OUTDOOR UNIT

Abstract

In an outdoor unit including a heat exchanger, and a housing having a front panel, side panels, and a back panel, the back panel includes a connection port attachment portion to which a pipe connection port is attached, and a heat exchanger holding piece to which the heat exchanger is attached.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Typically in an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus such as an air-conditioning apparatus, a compressor, a heat exchanger, a fan, and other components are housed in a housing. Moreover, the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus is connected, through a refrigerant pipe, to an indoor unit housing a heat exchanger, a fan, and other components. In the air-conditioning apparatus, when the compressor is driven, refrigerant circulates between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pipe.

When such a refrigerant pipe is to be connected to the outdoor unit, the refrigerant pipe is attached to a connection port provided on an outer surface of the housing of the outdoor unit. The position of the connection port is on a back panel side of the housing (see Patent Literature 1), for example.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-264586

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

An internal refrigerant circuit connecting the compressor, a four-way valve, the heat exchanger, and other components is complicatedly housed in the outdoor unit. In particular, in a machine chamber housing the compressor, components such as the refrigerant pipe connected to the pipe connection port and a refrigerant pipe connected to the heat exchanger are in a complicated arrangement. With a poor assembly accuracy of each member, the refrigerant pipe and other components may contact peripheral members due to vibration of the compressor, generating operation noise.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and is intended to provide an outdoor unit generating reduced operation noise by improvement of the assembly accuracy of each member around a pipe connection port of the outdoor unit.

Solution to Problem

The outdoor unit of an embodiment of the present invention includes a heat exchanger, and a housing having a front panel, a side panel, and a back panel. The back panel includes a connection port attachment portion to which a pipe connection port is attached, and a heat exchanger holding piece to which the heat exchanger is attached.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the outdoor unit of the embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger and the pipe connection port are attached to the back panel, and the heat exchanger and an internal refrigerant circuit in a machine chamber housing a compressor and other components are accurately positioned relative to each other. Thus, the assembly accuracy of each member around the pipe connection port, such as the internal refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger, can be improved, and consequently, operation noise due to contact with a refrigerant pipe and other components can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 viewed from above.

FIG. 5 is a partially-enlarged view of a pipe connection port A portion in FIG. 4 of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger and a back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger and a back panel in an outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of FIG. 14.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from those of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 14 is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 15 is a plane view and a four-sided view of an end plate panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The configuration of the outdoor unit described below is merely an example, and the outdoor unit of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Moreover, the same or no reference signs are used to represent the same or equivalent elements in each drawing. Further, a detailed structure will be optionally illustrated in a simplified form, or be optionally omitted from an illustration. In addition, overlapping or similar description will be optionally summarized or omitted.

Embodiment 1

An outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of FIG. 2.

<Configuration of Outdoor Unit>

A housing 1 of the outdoor unit is made of sheet metal in a substantially parallelepiped rectangular shape as illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 1 mainly includes a front panel 10 disposed on a front side of the housing 1, two side panels 20 covering lateral sides of the housing 1, a back panel 30_1 disposed on a back side of the housing 1, a top panel 40 covering an upper surface of the housing 1, and a bottom panel 50 covering a lower surface of the housing 1.

A front grille 11 with an opening through which external air passes is attached to the front panel 10. A terminal block (not shown) connected to a power supply line for supplying power to the outdoor unit is disposed on the lateral side of the housing 1, and a terminal block cover 21 covering the terminal block is attached to one of the side panels 20. Two elongated leg portions 60 supporting the outdoor unit are attached to the lower surface of the housing 1 to extend across a short-side direction of the housing 1. A bolt hole for fixing one of the leg portions 60 to, for example, a resin or concrete base block opens through each end of the corresponding one of the leg portions 60.

A compressor (not shown) compressing refrigerant, a heat exchanger 2 exchanging heat between external air and refrigerant, a fan 3 supplying the heat exchanger 2 with external air, and other components are housed in the housing 1.

The heat exchanger 2 is, for example, a finned tube heat exchanger having a heat transfer pipe penetrating a plurality of thin plate-shaped aluminum fins arranged in parallel, and the entirety of the heat exchanger 2 is formed in a substantially L-shape and is disposed along the back and lateral sides of the housing 1. Fins stand in the vertical direction and the heat transfer pipe penetrates the fins in the horizontal direction.

The fan 3 is provided in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 2, and external air passes, by rotation of the fan 3, between the fins of the heat exchanger 2 to exchange heat between the external air and refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger 2. The external air subjected to heat exchange is discharged to the outside of the housing 1 from the front grille 11.

When the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus as described above is operated for heating operation, for example, the heat exchanger 2 acts as an evaporator. In this case, low-pressure gas refrigerant evaporated by removal of heat from external air is compressed into high-pressure gas refrigerant by the compressor, and then, the high-pressure gas refrigerant is supplied to an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) of an indoor unit.

On the other hand, in the case of cooling operation, the heat exchanger 2 acts as a condenser. In this case, high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed in the compressor is condensed by transfer of heat to external air in the heat exchanger 2. Then, the pressure of the condensed liquid refrigerant is reduced, and the resultant refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (not shown) of the indoor unit.

<Connection Ports (Corresponding to Pipe Connection Ports of the Present Invention)>

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each pipe connection port (a gas pipe connection port 70, a liquid pipe connection port 71) for connecting the outdoor unit and a refrigerant communication pipe for connection between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is disposed on the back side of the housing 1. The gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 are attached to the back panel 30_1 of the housing 1. Of the refrigerant communication pipes, a gas pipe is connected to the gas pipe connection port 70, and a liquid pipe is connected to the liquid pipe connection port 71.

The gas pipe connection port 70 is a joint for connecting the gas pipe of the refrigerant communication pipes to a gas-side pipe of an internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing 1 of the outdoor unit. The gas pipe connection port 70 is a tubular member attached in an axial direction of the gas pipe connection port 70, which is substantially coincident with a front-to-back direction (a depth direction) of the housing 1, and is made of brass, for example. The gas pipe connection port 70 includes a valve body having a hexagonal cross section perpendicular to the axial direction.

The gas pipe connection port 70 is, by brazing (thermal bonding between metal and metal with brazing filler metal), bonded to a terminal end portion of the gas-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing 1.

The liquid pipe connection port 71 is a joint for connecting the liquid pipe of the refrigerant communication pipes to a liquid-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing 1 of the outdoor unit. The liquid pipe connection port 71 is a tubular member attached in an axial direction of the liquid pipe connection port 71, which is substantially coincident with the front-to-back direction (the depth direction) of the housing 1 as in the gas pipe connection port 70, and is made of brass, for example. The liquid pipe connection port 71 includes a valve body having a hexagonal cross section perpendicular to the axial direction.

The liquid pipe connection port 71 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the gas pipe connection port 70. However, the liquid-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit has a smaller diameter than that of the gas-side pipe, and consequently, the liquid pipe connection port 71 has a smaller diameter than that of the gas pipe connection port 70.

The liquid pipe connection port 71 is, by brazing (thermal bonding between metal and metal with brazing filler metal), bonded to a terminal end portion of the liquid-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing 1.

<Back Panel>

Next, the structure of the back panel 30_1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the back panel 30_1 covers the back side of the housing 1 and is formed by sheet-metal processing, for example. The back panel 30_1 is fixed to the heat exchanger 2, and is connected to one of the side panels 20 with, for example, screws.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 viewed from above.

FIG. 5 is a partially-enlarged view of a pipe connection port portion in FIG. 4 of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a protruding attachment portion 31 (corresponding to a connection port attachment portion of the present invention) for attachment of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 is formed at a lower portion of the back panel 30_1. The protruding attachment portion 31 is in a shape protruding toward the outside of the housing 1. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, an attachment opening 32 and bolt holes 33 for attachment of each of the two pipe connection ports (the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71) open through the protruding attachment portion 31.

Each of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 is inserted into a corresponding one of the attachment openings 32 in the axial direction, and is fixed to the back panel 30_1 by fastening of bolts to the bolt holes 33.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the back panel 30_1 is formed to have a cross-sectional shape with a plurality of constituent surfaces.

A heat exchanger holding piece 34 having many holding holes 34a opening through the heat exchanger holding piece 34 and holding the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger 2 is provided on one end side of the back panel 30_1. A back portion 35 forming a part of the back-side outline of the housing 1 is perpendicularly formed from one side of the heat exchanger holding piece 34.

Moreover, a side panel connection piece 37 having screw holes 37a opening through the side panel connection piece 37 and connected to one of the side panels 20 is provided on the other end side of the back panel 30_1.

Further, at a substantially center portion of the back panel 30_1, a recessed portion 36 provided with the protruding attachment portion 31 to which the pipe connection ports are attached is formed in a shape recessed from the back portion 35 and the side panel connection piece 37 toward the inside of the housing 1.

The recessed portion 36 and the back portion 35 are smoothly connected together through an inclined surface 38, and the recessed portion 36 and the side panel connection piece 37 are smoothly connected together through another inclined surface 38.

The back portion 35, the recessed portion 36, and the side panel connection piece 37 are substantially arranged parallel to each other.

When the back panel 30_1 with the above-described configuration is attached to the housing 1, the recessed portion 36 is recessed toward the inside of the housing 1 from the peripheral edge of the bottom panel 50 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. With this configuration, dew condensation water adhering to the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 flows down onto the bottom panel 50, and consequently, does not drop to a lower portion of the outdoor unit.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the heat exchanger holding piece 34 of the back panel 30_1 serves as an end plate of the heat exchanger 2, and is attached in contact with an end portion of the fins of the heat exchanger 2. Moreover, the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger 2 is inserted into the holding holes 34a of the heat exchanger holding piece 34, and the back panel 30_1 and the heat exchanger 2 are fixed together.

The gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 are attached to the protruding attachment portion 31 provided at the recessed portion 36, and the internal refrigerant circuit housed in a machine chamber of the housing 1 housing the compressor is connected to each pipe connection port. That is, the internal refrigerant circuit in the machine chamber is fixed to the back panel 30_1 through each pipe connection port.

When the outdoor unit is viewed from above as illustrated in FIG. 4, tip end portions 72 of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a tip end position 60a of each leg portion 60 of the housing 1. That is, the tip end portions 72 of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 outwardly (corresponding to a first direction of the present invention) protrude perpendicular to the back panel 30_1, but are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a virtual line 30a passing through the tip end position 60a of each leg portion 60 and extending parallel to the back panel 30_1 (the tip end portion 72 of each pipe connection port is positioned closer to the back panel 30_1 than the virtual line 30a is).

<Advantageous Effects>

In the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1, the heat exchanger 2 and the internal refrigerant circuit in the machine chamber housing the compressor and other components are fixed to the back panel 30_1, and are accurately positioned relative to each other. Thus, the assembly accuracy of each member around the pipe connection ports, such as the internal refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger 2, can be improved, and operation noise due to, for example, contact with a refrigerant pipe can be reduced.

Moreover, the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 are arranged at the recessed portion 36 of the back panel 30_1 and the tip end portions 72 of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 are arranged not to protrude to the outside beyond the virtual line 30a passing through the tip end position 60a of each leg portion 60 and extending parallel to the back panel 30_1. Thus, a packing size is not increased merely by the dimensions of the protrusion of each pipe connection port.

Further, the recessed portion 36 of the back panel 30_1 is, as described above, recessed toward the inside of the housing 1 from the peripheral edge of the bottom panel 50. Thus, dew condensation water adhering to the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 flows down onto the bottom panel 50, and consequently, does not drop to the lower portion of the outdoor unit.

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 1, the example of the outdoor unit having the back panel 30_1 of the housing 1 integrally formed has been described. However, an example of an outdoor unit having a back panel 30_1 separately formed will be described in Embodiment 2.

<Configurations of Outdoor Unit and Pipe Connection Ports>

The configurations of the outdoor unit and the pipe connection ports are similar to those of Embodiment 1, and description of the configurations will not be made.

<Back Panel>

Next, the structure of a back panel 30_2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 15.

As in Embodiment 1, the back panel 30_2 covers a back side of a housing 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is formed by sheet-metal processing, for example. The back panel 30_2 is fixed to a heat exchanger 2, and is connected to one of side panels 20 with, for example, screws.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of FIG. 14.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from those of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 14 is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

FIG. 15 is a plane view and a four-sided view of an end plate panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2.

As in Embodiment 1, a protruding attachment portion 31 (corresponding to a connection port attachment portion of the present invention) for attachment of a gas pipe connection port 70 and a liquid pipe connection port 71 is formed at a lower portion of the back panel 30_2 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The protruding attachment portion 31 is in a shape protruding toward the outside of the housing 1. Moreover, an attachment opening 32 and bolt holes 33 for attachment of each of the two pipe connection ports (the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71) open through the protruding attachment portion 31.

Each of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 is inserted into a corresponding one of the attachment openings 32 in an axial direction, and is fixed to the back panel 30_2 by fastening of bolts to the bolt holes 33.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 14, the back panel 30_2 is formed to have a cross-sectional shape with a plurality of constituent surfaces.

A flat plate-shaped back panel 30_2 forming a part of the back-side outline of the housing 1 is provided on one end side of the back panel 30_2. Screw holes 35a for attachment with a heat exchanger holding member 39 open through an end portion of the back panel 30_2.

A flat plate-shaped side panel connection piece 37 is provided on the other end side of the back panel 30_2. Screw holes 37a connected to screw holes 20a of the one of the side panels 20 with screws open through an end portion of the side panel connection piece 37.

Further, at a substantially center portion of the back panel 30_2, a recessed portion 36 provided with the protruding attachment portion 31 to which the pipe connection ports are attached is formed in a shape recessed from a back portion 35 and the side panel connection piece 37 toward the inside of the housing 1.

The recessed portion 36 and the back portion 35 are smoothly connected together through an inclined surface 38, and the recessed portion 36 and the side panel connection piece 37 are smoothly connected together through another inclined surface 38.

The back portion 35, the recessed portion 36, and the side panel connection piece 37 are substantially arranged parallel to each other.

<Heat Exchanger Holding Member>

The heat exchanger holding member 39 is a flat plate-shaped member having many holding holes 39a open through the heat exchanger holding member 39 and holding a heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 and FIG. 15. The heat exchanger holding member 39 is attached to one end side of the back portion 35 with the heat exchanger holding member 39 being perpendicular to the back portion 35 of the back panel 30_2. In this state, the heat exchanger holding member 39 and the back portion 35 are fixed together by screws inserted into screw holes 39b of the heat exchanger holding member 39 and the screw holes 35a of the back portion 35.

When the back panel 30_2 with the above-described configuration is attached to the housing 1, the recessed portion 36 is, as in FIGS. 2 and 3 of Embodiment 1, recessed toward the inside of the housing 1 from the peripheral edge of a bottom panel 50. With this configuration, dew condensation water adhering to the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 flows down onto the bottom panel 50, and consequently, does not drop to a lower portion of the outdoor unit.

The gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 are attached to the protruding attachment portion 31 provided at the recessed portion 36 of the back panel 30_2, and an internal refrigerant circuit housed in a machine chamber of the housing 1 housing a compressor is connected to each pipe connection port. That is, the internal refrigerant circuit in the machine chamber is fixed to the back panel 30_2 through each pipe connection port.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the heat exchanger holding member 39 serves as an end plate of the heat exchanger 2, and is attached in contact with an end portion of the fins of the heat exchanger 2. Moreover, the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger 2 is inserted into the holding holes 39a of the heat exchanger holding member 39. Thus, the heat exchanger 2 and the back panel 30_2 are integrated together by connecting the heat exchanger holding member 39 to the back portion 35 of the back panel 30_2.

Moreover, as in Embodiment 1, when the outdoor unit is viewed from above as illustrated in FIG. 4, tip end portions 72 of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a tip end position 60a of each leg portion 60 of the housing 1. That is, the tip end portions 72 of the gas pipe connection port 70 and the liquid pipe connection port 71 outwardly (corresponding to a first direction of the present invention) protrude perpendicular to the back panel 30_2, but are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a virtual line 30a passing through the tip end position 60a of each leg portion 60 and extending parallel to the back panel 30_2 (the tip end portion 72 of each pipe connection port is positioned closer to the back panel 30_2 than the virtual line 30a is).

<Advantageous Effects>

In addition to the advantageous effects of Embodiment 1, the back panel 30_2 and the heat exchanger holding member 39 are separated in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. Consequently, the degree of freedom is increased in the step of connecting the heat exchanger 2 and the back panel 30_2 together, and the efficiency of manufacturing of the outdoor unit is improved.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 housing, 2 heat exchanger, 3 fan, 10 front panel, 11 front grille, 20 side panel, 20a screw hole, 21 terminal block cover, 30_1 back panel, 30_2 back panel, 30a virtual line, 31 protruding attachment portion (corresponding to a connection port attachment portion of the present invention), 32 attachment opening, 33 bolt hole, 34 heat exchanger holding piece,

34a holding hole, 35 back portion, 35a screw hole, 36 recessed portion, 37 side panel connection piece, 37a screw hole, 38 inclined surface, 39 heat exchanger holding member, 39a holding hole, 39b screw hole, 40 top panel, 50 bottom panel, 60 leg portion, 60a tip end position, 70 gas pipe connection port (corresponding to a pipe connection port of the present invention), 71 liquid pipe connection port (corresponding to a pipe connection port of the present invention), 72 tip end portion

Claims

1. An outdoor unit comprising:

a housing including a front panel, a side panel, and a back panel; and

a heat exchanger,

the back panel including a connection port attachment portion to which a pipe connection port is attached, a heat exchanger holding piece to which the heat exchanger is attached, a back portion forming a part of an outer outline of the housing, and a recessed portion provided with the connection port attachment portion,

the recessed portion being disposed on an inner side of the housing from the back portion.

2. (canceled)

3. The outdoor unit of claim 1, wherein the back panel includes the heat exchanger holding piece, the back portion, the recessed portion, and a side panel connection piece to connect the side panel.

4. The outdoor unit of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger holding piece is a separate body from the back portion, and is attached to the back portion.

5. The outdoor unit of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger holding piece has a holding hole through which a heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger passes.

6. The outdoor unit of claim 1, wherein

a leg portion configured to support the housing is attached to a bottom surface of the housing, and

a tip end portion of the pipe connection port in a first direction perpendicular to the back panel is positioned closer to the back portion than a tip end position of the leg portion is.

7. The outdoor unit of claim 1, wherein the connection port attachment portion is configured to protrude from the recessed portion toward an outside of the housing.