Outdoor unit

Abstract

The present application relates to an outdoor unit having a side back panel. The outdoor unit is provided with: a casing, an inside of which is divided into a mechanical room and a blower room; a compressor, which is housed in the mechanical room, compresses refrigerant; and a heat exchanger, which is housed in the blower room, circulates refrigerant, the casing is provided with: a bottom plate, on which the compressor and the heat exchanger are placed; a front surface panel, which extends upward from an upper surface of the bottom plate, covers front surfaces of the mechanical room and the blower room; a side back panel, which extends upward from the upper surface of the bottom plate, is integrally configured by a first portion covering a side surface of the mechanical room and a second portion covering a lower portion of a back surface of the mechanical room, is detachably installed to the front surface panel; and a back panel, which is located above the second portion, covers an upper portion of the back surface of the mechanical room, has a shutoff valve connected to an end portion of a pipe through which the refrigerant flows fixed thereto.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the construction of the side and rear panel in the outdoor unit of an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure as follows: In the outdoor unit, a liquid shut-off valve and a gas shut-off valve are horizontally arranged in the upper part of the rear side along the left-right direction, and an electrical component unit is arranged on the upper side of the mechanical compartment. A side panel integrally formed with a portion of the rear and right sides is installed on the outer contour of the outdoor unit, and the liquid shut-off valve and the gas shut-off valve are installed on the back side of the side panel.

[0003] According to the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the outdoor unit is installed under the window of a high-rise building, it is easy to connect the piping or open / close the shut-off valve from the indoor side, i.e., the back side of the outdoor unit.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-339478

[0005] In the outdoor unit of Patent Document 1, when performing service support such as replacing components inside the mechanical compartment, it is necessary to remove the side panel surrounding the mechanical compartment. However, the outdoor unit of Patent Document 1 has a liquid shut-off valve and a gas shut-off valve installed on the side panel. Removing the side panel involves brazing the piping connected to the liquid and gas shut-off valves, resulting in poor workability for service support. Even if service support can be performed from the opening created by removing the front panel, there are concerns about increasing the unit size due to constraints on the arrangement of components inside the mechanical compartment.

[0006] Furthermore, minor service support tasks such as replacing solenoid valve coils, four-way valve coils, or thermistors can be performed on-site, and therefore generally involve removing the side panel. However, in the confined environment of high-density residential buildings such as high-rise apartments, as described in Patent Document 1, removing the side panel on-site is difficult. Therefore, even for minor service support, the outdoor unit must be removed from the shelf or stand where it is mounted and moved indoors for the operation. Thus, in the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, removing the side panel requires cumbersome work. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This disclosure was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose is to provide an outdoor unit that improves operability from the rear of the installed outdoor unit.

[0008] The outdoor unit disclosed herein comprises: a housing internally divided into a machine compartment and a blower compartment; a compressor housed in the machine compartment for compressing refrigerant; and a heat exchanger housed in the blower compartment for supplying refrigerant. The housing comprises: a base plate on which the compressor and the heat exchanger are mounted; a front panel extending upward from the upper surface of the base plate and covering the front surfaces of the machine compartment and the blower compartment; a side and back panel extending upward from the upper surface of the base plate, integrally formed by a first portion covering the side of the machine compartment and a second portion covering the lower part of the back of the machine compartment, detachably mounted to the front panel; and a back panel located above the second portion, covering the upper part of the back of the machine compartment, and fixed with a shut-off valve connected to the end of a piping supplying refrigerant.

[0009] According to the outdoor unit disclosed herein, the side rear panel can be detachably installed on the front panel. By removing the side rear panel, the interior of the housing can be opened, thereby improving operability from the back of the installed outdoor unit. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner having an outdoor unit according to this embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is an exterior view of the outdoor unit of this embodiment, viewed from the front right side.

[0012] Figure 3 This is an external view of the outdoor unit of this embodiment, viewed from the rear right side.

[0013] Figure 4 This is an internal structural diagram of the outdoor unit in this embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5 This is an enlarged view of the machine room with the rear panel of this embodiment installed, viewed from the right front surface side.

[0015] Figure 6 This is an enlarged view of the electrical component unit of this embodiment as seen from the right side of the front surface.

[0016] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the machine room of this embodiment as viewed from the top surface.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the back panel of this embodiment.

[0018] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of removing the protective cover from the back panel of this embodiment.

[0019] Figure 10This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the side and back panels of this embodiment after they have been removed.

[0020] Figure 11 This is a view of the machine room of this embodiment from the right side.

[0021] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a hook provided on the side panel of this embodiment.

[0022] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the hook of this embodiment is installed on the front surface plate.

[0023] Figure 14 This diagram illustrates the installation sequence of the side and back panels in this embodiment.

[0024] Figure 15 This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the hook in this embodiment.

[0025] Figure 16 Is along through Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the cross-section of the surface with the DD line extending in the Z direction.

[0026] Figure 17 This is a diagram illustrating the back panel of a modified example. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Implementation

[0028] The outdoor unit 50 of this embodiment will now be described. Note that the size relationships of the constituent components in the following drawings may differ from the actual dimensions. Furthermore, in the following drawings, parts marked with the same reference numerals are identical or equivalent, and this is consistent throughout the specification. Moreover, the manner in which the constituent elements are represented throughout the specification is merely illustrative and not limiting.

[0029] Additionally, in the following diagrams, the X direction represents the left-right direction of outdoor unit 50, indicated by an arrow from right to left. The Y direction represents the front-back direction of outdoor unit 50, indicated by an arrow from front to back. The Z direction represents the up-down direction of outdoor unit 50, indicated by an arrow from bottom to top.

[0030] <Structure of an Air Conditioner>

[0031] First, an overview of the air conditioner 500 having the outdoor unit 50 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 500 having an outdoor unit 50 according to this embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioner 500 includes an outdoor unit 50 and an indoor unit 40 connected to the outdoor unit 50 via a refrigerant piping 19.

[0032] The outdoor unit 50 houses a compressor 18, a four-way valve 28, an outdoor heat exchanger 14, an expansion valve 27, a liquid shut-off valve 6, a gas shut-off valve 7, and an outdoor fan 15 within a housing 55. The indoor unit 40 houses an indoor heat exchanger 44 and an indoor fan 45 within a housing 41. The compressor 18, four-way valve 28, outdoor heat exchanger 14, expansion valve 27, liquid shut-off valve 6, gas shut-off valve 7, and indoor heat exchanger 44 are connected by refrigerant piping 19 to form a refrigerant circuit. A thermistor detection unit 33 for temperature detection is provided on the refrigerant piping 19 extending from the outdoor heat exchanger 14.

[0033] An air conditioner 500 is equipped with a control device 20a. The control device 20a controls the compressor 18, expansion valve 27, or four-way valve 28 based on the temperatures of the outside air, the indoor air, and the refrigerant detected by the thermistor detection unit 33. The four-way valve 28 is used to switch the flow of refrigerant between cooling and heating operations. Figure 1 In the diagram, the dashed line represents the flow of refrigerant in the four-way valve 28 during cooling operation, and the solid line represents the flow of refrigerant in the four-way valve 28 during heating operation. The liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7 are the parts that connect the refrigerant piping 19 of the outdoor heat exchanger 14 to the refrigerant piping 19 extending from the indoor heat exchanger 44.

[0034] During refrigeration operation, the four-way valve 28 is switched to its original position via control device 20a. Figure 1 The dashed lines indicate the refrigerant flow direction during refrigeration operation. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, compressed by compressor 18, flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 14 via four-way valve 28. The gaseous refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 14 exchanges heat with the outdoor air passing through it, becoming a high-pressure liquid refrigerant that flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 14. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 14 is depressurized at expansion valve 27, becoming a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows into the indoor heat exchanger 44. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 44 exchanges heat with the indoor air passing through it, becoming a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant that flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 44 and is drawn into compressor 18 via four-way valve 28.

[0035] During heating operation, the four-way valve 28 is switched to the position via control device 20a. Figure 1The solid line indicates the refrigerant flow direction during heating operation. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, compressed by compressor 18, flows into the indoor heat exchanger 44 via four-way valve 28. The gaseous refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 44 exchanges heat with the indoor air passing through it, becoming a high-pressure liquid refrigerant that flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 44. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger 44 is depressurized at expansion valve 27, becoming a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 14. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 14 exchanges heat with the outdoor air passing through it, becoming a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant that flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 14 and is drawn into compressor 18 via four-way valve 28.

[0036] <Structure of the outdoor unit>

[0037] Figure 2 This is an external view of the outdoor unit 50 of this embodiment, viewed from the front right side. Figure 3 This is an external view of the outdoor unit 50 of this embodiment, viewed from the rear right side. Figure 4 This is an internal structural diagram of the outdoor unit 50 in this embodiment.

[0038] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the housing 55 of the outdoor unit 50 is composed of a base plate 13, a front panel 1, a back panel 3, a side back panel 2, and a top panel 4. The interior of the housing 55 is divided into a blower compartment 9 and a machine compartment 10 by a partition 11 extending upward from the upper surface of the base plate 13. An air outlet 55a for blowing out air is provided at the opening of the front panel 1.

[0039] The compressor 18 and the outdoor heat exchanger 14 are mounted on the upper surface of the base plate 13. The base plate 13 has feet 12 that form the bottom surface of the housing 55. A front panel 1 extends upward from the upper surface of the base plate 13 and covers the front surfaces of the blower compartment 9 and the machine compartment 10. An air outlet 55a is formed in the front panel 1. The outdoor fan 15 can be visually identified from the air outlet 55a.

[0040] The back panel 3 covers the upper part of the back of the machine compartment 10. A liquid shut-off valve 6, a gas shut-off valve 7, a drain connector 8, and a protective cover 5 are fixed to the back panel 3. The liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7 are connected to the ends of the refrigerant piping 19 inside the outdoor unit 50. The refrigerant piping 19 extending from the indoor unit 40 is also connected to the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7.

[0041] The side back panel 2 extends upward from the base plate 13. The side back panel 2 has a first portion 201 covering the right side of the machine room 10 and a second portion 202 covering the lower part of the back of the machine room 10. The first portion 201 and the second portion 202 are integrally formed to constitute the side back panel 2. The side back panel 2 is detachably mounted to the front surface panel 1. The housing 55 is configured such that its sides and back can be divided by the side back panel 2 and the back panel 3. The back of the blower compartment 9 forms the intake 55b. An outdoor heat exchanger 14 is exposed at the intake 55b.

[0042] The top panel 4 is mounted on the upper part of the front panel 1, the side panel 2, and the back panel 3, forming the upper surface of the housing 55. An outer peripheral edge 4a extending in a flange shape is formed on the top panel 4. The outer peripheral edge 4a of the top panel 4 extends along the side of the front panel 1, the side panel 2, and the back panel 3.

[0043] An outdoor heat exchanger 14 and an outdoor fan 15 are housed in the blower compartment 9. The outdoor heat exchanger 14 has multiple heat transfer tubes 14a for refrigerant circulation. The outdoor heat exchanger 14 has an L-shaped form, for example, when viewed from above. The outdoor heat exchanger 14 is supported by a heat exchanger support plate 32 at the end closest to the machine room 10.

[0044] An outdoor fan 15 is positioned at the front of the outdoor heat exchanger 14. The outdoor fan 15 is mounted on a motor 16, which is held on a motor mounting platform 17 positioned between the outdoor heat exchanger 14 and the outdoor fan 15. Driven by the outdoor fan 15, air flows through the outdoor heat exchanger 14 and into the outdoor unit 50, then exits towards the front of the outdoor unit 50 via the outdoor fan 15. Thus, for example, during cooling operation, the refrigerant within the outdoor heat exchanger 14 is cooled by the air, and the air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 14 is heated through heat exchange with the refrigerant.

[0045] The machine room 10 houses the compressor 18 and the expansion valve 27 (see reference). Figure 5 ) and four-way valve 28 (refer to Figure 5 The machine compartment 10 houses a refrigerant piping 19 that connects the compressor 18, four-way valve 28, outdoor heat exchanger 14, and expansion valve 27. In addition to the compressor 18, expansion valve 27, and four-way valve 28, the machine compartment 10 also contains refrigerant circuit components such as a refrigerant liquid storage section (not shown) or a silencer for noise reduction. The refrigerant supplied from the indoor unit 40 is compressed in the compressor 18 and then transported to the outdoor heat exchanger 14 or indoor heat exchanger 44 via the refrigerant piping 19.

[0046] An electrical component unit 20 is arranged above the partition 11 that divides the blower room 9 and the machinery room 10, spanning both. An inverter control board 21 is provided on the electrical component unit 20. The inverter control board 21 is held by a board support member 25. The inverter control board 21, for example, supplies power to each component. A control board constituting the control device 20a is also held on the board support member 25.

[0047] The control device 20a includes a microcomputer. The microcomputer may include, for example, a control and processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The microcomputer has I / O ports for managing input / output. The microcomputer also has a storage unit (not shown). This storage unit may be a volatile storage device such as random access memory (RAM) capable of temporarily storing data, or a non-volatile auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk or flash memory capable of long-term data storage. The storage unit stores data as a program, representing the processing sequence performed by the control and processing unit. The control and processing unit executes processing based on this program data, thus implementing the processing of each part.

[0048] <Structure of the machine room>

[0049] Figure 5 This is an enlarged view of the machine room 10, showing the state in which the back panel 3 of this embodiment is installed, as viewed from the right front surface side. Figure 5 For the sake of simplicity, the illustration of electrical component unit 20 has been omitted. Figure 5 As shown, the four-way valve control coil 22 and the expansion valve control coil 23, which are the serviced components, are arranged near the right side of the machine room 10. The expansion valve 27 is controlled by the expansion valve control coil 23. The four-way valve 28 is controlled by the four-way valve control coil 22.

[0050] <Structure of Electrical Component Units>

[0051] Figure 6 This is an enlarged view of the electrical component unit 20 of this embodiment, viewed from the right side of the front surface. (See image below.) Figure 6As shown, a terminal block 29 is mounted on the control board of the electrical component unit 20. A wire 24 extending from the four-way valve control coil 22, the expansion valve control coil 23, and the thermistor detection unit 33 is connected to the control board of the electrical component unit 20. With the electrical component unit 20 installed in the machine compartment 10, the wire 24 extends from a connector (not shown) on the front right side inside the machine compartment 10. The connector is located near the side panel 2 inside the machine compartment 10, making it easy to access when the side panel 2 is removed. A wire hook 25a is provided on the side of the board support member 25. The wire 24 extending from the connector is hooked onto the wire hook 25a of the board support member 25.

[0052] Figure 7 This is a view of the machine room 10 of this embodiment as seen from the top surface. Figure 7 As shown, the compressor 18 is located on the front surface of the machine compartment 10. The rear side of the machine compartment 10 forms the piping arrangement area 26. In addition to the expansion valve 27 and the four-way valve 28, the piping arrangement area 26 also houses refrigerant circuit components such as a refrigerant liquid storage section (not shown) or a muffler for silencing. In addition to the expansion valve 27 and the four-way valve 28, the piping arrangement area 26 also contains refrigerant pipes 19 that connect the refrigerant circuit components (not shown) to each other.

[0053] Expansion valve 27 is positioned near the right side of the machine room 10. Near expansion valve 27, expansion valve control coil 23 is also positioned near the right side of the machine room 10. Four-way valve control coil 22, connected to four-way valve 28, is positioned further to the right of four-way valve 28 in piping area 26. Four-way valve control coil 22 is configured such that there are no obstructions in the direction of arrow A.

[0054] <Structure of the back panel>

[0055] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the back panel 3 of this embodiment. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the state where the protective cover 5 has been removed from the back panel 3 of this embodiment.

[0056] like Figure 8 As shown in Figure 9, a liquid shut-off valve 6 and a gas shut-off valve 7 are fixed to the back panel 3. A protective cover 5 is detachably mounted on the back panel 3 above the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7. A drain receiver 8 is mounted below the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7. The second portion 202 of the side back panel 2 is located below the drain receiver 8. The drain receiver 8 is installed to cover the upper end of the second portion 202 of the side back panel 2. This prevents water or foreign objects from entering the drain receiver 8 and from entering the machine room 10 from the outside.

[0057] The protective cover 5 is a flat component with a bent flange 51 around its perimeter. A terminal block fixing plate 30 is fixed to the part covered by the protective cover 5, and a terminal block 29 is mounted on the terminal block fixing plate 30.

[0058] Internal and external connecting lines 31 are connected to the terminal block 29, and these connecting lines 31 are connected to an external power source. The internal and external connecting lines 31 supply external power to the electrical component unit 20. The terminal block 29 is positioned above the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7 to prevent short circuits caused by dripping water from the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7. The terminal block 29 can be visually confirmed through the service window 3c formed on the back panel 3. An LED visual confirmation window 3b is formed adjacent to the service window 3c.

[0059] A side guide portion 5a protruding downwards and to the right is formed on the lower right side of the protective cover 5 facing the outdoor unit 50. The edge of the side guide portion 5a does not become a flange portion 51, but becomes the wiring path of the internal and external connection line 31 connected to the external power supply.

[0060] A stepped portion 301 is formed on the back panel 3, which is recessed in shape along the shape of the protective cover 5. The flange portion 51 of the protective cover 5 is embedded in the stepped portion 301, and the protective cover 5 is mounted on the back panel 3.

[0061] A stepped side guide 3a is provided on the rear stepped portion 301 at a position corresponding to the cover side guide 5a, protruding downward and to the right of the outdoor unit 50. The cover side guide 5a and the stepped side guide 3a form a gap 300 when the protective cover 5 is installed on the back panel 3.

[0062] An internal and external power supply connection cable 31 is inserted through the gap 300 formed by the cover-side guide portion 5a and the stepped-side guide portion 3a. By positioning the gap 300 formed by the cover-side guide portion 5a and the stepped-side guide portion 3a at the lower part of the protective cover 5, the internal and external power supply connection cable 31 can be led out in a downward direction. This prevents the internal and external power supply connection cable 31 from contacting the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7 at the lower part of the internal and external power supply connection cable 31. In addition, by arranging the terminal block 29, the liquid shut-off valve 6, and the gas shut-off valve 7 close together, the area of ​​the back panel 3 can be reduced.

[0063] The LED visual confirmation window 3b, located on the back panel 3, is used to visually confirm the LEDs configured on the inverter control board 21. The LEDs are configured to illuminate or flash in case of undesirable shutdowns caused by various malfunctions of the compressor 18 in the outdoor unit 50. Service personnel can remove the protective cover 5 and check the number of times the LEDs illuminate or flash via the LED visual confirmation window 3b, thereby determining the presence or nature of a fault without removing the back panel 3.

[0064] In addition, the terminal block 29, the liquid shut-off valve 6, and the gas shut-off valve 7 can also be arranged in a left-right direction.

[0065] <Structure of the side and back panels>

[0066] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the state where the side panel 2 of this embodiment has been removed. Figure 10 As shown, the side back panel 2 is a detachable structure that is removed during service.

[0067] Since the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7 are not fixed to the side panel 2, installation and disassembly can be performed without removing the liquid shut-off valve 6 and the gas shut-off valve 7 from the refrigerant piping 19 inside the outdoor unit 50. With the side panel 2 removed, the lower part of the side and back of the machine compartment 10 is open. Therefore, it is easy to enter the machine compartment 10, ensuring visual confirmation of the interior of the machine compartment 10 and improving the ease of work such as parts replacement.

[0068] A thermistor detection unit 33 is provided in the machine room 10. The thermistor detection unit 33 is installed, for example, in the heat transfer tube 14a of the outdoor heat exchanger 14. The thermistor detection unit 33 is connected to the electrical component unit 20 via a wire 24.

[0069] Furthermore, with the terminal block 29 of the back panel 3, the liquid shut-off valve 6, and the gas shut-off valve 7 arranged in the left-right direction, the height of the back panel 3 can be reduced and the height of the second part 202 of the side back panel 2 can be increased, thereby increasing the opening area.

[0070] Figure 11 This is a view of the machine room 10 of this embodiment from the right side. (See diagram.) Figure 11 As shown, the right end portion 101 of the front panel 1 extends in a flange shape in a direction perpendicular to the front panel 1. A slit 35 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the right end portion 101. The slit 35 is formed to allow for the detachable mounting of the side back panel 2.

[0071] When servicing the outdoor unit 50, the side rear panel 2 is removed from the outdoor unit 50, opening the machine room 10. The machine room 10 houses a thermistor detection unit 33, an expansion valve control coil 23, and a four-way valve control coil 22, serving as components for relatively light service support. Figure 11 For simplicity, the diagram of wire 24 is omitted.

[0072] During service, to remove the four-way valve control coil 22, firstly, disconnect the wire 24 from the wire hook 25a located on the right side of the base plate support member 25. Next, remove the wire 24 extending from the four-way valve control coil 22 from the electrical component unit 20, and remove the screw 22a that secures the four-way valve control coil 22. This allows for service support such as replacing the four-way valve control coil 22.

[0073] During service, to remove the expansion valve control coil 23, firstly, disconnect the wire 24 from the wire hook 25a located on the right side of the base plate support member 25. Next, remove the wire 24 extending from the expansion valve control coil 23 from the electrical component unit 20, and then pull the expansion valve control coil 23 out of the expansion valve 27 body. This allows for service support such as replacing the expansion valve control coil 23.

[0074] During service, to remove the thermistor detection unit 33, firstly, disconnect the wire 24 from the wire hook 25a located on the right side of the substrate support member 25. Next, remove the wire 24 extending from the thermistor detection unit 33 from the electrical component unit 20, and remove the thermistor detection unit 33 from the bracket. This allows for service support such as replacing the thermistor detection unit 33.

[0075] In this way, during service, the interior of the machine room 10 is opened by removing the side panel 2 from the outdoor unit 50, making it easy to access the components inside the machine room 10 and ensuring visual confirmation of the interior, thereby improving the workability of replacing parts that need service. In addition, it is easy to access the connection points of the wires 24 extending from the four-way valve control coil 22, the expansion valve control coil 23, and the thermistor detection unit 33 to the electrical component unit 20 without obstructing the view, thus improving workability.

[0076] <The Structure of the Hook>

[0077] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the hook 203 provided on the side panel 2 of this embodiment. Figure 12 As shown, a hook 203 is provided at the side end 2a of the side back panel 2. The hook 203 is used to detachably mount the side back panel 2 to the front panel 1.

[0078] The hook 203 has a base end 203a protruding from the side end portion 2a of the side back panel 2, and a front end 203b extending away from the base end 203a. An upper groove 204 is formed above the base end 203a of the hook 203, and the upper groove 204 is formed such that the gap 204b between the base end 203a of the hook 203 and the side end portion 2a of the side back panel 2 decreases downward. The lowermost part of the upper groove 204 becomes a root portion 204a where the gap 204b between the base end 203a of the hook 203 and the side end portion 2a of the side back panel 2 is constant.

[0079] A lower groove 205 is formed at the lower part of the base end 203a of the hook 203, and the lower groove 205 is formed such that the gap 205a between the base end 203a of the hook 203 and the side end 2a of the side back panel 2 decreases upward.

[0080] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the hook 203 of this embodiment is installed on the front surface plate 1. Figure 13 As shown, the hook 203 has a shape that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the side back panel 2. The hook 203, which is provided at the side end 2a of the side back panel 2, is inserted into the slit 35, which is formed on the front surface panel 1.

[0081] Because the gap 204b of the upper groove 204 of the hook 203 decreases downwards, the upper edge 35a of the slit 35 is easily guided by the upper groove 204 of the hook 203. The gap 204b in the root 204a of the hook 203 is constant and equal to the thickness of the front surface plate 1. The lower edge of the slit 35 is pressed in and held in the root 204a of the hook 203.

[0082] In addition to hook 203, the side panel 2 may also have other hooks. The positions of the other hooks are not limited to those described above. The slits for mounting the other hooks can be provided at positions corresponding to those other hooks.

[0083] As another type of hook, a second hook may be formed on the side end 2a of the second portion 202 of the side back panel 2. The second hook may have the same shape as the hook 203, as long as it protrudes from the side end 2a of the second portion 202 along the surface direction of the side end 2a. The second hook may be configured to form a second slit in the heat exchanger support plate 32 and be inserted into the second slit. With the second hook, the side back panel 2 can be detachably mounted to the heat exchanger support plate 32.

[0084] <Side and back panel installation sequence>

[0085] Figure 14 This diagram illustrates the installation sequence of the side and back panel 2 in this embodiment. Figure 15 This diagram illustrates the operation of hook 203 in this embodiment.

[0086] like Figure 14 as well as Figure 15 As shown in (1), for the installation of the side back panel 2, first make the side back panel 2 face towards Figure 14 Move the arrow in the direction of B to insert the hook 203 into the slit 35. Figure 14 The direction of arrow B is the same as the direction in which the hook 203, located at the side end 2a of the first portion 201 of the side back panel 2, protrudes from the side end 2a of the first portion 201. Additionally, Figure 14 The direction of arrow B is perpendicular to the opening face of slit 35. Thus, hook 203 is smoothly inserted into slit 35, which opens in a direction intersecting the protruding direction of hook 203.

[0087] Subsequently, as Figure 15 As shown in (2), the side back panel 2 is directed towards Figure 14 The side panel 2 is mounted on the front panel 1 by sliding the slide in the direction of arrow C and moving the stroke amount d. At this time, the upper edge 35a of the slit 35 is inserted into the gap 204b of the upper groove 204 of the hook 203. The gap 204b of the upper groove 204 of the hook 203 has a structure that decreases downward, so the upper edge 35a of the slit 35 is easily guided by the upper groove 204, and the insertion of the hook 203 is improved.

[0088] If the side panel 2 is moved further upward, the root 204a of the hook 203 reaches the upper edge 35a of the slit 35. The gap 204b of the root 204a is the same thickness as the front panel 1 on which the slit 35 is formed, so the hook 203 abuts against the slit 35 and prevents the side panel 2 from moving upward.

[0089] If the side panel 2 is pushed further upward, the root 204a of the hook 203 is pressed into the upper edge 35a of the slit 35. This temporarily fixes the side panel 2 to the front panel 1. The hook 203 is temporarily fixed to the slit 35 through friction with it, thus preventing the hook 203 from falling downward.

[0090] Subsequently, the side and back panel 2 is temporarily fixed to the top panel 4, bottom plate 13, back panel 3, and heat exchanger support plate 32 by mounting screws 213. Thus, the installation of the side and back panel 2 is completed.

[0091] When removing the side back panel 2, first remove the mounting screws 213. Since the side back panel 2 is temporarily fixed to the front panel 1 when the mounting screws 213 are removed, the side back panel 2 is prevented from falling.

[0092] Then, with the mounting screws 213 removed, if the side panel 2 is aligned with... Figure 14If the arrow C is moved in the opposite direction, the upper edge 35a of the slit 35 pressed into the root 204a of the hook 203 is pulled out. If the side back panel 2 is moved by a stroke d, the side back panel 2 is moved in the opposite direction to the arrow C. Figure 14 The arrow B slides and moves in the opposite direction. As a result, the hook 203 inserted into the slit 35 disengages from the slit 35, and the removal of the side back panel 2 is completed.

[0093] If the temporary fixation is released while the mounting screws 213 of the side back panel 2 are removed during removal of the side back panel 2, the side back panel 2 may fall. Figure 15 As shown in (3), if the side back panel 2 falls and moves downward by a stroke d or more, the lower groove 205 of the hook 203 abuts against the lower edge 35b of the slit 35. This restricts the downward movement of the side back panel 2 and prevents it from falling.

[0094] The gap 205a of the lower groove 205 of the hook 203 is a structure that decreases upwards, and the lower edge 35b of the slit 35 is easily guided by the lower groove 205, thus reliably preventing the side back panel 2 from falling. Unlike ordinary balconies or terraces, in the case of a window-type configuration where the outdoor unit 50 is set in a space intended for installing an integrated indoor / outdoor air conditioner or a split-type outdoor unit (also known as a window-type unit), there are usually no walls around the perimeter to prevent falls. By providing the lower groove 205 to the hook 203 of the side back panel 2, it is possible to prevent the side back panel 2 from falling when it is removed, and to ensure safety during service in the case of a window-type configuration.

[0095] By increasing the total length of the slit 35 relative to the total length of the hook 203, the insertability of the hook 203 can be ensured. In addition, if the difference between the total length of the slit 35 and the total length of the hook 203 is kept to about 3mm or less, the hook 203 will be prevented from falling out of the slit 35, which is even better.

[0096] Figure 16 Is along through Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the cross-section of the DD line and the surface extending in the Z direction. (See diagram below.) Figure 16 As shown, an upper stepped portion 211 is formed on the upper part of the side back panel 2. The upper stepped portion 211 of the side back panel 2 is a recess facing the inside of the housing 55. The upper stepped portion 211 of the side back panel 2 overlaps with the outer peripheral edge 4a of the top panel 4, which extends in a flange shape, thereby preventing rainwater, small animals, and external fire sources from entering the interior of the housing 55.

[0097] The overlap 2c between the upper stepped portion 211 and the outer peripheral portion 4a is less than the stroke d required to move the side back panel 2 during installation, i.e., the depth of the upper groove 204. Therefore, the side back panel 2 can be installed and removed while maintaining the state with the top panel 4 still attached.

[0098] Alternatively, the back panel 3 can also be divided into upper and lower parts. In this case, the upper part is a detachable structure with a terminal block mounting plate 30 on which the terminal block 29 is mounted, and the lower part is a structure with a liquid shut-off valve 6 and a gas shut-off valve 7 mounted. With this structure, only the upper back panel can be removed, increasing the opening area of ​​the machine room 10 and further improving the operability of service support.

[0099] When the back panel 3 is divided into two parts, the upper and lower parts overlap, thereby preventing foreign objects from entering the machine room 10. In addition, when the back panel 3 is divided into two parts, a water-stopping component can be attached between the upper and lower parts to prevent water intrusion.

[0100] <Variation Example>

[0101] Figure 17 This is a diagram illustrating the back panel 3 of the modified example. (As shown...) Figure 17 As shown, in the modified example, the terminal block mounting plate 30 fixed to the service window 3c on the back panel 3 is detachable. With the terminal block mounting plate 30 removed, the four-way valve control coil 22 can be visually inspected through the service window 3c. Since the terminal block mounting plate 30 is detachable, if it is temporarily removed, it can be used together with the LED visual inspection window 3b located adjacent to the terminal block mounting plate 30 as a window for visually inspecting the interior of the machine room 10.

[0102] Even assuming there are configuration constraints and the serviced components cannot be positioned close to the right side, a clear view can be ensured by temporarily removing the terminal block mounting plate 30 installed on the rear panel 3. This allows for direct visual inspection of serviced components such as the four-way valve control coil 22 during operation. By adopting this modified structure, the flexibility in configuring the serviced components is increased, facilitating space-saving piping arrangements.

[0103] According to the above-described embodiment of the outdoor unit 50, the housing 55 includes: a back panel 3, on which a liquid shut-off valve 6, a gas shut-off valve 7, and a terminal block 29 are fixedly connected to the end of the refrigerant piping 19; and a side back panel 2, which is detachably mounted on the front panel 1. Therefore, by removing the side back panel 2 without removing the liquid shut-off valve 6, the gas shut-off valve 7, and the terminal block 29, the interior of the housing 55 can be opened to the outside, improving the workability of the outdoor unit 50 during maintenance.

[0104] In addition, the side back panel 2 is installed by inserting the hook 203 into the slit 35 formed in the front panel 1, so the installation and positioning of the side back panel 2 are easy.

[0105] Furthermore, since a lower groove 205 is formed in the hook 203, when the mounting screw 213 of the side back panel 2 is removed and it descends, the lower groove 205 of the hook 203 abuts against the lower edge 35b of the slit 35, thus restricting the downward movement of the side back panel 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the side back panel 2 from falling.

[0106] In addition, since the upper groove 204 of the hook 203 has a reduced gap 204b structure, the upper groove 204 of the hook 203 is easily guided by the upper edge 35a of the slit 35, making it easy to position the side back panel 2 in the specified position.

[0107] Furthermore, since the upper groove 204 of the hook 203 has a root 204a, when installing the side back panel 2, the lower edge 35b of the slit 35 can be pre-clamped into the root 204a to temporarily fix the side back panel 2. Therefore, the installation of the side back panel 2 can be carried out safely and easily.

[0108] Furthermore, since the overlap distance between the outer periphery 4a of the side back panel 2 and the top panel 4 is less than the depth of the upper groove 204, the hook 203 and the slit 35 can be released and the side back panel 2 can be removed without removing the top panel 4.

[0109] In addition, if the side panel 2 is removed, the machine room 10 is opened, thereby exposing the four-way valve 28, the expansion valve 27 and the thermistor detection unit 33, thus making the service operation easier.

[0110] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0111] 1...Front panel; 2...Side and back panel; 2a...Side end; 2c...Overlap; 3...Back panel; 3a...Step side guide; 3b...LED visual confirmation window; 3c...Service window; 4...Top panel; 4a...Outer perimeter; 5...Protective cover; 5a...Cover side guide; 6...Liquid shut-off valve; 7...Gas shut-off valve; 8...Drainage connector; 9...Blower compartment; 10...Machinery compartment; 11...Separator; 12...Feet; 13...Base plate; 14...Outdoor heat exchanger; 14a...Heat transfer pipe; 15...Outdoor fan; 16...Motor; 17...Motor mounting platform; 18...Compressor; 19...Refrigerant piping; 20...Electrical component unit; 20a...Control device; 21...Inverter control board; 22...Four-way valve control coil; 22a...Screw; 23...Expansion valve control coil; 24...Wire; 25...Board support component; 25a...Wire hook; 2 6... Piping area; 27... Expansion valve; 28... Four-way valve; 29... Terminal block; 30... Terminal block mounting plate; 31... Internal and external connecting wires; 32... Heat exchanger support plate; 33... Thermistor detection section; 35... Slit; 35a... Upper edge; 35b... Lower edge; 40... Indoor unit; 41... Housing; 44... Indoor heat exchanger; 45... Indoor fan; 50... Outdoor unit; 51... Flange; 55... Housing; 55 a...outlet; 55b...inlet; 101...right side end; 201...first part; 202...second part; 203...hook; 203a...base end; 203b...front end; 204...upper groove; 204a...root; 204b...gap; 205...lower groove; 205a...gap; 211...upper stepped part; 213...mounting screw; 300...gap; 301...rear stepped part; 500...air conditioner.

Claims

1. An outdoor unit characterized by comprising: Possessing: a housing, an inside of which is divided into a mechanical chamber and a blower chamber; a compressor, which is housed in the mechanical chamber, compresses refrigerant; and a heat exchanger, which is housed in the blower chamber, allows the refrigerant to flow, the housing possesses: a bottom plate, which places the compressor and the heat exchanger; a front surface plate, which extends upward from an upper surface of the bottom plate, and covers a front surface of the mechanical chamber and the blower chamber; a side back plate, which extends upward from the upper surface of the bottom plate, is integrally configured by a first portion which covers a side surface of the mechanical chamber and a second portion which covers a lower portion of a back surface of the mechanical chamber, is detachably mounted to the front surface plate; a back plate, which is located above the second portion, covers an upper portion of the back surface of the mechanical chamber, and is fixed with a stop valve, a drain receiving member, and a protective cover, the stop valve being connected with an end portion of a pipe through which the refrigerant flows; and a top plate, which is placed on upper portions of the front surface plate, the back plate, and the side back plate, an upper end of the second portion of the side back plate is located at a position lower than an upper end of the first portion, on the back plate side of the housing, a thermistor which is mounted to the pipe, a four-way valve which switches a flow direction of the refrigerant, and an expansion valve which depressurizes the refrigerant are arranged, in a state where the side back plate is removed, at least one of the four-way valve, the expansion valve, and the thermistor is exposed from an opening which is formed by removing the side back plate, the drain receiving member is mounted below the stop valve, and is mounted in a manner of covering the upper end of the second portion of the side back plate, above the stop valve, the protective cover is detachably mounted to the back plate.

2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the side back plate and the front surface plate are detachable by a hook, the hook has a base end which protrudes from a side end portion of the side back plate, and a front end which extends in a direction away from the base end.

3. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein a slit into which the hook is inserted is formed in the front surface plate, the front end of the hook is inserted into the slit, and the side back plate is detachably mounted to the front surface plate.

4. The outdoor unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a lower groove which has a shape in which a gap between the base end and a side end portion of the side back plate decreases toward the upper side is formed in a lower portion of the base end.

5. The outdoor unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an upper groove which has a shape in which a gap between the base end and a side end portion of the side back plate decreases toward the lower side is formed in an upper portion of the base end.

6. The outdoor unit according to claim 5, wherein a root portion in which the gap between the base end and the side end portion of the side back plate is constant toward the lower side is formed in a lowermost portion of the upper groove.

7. The outdoor unit according to claim 5, wherein the top plate has an outer peripheral edge portion which extends downward along the side back plate, The side back panel overlaps the outer peripheral portion of the top panel by a distance that is less than the depth of the upper groove.

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