JP7675574B2 - Electrical equipment storage box - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a box for storing electrical equipment, such as a cabinet for storing electrical equipment.

Conventionally, electrical equipment storage boxes used for distribution boards and the like have ventilation openings on the periphery of the box body (front, back, and both left and right sides) to ventilate the air inside the box body. However, opening ventilation openings can cause issues such as rain getting in, so boxes with a waterproof structure have been devised.

For example, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a hood-shaped waterproof member that opens only on the top surface is attached to cover the ventilation hole opened in the box body from the inside of the box body, and a dust filter is attached inside the opening of the waterproof member to form a waterproof structure.

JP 2004-63598 A

However, in the waterproof structure described in Patent Document 1, the waterproof member is only open on the top surface, which means that the flow of air coming in through the ventilation openings is easily obstructed, making it difficult to ventilate efficiently.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a box for storing electrical equipment that has a waterproof structure that can achieve efficient ventilation without compromising waterproofing.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention is a box for storing electrical equipment having an air vent on at least one of the front, back, left and right sides, which is molded in a box shape that opens in a predetermined direction, and a cover member having an inlet on the side opposite the opening is installed on the inside of the face with the opening facing the air vent side, covering the air vent, while a waterproof board is attached to the inside of the air vent within the cover member , and a bulge portion is provided on the waterproof board that bulges toward the air vent side, and the waterproof board has a tapered shape from the outer periphery toward the bulge portion , and further, a gap is formed between the outer periphery of the waterproof board and the inner surface of the cover member.
In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 2 of the present invention is a box for storing electrical equipment having an air vent on at least one of the front, back, left and right sides, which is molded into a box shape that opens in a predetermined direction, and a cover member having an inlet on the side opposite the opening is installed on the inside of the face with the opening facing the air vent side, covering the air vent, while a waterproof board is attached to the inside of the air vent within the cover member, and the surface of the waterproof board is provided with irregularities to increase the contact area with the air that flows into the cover member from the air vent, and further, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral edge of the waterproof board and the inner surface of the cover member.
The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2 , a drainage hole is opened below the air vent on the surface, and an inclined surface sloping downward toward the drainage hole is provided on the bottom surface of the cover member .

According to the inventions of claims 1 and 2 , a cover member formed in a box shape opening in a predetermined direction and having an inlet opening on the side opposite the opening is placed on the inside of the surface on which the air vent is opened with the opening facing the air vent side, covering the air vent, while a waterproof board is attached to the inside of the air vent in the cover member, and a gap is formed between the outer periphery of the waterproof board and the inner surface of the cover member. Therefore, air flowing into the cover member from the air vent can flow into the electrical equipment storage box through the inlet more smoothly than before, making it possible to provide an electrical equipment storage box that can achieve efficient ventilation without compromising waterproofness.
Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 1, the waterproof board is provided with a bulge portion that bulges toward the air vent, and the waterproof board has a tapered shape from the outer peripheral edge toward the bulge portion, so that the air flowing into the cover member from the air vent can be guided more smoothly to the inlet, resulting in a box for storing electrical equipment with even higher ventilation efficiency.
In addition, according to the invention described in claim 2, the surface of the waterproof board is provided with projections and recesses to increase the contact area with the air that has flowed into the cover member through the air vents. Therefore, for example, by providing a large number of recesses, it is possible to make it easier for water droplets to be adsorbed on the waterproof board, and depending on the shape of the projections, it is possible to reduce wind noise, resulting in a box for storing electrical equipment that is improved in waterproofness and prevents noise, etc.
In addition, according to the invention described in claim 3 , a drainage hole is provided below the air vent in the box for storing electrical equipment, and an inclined surface sloping downward toward the drainage hole is provided on the bottom surface of the cover member, so that water droplets that form on the surface of the waterproof board or inside the cover member can be smoothly and reliably drained through the drainage hole to the outside of the cover member, and ultimately to the outside of the box for storing electrical equipment, thereby improving waterproofing.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the electrical equipment storage box from the front side. FIG. 1 is a front perspective explanatory view showing a disassembled waterproof structure of an electrical device storage box; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the waterproof structure of the electrical equipment storage box from the front side; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a vertical cross section at the center position in the left-right direction of the waterproof structure of the electrical equipment storage box; FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory perspective view showing a modified example of the water blocking board. FIG. 13 is an explanatory perspective view showing another modified example of the water blocking board.

The following describes in detail, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention, a box for storing electrical equipment (hereinafter simply referred to as a box).

Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the box body 1 from the front side. Figure 2 is an explanatory perspective view showing the inside of the door 3. Figure 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing the waterproof structure of the box body 1 in an exploded state from the front side. Figure 4 is an explanatory view showing the waterproof structure of the box body 1 from the front side. Figure 5 is an explanatory view showing a vertical cross section at the center position in the left-right direction of the waterproof structure of the box body 1.

The box 1 has a box body 2 with an opening on the front side by connecting a pair of side panels, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a back panel, and a door 3 for opening and closing the front opening of the box body 2. Various electrical devices such as information and communication devices are stored inside the box 1. In addition, a number of slit-shaped air vents 4, 4... are opened in the lower part of the door 3 as ventilation holes. Furthermore, below the air vents 4, 4... in the door 3, drainage holes 5 are opened, which are slit-shaped and longer in the left-right direction than the air vents 4, so that rainwater and the like that has infiltrated into the inside of the door 3 through the air vents 4, 4... can be drained from the drainage holes 5 to the outside of the box 1. The waterproof structure is provided on the inside of the door 3, and includes a waterproof plate 11, which is an essential part of the present invention and is located behind the air vents 4, 4..., and a cover member 12 attached to surround the waterproof plate 11 from the rear.

The waterproof structure of the box 1 comprises a cover member 12 fixed to the inner surface of the door 3, a waterproof plate 11 arranged on the front side of the cover member 12 to prevent rainwater, etc. blown into the cover member 12 from the air vents 4, 4... from directly hitting the dustproof filter 13, a filter 13 arranged on the rear side of the cover member 12 to cover the inlets 16, 16..., and a pressing frame 14 for fixing the filter 13. The cover member 12 is formed by bending a metal plate into a box shape having a top surface portion 12A, a left side surface portion 12B, a right side surface portion 12C, a bottom surface portion 12D, and a back surface portion 12E, and opening to the front. The top surface 12A, left side surface 12B, right side surface 12C, and bottom surface 12D of the cover member 12 each have a flange 15 bent outward at the top, bottom, left, and right sides, and the flanges 15, 15... function as screw fastening parts for screwing the cover member 12 itself to the inner surface of the door 3. In addition, the back surface 12E of the cover member 12 has inlets 16, 16... for allowing air that has flowed into the cover member 12 to flow into the box body 1.

Furthermore, fixing pieces 17 for fixing a waterproof board 11 (described later) are provided protruding inward on both the left and right side portions 12B, 12C of the cover member 12. In addition, the left portion of the bottom portion 12D of the cover member 12 is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the right side, while the right portion of the bottom portion 12D is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the left side. The center portion of the bottom portion 12D in the left-right direction is recessed furthest downward, forming a drainage portion 18 for draining water from the drainage hole 5. The bottom portion 12D is also formed as an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the front from the back portion 12E.

The waterproof board 11 is a flat metal plate formed into a rectangle when viewed from the front, and screw holes 19, 19 are drilled at the top of both left and right edges for screwing the waterproof board 11 to the fixing pieces 17, 17. The left and right width of the waterproof board 11 is approximately the same as the left and right width of the ventilation section in the door 3 where the ventilation holes 4, 4... are provided, but is narrower than the left and right width of the cover member 12, and the vertical length of the waterproof board 11 is approximately the same as the vertical length of the ventilation section, but is shorter than the vertical length of the cover member 12.

The filter 13 is large enough to cover all of the inlets 16, 16... of the cover member 12. The retaining frame 14 is a frame body with openings similar to the inlets 16, 16..., and is screwed to the rear part 12E of the cover member 12 from the rear side of the filter 13, so that the filter 13 can be clamped and fixed from the front and rear by the cover member 12 and the retaining frame 14.

The waterproof structure including the waterproof plate 11, cover member 12, filter 13, and pressing frame 14 is installed by screwing the waterproof plate 11 to the fixing pieces 17, 17, installing the filter 13 and pressing frame 14 to the rear side of the back part 12E of the cover member 12, and screwing the flange parts 15, 15... of the cover member 12 to a predetermined position on the inner surface of the door 3. In this waterproof structure, the waterproof plate 11 is positioned so as to cover the rear side of the ventilation holes 4, 4..., and the drainage part 18 of the cover member 12 is positioned behind the drainage hole 5 (Figs. 4 and 5). In addition, gaps are formed between the outer periphery of the waterproof plate 11 and the top part 12A, both left and right side parts 12B, 12C, and bottom part 12D of the cover member 12. Therefore, the air that flows into the cover member 12 from the air vents 4, 4... hits the waterproof board 11, then flows around the waterproof board 11 from the inlets 16, 16... and through the filter 13 into the box body 2. Water droplets that adhere to the waterproof board 11 and the top surface 12A of the cover member 12 and the left and right side surfaces 12B, 12C, etc., fall onto the bottom surface 12D. The water droplets run down the inclined bottom surface 12D to the drainage section 18, and are finally discharged through the drainage hole 5 to the outside of the cover member 12 and ultimately to the outside of the box body 1.

According to the box 1 having the above-mentioned waterproof structure, the door 3 that opens and closes the front opening of the box body 2 has the ventilation holes 4, 4..., and the cover member 12, which is formed in a box shape that opens to the front and has inlets 16, 16... on the back part 12E, is installed so as to cover the ventilation holes 4, 4... from the inside of the door 3, while the waterproof board 11 is attached to the cover member 12 so as to be located behind the ventilation holes 4, 4... within the cover member 12, and a gap is formed between the outer edge of the waterproof board 11 and the inner surface of the cover member 12. Therefore, the air that flows into the cover member 12 from the ventilation holes 4, 4... can flow into the box 1 through the inlets 16, 16... more smoothly than before, and the box 1 can be made to realize efficient ventilation without reducing waterproofness.

In addition, drainage holes 5 are provided below the air vents 4, 4, etc. in the door 3, and are formed as slits that are longer in the left-right direction than each of the air vents 4. The bottom surface 12D of the cover member 12 has an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the drainage holes 5. This allows water droplets that form on the surface of the waterproof board 11 or inside the cover member 12 to be smoothly and reliably drained from the drainage holes 5 to the outside of the cover member 12 and ultimately to the outside of the box 1, improving waterproofing.

The electrical equipment storage box according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the overall configuration of the box as well as the configuration related to the waterproof structure can be modified as necessary without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a flat waterproof board 11 is used as the waterproof board, but a waterproof board 21 as shown in FIG. 6 may be used. The waterproof board 21 is shaped so that the center bulges toward the ventilation holes 4, 4... when installed inside the cover member 12 (a bulging portion is provided), and the waterproof board 21 is shaped so that it tapers from the outer periphery toward the center. In addition, a large number of recesses 22, 22... are provided on the surface of the waterproof board 21. When such a waterproof board 21 is used, the air blown against the waterproof board 21 is smoothly guided along the surface of the waterproof board 21 to the rear side, i.e., the inlet 16, 16... side, so that more efficient ventilation can be expected. In addition, since the contact area with the air is increased by the large number of recesses 22, 22..., when air blows against the waterproof board 21, water droplets are easily adsorbed on the surface of the waterproof board 21, and improved waterproofing can be expected.

Waterproof boards 23A, 23B as shown in FIG. 7 can also be used. In the waterproof board 23A shown in FIG. 7(a), the central portion bulges toward the ventilation holes 4, 4..., and V-shaped ribs 24, 24... are provided on the outer periphery. On the other hand, in the waterproof board 23B shown in FIG. 7(b), the central portion bulges toward the ventilation holes 4, 4..., and a plurality of ribs 25, 25... are provided on the outer periphery, extending outward from a position near the center in all directions. By using waterproof boards 23A, 23B provided with such ribs 24, 25, it is expected that the wind noise generated by the air flowing into the cover member 12 will be reduced.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an air vent is provided in the door that opens and closes the front opening of the box body, and a waterproof structure is provided on the inside of the door, but there is no problem if an air vent is provided in the side or back of the box body and a waterproof structure is provided on the inside of the side or back to cover the air vent.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, gaps are formed between all of the top, bottom, left and right outer peripheral edges of the waterproof board and the inner surface of the cover member, but gaps may be formed only between both left and right side edges and the cover member, or gaps may be formed only between the upper edge and both left and right side edges and the inner surface of the cover member, and the design can be modified as appropriate to determine which edge of the waterproof board has a gap formed between it and the inner surface of the cover member.
In addition, it is possible to apply a water-repellent finish to the surface of the waterproof board or the inner surface of the cover member, thereby creating a structure that allows water droplets adhering to the surface of the waterproof board or the inner surface of the cover member to be drained extremely smoothly.

1: Box for storing electrical equipment, 2: Box body, 3: Door, 4: Ventilation hole, 5: Drainage hole, 11, 21, 23A, 23B: Waterproof board, 12: Cover member, 12D: Bottom surface, 12E: Back surface, 13: Filter, 14: Pressing frame, 16: Inlet, 17: Fixing piece, 22: Recess, 24, 25: Ribs (protrusions).

Claims (3)

A box for storing electrical equipment having a ventilation hole on at least one of the front, rear, left and right surfaces,
A cover member is formed in a box shape opening in a predetermined direction and has an inlet on a side opposite to the opening. The cover member is installed on the inside of the surface with the opening facing the ventilation hole, and covers the ventilation hole.
A waterproof plate is attached to the inside of the air hole in the cover member ,
The waterproof board is provided with a bulging portion that bulges toward the air hole, and the waterproof board has a tapered shape from an outer circumferential edge toward the bulging portion ,
The electrical equipment storage box further comprises a gap formed between the outer periphery of the waterproof board and the inner surface of the cover member. A box for storing electrical equipment having a ventilation hole on at least one of the front, rear, left and right surfaces,
A cover member is formed in a box shape opening in a predetermined direction and has an inlet on a side opposite to the opening. The cover member is installed on the inside of the surface with the opening facing the ventilation hole, and covers the ventilation hole.
A waterproof board is attached to the inside of the air vent in the cover member, and a surface of the waterproof board is provided with irregularities for increasing a contact area with the air flowing into the cover member through the air vent,
The electrical equipment storage box further comprises a gap formed between the outer periphery of the waterproof board and the inner surface of the cover member. A drain hole is provided below the air vent on the surface,
3. The electrical equipment storage box according to claim 1 , wherein the cover member has a bottom surface provided with an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the drain hole.

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