Outdoor unit of an air conditioner

Abstract

The present invention provides an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that can balance the improvement of the operability of a shut-off valve and miniaturization. The outdoor unit (1) includes a valve fixing bracket (41) provided on a base frame (21) and a plurality of shut-off valves (42) fixed to the valve fixing bracket (41). A beam (46) of the valve fixing bracket (41) has a first cutout portion (65) that is open upward and in which a first shut-off valve (71) is disposed, and a second cutout portion (66) that is open downward and in which a second shut-off valve (72) is disposed, such that the installation heights of the first shut-off valve (71) and the second shut-off valve (72) with respect to the installation surface are different in the vertical direction.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] An air conditioner includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a plurality of connecting pipes for allowing a refrigerant to flow between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The indoor unit is also referred to as an indoor unit. The outdoor unit is also referred to as an outdoor unit.

[0003] The outdoor unit includes a plurality of shut-off valves that connect the plurality of connecting pipes to refrigerant pipes inside the outdoor unit, and a plate-shaped shut-off valve support member that supports the plurality of shut-off valves.

[0004] Existing shut-off valve support members support two shut-off valves side by side at the same height position. That is, in existing outdoor units, the two shut-off valves overlap when viewed in the horizontal direction.

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Patent Documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-120900 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] As in conventional outdoor units, when two shut-off valves are arranged at the same height position, the operability of the shut-off valves is reduced. Operations of the shut-off valves include, for example, opening and closing operations of operation ports that are opened when performing opening and closing operations of the valve body, and opening and closing operations of service ports that are opened when filling the refrigerant or evacuating the refrigerant pipe. An operator uses a tool to loosen a flare nut, open the port, and uses the tool to tighten the flare nut to close the port. The tool is, for example, a wrench. When two shut-off valves are arranged at the same height position, the tool is likely to interfere with the shut-off valve adjacent to the shut-off valve being operated. When the tool interferes with the adjacent shut-off valve, the operability of the port is bound to decrease.

[0010] On the other hand, if the interval between adjacent shut-off valves is made large enough, the operability of the operation valve can be easily improved. However, if the interval between adjacent shut-off valves is simply enlarged, a larger volume for arranging a plurality of shut-off valves inside the outdoor unit is required, which hinders the miniaturization of the outdoor unit.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that can achieve both an improvement in the operability of the shut-off valve and miniaturization.

[0012] Technical Solution for Solving the Technical Problem

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a base frame disposed parallel to the installation surface, a valve fixing bracket provided on the base frame, and a plurality of shut-off valves fixed on the valve fixing bracket. The valve fixing bracket includes a pair of struts substantially vertically erected from the base frame, and a beam provided on the pair of struts and supporting the plurality of shut-off valves. The beam includes a first straight portion having a first cutout portion that is open upward and in which a first shut-off valve included in the plurality of shut-off valves is disposed, and a second cutout portion that is open downward and in which a second shut-off valve included in the plurality of shut-off valves is disposed, such that the installation heights of the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve with respect to the installation surface are different in the vertical direction.

[0014] The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention preferably includes a protrusion provided at an edge of an open end of the second cutout portion and supporting the second shut-off valve from below.

[0015] The protrusion of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention preferably protrudes in a horizontal direction or obliquely upward when the outdoor unit is installed on a horizontal installation surface.

[0016] The beam of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention preferably has the first straight portion and the second straight portion that are obtuse angles in a top view, and the second straight portion supports a third shut-off valve included in the plurality of shut-off valves.

[0017] Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that can achieve both an improvement in the operability of a shut-off valve and miniaturization. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base frame and a valve fixing bracket of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a valve fixing bracket and a plurality of shut-off valves of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 is a top view of a valve fixing bracket and a plurality of shut-off valves of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 is a front view of a valve fixing bracket of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 It is a side view of the valve fixing bracket and multiple shut-off valves of the outdoor unit related to the embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiment

[0025] Refer to Figures 1 to 6 An embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner related to the present invention will be described. In multiple drawings, the same or equivalent structures are labeled with the same reference numerals.

[0026] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner related to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] As Figure 1 shown, the air conditioner related to the present embodiment includes an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit (not shown in the figure). The installation location of the indoor unit is inside a building. The installation location of the outdoor unit 1 is outside a building. The outdoor unit 1 is installed on a substantially horizontal foundation, that is, on the installation surface. The indoor unit is embedded in the ceiling of the indoor unit or is suspended from the ceiling or beam for installation.

[0028] In addition, the air conditioner includes a refrigeration cycle (not shown in the figure). The refrigeration cycle includes a heat exchanger 3 on the heat source side, a compressor 4, a heat exchanger on the utilization side (not shown in the figure), an expansion valve (not shown in the figure), and a refrigerant pipe (not shown in the figure) for circulating the refrigerant among these devices. The refrigeration cycle may also include a four-way valve (not shown in the figure) for switching between the cooling operation (refrigeration operation) and the heating operation (heating operation) of the air conditioner.

[0029] Furthermore, the air conditioner can be a type that operates both cooling and heating simultaneously. The air conditioner that operates both cooling and heating simultaneously includes multiple indoor units, at least one outdoor unit, and multiple connecting pipes for reciprocating the refrigerant between the multiple indoor units and the at least one outdoor unit. The multiple connecting pipes include: a high-pressure gas pipe for circulating the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 4; a liquid pipe for circulating the liquid refrigerant condensed by the heat exchanger 3 on the heat source side; and a low-pressure gas pipe for circulating the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant after heat exchange by the heat exchanger on the utilization side to the compressor 4.

[0030] The outdoor unit 1 houses the heat exchanger 3 on the heat source side of the refrigeration cycle, the compressor 4, and the four-way valve. The indoor unit houses the heat exchanger on the utilization side of the refrigeration cycle. The expansion valve can be housed in the indoor unit or in the outdoor unit. In addition, the expansion valve can also be provided on both the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

[0031] The outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected via a connecting pipe (not shown in the figure). The connecting pipe is a part of the refrigerant pipe. The air conditioner circulates the refrigerant between the heat exchanger 3 on the outdoor unit 1 side and the heat exchanger on the indoor unit side to condition the indoor air.

[0032] Figure 2 It is a perspective view of the base frame of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner and the valve fixing stand involved in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] In addition to Figure 1 other than that, as Figure 2 shown, the outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner involved in this embodiment includes a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing 2 whose width dimension is smaller than the height dimension and whose depth dimension is smaller than the width dimension.

[0034] Inside the housing 2, a heat exchanger 3, a compressor 4, a blower 5, etc. are housed.

[0035] The housing 2 includes a frame 15 and an outer plate 16 covering the front surface of the frame 15.

[0036] The frame 15 is an assembly of a plurality of members which are sheet metal processed products of steel plates. Each member is joined by screw stopping and welding. The frame 15 includes a base frame 21 disposed on the bottom surface of the housing 2, four columns 22 respectively extending upward from the four corners of the base frame 21, and four cross beams (not shown) respectively spanned between adjacent columns 22.

[0037] The base frame 21 is a sheet metal processed product of steel plate. The heat exchanger 3 and the compressor 4 are mounted on the top surface of the base frame 21. On the lower surface of the base frame 21, a plurality of beam members 25 extending in parallel with the installation surface and combined into a grid shape are provided. The plurality of beam members 25 include a front beam member 25F along the front surface of the housing 2, a rear beam member 25R along the rear surface of the housing 2, and a plurality of longitudinal beam members (not shown) spanned between the front beam member 25F and the rear beam member 25R. The front beam member 25F and the rear beam member 25R extend in parallel. The left end of the front beam member 25F corresponds to the left front corner of the bottom of the housing 2, and the right end of the front beam member 25F corresponds to the right front corner of the bottom of the housing 2. The left end of the rear beam member 25R corresponds to the left rear corner of the bottom of the housing 2, and the right end of the rear beam member 25R corresponds to the right rear corner of the bottom of the housing 2.

[0038] The four columns 22 extend parallel to each other. The four columns 22 substantially have the same length dimension. The length of the column 22 corresponds to the height of the housing 2.

[0039] The outer plate 16 covers the front surface, that is, the front side surface of the housing 2, and is appropriately divided within the same plane. The outer plate 16 includes a plurality of members which are sheet metal processed products of steel plates. Each member is screw stopped to the frame 15. The rear surface, the left side surface and the right side surface of the housing 2 have openings. The heat exchanger 3 is exposed at the opening.

[0040] On the upper surface of the housing 2, there is a pair of blow-out ports 11 (11L, 11R) arranged left and right. Above the housing 2, there are a pair of blowers 5 (5L, 5R) respectively opposite to the pair of blow-out ports 11. The pair of blowers 5 are arranged inside the housing 2 and are disposed above the heat exchanger 3.

[0041] The heat exchanger 3 housed in the outdoor unit 1 extends along the back surface, left side surface, and right side surface of the housing 2 surrounded by the columns 22. The heat exchanger 3 includes two heat exchangers respectively disposed on the left and right inside the housing 2. Each heat exchanger is a plate-shaped heat exchanger formed in a U-shape (not shown in the figure) when viewed from above the housing 2. Each heat exchanger has the opening of the U-shape facing the outer plate 16 which is the front surface of the housing 2. Therefore, by the operation of the blower 5, outside air is taken into the housing 2 through the heat exchanger exposed through the openings on the back surface, left side surface, and right side surface of the housing 2, and is discharged from the blow-out port 11 to the outside of the housing 2.

[0042] Figure 3 It is a perspective view of a valve fixing bracket and a plurality of shut-off valves of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 4 It is a top view of a valve fixing bracket and a plurality of shut-off valves of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 5 It is a front view of a valve fixing bracket of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 6 It is a side view of a valve fixing bracket and a plurality of shut-off valves of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] As Figures 3 to 6 shown, the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes a valve fixing bracket 41 provided on the base frame 21 and a plurality of shut-off valves 42 fixed to the valve fixing bracket 41.

[0047] The valve fixing bracket 41 is disposed near the front surface of the housing 2, that is, near the outer plate 16. In addition, the valve fixing bracket 41 is disposed at the right front corner of the housing 2. The valve fixing bracket 41 supports the plurality of shut-off valves 42 toward the front side of the housing 2.

[0048] The plurality of shut-off valves 42 are also called filling valves. By partially disassembling the outer plate 16 of the housing 2, the plurality of shut-off valves 42 are exposed in an operable manner. That is, the outer plate 16 of the housing 2 is partially removed when operating the plurality of shut-off valves 42 housed in the outdoor unit 1.

[0049] The valve fixing bracket 41 includes: a pair of columns 45 that stand substantially vertically from the base frame 21 of the housing 2; and a beam 46 that is installed on the pair of columns 45 and supports a plurality of shut-off valves.

[0050] The pair of columns 45 are sheet metal processed products of steel plates. The cross-sectional shape of each column 45 is substantially an L-shaped character. Reinforcing ribs 51 that extend over the entire length of the column 45 are provided at each end of the L-shaped character. At the lower end of the column 45, a plurality of flange portions 52 that fix the column 45 to the base frame 21 are provided. Each flange portion 52 is formed by bending and protrudes outward from the column 45. Each flange portion 52 has a hole 53 for inserting a screw 47 ( Figure 2 in) for fixing the column 45 to the base frame 21.

[0051] The beam 46 is a sheet metal processed product of a steel plate. The main surface of the beam 46 faces the horizontal direction. The beam 46 has a rectangular shape that extends between the pair of columns 45. The beam 46 has a long side between the pair of columns 45 and short sides in the longitudinal direction of each column 45. Reinforcing ribs 55 that extend between the pair of columns 45 are provided at the upper long side portion of the beam 46. At each short side portion of the beam 46, a tongue piece 56 formed by slit processing (notch processing) and a hole 57 for inserting a screw are provided.

[0052] The tongue piece 56 is inserted into each column 45. The beam 46 and the column 45 are integrated by screws (not shown) inserted into the tongue piece 56 of the beam 46 and fastened to the column 45 through the hole 57.

[0053] In addition, the beam 46 includes a first straight portion 61 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the beam 46 and a second straight portion 62 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the beam 46. The first straight portion 61 and the second straight portion 62 form an obtuse angle in a top view. The first straight portion 61 is connected to one column 45, and the second straight portion 62 is connected to the other column 45.

[0054] The first straight portion 61 has: a first cutout portion 65 that opens upward and houses the first shut-off valve 71 included in the plurality of shut-off valves 42; and a second cutout portion 66 that opens downward and houses the second shut-off valve 72 included in the plurality of shut-off valves 42. The first straight portion 61 makes the installation heights of the first shut-off valve 71 and the second shut-off valve 72 with respect to the installation surface of the housing 2 different in the vertical direction ( Figure 3 in the solid arrow UD).

[0055] The first cutout portion 65 is close to the second straight portion 62 and is arranged at the central portion in the width direction of the beam 46. A plurality of screw holes 67 for fixing the first shut-off valve 71 are provided on both sides of the first cutout portion 65. The plurality of screw holes 67 have a plurality of pairs with different intervals to be able to accommodate the specification differences of the first shut-off valve 71.

[0056] The second cutout portion 66 is disposed between the first cutout portion 65 and one of the struts 45. On both lateral sides of the second cutout portion 66, a plurality of screw holes 68 for fixing the second closing valve 72 are provided. The plurality of screw holes 68 have a plurality of pairs with different intervals so as to be able to accommodate the specification differences of the second closing valve 72.

[0057] The second straight portion 62 supports the third closing valve 73 included in the plurality of closing valves 42. Therefore, the closing valves 42 (the first closing valve 71 and the second closing valve 72) of the first straight portion 61 and the third closing valve 73 are offset in the normal direction of the main surface of the first straight portion 61.

[0058] In addition, the beam 46 has a convex portion 69 extending in the longitudinal direction of the beam 46 from the vicinity of one tongue piece 56 to the vicinity of the other tongue piece 56. The convex portion 69 is provided on the main surface of the beam 46. The convex portion 69 extends in the horizontal direction ( Figure 3 the solid arrow Ho in) when the housing 2 is disposed on a horizontal ground surface. The convex portion 69 is formed by an extrusion process and extends from the first straight portion 61 to the second straight portion 62. The first cutout portion 65 is provided above the convex portion 69 and is provided below the second cutout portion 66 and the convex portion 69.

[0059] The first closing valve 71 connects the liquid pipe through which the liquid refrigerant condensed in the heat exchanger 3 on the heat source side flows to the refrigerant pipe in the outdoor unit 1.

[0060] The first closing valve 71 includes: a service port 71a for charging refrigerant into the refrigerant pipe or evacuating the refrigerant pipe; an indoor unit side connection port 71b connected to a connecting pipe; an outdoor unit side connection port 71c connected to the refrigerant pipe in the outdoor unit 1; a valve body (not shown) for opening and closing between the indoor unit side connection port 71b and the outdoor unit side connection port 71c; and an operation port 71d that is opened when the valve body is opened and closed. These ports 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d are arranged in a + character shape.

[0061] The outdoor unit side connection port 71c extends through the beam 46 from the front side to the back side. The outdoor unit side connection port 71c and the refrigerant pipe in the outdoor unit 1 are joined by, for example, brazing.

[0062] The operation port 71d is on the extension line of the outdoor unit side connection port 71c and is arranged at the foremost part of the first closing valve 71. A cover 75 is fastened to the operation port 71d.

[0063] The service port 71a is connected to the upper end portion of a portion equivalent to the valve box 71e that houses the valve body and protrudes upward. A cover 76 is fastened to the service port 71a. The cover 76 seals the service port 71a.

[0064] The indoor unit side connection port 71b is connected to the lower end of the part corresponding to the valve box 71e and hangs downward. The indoor unit side connection port 71b and the connecting pipe are joined by soldering, for example, at the installation site.

[0065] At the root of the part corresponding to the valve box 71e, in the portion adjacent to the outdoor unit side connection port 71c, there is provided an eaves portion 71f that protrudes in the long side direction of the beam 46 and is fixed to the beam 46.

[0066] The second shut-off valve 72 connects the high-pressure gas pipe through which the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows to the refrigerant pipe inside the outdoor unit 1. The second shut-off valve 72 has substantially the same structure as the first shut-off valve 71. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

[0067] Moreover, the service port 71a of the first shut-off valve 71 disposed in the first cutout portion 65 and the service port 72a of the second shut-off valve 72 disposed in the second cutout portion 66 are offset in the vertical direction of the housing 2 and do not overlap in a side view (side view of the valve fixing bracket 41, view in the long side direction of the beam 46, i.e., along the main surface direction, horizontal view). In addition, the operation port 71d of the first shut-off valve 71 and the operation port 72d of the second shut-off valve 72 are offset in the vertical direction of the housing 2 and do not overlap in a side view (side view of the valve fixing bracket 41, view in the length direction of the beam 46, i.e., along the main surface direction, horizontal view).

[0068] The arrangement of the first cutout portion 65 and the second cutout portion 66 in the long side direction of the beam 46 can also be changed. In addition, either one of the first shut-off valve 71 and the second shut-off valve 72 can be disposed on the first cutout portion 65, and either one of the first shut-off valve 71 and the second shut-off valve 72 can also be disposed on the second cutout portion 66.

[0069] The third shut-off valve 73 connects the low-pressure gas pipe through which the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the heat exchanger on the utilization side flows to the compressor to the refrigerant pipe inside the outdoor unit 1.

[0070] The third shut-off valve 73 includes: a service port 73a for charging refrigerant into the refrigerant pipe or evacuating the refrigerant pipe; an indoor unit side connection port 73b connected to the connecting pipe; an outdoor unit side connection port 73c connected to the refrigerant pipe inside the outdoor unit 1; a valve body (not shown) for opening and closing between the indoor unit side connection port 73b and the outdoor unit side connection port 73c; and an operation port 73d that is opened when the valve body is opened and closed.

[0071] The outdoor unit side connection port 73c is connected to the upper end portion of the portion corresponding to the valve box 73e which is equivalent to the housing valve body and extends upward, and the indoor unit side connection port 73b is connected to the lower end portion of the portion corresponding to the valve box 73e and hangs downward. The outdoor unit side connection port 73c and the refrigerant pipe in the outdoor unit 1 are joined by soldering, for example. The indoor unit side connection port 73b and the connection pipe are joined by soldering at the installation site, for example.

[0072] The operation port 73d protrudes forward from the portion corresponding to the valve box 73e. A cover 81 is fastened to the operation port 73d.

[0073] The service port 73a is arranged below the operation port 73d and protrudes forward from the portion corresponding to the valve box 73e. A cover 82 is fastened to the service port 73a. The cover 82 seals the service port 73a.

[0074] At the root of the portion corresponding to the valve box 73e, in the portion adjacent to the outdoor unit side connection port 73c, there is provided an eaves portion 73f which protrudes in the long side direction of the beam 46 and is fixed to the beam 46.

[0075] Moreover, the beam 46 includes a protrusion 85 which is provided at the edge of the open end of the second cutout portion 66 and supports the second shut-off valve 72 from below. The protrusion 85 is a pair of bent portions provided on both sides of the open end of the second cutout portion 66. The protrusion 85 is formed by bending the side portion on the lower side of the beam 46. When the outdoor unit 1 is installed on a horizontal installation surface, the protrusion 85 protrudes in the horizontal direction or obliquely upward. In other words, the angle formed by the upper surface of the protrusion 85 and the main surface of the beam 46 is 90 degrees or less.

[0076] As described above, the valve fixing bracket 41 of the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of support columns 45 substantially vertically erected from the base frame 21, and a beam 46 spanned on the pair of support columns 45 and supporting a plurality of shut-off valves 42. The beam 46 has a first cutout portion 65 that is open upward and in which the first shut-off valve 71 is disposed, and a second cutout portion 66 that is open downward and in which the second shut-off valve 72 is disposed, and the installation heights of the first shut-off valve 71 and the second shut-off valve 72 with respect to the installation surface are different in the vertical direction. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 offsets the service port 71a of the first shut-off valve 71 and the service port 72a of the second shut-off valve 72 in the vertical direction, and offsets the operation port 71d of the first shut-off valve 71 and the operation port 72d of the second shut-off valve 72 in the vertical direction. In this way, the tool does not interfere with the shut-off valve 42 adjacent to the shut-off valve 42 being operated, thereby improving the operability of each shut-off valve 42. In addition, by offsetting the first shut-off valve 71 and the second shut-off valve 72 in the vertical direction, the outdoor unit 1 can balance the improvement of the operability of the shut-off valve 42 and the shortening of the horizontal distance between the first shut-off valve 71 and the second shut-off valve 72. By shortening the horizontal distance between the first shut-off valve 71 and the second shut-off valve 72, the outdoor unit 1 shortens the width dimension or the depth dimension of the housing 2, and reduces the installation area of the housing 2.

[0077] In addition, the valve fixing bracket 41 of the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes a protrusion 85 provided at the edge of the open end of the second cutout portion 66 that opens downward, and supports the second shut-off valve 72 from below. Therefore, in the first cutout portion 65 that opens upward, the first shut-off valve 71 is temporarily set by being hooked on the first cutout portion 65, and then is reliably fixed to the valve fixing bracket 41. In the second cutout portion 66 that opens downward, the second shut-off valve 72 is temporarily set by being hooked on the protrusion 85, and then is reliably fixed to the valve fixing bracket 41. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can eliminate the difficulty of the operation of setting the second shut-off valve 72 on the second cutout portion 66 that opens downward, and prevent the reduction of workability.

[0078] Furthermore, when the valve fixing bracket 41 of the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment is disposed on a horizontal installation surface, it has a protrusion 85 that protrudes in the horizontal direction or obliquely upward. The protrusion 85 that protrudes in the horizontal direction or obliquely upward prevents the second shut-off valve 72 hooked on the protrusion 85 from falling off, and holds the second shut-off valve 72 in a state of being pressed against the beam 46. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can more reliably eliminate the difficulty of the operation of setting the second shut-off valve 72 on the second cutout portion 66 that opens downward, and sufficiently prevent the reduction of workability.

[0079] In addition, the valve fixing bracket 41 of the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment has a first straight portion 61 and a second straight portion 62 that form an obtuse angle in a top view. The second straight portion 62 supports the third shut-off valve 73. Therefore, even when the outdoor unit 1 is an air conditioner of a heating and cooling simultaneous operation type and has three shut-off valves 42 corresponding to three connection pipes, the horizontal distance between the first shut-off valve 71, the second shut-off valve 72, and the third shut-off valve 73 can be shortened, and the installation area of the housing 2 can be reduced. In addition, the outdoor unit 1 offsets the third shut-off valve 73 provided on the second straight portion 62 in the normal direction of the first straight portion 61. In this way, the tool does not interfere with the shut-off valve 42 adjacent to the shut-off valve 42 that is the operation object, thereby improving the operability of each shut-off valve 42.

[0080] Therefore, according to the outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve both improvement in the operability of the shut-off valve 42 and miniaturization.

[0081] Several embodiments of the present invention have been described, but these embodiments are presented only as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present 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 patent claims and its equivalents.

[0082] Reference Numeral Explanation

[0083] 1... Outdoor unit, 2... Housing, 3... Heat exchanger, 5... Blower, 5L... Left blower, 5R... Right blower, 11... Air outlet, 11L... Left air outlet, 11R... Right air outlet, 15... Frame, 16... Outer plate, 21... Base frame, 22... Column, 25... Beam material, 25F... Front beam material, 25R... Rear beam material, 41... Valve fixing bracket, 42... Shut-off valve, 45... Support column, 46... Beam, 51... Reinforcing rib, 52... Flange portion, 53... Hole, 55... Reinforcing rib, 56... Tongue piece, 57... Hole, 61... First straight portion, 62... Second straight portion, 65... First cutout portion, 66... Second cutout portion, 67, 68... Screw holes, 69... Protrusion, 71... First shut-off valve, 71a... Service port, 71b... Indoor unit side connection port, 71c... Outdoor unit side connection port, 71d... Operation port, 71e... Valve box, 71f... Eaves portion, 72... Second shut-off valve, 72a... Service port, 72b... Indoor unit side connection port, 72c... Outdoor unit side connection port, 72d... Operation port, 72e... Valve box, 72f... Eaves portion, 73... Third shut-off valve, 73a... Service port, 73b... Indoor unit side connection port, 73c... Outdoor unit side connection port, 73d... Operation port, 73e... Valve box, 73f... Eaves portion, 75, 76, 81, 82... Covers, 85... Protrusion.

Claims

1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, characterized in that, comprising: a base frame arranged parallel to the installation surface; a valve fixing bracket arranged on the base frame; and a plurality of shut-off valves fixed on the valve fixing bracket, the valve fixing bracket comprising: a pair of struts substantially vertically erected from the base frame; and a beam erected on the pair of struts and supporting the plurality of shut-off valves, the beam comprising a first straight portion having a first cut portion and a second cut portion, the first cut portion opening upward and arranging a first shut-off valve included in the plurality of shut-off valves, the second cut portion opening downward and arranging a second shut-off valve included in the plurality of shut-off valves, so that the installation heights of the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve based on the installation surface are different in the vertical direction, the valve fixing bracket includes a protrusion arranged at the edge of the open end of the second cut portion and supporting the second shut-off valve from below.

2. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the outdoor unit is installed on the horizontal installation surface, the protrusion protrudes in the horizontal direction or obliquely upward.

3. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the beam has a first straight portion and a second straight portion that are obtuse angles in a top view, the second straight portion supports a third shut-off valve included in the plurality of shut-off valves.

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