Outdoor unit of an air conditioner

Abstract

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrical component box and a waterproof cover covering the electrical component box. The waterproof cover is composed of a top plate covering the upper surface of the electrical component box, a left side plate covering a part from the left side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box, and a right side plate covering a part from the right side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box, and can be disassembled and assembled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] The outdoor unit of an air conditioner outdoor unit includes an electrical component box for housing electrical components, and sometimes a refrigerant-cooled radiator is used to cool the electrical component box. Then, for example, a scheme of using the refrigerant-cooled radiator as a positioning member is proposed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: WO 2018 / 016064 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In addition, since the outdoor unit is installed outdoors, a waterproof cover is sometimes used to cover the electrical component box to prevent rainwater from entering the electrical component box.

[0008] However, if a structure in which the electrical component box is covered with a waterproof cover is adopted, other components constituting the refrigeration cycle are also arranged in the outdoor unit. Therefore, it is necessary to install a waterproof cover between the other components and the refrigerant-cooled radiator, and the workability may deteriorate.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention provides an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that can easily install a waterproof cover.

[0010] Technical Solution for Solving the Technical Problem

[0011] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment includes an electrical component box and a waterproof cover that covers the electrical component box. The waterproof cover is composed of a top plate that covers the upper surface of the electrical component box, a left side plate that covers a part of the back surface from the left side surface of the electrical component box, and a right side plate that covers a part of the back surface from the right side surface of the electrical component box, and can be disassembled and assembled. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] Figure 1 It is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the outdoor unit in Embodiment 1.

[0013] Figure 2 It is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the electrical component box and the waterproof cover.

[0014] Figure 3 It is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the electrical component box is housed in the waterproof cover.

[0015] Figure 4This is a diagram schematically showing the installation state of the refrigerant-cooled radiator.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a diagram schematically showing the alignment of the electrical component box and the refrigerant-cooled radiator.

[0017] Figure 6 This is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the waterproof cover in Embodiment 2.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a diagram schematically showing the installation method of the waterproof cover.

[0019] Figure 8 This is a diagram schematically showing the installation state of the upper end side of the electrical component box.

[0020] Figure 9 This is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the electrical component box in Embodiment 3.

[0021] Figure 10 This is a diagram schematically showing the installation method of electrical components in the case of different capacities.

[0022] Figure 11 This is a diagram schematically showing the installation method of the electrical component box.

[0023] Figure 12 This is a diagram schematically showing the temporary stop method of the electrical components. Detailed Embodiments

[0024] Hereinafter, multiple embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, for the sake of simplicity of description, the same reference numerals are added to the common parts in each embodiment. In addition, each embodiment is not limited to a so-called air conditioner that adjusts the indoor temperature, and can also be applied to uses that can be handled by a refrigeration cycle device such as cooling of equipment and cooling of items in a display case.

[0025] (Embodiment 1)

[0026] Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 will be described. As Figure 1 shown in the front view in, the outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner of the present embodiment is generally formed in a longitudinally long rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an electrical component box 2, a waterproof cover 3 covering the electrical component box 2, various pipes and components constituting the refrigeration cycle, etc. are arranged inside. These components are a compressor, a heat exchanger, a liquid receiver, a storage tank, an oil separator, a fan device, etc. that constitute the refrigeration cycle, and are arranged using structures such as beams, columns, or floors of the outdoor unit 1.

[0027] In addition, as Figure 1As shown in the cross-sectional bottom view showing the cross-sectional view taken along line A-A, other components and pipes are arranged on the side and back sides of the electrical component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3. That is, the electrical component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3 are arranged in a state where the available space around them is less. In addition, Figure 1 It is shown in a state where the inside of the outdoor unit 1 and the inside of the electrical component box 2 are visible, but the front sides of the outdoor unit 1 and the electrical component box 2 are blocked by panels during operation.

[0028] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the electrical component box 2 has a housing 4 formed of a metal plate into a substantially box shape, and various electrical components constituting a control circuit, a drive circuit, etc. are housed therein. In the case of this embodiment, the electrical component box 2 is formed into a box shape with a special shape. The right side in the front view of the box shape with a special shape is relatively short in the longitudinal direction, the left side is relatively long in the longitudinal direction, and the depth of the right side is relatively long, and the depth of the left side is relatively short. In addition, the electrical component box 2 of this embodiment is formed in a state where the lower surface is open.

[0029] In addition, the electrical component box 2 is provided with a claw portion 5 that is used when installed on the outdoor unit 1 and bends backward.

[0030] The details of the claw portion 5 will be described in Embodiment 2 described later. However, by hanging on the claw engagement hole 6 which is a mounting structure portion provided on the outdoor unit 1 side, the electrical component box 2 is suspended and supported in a temporary stop state.

[0031] In addition, a return portion 7 that bends in the direction opposite to the claw portion 5 is formed at the front end of the claw portion 5, reducing the possibility of the claw portion 5 being disengaged when the electrical component box 2 sways back and forth.

[0032] In addition, the back surface on the left side of the electrical component box 2 is blocked by a sub-radiator 8 having heat conductivity. The details of the sub-radiator 8 will be described in Embodiment 3 described later, but it is configured to be replaceable according to the capacity of the outdoor unit 1. Therefore, the entire sub-radiator 8 can be mounted on the housing 4 and removed from the housing 4, and different types and numbers of electrical components are arranged according to the capacity of the outdoor unit 1.

[0033] In addition, the lower end side of the electrical component box 2 is released to form an air inlet, and an air outlet 9 is provided on the upper end side. Therefore, when the electrical components generate heat during operation, the heated air in the electrical component box 2 flows upward by natural convection and is discharged to the outside. In this embodiment, the air outlet 9 is provided on the upper surface and the upper end side of the right side surface of the electrical component box 2.

[0034] The electrical component box 2 is arranged in a state where its upper surface, side surfaces, and back surface are covered by a waterproof cover 3 formed of a metal plate. In the case of this embodiment, the waterproof cover 3 is formed to be longer than the height of the electrical component box 2, covering the entire upper surface, side surfaces, and back surface of the electrical component box 2, and is arranged in a state where there is a gap between it and the electrical component box 2 on at least one of the upper surface, side surfaces, and back surface.

[0035] Therefore, even if water intrudes into the inner surface side of the waterproof cover 3, it is possible to suppress the situation where water adheres to the electrical component box 2 or intrudes into the electrical component box 2. In addition, in the waterproof cover 3, for example, an exhaust port 10 for discharging the air heated in the electrical component box 2 to the outside is provided on the back surface on the right side. In addition, as Figure 4 shown, the waterproof cover 3 is provided with a plurality of fixing mounting holes 11 for fixing the waterproof cover 3 to the outdoor unit 1, and a plurality of component box mounting holes 12 used when installing the electrical component box 2. In addition, Figure 4 The configuration and number of the fixing mounting holes 11 and the component box mounting holes 12 shown are an example.

[0036] The electrical component box 2 is installed on the waterproof cover 3 using the component box mounting holes 12 in a specified positional relationship. In other words, the electrical component box 2 is finally fixed at a specified position of the outdoor unit 1 in a state where it is covered by the waterproof cover 3 and the relative position with respect to the waterproof cover 3 is positioned.

[0037] In addition, on the waterproof cover 3, a refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is installed on the inner surface on the side where the electrical component box 2 is arranged in a positional relationship that can be in contact with the auxiliary radiator 8. Therefore, as will be described later, by installing the electrical component box 2 on the waterproof cover 3, the relative position between the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is also finally positioned.

[0038] As Figure 4 shown, the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is composed of a main body portion 13a formed in a plate shape and a refrigerant pipe 13b through which the refrigerant flows. The main body portion 13a is installed on the waterproof cover 3 in a state where it is longer in the longitudinal direction. The refrigerant pipe 13b is arranged in the following state: in a state where the main body portion 13a is arranged longitudinally, it passes from below the main body portion 13a, passes through the back surface of the main body portion 13a, protrudes from the upper end of the main body portion 13a, is bent into a U shape, passes through the back surface of the main body portion 13a again, and extends below the main body portion 13a.

[0039] The refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 installs the refrigerant pipe 13b extending from below the main body portion 13a to the waterproof cover 3 through the mounting member 14a, and at the bent portion above the main body portion 13a, the refrigerant pipe 13b is installed on the waterproof cover 3 in a temporarily fixed state by a resin bundling band, i.e., a temporary fixing member 14b. The mounting member 14a located below the refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 is composed of a rubber holding member 14a1 that holds the refrigerant pipe 13b and a metal bundling band 14a2 wound around the outer periphery of the holding member. The bundling band is installed on the waterproof cover 3 by screws 14a3. On the other hand, the temporary fixing member 14b located above the refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 bundles together the mounting portion 14c provided on the waterproof cover 3 and the refrigerant pipe 13b. Therefore, in the state where the main body portion 13a is installed on the waterproof cover 3, within the elastic range of the rubber of the refrigerant pipe 13b and the mounting member 14a, a certain amount of inclination and movement are allowed.

[0040] In the main body portion 13a, a plurality of screw holes 13c are provided at the central portion in the width direction along the long side direction. When the electrical component box 2 is installed on the waterproof cover 3, the main body portion 13a is screw-fixed through the auxiliary radiator 8 from the inside of the electrical component box 2, and thus is fixed relative to the electrical component box 2. In other words, the main body portion 13a of the refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 is in a state of not being directly fixed to the waterproof cover 3.

[0041] In addition, as Figure 5 shown, the main body portion 13a is provided with a flat flat portion 13d that contacts the auxiliary radiator 8, and at both ends in the width direction of the flat portion 13d, chamfered portions 13e that are inclined toward the opposite side of the electrical component box 2 side are provided. In addition, the refrigerant pipe 13b is inserted into a groove 13f provided on the opposite side along the long side direction to the flat portion 13d, and thus is fixed to the main body portion 13a. As Figure 5 shown, when assembling the electrical component box 2, the main body portion 13a contacts the guiding portion 15 provided on the auxiliary radiator 8.

[0042] The guiding portion 15 is provided on the back surface of the auxiliary radiator 8 in the present embodiment, and has a contact surface 15a for the refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 to contact and an inclined surface 15b that stands up from the end of the contact surface 15a and is inclined toward the contact surface 15a. The inclined surface 15b is formed in a shape such that the inclination angle is consistent with the chamfered portion 13e of the refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 within a specified accuracy range. In the state where the flat portion 13d contacts the contact surface 15a, the chamfered portion 13e also contacts the inclined surface 15b. Thereby, a larger contact area with the refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 can be ensured.

[0043] Then, as described above, the electrical component box 2 is in a state where the back side in contact with the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is blocked by the auxiliary radiator 8. Therefore, when the electrical component box 2 is installed on the waterproof cover 3, it is difficult to visually confirm the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 from the front side. If the positional relationship with the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is not properly positioned, the contact area with the auxiliary radiator 8 cannot be ensured, and the cooling efficiency may decrease.

[0044] However, in reality, since the size of the outdoor unit 1 is relatively large, it is difficult to ensure the accuracy of positioning the housing 4 of the electrical component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3 without providing a so-called gap. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately position their positional relationship simply by installing the electrical component box 2. On the other hand, if the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is set in a pre-fixed state and the electrical component box 2 is installed while being positioned relative to it, in the case where the electrical component box 2 is displaced, it is necessary to temporarily disconnect the fixing of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, adjust the position and then reinstall it, etc., and the work efficiency may decrease.

[0045] In addition, if the electrical component box 2 is installed with a structure that does not fix the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, it is difficult to visually confirm the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 as described above, and the installation is time-consuming, etc., and the work efficiency may decrease. In addition, a space for fixing after the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 can be visually confirmed is required, which may limit the arrangement of other components.

[0046] Therefore, in the present embodiment, a chamfered portion 13e is provided on the main body portion 13a of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, and a guiding portion 15 is provided on the back surface of the electrical component box 2, that is, at the portion in contact with the main body portion 13a. Thus, as Figure 5 shown as the pre-installation state and the post-installation state, in the state before installing the electrical component box 2, even if the center position of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 shown as the imaginary line CL1 and the center position of the guiding portion 15 shown as the imaginary line CL2 are slightly offset in the left-right direction in the drawing, as shown by the imaginary line CL3, by aligning with the component box mounting hole 12 to install the electrical component box 2, the inclined surface 15b can be inclined to guide the main body portion 13a to the contact surface 15a side.

[0047] Then, the main body portion 13a has its inclination corrected by sequentially performing screw stops starting from the lower end side, and is fixed to the guide portion 15 in a specified positional relationship while being in close contact with the contact surface 15a. Thus, the positional relationship between the main body portion 13a and the guide portion 15, that is, the relative position between the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is positioned. In this case, by making the hole for the screw to pass through provided in the sub-radiator 8 a long hole that is longer in the longitudinal direction or a diameter larger than the screw, the offset in the height direction with the main body portion 13a can be absorbed.

[0048] Thus, by mounting the electrical component box 2 to the waterproof cover 3, the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 are positioned, and by performing screw stops on the main body portion 13a of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 are strictly positioned. That is, by providing the waterproof cover 3 and mounting the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 to this waterproof cover 3, the positional relationship between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and the electrical component box 2 can be positioned.

[0049] According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0050] The outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner according to the embodiment includes an electrical component box 2 formed in a box shape, a waterproof cover 3 covering the electrical component box 2, and a refrigerant cooling radiator 13 in contact with the back surface of the electrical component box 2. The refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is mounted on the inner surface of the waterproof cover 3, and the electrical component box 2 is mounted relative to the waterproof cover 3 at a specified position, so that the relative position with the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is positioned.

[0051] Thus, by mounting the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 to the waterproof cover 3 and mounting the electrical component box 2 to this waterproof cover 3, even when setting is performed in a situation where it is difficult to directly visually confirm the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, the relative position between the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 can be positioned.

[0052] In addition, the electrical component box 2 is provided with a guide portion 15 on the side in contact with the refrigerant cooling radiator 13. The guide portion 15 has a contact surface 15a for the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 to contact, and an inclined surface 15b that stands up from the end of the contact surface 15a and is inclined toward the contact surface 15a.

[0053] Thus, when the electrical component box 2 is mounted to the waterproof cover 3, the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is guided to the contact surface 15a side by the guide portion 15 and contacts at the appropriate position, that is, the contact surface 15a, and the cooling efficiency can be ensured.

[0054] In addition, the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 of the present embodiment is formed in a plate shape, and has a flat portion 13d that contacts the contact surface 15a and chamfered portions 13e provided at both ends in the width direction of the flat portion 13d. Thereby, the main body portion 13a is easily guided by the guiding portion 15. At this time, the inclination of the chamfered portion 13e is substantially the same as the inclined surface 15b of the guiding portion 15. Therefore, the chamfered portion 13e also contacts the inclined surface 15b, and the cooling efficiency can be improved.

[0055] In addition, the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 has a main body portion 13a that contacts the electric component box 2 and a refrigerant pipe 13b through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigerant pipe 13b is fixed to the waterproof cover 3 by the mounting member 14a for installation. Thereby, the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 can be installed at a specified position of the waterproof cover 3, and the positional relationship with the electric component box 2 can be set to an appropriate relationship.

[0056] At this time, as in the present embodiment, by providing screw holes in the main body portion 13a and performing screw fastening from the inside of the electric component box 2, even when the position of the main body portion 13a is slightly offset or the main body portion 13a is slightly inclined, it is possible to correct the positional offset and inclination of the main body portion 13a and arrange it at an appropriate position.

[0057] In addition, the main body portion 13a of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 has a structure that is not directly fixed to the waterproof cover 3. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the transmission of vibrations from the compressor or the like during operation to the electric component box 2.

[0058] In addition, the electric component box 2 is covered in a state where there is a gap between the inner surface of the waterproof cover 3. Thereby, even when water intrudes into the inner surface of the waterproof cover 3, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of water into the electric component box 2.

[0059] (Embodiment 2)

[0060] Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 will be described. In Embodiment 2, the details of the structure of the waterproof cover 3 will be described. As described in Embodiment 1, the waterproof cover 3 covers the upper surface, side surface, and back surface of the electric component box 2 formed in a box shape, thereby protecting the electric component box 2 from water intrusion.

[0061] At this time, around the electric component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3, as described in Embodiment 1, other components and pipes are arranged on the side surface side and the back surface side thereof. Since the electric component box 2 needs to be arranged in a state of contacting the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, when arranging the waterproof cover 3, it is necessary to set the waterproof cover 3 between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and other components and pipes.

[0062] However, as Figure 2As shown, the front side of the waterproof cover 3 is open, but it is formed in a shape that can accommodate the electrical component box 2. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange it between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and other components while maintaining this shape. In addition, when the waterproof cover 3 is formed in a shape that can accommodate the electrical component box 2, the upper, left, and right sides of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 are blocked. Therefore, it is also difficult to install the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 after the waterproof cover 3 is set.

[0063] Therefore, as Figure 6 In the pre-assembly state as shown in the figure, the waterproof cover 3 of the present embodiment is composed of a top plate 3a that covers the upper surface of the electrical component box 2, a left side plate 3b that covers a part from the left side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box 2, and a right side plate 3c that covers a part from the right side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box 2. That is, the waterproof cover 3 can be assembled separately. At this time, each plate is formed of a metal plate.

[0064] When assembling the waterproof cover 3 to the outdoor unit 1, first, in the state where the top plate 3a and the left side plate 3b are pre-assembled, that is, in the state where the right side part of the waterproof cover 3 is released, as Figure 7 shown in the left side assembly state in the figure, the left side plate 3b is inserted between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and other components and installed and fixed. After that, as Figure 7 shown in the right side assembly state in the figure, the right side plate 3c is fixed to the top plate 3a and the left side plate 3b. Thus, the waterproof cover 3 can be easily assembled in a state where the left side plate 3b is arranged between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and other components.

[0065] The end parts on the side and back sides of the top plate 3a of the waterproof cover 3 are bent downward. In the state where the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c are assembled, the upper ends of the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c are covered by the top plate 3a from the outside. In addition, the top plate 3a is inclined toward the back surface, and the water droplets falling on the top plate 3a flow to the back side. Thus, even if water droplets fall on the top plate 3a, the situation of flowing down to the front side with an opening can be suppressed.

[0066] In addition, in the present embodiment, an exhaust port 10 is provided on the upper end side of the right side plate 3c. However, as Figure 8 shown in the cross-sectional view in the figure, the exhaust port 10 is covered from the outside in a state where there is a gap between it and the exhaust port 10 by bending the end part on the back side of the top plate 3a downward at a position far from the exhaust port 10. Thus, exhaust can be performed from inside the waterproof cover 3, and water intrusion from the exhaust port 10 can be suppressed.

[0067] In addition, the fixing mounting holes 11 for fixing the waterproof cover 3 to the outdoor unit 1 and the left and right mounting holes for fixing the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c are provided at positions where screw stopping can be performed from the front side. Thus, when fixing the waterproof cover 3 to the outdoor unit 1 and when fixing the right side plate 3c after assembly in the divided state, screw stopping operations can be performed from the front side, greatly improving workability.

[0068] In this case, depending on the installation position and part, the fixing mounting hole 11 can be a hole for passing a screw or a so-called screw hole formed with a screw groove. For example, in the case of the present embodiment, the fixing mounting hole 11 for fixing the top plate 3a is formed as a screw hole, and the fixing mounting hole 11 for fixing the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c is formed as a hole for passing a screw.

[0069] The fixing mounting hole 11 is provided in a sealing structure part formed by bending the front ends of the top plate 3a, the left side plate 3b, and the right side plate 3c into a flange shape. For example, in the case of the top plate 3a, as Figure 8 shown, the front end of the top plate 3a is bent upward to form a sealing structure part, and at this part, it is fixed to the angle member 17 installed on the beam 16 as a structure from the back side. Additionally, the fixing itself can be performed from the front side. By providing the fixing mounting hole 11 in the sealing structure part like this, even when through fixing mounting holes 11 are provided on the front and back surfaces of each plate, water intrusion into the inner surface of the waterproof cover 3 can be suppressed.

[0070] Similarly, the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c are also fixed to the structure of the outdoor unit 1 at the sealing structure part. And for the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c, they are assembled in a state where their ends overlap on the back side, and screw stopping is performed at the overlapping part of each other. Thus, water intrusion between the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c can be suppressed. That is, the overlapping part of the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c becomes a sealing structure part, suppressing water intrusion.

[0071] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in order to improve workability, the electrical component box 2 can also be screw-stopped and fixed from the front side. In this case, water may seep into the hole part and the screw hole of the screw. Therefore, the electrical component box 2 is provided with a hole part for fixing the upper end side to the air duct part 18 formed between the upper surface of the electrical component box 2 and the top plate 3a, and is fixed by a fixing member 25 such as a screw or a bolt. This air duct part 18 is the part where the air discharged from the discharge port 9 of the electrical component box 2 flows to the exhaust port 10 of the waterproof cover 3.

[0072] At this time, the top plate 3a of the ceiling forming the air duct portion 18 has its front end bent upward to form a sealed structural portion and is inclined toward the back surface. Therefore, even if water droplets fall on the top plate 3a, the flow of water to the front side can be suppressed. Thus, the position of the upper end side of the fixed electrical component box 2 is set to the outside of the electrical component box 2 and the position above it is covered by the top plate 3a, thereby suppressing water from entering the electrical component box 2.

[0073] In addition, the discharge port 9 provided on the upper surface of the electrical component box 2 is provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface. Therefore, even if water enters the upper surface of the electrical component box 2 by accident, the situation where it enters the electrical component box 2 from the discharge port 9 can be suppressed. In addition, the exhaust port 10 provided in the waterproof cover 3 covers the end portion on the back side of the top plate 3a from the outside and in a state where there is a separated gap by means of an eaves portion bent downward. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the heated air heated by the heat generation of the electrical components from staying in the waterproof cover 3 and also to suppress water from entering from the exhaust port 10.

[0074] According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0075] The outdoor unit 1 includes an electrical component box 2 formed in a box shape and a waterproof cover 3 covering the electrical component box 2. The waterproof cover 3 is composed of a top plate 3a covering the upper surface of the electrical component box 2, a left side plate 3b covering a part from the left side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box 2, and a right side plate 3c covering a part from the right side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box 2, and can be disassembled and assembled.

[0076] Thus, in the case of providing the waterproof cover 3 configured to cover the electrical component box 2, the waterproof cover 3 can be disassembled into each plate for installation. Even in a place where other components constituting the refrigeration cycle are arranged around, the waterproof cover 3 can be easily assembled.

[0077] In addition, the top plate 3a, the left side plate 3b, and the right side plate 3c of the waterproof cover 3 can be independently installed on the outdoor unit 1. Thus, in view of the space available when installing the waterproof cover 3 and in view of workability, an appropriate assembly procedure can be adopted. For example, as illustrated in the embodiment, the top plate 3a and the left side plate 3b can be pre-assembled and then installed on the outdoor unit 1, or the top plate 3a can be installed first and then the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c can be installed later, etc., and the installation and assembly can be carried out in an easy-to-operate procedure.

[0078] In addition, the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c of the waterproof cover 3 are assembled in a state where their ends overlap each other on the back side. The waterproof cover 3 has a split structure. Thus, different from the case of being integrally formed, although gaps are generated between the respective plates, they can be assembled in a state where their ends overlap each other. Thereby, sealing can be performed between the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c, and water intrusion into the inside of the waterproof cover 3 can be suppressed. At this time, as in the embodiment, by bending the end of the top plate 3a and covering the upper ends of the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c, water intrusion from above can also be suppressed.

[0079] In addition, a duct portion 18 through which air discharged from the electrical component box 2 flows is formed between the electrical component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3, and the screw positions for attaching the waterproof cover 3 to the outdoor unit 1 are set within the duct portion 18. Thereby, even in the case of adopting a structure in which the electrical component box 2 is screwed from the front side, water intrusion into the electrical component box 2 can be suppressed, and screwing can be performed from the front side. Therefore, the workability of installation can be greatly improved.

[0080] In addition, in at least one of the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c, an exhaust port 10 is provided on the upper end side, and the exhaust port 10 is covered from the outside in a state of being separated by a gap by an eaves portion formed by bending the end of the top plate 3a downward. Heat release inside the waterproof cover 3 and water intrusion from the exhaust port 10 can be suppressed.

[0081] (Embodiment 3)

[0082] Hereinafter, Embodiment 3 will be described. In Embodiment 3, details of the electrical component box 2 will be described. When the outdoor unit 1 has the same external shape but different refrigerating capacities, for example, it may be serialized as a series of product groups with internal components replaced. In this case, depending on the required capacity and the number of fan devices required at that capacity, etc., the number and types of electrical components housed in the electrical component box 2 are different. In addition, depending on the required capacity and the number of fan devices required at that capacity, etc., the positions where the electrical components are installed may also be different.

[0083] Therefore, conventionally, in order to suppress water intrusion, it has been necessary not to provide unnecessary hole portions. Thus, even in the case of serialization, an independent design in which only the required electrical components are installed each time has been adopted. As a result, even for the serialized products, it has led to an increase in the number of components, the molds for metal plates, etc. The more the product lineup is enriched, the more prominent this situation becomes.

[0084] On the other hand, it is not preferable to adopt a common design for the electrical component box 2 with a plurality of component mounting holes provided in advance for mounting components. This is because the mounted electrical components have a certain degree of weight, and through holes are required to reliably fix the electrical components. Therefore, if a common design is adopted, unnecessary holes will be formed depending on the product, and water will easily penetrate.

[0085] That is, in order to achieve the common use of components and molds of the electrical component box 2, it is necessary to solve the problem contrary to the common design that different component mounting holes are required according to the capacity of the air conditioner. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described below, in the outdoor unit 1 serialized as a product group with the same outer shape, an attempt is made to achieve the common use of components and molds required for the electrical component box 2.

[0086] In the case of the outdoor unit 1, its mechanical structure can be considered to be common. That is to say, it can be considered that a space for the electrical component box 2 capable of accommodating the electrical components required when the maximum capacity can be configured is ensured for the outdoor unit 1. In other words, it can be considered that the size of the housing 4 of the electrical component box 2 can be set to the same size regardless of the capacity.

[0087] In addition, among the electrical components housed in the electrical component box 2, there are common components that are independent of the capacity of the air conditioner and inherent components that are different according to the capacity of the air conditioner. For example, it is considered that the control circuit, noise filter circuit, external interface circuit, thermistor circuit, magnet switch circuit, or the substrate on which they are mounted can be commonly used regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner.

[0088] On the other hand, for example, the drive circuit of the fan device, the drive circuit of the compressor, the rectifier circuit, or the substrate on which they are mounted are considered to use circuits whose types and quantities are different according to the capacity of the air conditioner. Therefore, if the inherent components can be replaced according to the capacity of the air conditioner, it is considered that the common use of the housing 4 can be achieved.

[0089] Therefore, in the present embodiment, as Figure 9 shown in the exploded perspective view, the housing 4 of the electrical component box 2 is formed of a metal plate, and is formed by the top panel 4a forming the upper surface of the electrical component box 2, the left panel 4b formed from a part of the left side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box 2, and the right panel 4c formed from a part of the right side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box 2. Hereinafter, for convenience, in the internal space of the electrical component box 2, the space surrounded by the left panel 4b is called the left internal space, and the space surrounded by the right panel 4c is called the right internal space.

[0090] The top panel 4a has a double structure, which is formed to cover Figure 3The outer plate 4a1 sized to cover the entire upper surface area of the electrical component box 2 in Figure 3 and the inner plate 4a2 sized to cover approximately the lower half of the area shown in the schematic diagram in form it. In the outer plate 4a1, an outer opening 4a3 is provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface at approximately the center in the width direction. In the inner plate 4a2, two inner openings 4a4 are provided so as to protrude upward from the upper surface at positions offset from the outer opening 4a3 and above the inner spaces on the left and right sides respectively. These outer opening 4a3 and inner openings 4a4 form an exhaust port 9 for discharging the air from inside the electrical component box 2.

[0091] In addition, in the case of this embodiment, the inner opening 4a4 of the inner space on the right side is provided in front of the substrate mounting plate 19 that divides the inner space in the front - rear direction, and on the rear side of the substrate mounting plate 19, the exhaust port 9 is provided on the side surface side. Thus, even when the substrate mounting plate 19 is provided to divide the inner space on the right side, the air in the inner space can be discharged as a whole and efficiently.

[0092] The right - hand panel 4c surrounds the inner space on the right side with a relatively large depth and is formed in a shape that reaches the left - hand panel 4b on the back side. In this embodiment, the exhaust port 9 is provided on the upper - end side of the right side surface. In addition, the front - end side of the right - hand panel 4c becomes a sealed - structure part that bends outward, and a component - box mounting hole 4e is formed in this sealed - structure part. Therefore, even when there is a component - box mounting hole 4e passing through the sealed - structure part, it is possible to suppress the case where water droplets attach to the side surface of the electrical component box 2 and then bypass to the front and invade into the electrical component box 2. Although not shown in the figure, the left - hand panel 4b also has the same structure.

[0093] The left - hand panel 4b is formed in a shape that surrounds the inner space on the left side and reaches the right - hand panel 4c and is connected to the right - hand panel 4c on the back side. At this time, the left - hand panel 4b is connected through a sealed - structure part obtained by bending the front - end on the left - hand panel 4b side of the right - hand panel 4c outward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress rainwater from invading into the electrical component box 2 from the connection part between the left - hand panel 4b and the right - hand panel 4c.

[0094] In addition, the back side of the left - hand panel 4b is formed in a frame shape with a relatively large opening part 20. In this frame - shaped part, a sub - radiator 8 is detachably fixed so as to block the opening part 20. The sub - radiator 8 is formed in a plate shape and is provided with a plurality of fixing holes 21 for fixing to the left - hand panel 4b and a plurality of mounting holes 22 for mounting different electrical components according to the capacity of the air conditioner. In addition, the positions and numbers of the illustrated fixing holes 21 and mounting holes 22 are just an example.

[0095] At this time, the fixing hole portions 21 of the left panel 4b are provided at common positions, regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner. That is, other sub-radiators 8 with different electrical components can be installed on the left panel 4b without changing the size of the housing 4. Thus, the electrical component box 2 can select a sub-radiator 8 corresponding to the capacity of the air conditioner for installation, and the commonality of the housing 4 can be achieved.

[0096] In addition, in the sub-radiator 8, mounting hole portions 22 are provided at positions where electrical components required according to the capacity of the air conditioner are installed. In other words, the sub-radiator 8 has the following structure: the mounting hole portions 22 for installing the electrical components required for a certain capacity are respectively formed at inherent positions, and the hole portions unnecessary for that capacity are not provided.

[0097] By installing the above-mentioned inherent components on the sub-radiator 8, as Figure 10 shown as the high-output side type and the medium-output type, the size and structure of the housing 4 can be made common, and the electrical components corresponding to the capacity of the air conditioner can be configured by replacing the electrical components and circuit boards for each sub-radiator 8. In addition, the high-output type or the medium-output type means the products with relatively high output and the products with relatively low output in the serialized products.

[0098] In addition, although the sub-radiator 8 is mainly installed with inherent components, common components can also be installed. That is, the sub-radiator 8 does not necessarily only install inherent components. For example, in Figure 10 the example, the outdoor unit 1 of the high-output type is provided with 2 fan devices and thus 2 drive circuit boards are installed. On the other hand, if it is a low-output type, the number of fan devices is sometimes 1, and in this case 1 drive circuit board is installed. Therefore, 1 fan device is utilized regardless of the capacity, and thus it can be called a common component, but in this embodiment, it is installed on the sub-radiator 8.

[0099] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned guiding portion 15 is provided on the back surface of the sub-radiator 8 and contacts the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 in a state where the electrical component box 2 is accommodated. Therefore, among the electrical components installed on the sub-radiator 8, the components with relatively large heat generation amounts are arranged longitudinally along the refrigerant cooling radiator 13. Thus, the electrical components can be efficiently cooled, and the temperature rise inside the electrical component box 2 can be suppressed.

[0100] In addition, according to the capacity of the air conditioner, different types of components are installed on the sub-radiator 8, or for example, electrical components with relatively large heat generation amounts are installed on the sub-radiator 8 that can be cooled by the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, etc., and it is possible to appropriately design which common components and inherent components are installed on.

[0101] Therefore, the electrical component box 2 of the present embodiment only needs to be installed on the auxiliary radiator 8 corresponding to the capacity of the air conditioner each time, enabling the commonization of the housing 4 and accommodating different types and quantities of electrical components without providing unnecessary holes.

[0102] In addition, the electrical component box 2 is configured to be covered by the waterproof cover 3. In this case, as Figure 11 shown, the electrical component box 2 hangs the claw portion 5 on the snap engagement hole 6 to be in a state of being suspended on the upper end side, and presses the lower end side backward, thereby being assembled to the outdoor unit 1. In addition, the electrical component box 2 needs to align the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and the waterproof cover 3 as described above. However, in the state where the upper end side is suspended, even if the return portion 7 reduces the possibility of falling off, the electrical component box 2 may swing back and forth, resulting in deteriorated workability or reduced work safety.

[0103] Therefore, in the electrical component box 2 of the present embodiment, a box-side convex portion 23 extending in the vertical direction and protruding outward from the side surface is provided on its side surface, and the waterproof cover 3 is provided with a cover-side convex portion 24 extending in the vertical direction and protruding inward from the inner surface, that is, toward the electrical component box 2 side. Each convex portion is provided by stretching the left side panel 4b of the electrical component box 2 formed of a metal plate and the left side plate 3b of the waterproof cover 3, without the need to add additional components.

[0104] In addition, each convex portion is configured without extending to the upper and lower ends of the electrical component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3 and without connecting to the front and rear ends. That is, each convex portion is provided at a position away from the edge of the surface where it is formed. Thus, each convex portion, more strictly speaking, the surface provided with each convex portion, bends when the electrical component box 2 is pressed in as described below.

[0105] As Figure 12 shown before and after pressing in, when the electrical component box 2 is pressed into the waterproof cover 3, the box-side convex portion 23 exceeds the cover-side convex portion 24, thereby suppressing the forward movement of the electrical component box 2. Then, it is temporarily fixed in this state, thereby suppressing the back-and-forth swing of the electrical component box 2 and reducing the possibility of deteriorated workability or decreased safety of the operator. In addition, the structure of providing the box-side convex portion 23 and the cover-side convex portion 24 can also be adopted in the structures of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2.

[0106] According to the embodiments described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0107] The outdoor unit 1 includes an electrical component box 2 and a refrigerant cooling radiator 13 that cools the electrical component box 2. The electrical component box 2 has a housing 4, common components that are independent of the capacity of the air conditioner, inherent components that vary according to the capacity of the air conditioner, and a sub-radiator 8 formed in a plate shape and configured with the inherent components.

[0108] In the sub-radiator 8, holes for mounting to the housing 4 are formed at a common position regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner. On the other hand, holes for configuring the inherent components are formed at specific positions according to the capacity of the air conditioner and can be changed according to the capacity of the air conditioner. One surface of the housing 4 is formed with an opening 20. By installing the sub-radiator 8, the opening 20 is blocked, and the inherent components are in a state of being located inside the electrical component box 2, enabling sharing regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner.

[0109] Thus, the housing 4 itself does not need to be changed. As long as the sub-radiator 8 with electrical components corresponding to the capacity of the air conditioner is replaced each time, the housing 4 can be made common, and different types and quantities of electrical components can be accommodated without setting unnecessary holes.

[0110] In addition, the sub-radiator 8 is arranged in contact with the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, and components with relatively large heat generation in the electrical components are arranged along the refrigerant cooling radiator 13. Thus, the electrical components can be efficiently cooled, and the temperature rise inside the electrical component box 2 can be suppressed.

[0111] In addition, the outdoor unit 1 includes an electrical component box 2 and a waterproof cover 3 that houses the electrical component box 2 in a manner covering the upper surface, side surfaces, and back surface of the electrical component box 2. The electrical component box 2 is provided with claw portions 5 at its upper end side for hanging on the structural portion of the outdoor unit 1, and a box-side convex portion 23 that extends in the vertical direction and protrudes outward from the side surface is provided on its side surface. In addition, the waterproof cover 3 has a cover-side convex portion 24 that extends in the vertical direction and protrudes inward from the side surface on its side surface.

[0112] The electrical component box 2 is arranged inside the waterproof cover 3 from the front side in a state where the claw portions 5 are hung on the structural portion of the outdoor unit 1. When arranged inside the waterproof cover 3, the box-side convex portion 23 exceeds the cover-side convex portion 24, so that it is temporarily fixed in a state where movement in the front-rear direction is restricted.

[0113] Thus, when the electrical component box 2 is pressed into the waterproof cover 3, the box-side convex portion 23 exceeds the cover-side convex portion 24, so that the forward movement of the electrical component box 2 is restricted, and it is temporarily fixed in this state. Thus, the front-rear swaying of the electrical component box 2 is restricted, and the possibility of deterioration of workability or reduction of the operator's safety can be reduced.

[0114] In addition, the case-side convex portion 23 and the lid-side convex portion 24 are respectively formed by subjecting the members forming the sides to stretching processing. Thereby, a temporary stop structure of the electrical component box 2 is provided without adding components. In this case, each convex portion is provided at a position away from the edge of the surface on which each convex portion is formed, so that each convex portion, or more precisely, the surface provided with each convex portion is bent, whereby the electrical component box 2 can be easily arranged at the temporary stop position without applying excessive force.

[0115] As described above, although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented only as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims of the patent and its equivalents. In addition, the structures exemplified in each embodiment can be appropriately combined.

Claims

1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, characterized in that, Comprising: An electrical component box; A waterproof cover covering the electrical component box; And A refrigerant-cooled radiator, which is installed on the inner surface of the waterproof cover and contacts the back surface of the electrical component box. The electrical component box is installed on the waterproof cover so as to be in contact with the refrigerant-cooled radiator in a state where it is positioned relative to the refrigerant-cooled radiator pre-installed on the waterproof cover. The waterproof cover is composed of a top plate covering the upper surface of the electrical component box, a left side plate covering a part of the back surface from the left side surface of the electrical component box, and a right side plate covering a part of the back surface from the right side surface of the electrical component box, and can be disassembled and assembled. The refrigerant-cooled radiator is located on the side of the left side plate of the waterproof cover.

2. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that The top plate, the left side plate and the right side plate can be individually installed on the outdoor unit.

3. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The left side plate and the right side plate are assembled in a state where their ends overlap on the back surface side.

4. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that A duct portion for the air discharged from the electrical component box to flow is formed between the electrical component box and the waterproof cover. The screw positions for installing the waterproof cover on the outdoor unit are set in the duct portion.

5. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that In at least one of the left side plate and the right side plate, an opening portion is provided on the upper end side. The opening portion is covered from the outside by an eaves portion formed by bending the end portion of the top plate downward in a state of being spaced apart.

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