and the side surface. For this reason,lead wire74 is not bitten by a mouse or the like in the roof space, electric leakage or the like does not occur, and safety is improved.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
• A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according to the present invention is embedded in a ceiling and used, and is widely useful to an air-conditioner to which power supply electric wires are directly connected.
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
• • 1,51 suction opening
  • 2,52 discharge opening
  • 3,53 frame
  • 4,54 top surface
  • 5 motor
  • 6 fan
  • 7 casing
  • 8,58 dressed panel
  • 9,59 control circuit
  • 10,60 circuit case
  • 11 power supply electric wire
  • 12 connection terminal
  • 13 connection opening
  • 14 shade
  • 14abottom part
  • 15 insertion hole
  • 16 end face
  • 17 drain board
  • 18 wall
  • 19 drain hole
  • 19aoutlet port
  • 20 rib
  • 21 spring
  • 23,83 side surface
  • 24,84 lower surface
  • 25 side surface of circuit case
  • 55 DC motor
  • 56 centrifugal blowing fan
  • 57 fan casing
  • 61 connector connecting unit
  • 62 screw portion
  • 63 connector portion
  • 64 screw clamp portion
  • 65 straight line portion
  • 66 connector pin
  • 67 locking portion
  • 68 cover
  • 69 lower case
  • 70 upper case
  • 71 lower locking portion
  • 72 upper engaging portion
  • 73 connector
  • 74 lead wire
  • 75 side wall
  • 76 side surface portion

Claims (7)

1. A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan comprising:

a frame configured by a top surface, a side surface and a lower surface, and having a suction opening in the lower surface and a discharge opening in the side surface;

a motor fixed to the top surface;

a fan driven by the motor;

a casing that covers a circumference of the fan;

a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the motor; and

a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein,

wherein a side surface of the circuit case has a connection opening for a connection terminal that connects the control circuit and a power supply electric wire, an upper part of the connection opening and the side surface of the circuit case are covered with a shade, a bottom part of the shade is arranged at a position lower than an insertion hole of the connection opening, a drain board is arranged under the insertion hole in a frontal view of the insertion hole viewed from an end face of the shade in parallel with the top surface, and the drain board has a downward slope from a side of the connection terminal to a side of the power supply electric wire.

2. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according toclaim 1,

wherein, in a space covered with the shade of the upper part of the connection opening and the side surface of the circuit case, a wall is arranged at a position between the insertion holes, the wall extending from the side of the connection terminal to a side of the drain board and from a level of the drain board to the shade, and the wall is formed such that a thickness on the side of the connection terminal is larger than a thickness on the side of the drain board.

3. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according toclaim 1,

wherein a drain hole is formed in the circuit case, and a rib has a upward slope extending from an outlet port of the drain hole to the inside of the circuit case.

4. A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan comprising:

a frame configured by a top surface, a side surface and a lower surface, and having a suction opening in the lower surface and a discharge opening in the side surface;

a DC motor fixed to the top surface;

a fan driven by the DC motor;

a fan casing that covers a circumference of the fan;

a control circuit that is mounted on the top surface and drives and controls the DC motor; and

a circuit case that stores the control circuit therein,

wherein the DC motor includes a connector connecting unit connected to the control circuit, and the connector connecting unit is arranged to be upward perpendicularly to the top surface.

5. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according toclaim 4

comprising a cover that covers the connector connecting unit and an upper part of a connector connected to the connector connecting unit.

6. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according toclaim 5,

wherein the cover is formed integrally with the circuit case.

7. The ceiling-embedded ventilation fan according toclaim 2,

wherein a drain hole is formed in the circuit case, and a rib has a upward slope extending from an outlet port of the drain hole to the inside of the circuit case.

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