JP7774866B2 - Igniter mounting structure and mounting bracket - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an igniter mounting structure and mounting bracket.

Conventionally, water heaters are equipped with a discharge electrode whose tip is positioned close to the burner unit, and an igniter electrically connected to this discharge electrode via wiring (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The igniter boosts the supplied commercial voltage and supplies it to the discharge electrode, generating an ignition spark between the discharge electrode and the burner unit.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-179435

Igniters come in a variety of shapes, and depending on the type of water heater, the installation position may differ. This means that separate mounting brackets must be prepared for each igniter shape and installation position, which creates problems in terms of manufacturing and management costs.

The object of the present invention is to provide an igniter mounting structure and mounting bracket that allows igniters of different shapes to be mounted in different positions within a water heater.

The igniter mounting structure of claim 1 is an igniter mounting structure for mounting a first igniter or a second igniter to an internal component of a water heater via a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a first plate portion extending along a first direction and having a surface facing a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second plate portion extending from an end of the first plate portion on one side in the first direction to one side in the second direction and having a surface facing the first direction, and wherein an edge portion of the first plate portion on one side in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions has a non-offset portion provided on one side in the first direction and a second edge portion provided on the other side opposite the one side in the first direction and opposite the one side in the third direction relative to the non-offset portion. and an offset portion that is offset, wherein the first plate portion is provided with a first igniter-side fixed piece portion that is provided at a position that protrudes further to the one side in the first direction than the second plate portion, extends to the one side in the second direction, and has a face direction facing the third direction, the non-offset portion is provided with a first water heater-side fixed piece portion that extends to the other side opposite to the one side in the second direction and has a face direction facing the third direction, the offset portion is provided with a second igniter-side fixed piece portion that extends to the other side in the second direction and has a face direction facing the third direction, and an end of the one side of the second plate portion in the second direction is provided with a second water heater-side fixed piece portion that extends to the one side in the first direction and has a face direction facing the second direction, the second igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction and includes a first flat surface that contacts a surface portion of the first plate portion when the second igniter is in an attachment posture with its longitudinal direction aligned along the first direction, and a first protruding piece that protrudes from an end portion on the one side in the first direction of the first flat surface to the one side in the first direction when the second igniter is in the attachment posture, has a surface facing the third direction, overlaps with the first igniter-side fixed piece portion, and is fastened to the first igniter-side fixed piece portion with a screw; the second igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction and includes a second flat surface that contacts the surface portion of the first plate portion when the second igniter is in an attachment posture with its longitudinal direction aligned along the first direction, and a first protruding piece that protrudes from an end portion on the other side in the third direction of the second flat surface to the other side in the second direction when the second igniter is in the attachment posture. and a second protruding piece whose face faces the third direction and overlaps with the second igniter-side fixed piece, and which is fastened to the second igniter-side fixed piece with a screw; when the first water heater-side fixed piece is oriented upward, the first water heater-side fixed piece can be fixed to the internal component to support the first igniter or the second igniter in a horizontal orientation with its longitudinal direction facing left and right within the water heater; and when the second water heater-side fixed piece is oriented upward, the second water heater-side fixed piece can be fixed to the internal component to support the first igniter or the second igniter in a vertical orientation with its longitudinal direction facing up and down within the water heater.

In the igniter mounting structure of claim 2, the second plate portion is disposed perpendicular to the end portion on one side in the first direction of the first plate portion, a gap is formed between the second plate portion and the first igniter-side fixed piece portion in the third direction, and when the first igniter is in the mounting position, the first flat portion contacts the surface portion of the first plate portion, the end portion on one side in the first direction of the first igniter contacts the second plate portion, and the first protruding piece is disposed in the gap and overlaps the first igniter-side fixed piece portion and fastened with a screw.

The mounting bracket of claim 3 is a mounting bracket for attaching a first igniter or a second igniter to an internal component of a water heater, and includes a first plate portion extending along a first direction and having a surface facing a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second plate portion extending from an end portion on one side of the first plate portion in the first direction to one side in the second direction and having a surface facing the first direction. The edge portion on one side of the first plate portion in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions includes a non-offset portion provided on the one side in the first direction and an offset portion provided on the other side opposite the one side in the first direction and offset from the non-offset portion to the other side opposite the one side in the third direction. The first plate portion is provided with a first igniter side fixing piece portion that is provided at a position protruding toward the one side in the first direction more than the second plate portion, extends toward the one side in the second direction, and has a face direction facing the third direction; the non-offset portion is provided with a first water heater side fixing piece portion that extends toward the other side opposite the one side in the second direction and has a face direction facing the third direction; the offset portion is provided with a second igniter side fixing piece portion that extends toward the other side in the second direction and has a face direction facing the third direction; and the second plate portion has, at an end on the one side in the second direction, a second water heater side fixing piece portion that extends toward the one side in the first direction and has a face direction facing the second direction; and the first igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction. and a first protruding piece that protrudes from an end portion on one side in the first direction of the first flat portion in the first direction when the second igniter is in an attachment posture with its longitudinal direction aligned along the first direction, overlaps with the first igniter-side fixed piece portion with its face facing the third direction, and is fastened to the first igniter-side fixed piece portion with a screw. The second igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction, and has a second protruding piece that protrudes from an end portion on the other side in the third direction of the second flat portion in the first direction when the second igniter is in an attachment posture with its longitudinal direction aligned along the first direction and overlaps with the first igniter-side fixed piece portion with its face facing the third direction when the second igniter is in an attachment posture with its longitudinal direction aligned along the first direction, and a second protruding piece facing the third direction, overlapping with the second igniter-side fixed piece, and fastened to the second igniter-side fixed piece with a screw. When the first water heater-side fixed piece is oriented upward, the first water heater-side fixed piece can be fixed to the internal component to support the first igniter or the second igniter in a horizontal orientation with the longitudinal direction facing left and right within the water heater. When the second water heater-side fixed piece is oriented upward and the second water heater-side fixed piece is fixed to the internal component, the first igniter or the second igniter can be supported by hanging in the water heater in a vertical orientation with the longitudinal direction facing up and down.

The second plate portion of the mounting bracket of claim 4 is arranged perpendicular to the end portion on one side in the first direction of the first plate portion, and a gap is formed between the second plate portion and the first igniter-side fixed piece portion, separating them in the third direction. When the first igniter is in the mounting position, the surface portion of the first plate portion contacts the first flat portion, and the second plate portion contacts the end portion on one side in the first direction of the first igniter. With the first protruding piece positioned in the gap, the first protruding piece may be fastened to the first igniter-side fixed piece portion with a screw.

The igniter mounting structure of claim 1 allows the first and second igniters, which have different shapes, to be mounted to internal components within the water heater in two different positions. Therefore, the mounting structure of the present invention allows for standardization of mounting hardware. This reduces the management and production costs of mounting hardware.

According to the igniter mounting structure of claim 2, when mounting the first igniter to the mounting bracket, the first igniter is placed in the mounting position. Then, with the first flat portion in contact with the surface of the first plate portion, the first protruding piece is inserted into the gap between the second plate portion and the first igniter-side fixed piece to overlap with the first igniter-side fixed piece, and one end of the first igniter in the first direction is brought into contact with the second plate portion. This positions the first igniter relative to the mounting bracket, allowing the first protruding piece to be easily screwed into the first igniter-side fixed piece.

The mounting bracket of claim 3 allows the first and second igniters, which have different shapes, to be attached to internal components within the water heater in two different positions. Therefore, the mounting structure of the present invention allows for standardization of the mounting bracket. This reduces the management and production costs of the mounting bracket.

According to the mounting bracket of claim 4, when attaching the first igniter to the mounting bracket, the first igniter is placed in the mounting position. Then, with the first flat portion in contact with the surface of the first plate portion, the first protruding piece is inserted into the gap between the second plate portion and the first igniter-side fixed piece to overlap with the first igniter-side fixed piece, and one end of the first igniter in the first direction is brought into contact with the second plate portion. This positions the first igniter relative to the mounting bracket, allowing the first protruding piece to be easily screwed into the first igniter-side fixed piece.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the water heater 101. FIG. 2 is a front view of the nozzle base 5 and the valve unit 6 to which the igniter 20 is attached in a horizontal position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle base 5 and a valve unit 6 to which an igniter 20 is attached in a horizontal position. FIG. 1 is a front view of the water heater 102. FIG. 2 is a front view of the nozzle base 5 and the valve unit 6 to which the igniter 30 is attached in a horizontal position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle base 5 and a valve unit 6 to which an igniter 30 is attached in a horizontal position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 20 from diagonally forward left. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 20 from the diagonally rear left. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 30 from diagonally forward left. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 30 from diagonally rear left. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket 40 from diagonally front left. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket 40 from diagonally rear left. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 20 to which the mounting bracket 40 is fixed, viewed obliquely from the front left. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 20 to which the mounting bracket 40 is fixed, viewed obliquely from the left rear. FIG. 2 is a front view of the igniter 20 to which the mounting bracket 40 is fixed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 30 to which the mounting bracket 40 is fixed, viewed obliquely from the front left. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the igniter 30 to which the mounting bracket 40 is fixed, viewed obliquely from the left rear. FIG. 2 is a front view of the igniter 30 to which the mounting bracket 40 is fixed. FIG. 1 is a front view of the water heater 103. FIG. 10 is a front view of the nozzle base 500 and the valve unit 600 to which the igniter 20 is fixed in a vertical position.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. The components and device configurations described below are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified. The drawings are used to explain the technical features that may be employed by the present invention.

The structure of the water heater 101 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The water heater 101 shown in Figure 1 is a gas water heater. The water heater 101 comprises a housing 2 and a front cover 3. A gas inlet 11, a water inlet 12, and a hot water outlet 13 are provided at the bottom of the housing 2. A gas pipe (not shown) is connected to the gas inlet 11. A water pipe (not shown) is connected to the water inlet 12. A pipe (not shown) to a hot water tap is connected to the hot water outlet 13. An opening extending in the left-right direction is provided at the top front of the front cover 3, and an exhaust pipe 9 protrudes forward from this opening. An air intake port is provided in the front cover 3, but is omitted from the drawings.

A combustion device and heat exchanger (not shown) are provided within the housing 2. The combustion device has multiple burner units within the case. The burner units burn a mixture of gas and air to produce combustion exhaust. The heat exchanger is installed above the combustion device and uses the heat in the combustion exhaust flowing from the combustion device to heat the water passing through the piping. Hot water heated by the heat exchanger is supplied via a hot water outlet pipe (not shown) from the hot water outlet 13 to the piping leading to the hot water tap. The combustion exhaust that flows upward through the heat exchanger is discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe 9. A nozzle base 5 is fixed to the front of the combustion device.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the nozzle base 5 is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is elongated in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The nozzle base 5 is equipped with multiple gas flow paths (not shown) and solenoid valves (not shown), and distributes and supplies gas supplied from a valve unit 6 (described below) to multiple burner units of the combustion device. An igniter 20 is attached in a horizontal position by a mounting bracket 40 to the left side of the lower end of the front of the nozzle base 5. The horizontal position means that the longitudinal direction of the igniter 20 is laid horizontally. The shape of the igniter 20 will be described later. A discharge electrode (not shown) is connected to the igniter 20 via wiring (not shown). The discharge electrode is fixed to the combustion device, and its tip is located adjacent to the burner unit. The igniter 20 boosts the supplied commercial voltage and supplies it to the discharge electrode, generating an ignition spark between the discharge electrode and the burner unit.

A valve unit 6 is fixed to the lower right of the nozzle base 5. The valve unit 6 is connected to the gas inlet 11 via a gas inlet pipe (not shown). The valve unit 6 is equipped with a proportional valve and a main solenoid valve (not shown). A control unit (not shown) of the water heater 101 controls the operation of the proportional valve and the main solenoid valve, and controls the amount of gas supplied to the nozzle base 5.

The structure of water heater 102 will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. Water heater 102 is also a gas water heater and shares a structure with water heater 101 shown in Figure 1, but differs from water heater 101 in that it has igniter 30 instead of igniter 20. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, igniter 30 is attached horizontally to the left side of the lower end of the front of nozzle base 5 by mounting bracket 40. Igniter 30 is a different type of igniter with a different shape from igniter 20, but like igniter 20, it generates an ignition spark between the discharge electrode and the burner unit. In this way, mounting bracket 40 can be used to attach either of the two different types of igniters 20 and 30 to nozzle base 5 inside housing 2.

The shape of the igniter 20 will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. Note that the first, second, and third directions indicated by arrows in Figures 7 to 9 are mutually perpendicular directions and indicate the orientation of the igniter 20. In this embodiment, to easily explain the orientation of the igniter 20, the first direction will be described as the left-right direction, the second direction as the up-down direction, and the third direction as the front-rear direction. Therefore, the front-rear, left-right, up-down, and down directions of the igniter 20 are not uniformly defined. In this case, the left direction corresponds to one of the first directions, the right direction corresponds to the other of the first directions, the down direction corresponds to one of the second directions, the up direction corresponds to the other of the second directions, the front direction corresponds to one of the third directions, and the back direction corresponds to the other of the third directions.

The igniter 20 is shaped like a rectangular box that is elongated in the left-right direction. A notch 29 that is inverted L-shaped in front view is provided in the lower right corner of the igniter 20. The igniter 20 has a front surface 21, a back surface 22, a left surface 23, a right surface 24, an upper surface 25, and a lower surface 26. The front surface 21 is shaped like an inverted L-shape that is elongated in the left-right direction in front view and faces forward. The back surface 22 is shaped like an inverted L-shape that is elongated in the left-right direction in rear view and faces rearward. The left surface 23 is shaped like a rectangle in left-side view and faces leftward. The right surface 24 is shaped like a rectangle in right-side view above the notch 29 and faces rightward. The upper surface 25 is shaped like a rectangle that is elongated in the left-right direction in plan view and faces upward. The lower surface 26 is shaped like a rectangle in bottom view to the left of the notch 29 and faces downward. The cutout portion 29 has a first surface 291 and a second surface 292. The first surface 291 is generally parallel to the top surface 25, has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom, and faces downward. The second surface 292 is generally parallel to the right surface 24, has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the right side, and faces rightward.

A protruding piece 27 is provided at the upper front corner of the left surface portion 23. The protruding piece 27 is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and protrudes leftward from the upper front side of the left surface portion 23. The surface direction of the protruding piece 27 faces the front-to-rear direction. When the igniter 20 is viewed from above, the protruding piece 27 protrudes leftward from the front corner of the left end of the upper surface portion 25. A fixing hole 271 is provided in the center of the protruding piece 27, penetrating it in the front-to-rear direction. A pair of electrode connection portions 261, 262 are provided on the lower surface portion 26. The electrode connection portions 261, 262 are formed in the shape of round bars that protrude downward, and are spaced apart from each other in the left-to-right direction. The electrode connection portions 261, 262 are connected to the wiring of the discharge electrodes (not shown). A terminal connection portion 28 is provided on the first surface 291 of the cutout portion 29. The terminal connection portion 28 is connected to the terminal of the wiring extending from the water heater's control unit (not shown).

The shape of the igniter 30 will be explained with reference to Figures 10 to 12. Note that in Figures 10 to 12, to make it easier to understand the orientation of the igniter 30, the first direction shown in the figures will be referred to as the left-right direction, the second direction as the up-down direction, and the third direction as the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the orientations of the igniter 30, front-to-back, left-to-right, up-to-down, are not uniformly defined.

The igniter 30 is formed in the shape of a roughly rectangular box that is elongated in the left-right direction. The igniter 30 comprises a front surface 31, a back surface 32, a left surface 33, a right surface 34, an upper surface 35, and a lower surface 36. The longitudinal distance of the igniter 30 is shorter than the longitudinal distance of the igniter 20. The front surface 31 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape that is elongated in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and comprises a left front surface 311, a right front surface 312, and a step portion 313. The left front surface 311 is located on the left side of the front surface 31. The left front surface 311 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and faces forward. The right front surface 312 is located to the right of the front surface 31 and protrudes further forward than the left front surface 311. The right front surface 312 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from the front, with a width slightly larger in the left-right direction than the left front surface 311, and faces forward. The step portion 313 is a stepped surface that connects the right end of the left front surface portion 311 and the left end of the right front surface portion 312 in the front-to-rear direction. The step portion 313 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction when viewed from the left side, and is positioned facing leftward.

The rear surface portion 32 is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is elongated in the left-right direction when viewed from behind, and is positioned facing rearward. The left surface portion 33 is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the left side, and is positioned facing leftward. The right surface portion 34 is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the right side, located to the left of the right end of the rear surface portion 32, and is positioned facing rightward. The upper surface portion 35 is formed in a generally inverted L shape when viewed from above, and is positioned facing upward. The lower surface portion 36 is formed in a generally inverted L shape when viewed from the bottom, and is positioned facing downward.

A protruding piece 37 is provided at the rear end of the upper surface portion 35, slightly to the right of the center in the left-right direction (the position corresponding to the step portion 313). The protruding piece 37 protrudes upward from the rear end of the upper surface portion 35 and is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The surface of the protruding piece 37 faces the front-to-rear direction. A fixing hole 371 is provided in the center of the protruding piece 37 and penetrates it in the front-to-rear direction. An electrode connection portion 331 is provided at the front side and in the center in the up-to-down direction of the left surface portion 33. The electrode connection portion 331 is formed in the shape of a round bar protruding to the left. Wiring for the discharge electrode (not shown) is connected to the electrode connection portion 331. A wall surface 39 is formed between the rear end of the right surface portion 34 and the right end of the back surface portion 32. The wall surface 39 is arranged facing forward. A terminal connection portion 38 is provided on the wall surface 39. A terminal of wiring extending from the water heater's control unit (not shown) is connected to the terminal connection portion 38.

The shape of the mounting bracket 40 will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 15. Note that in Figures 13 to 15, to make it easier to understand the orientation of the mounting bracket 40, the first direction shown in the figures will be referred to as the left-right direction, the second direction as the up-down direction, and the third direction as the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the orientations of the mounting bracket 40, front-to-back, left-to-right, up-to-down, are not uniformly defined.

The mounting bracket 40 is made by cutting and bending a metal plate. The mounting bracket 40 comprises a first plate portion 41 and a second plate portion 42, and is formed in a generally inverted L-shape when viewed from the front (see Figure 15). The first plate portion 41 comprises a main body portion 41A, an extension portion 41B, and a protruding piece portion 41C, and is formed in a generally inverted L-shape when viewed from above. The main body portion 41A forms the left side of the first plate portion 41 and is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above. The extension portion 41B extends rightward from the rear side of the right end of the main body portion 41A and is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from above. The front-to-rear width of the extension portion 41B is approximately one-third the front-to-rear width of the main body portion 41A. The protruding piece portion 41C protrudes leftward from the front side of the left end of the main body portion 41A and is formed in a generally elongated rectangular shape that is long in the left-to-right direction when viewed from above.

The first plate portion 41 has a front end portion 411, a rear end portion 412, a left end portion 413, and a right end portion 414 on its outer periphery. The front end portion 411 has a non-offset portion 416, an offset portion 417, and a step portion 418. The non-offset portion 416 is on the left side of the front end portion 411, i.e., the front end portions of the main body portion 41A and the protruding piece portion 41C, and extends in the left-right direction. The offset portion 417 is on the right side of the front end portion 411, i.e., the front end portion of the extension portion 41B, and extends in the left-right direction. The offset portion 417 is positioned offset rearward from the non-offset portion 416. The step portion 418 extends in the front-rear direction between the right end of the non-offset portion 416 and the left end of the offset portion 417, connecting them to each other.

The first plate portion 41 includes a first igniter-side fixed piece 44, a first water heater-side fixed piece 45, a second igniter-side fixed piece 46, and a downward-protruding piece 47. The first igniter-side fixed piece 44 is located on the left side of the non-offset portion 416 and protrudes downward. The first igniter-side fixed piece 44 is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front, with its surface facing in the front-to-rear direction. A reinforcing portion 442 is provided at the left end of the first igniter-side fixed piece 44. The reinforcing portion 442 is formed with thickness by folding the left end of the first igniter-side fixed piece 44 to the right. A fixing hole 441 is provided in the center of the first igniter-side fixed piece 44. The fixing hole 441 penetrates the center of the first igniter-side fixed piece 44 in the front-to-rear direction.

The first water heater side fixing piece 45 is located to the right of the non-offset portion 416, immediately to the right of the first igniter side fixing piece 44, and protrudes upward. The first water heater side fixing piece 45 is formed in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front, with its surface facing in the front-to-rear direction. A fixing hole 451 is provided in the center of the first water heater side fixing piece 45. The fixing hole 451 penetrates the center of the first water heater side fixing piece 45 in the front-to-rear direction.

The second igniter side fixing piece 46 is provided on the offset portion 417 and protrudes upward. The second igniter side fixing piece 46 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and its surface faces in the front-to-rear direction. A pair of fixing holes 461, 462 are provided on both the left and right sides of the second igniter side fixing piece 46. The fixing holes 461, 462 are spaced apart in the left-to-right direction and penetrate the second igniter side fixing piece 46 in the front-to-rear direction. The downward protruding piece 47 is provided on the rear end portion 412 of the first plate portion 41 and protrudes downward. The downward protruding piece 47 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape that is long in the left-to-right direction when viewed from the rear, and its surface faces in the front-to-rear direction.

The second plate portion 42 hangs down from the left end 413 of the first plate portion 41 and is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction when viewed from the left side. In other words, the second plate portion 42 is arranged perpendicular to the left end of the first plate portion 41. The surface of the second plate portion 42 faces the left-right direction. The front-to-rear width of the second plate portion 42 is wide at the top and narrows toward the center in the front-to-rear direction from the top to the bottom. A predetermined gap 48 that passes through in the left-to-right direction is formed between the front end of the second plate portion 42 and the back surface of the first igniter-side fixing piece portion 44.

A second water heater side fixing piece 43 is provided at the lower end of the second plate portion 42. The second water heater side fixing piece 43 protrudes to the left from the lower end of the second plate portion 42. The second water heater side fixing piece 43 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in a plan view, with its surface facing in the vertical direction. A fixing hole 431 is provided in the center of the second water heater side fixing piece 43. The fixing hole 431 penetrates the center of the second water heater side fixing piece 43 in the vertical direction. The second water heater side fixing piece 43 is positioned such that its surface direction (vertical direction) is perpendicular to the surface direction (front-to-back direction) of the first water heater side fixing piece 45.

A reinforcing rib 421 is provided in the center in the front-to-rear direction of the boundary between the first igniter side fixed piece 44 and the second water heater side fixed piece 43. The reinforcing rib 421 may be formed, for example, by press molding. The reinforcing rib 421 reinforces the boundary between the first igniter side fixed piece 44 and the second water heater side fixed piece 43.

With reference to Figures 16 to 18, an example of a method for securing the igniter 20 to the mounting bracket 40 will be described. Note that in Figures 16 to 18, for ease of understanding the orientation of the igniter 20 and the mounting bracket 40, the first direction shown in the figures will be referred to as the left-right direction, the second direction as the up-down direction, and the third direction as the front-to-back direction. First, as shown in Figures 7 and 13, the front-to-back, left-to-right, up-down, and down-up directions of the igniter 20 are aligned with the front-to-back, left-to-right, up-down, and down-up directions of the mounting bracket 40. Then, as shown in Figures 16 to 18, the top surface 25 of the igniter 20 is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the first plate portion 41 of the mounting bracket 40 from below. This positions the igniter 20 vertically relative to the mounting bracket 40. In this state, the igniter 20 is slid leftward, and the protruding piece 27 of the igniter 20 is inserted into the gap 48 in the mounting bracket 40 from right to left. At this time, the igniter 20 can be slid to the left while the front surface of the protruding piece 27 is in contact with the back surface of the first igniter side fixed piece 44 of the mounting bracket 40. This allows the igniter 20 to be properly guided to the left while being positioned in the fore-and-aft direction by the first igniter side fixed piece 44.

Next, the left surface 23 of the igniter 20 abuts against the right surface of the second plate 42 of the mounting bracket 40, thereby positioning the igniter 20 in the left-right direction. The front surface of the protruding piece 27 of the igniter 20 overlaps with the back surface of the first igniter-side fixing piece 44 of the mounting bracket 40. At this time, the fixing hole 271 of the protruding piece 27 faces the fixing hole 441 of the first igniter-side fixing piece 44. Then, with the igniter 20 positioned relative to the mounting bracket 40, the screw 91 is tightened from the first igniter-side fixing piece 44 toward the protruding piece 27, in that order, into the fixing holes 441 and 271. This secures the igniter 20 to the mounting bracket 40.

With reference to Figures 19 to 21, an example of a method for fixing the igniter 30 to the mounting bracket 40 will be described. Note that in Figures 19 to 21, for ease of understanding the orientation of the igniter 30 and the mounting bracket 40, the first direction shown in the figures will be referred to as the left-right direction, the second direction as the up-down direction, and the third direction as the front-to-back direction. First, as shown in Figures 10 and 13, the front-to-back, left-to-right, up-to-down, and up-to-down orientations of the igniter 30 are aligned with the front-to-back, left-to-right, up-to-down orientations of the mounting bracket 40. Next, as shown in Figures 19 to 21, the upper surface 35 of the igniter 30 is brought into contact from below with the lower surface of the main body 41A of the first plate 41 of the mounting bracket 40. This positions the igniter 30 vertically relative to the mounting bracket 40. Next, the back surface of the protruding piece 37 of the igniter 30 is overlapped with the front surface of the second igniter-side fixing piece 46 of the mounting bracket 40. This positions the igniter 30 in the front-to-rear direction relative to the mounting bracket 40.

Next, with the upper surface 35 in contact with the underside of the main body 41A, slide the igniter 30 to the left, inserting the electrode connection portion 331 of the igniter 30 from right to left into the gap 48 in the mounting bracket 40. The igniter 30 is then positioned relative to the mounting bracket 40 so that the fixing hole 371 in the protruding piece 37 overlaps with the fixing hole 461 on the left side of the second igniter side fixing piece 46. In this state, tighten the screw 92 from the protruding piece 37 toward the second igniter side fixing piece 46, tightening the fixing holes 371, 461 in that order. This secures the igniter 30 to the mounting bracket 40.

Next, the method and mounting orientation of the igniters 20, 30 using the mounting bracket 40 within the housing 2 will be described. The type of igniter and mounting orientation within the housing 2 vary depending on the type of water heater. As shown in Figure 1, the igniter 20 is mounted horizontally within the housing 2 of the water heater 101. In this case, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, within the housing 2, the first water heater side fixing piece 45 of the mounting bracket 40 to which the igniter 20 is fixed faces upward, and the igniter 20 is positioned horizontally with its longitudinal direction facing left and right. The first water heater side fixing piece 45 is fixed from the front to the lower left corner of the nozzle base 5 with a screw 95. As a result, the igniter 20 is supported horizontally by hanging it within the housing 2 via the mounting bracket 40.

As shown in Figure 4, the igniter 30 is mounted in a horizontal position within the housing 2 of the water heater 102. In this case, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first water heater side fixing piece 45 of the mounting bracket 40 to which the igniter 30 is fixed is facing upward within the housing 2, and the igniter 30 is positioned horizontally with its longitudinal direction facing left and right. The first water heater side fixing piece 45 is then placed against the lower left side of the nozzle base 5 and fixed from the front with a screw 96. As a result, the igniter 30 is supported horizontally by being suspended from internal components within the housing 2 via the mounting bracket 40.

As shown in Figure 22, water heater 103, like water heaters 101 and 102 shown in Figure 1, is equipped with a combustion device and heat exchanger (not shown) within housing 2, as well as a nozzle base 500 and a valve unit 600. The shapes of nozzle base 500 and valve unit 600 are slightly different from those of nozzle base 5 and valve unit 6 of water heaters 101 and 102, but their functions are the same. An igniter 20 is attached in a vertical position by mounting bracket 40 to the left side of the lower end of the front of nozzle base 500. A vertical position means that the longitudinal direction of the igniter faces up and down.

In this case, as shown in Figure 23, the second water heater side fixing piece 43 of the mounting bracket 40 to which the igniter 20 is fixed is facing upward within the housing 2, and the igniter 30 is in a vertical position with its longitudinal direction facing up and down. The second water heater side fixing piece 43 is then placed slightly to the right of the center of the lower end of the front surface of the nozzle base 500 and fixed with screws 97. As a result, the igniter 20 is suspended and supported by the mounting bracket 40 from internal components within the housing 2 in a vertical position.

As described above, in the mounting bracket 40, the surface direction of the first water heater side fixed piece 45 and the surface direction (vertical direction) of the second water heater side fixed piece 43 are positioned perpendicular to each other. When the first water heater side fixed piece 45 is facing upward, the longitudinal direction of each of the igniters 20, 30 fixed to the mounting bracket 40 is oriented horizontally, and when the second water heater side fixed piece 43 is facing upward, the longitudinal direction of each of the igniters 20, 30 fixed to the mounting bracket 40 is oriented vertically. This allows the mounting bracket 40 to attach igniters 20, 30 of different shapes to internal components within the housing 2 in two different orientations.

Although not shown, depending on the type of water heater, the igniter 30 can also be fixed in a vertical position within the housing 2. In this case, the second water heater side fixing piece 43 of the mounting bracket 40 to which the igniter 30 is fixed faces upward, and the igniter 30 is in a vertical position with its longitudinal direction facing up and down, and the second water heater side fixing piece 43 is placed against the lower end of the front surface of the nozzle base and tightened with a screw.

In the above description, the left-right direction is an example of the "first direction" of the present invention, the up-down direction is an example of the "second direction" of the present invention, and the front-rear direction is an example of the "third direction" of the present invention. The left direction is an example of the "one of the first directions" of the present invention, and the right direction is an example of the "other of the first directions" of the present invention. The down direction is an example of the "one of the second directions" of the present invention, and the up direction is an example of the "other of the second directions" of the present invention. The front direction is an example of the "one of the third directions" of the present invention, and the rear direction is an example of the "other of the third directions" of the present invention. Igniter 20 is an example of the "first igniter" of the present invention, and igniter 30 is an example of the "second igniter" of the present invention. The top surface 25 of igniter 20 is an example of the "first flat portion" of the present invention, and the protruding piece 27 is an example of the "first protruding piece" of the present invention. The top surface 35 of igniter 30 is an example of the "second flat portion" of the present invention, and the protruding piece 37 is an example of the "second protruding piece" of the present invention.

As described above, the igniter mounting structure of this embodiment mounts the igniter 20 or 30 to the nozzle base 5, an internal component within the water heater 101, 102, via the mounting bracket 40. The mounting bracket 40 includes a first plate portion 41 and a second plate portion 42. The first plate portion 41 extends in the left-right direction and faces in the up-down direction. The second plate portion 42 extends downward from the left end portion 413 of the first plate portion 41 and faces in the left-right direction. The front end portion 411 of the first plate portion 41 has a non-offset portion 416 and an offset portion 417. The non-offset portion 416 is located on the left side of the front end portion 411. The offset portion 417 is located on the right side of the front end portion 411 and is offset rearward relative to the non-offset portion 416. A first igniter-side fixing piece 44 is located on the first plate portion 41 at a position that protrudes leftward from the second plate portion 42. The first igniter side fixing piece 44 extends downward and faces in the front-to-back direction. A first water heater side fixing piece 45 is provided on the non-offset portion 416. The first water heater side fixing piece 45 extends upward and faces in the front-to-back direction. A second igniter side fixing piece 46 is provided on the offset portion 417. The second igniter side fixing piece 46 extends upward and faces in the front-to-back direction. A second water heater side fixing piece 43 is provided on the lower end of the second plate portion 42. The second water heater side fixing piece 43 extends to the left and faces in the up-down direction.

The igniter 20 is box-shaped and long in one direction. It has an upper surface 25 and a protruding piece 27. When the upper surface 25 is installed with its longitudinal direction aligned with the left-right direction, it comes into contact with the lower surface of the first plate 41. When installed in the above-mentioned position, the protruding piece 27 protrudes leftward from the left end of the upper surface 25, and its surface faces in the front-to-rear direction. The protruding piece 27 overlaps with the first igniter-side fixing piece 44 and is screwed to the first igniter-side fixing piece 44.

The igniter 30 is also box-shaped and long in one direction. It has an upper surface 35 and a protruding piece 37. When the upper surface 35 is installed with its longitudinal direction aligned with the left-right direction, it comes into contact with the lower surface of the first plate 41. When installed in the above-mentioned position, the protruding piece 37 protrudes upward from the rear end of the upper surface 35, with its surface facing in the front-to-rear direction. The protruding piece 37 overlaps with the second igniter-side fixing piece 46 and is fastened to the second igniter-side fixing piece 46 with a screw.

When the first water heater side fixed piece 45 is oriented upward, it is fixed to an internal component within the housing 2. This allows the igniter 20 or 30 to be suspended and supported within the housing 2 in a horizontal orientation with its longitudinal direction facing left and right. On the other hand, when the second water heater side fixed piece 43 is oriented upward, it can be fixed to an internal component within the housing 2. This allows the igniter 20 or 30 to be suspended and supported within the housing 2 in a vertical orientation with its longitudinal direction facing up and down. This allows the mounting bracket 40 to easily attach igniters 20, 30 of different shapes to internal components (nozzle base 5, 500) within the housing 2 in a horizontal or vertical orientation. Therefore, the mounting structure for the igniters 20, 30 of this embodiment allows for the use of a common mounting bracket 40, thereby reducing the management and production costs of the mounting bracket 40.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. In the mounting bracket 40, the second plate portion 42 is arranged perpendicular to the left end of the first plate portion 41, but it does not have to be perpendicular. The reinforcing rib 421 arranged at the boundary between the second plate portion 42 and the second water heater side fixing piece 43 may be omitted. The reinforcing piece 442 arranged at the left end of the first igniter side fixing piece 44 may be omitted. Either one of the fixing holes 461, 462 of the second igniter side fixing piece 46 may be omitted. The number of fixing holes arranged in the second igniter side fixing piece 46 may be one or more.

In the above embodiment, when fixing the igniter 30 to the mounting bracket 40, the fixing hole 371 of the protruding piece 37 of the igniter 30 is positioned in the fixing hole 461 on the left side of the second igniter-side fixing piece 46 of the mounting bracket 40 and fastened with a screw. However, it may also be positioned in the fixing hole 462 on the right side and fastened with a screw.

In the above description, the nozzle base 5,500 was used as an example of an internal component to which the igniters 20, 30 are attached within the water heater housing 2. However, the igniters may be attached to internal components other than the nozzle base 5,500. Furthermore, the position at which the igniters 20, 30 are fixed on the nozzle base 5,500 is not limited to the above embodiment and can be freely changed.

Water heaters 101-103 may be either sensible heat recovery or latent heat recovery types. The internal structure of the water heater is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, two types of igniters 20, 30 were described as examples, but the invention can also be applied to igniters other than igniters 20, 30 as long as they meet the configuration of the "first igniter" or the configuration of the "second igniter" of the present invention.

5 Nozzle base 20 Igniter 25 Upper surface portion 27 Protruding piece portion 30 Igniter 35 Upper surface portion 37 Protruding piece portion 40 Mounting bracket 41 First plate portion 42 Second plate portion 43 Second water heater side fixing piece portion 44 First igniter side fixing piece portion 45 First water heater side fixing piece portion 46 Second igniter side fixing piece portion 48 Gap 91, 92 Screws 95 to 97 Screws 101 to 103 Water heater 416 Non-offset portion 417 Offset portion 500 Nozzle base

Claims (4)

An igniter mounting structure for mounting a first igniter or a second igniter to an internal component of a water heater via a mounting bracket,
The mounting bracket is
a first plate portion extending along a first direction and having a surface facing a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
a second plate portion extending from an end portion on one side in the first direction of the first plate portion to one side in the second direction and having a surface direction facing the first direction;
An edge portion on one side of the first plate portion in a third direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction is
a non-offset portion provided on the one side in the first direction;
an offset portion provided on the other side opposite to the one side in the first direction and offset to the other side opposite to the one side in the third direction with respect to the non-offset portion,
the first plate portion is provided with a first igniter-side fixed piece portion that is provided at a position that protrudes further toward the one side in the first direction than the second plate portion, extends toward the one side in the second direction, and has a surface direction facing the third direction;
The non-offset portion is provided with a first water heater side fixing piece portion extending to the other side opposite to the one side in the second direction and having a surface direction facing the third direction,
the offset portion is provided with a second igniter-side fixed piece portion extending to the other side in the second direction and having a surface facing the third direction,
A second water heater side fixing piece extending to the one side in the first direction and having a surface facing the second direction is provided at an end of the one side in the second direction of the second plate portion,
The first igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction,
a first flat surface portion that comes into contact with a surface portion of the first plate portion when the mounting position is such that the longitudinal direction of the first flat surface portion is aligned with the first direction;
a first protruding piece portion that protrudes from an end portion of the first flat surface portion on the one side in the first direction in the mounting posture, has a surface facing the third direction, overlaps with the first igniter-side fixed piece portion, and is fastened to the first igniter-side fixed piece portion with a screw,
The second igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction,
a second flat surface portion that comes into contact with the surface portion of the first plate portion when the mounting position is such that the longitudinal direction of the second flat surface portion is aligned with the first direction;
a second protruding piece portion that protrudes from an end portion of the second flat surface portion on the other side in the third direction toward the other side in the second direction when the mounting posture is taken, has a surface facing the third direction, overlaps with the second igniter-side fixed piece portion, and is fastened to the second igniter-side fixed piece portion with a screw,
When the first water heater side fixing piece is in an upward orientation, the first water heater side fixing piece is fixed to the internal component, so that the first igniter or the second igniter can be supported by being suspended within the water heater in a horizontal orientation in which the longitudinal direction faces the left-right direction,
An igniter mounting structure characterized in that, when the second water heater side fixed piece is positioned facing upward, the second water heater side fixed piece is fixed to the internal part, thereby allowing the first igniter or the second igniter to be suspended and supported within the water heater in a vertical position with the longitudinal direction facing up and down. the second plate portion is provided perpendicular to the end portion on the one side in the first direction of the first plate portion,
a gap is formed between the second plate portion and the first igniter-side fixed piece portion, the gap being spaced apart in the third direction;
When the first igniter is in the mounting position,
the first flat portion is in contact with the surface portion of the first plate portion,
an end portion of the first igniter on the one side in the first direction contacts the second plate portion;
2. The igniter mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the first protruding piece is disposed in the gap and overlaps the first igniter side fixing piece, and is fastened with a screw. A mounting bracket for attaching the first igniter or the second igniter to an internal part of a water heater,
a first plate portion extending along a first direction and having a surface facing a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
a second plate portion extending from an end portion on one side in the first direction of the first plate portion to one side in the second direction and having a surface direction facing the first direction;
An edge portion on one side of the first plate portion in a third direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction is
a non-offset portion provided on the one side in the first direction;
an offset portion provided on the other side opposite to the one side in the first direction and offset to the other side opposite to the one side in the third direction with respect to the non-offset portion,
the first plate portion is provided with a first igniter-side fixed piece portion that is provided at a position that protrudes further toward the one side in the first direction than the second plate portion, extends toward the one side in the second direction, and has a surface direction facing the third direction;
The non-offset portion is provided with a first water heater side fixing piece portion extending to the other side opposite to the one side in the second direction and having a surface direction facing the third direction,
the offset portion is provided with a second igniter-side fixed piece portion extending to the other side in the second direction and having a surface facing the third direction,
A second water heater side fixing piece extending to the one side in the first direction and having a surface facing the second direction is provided at an end of the one side in the second direction of the second plate portion,
The first igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction,
a first flat surface portion that comes into contact with a surface portion of the first plate portion when the mounting position is such that the longitudinal direction of the first flat surface portion is aligned with the first direction;
a first protruding piece portion that protrudes from an end portion of the first flat surface portion on the one side in the first direction in the mounting posture, has a surface facing the third direction, overlaps with the first igniter-side fixed piece portion, and is fastened to the first igniter-side fixed piece portion with a screw,
The second igniter has a box shape that is long in one direction,
a second flat surface portion that comes into contact with the surface portion of the first plate portion when the mounting position is such that the longitudinal direction of the second flat surface portion is aligned with the first direction;
a second protruding piece portion that protrudes from an end portion of the second flat surface portion on the other side in the third direction toward the other side in the second direction when the mounting posture is taken, has a surface facing the third direction, overlaps with the second igniter-side fixed piece portion, and is fastened to the second igniter-side fixed piece portion with a screw,
When the first water heater side fixing piece is in an upward orientation, the first water heater side fixing piece is fixed to the internal component, so that the first igniter or the second igniter can be supported by being suspended within the water heater in a horizontal orientation in which the longitudinal direction faces the left-right direction,
This mounting bracket is characterized in that by positioning the second water heater side fixed piece portion facing upward and fixing the second water heater side fixed piece portion to the internal part, the first igniter or the second igniter can be suspended and supported within the water heater in a vertical position with the longitudinal direction facing up and down. the second plate portion is provided perpendicular to the end portion on the one side in the first direction of the first plate portion,
a gap is formed between the second plate portion and the first igniter-side fixed piece portion, the gap being spaced apart in the third direction;
When the first igniter is in the mounting position,
the surface portion of the first plate portion is in contact with the first flat portion,
the second plate portion contacts an end portion of the first igniter on the one side in the first direction,
The mounting bracket according to claim 3, wherein the first protruding piece is fastened to the first igniter-side fixed piece with a screw while the first protruding piece is disposed in the gap.