Outdoor unit of an air conditioner

Abstract

The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrical component box and a refrigerant cooling radiator that cools the electrical component box. The electrical component box has: a housing; common components that are common regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner; inherent components that vary according to the capacity of the air conditioner; and a sub-radiator formed in a plate shape and configured with the inherent components. In the sub-radiator, the hole portions for mounting to the housing are formed at common positions regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner, while the hole portions for configuring the inherent components are formed at inherent positions according to the capacity of the air conditioner and vary according to the capacity of the air conditioner. An opening portion is formed on one surface of the housing. By installing the sub-radiator, the opening portion is blocked, and a state is formed in which the inherent components are located inside the electrical component box, enabling sharing regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] The outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes an electrical component box for housing electrical components, and sometimes uses refrigerant to cool the housed electrical components. For example, in Patent Document 1, an excessive load is not applied to a power element as an electrical component.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4488093 Specification Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In addition, the number and types of electrical components housed in the outdoor unit vary depending on the required capacity, but the outer shape is sometimes formed into the same shape. For example, in a product group after serialization, the outdoor units are formed into the same shape, and the internal electrical components are sometimes different.

[0008] However, in order to prevent intrusion of rainwater and the like, it is required that the electrical component box has as few unnecessary holes as possible. As a result, in the past, an independent design with mounting holes provided at different positions was adopted for installing different electrical components, resulting in an increase in the number of components and molds.

[0009] Therefore, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is provided that can make the electrical component box common.

[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 refrigerant cooling radiator for cooling the electrical component box. The electrical component box has: a housing; common components that are common regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner; inherent components that vary depending on the capacity of the air conditioner; and a sub-radiator formed in a plate shape and configured with the inherent components. In the sub-radiator, the hole portions for mounting to the housing are formed at common positions regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner, while the hole portions for configuring the inherent components are formed at inherent positions according to the capacity of the air conditioner and change according to the capacity of the air conditioner. The housing has an opening formed on one of its surfaces, and by installing the sub-radiator, the opening is blocked, and a state is achieved in which the inherent components are located inside the electrical component box, and sharing can be performed regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner. Brief Description of the Drawings

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

[0013] Figure 2 This is a diagram schematically showing the structures of the electric component box and the waterproof cover.

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

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

[0016] Figure 5 This is a diagram schematically showing the alignment of the positions of the electric component box and the refrigerant cooling 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 assembled form of the waterproof cover.

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

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

[0021] Figure 10 This is a diagram schematically showing the installation forms of electric components in cases of different capacities.

[0022] Figure 11 This is a diagram schematically showing the assembled form of the electric component box.

[0023] Figure 12 This is a diagram schematically showing the temporary stopping form of the electric components. Detailed Embodiments

[0024] Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, for the sake of simplicity of description, the same reference numerals are attached to the parts common to each embodiment. Further, 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 articles in a display case.

[0025] (Embodiment 1)

[0026] Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 will be described. As Figure 1As shown in the front view, the outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner according to this embodiment is generally formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the vertical direction, and the electrical component box 2, the waterproof cover 3 covering the electrical component box 2, various pipes and components constituting the refrigeration cycle are arranged inside it. These components are a compressor, a heat exchanger, a liquid receiver, a reservoir, 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 1 shown in the cross-sectional bottom view showing the cross-sectional view at the A-A line, 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 in, 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 inside it. In the case of this embodiment, the electrical component box 2 is formed into a box shape with an irregular shape, in which the right side in the front view is relatively short in the vertical direction, the left side is relatively long in the vertical 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 assembled to the outdoor unit 1 and is bent backward. The details of the claw portion 5 will be described in Embodiment 2 described later, but by hanging on the claw engagement hole 6 which is an installation structure portion provided on the outdoor unit 1 side, the electrical component box 2 is suspended and supported in a temporarily fixed state. In addition, a return portion 7 that is bent in the direction opposite to the claw portion 5 is formed at the front end of the claw portion 5, reducing the possibility that the claw portion 5 to which the electrical component box 2 swings back and forth is detached.

[0030] 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 installed on the housing 4 and removed from the housing 4, and it becomes a state where electrical components of different types and quantities are arranged according to the capacity of the outdoor unit 1.

[0031] In addition, the lower end side of the electric component box 2 is released to serve as an air inlet, and an air outlet 9 is provided on the upper end side. Therefore, when the electric components generate heat during operation, the heated air in the electric component box 2 flows upward by natural convection and is discharged to the outside. In the present embodiment, the air outlet 9 is provided on the upper end sides of the upper surface and the right side surface of the electric component box 2.

[0032] The electric component box 2 is arranged in a state where its upper surface, side surface, and back surface are covered by a waterproof cover 3 formed of a metal plate. In the case of the present embodiment, the waterproof cover 3 is formed to be longer than the height of the electric component box 2, covering the entire upper surface, side surface, and back surface of the electric component box 2, and is arranged on at least one of the upper surface, side surface, and back surface in a state where there is a gap with the electric component box 2.

[0033] Therefore, even if water intrudes into the inner surface side of the waterproof cover 3, the situation where water adheres to the electric component box 2 or intrudes into the electric component box 2 is suppressed. In addition, in the waterproof cover 3, for example, an exhaust port 10 for discharging the heated air in the electric 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 electric component box 2. In addition, Figure 4 The arrangement and number of the fixing mounting holes 11 and the component box mounting holes 12 shown are an example.

[0034] The electric 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 electric 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 the waterproof cover 3 is positioned.

[0035] In addition, on the waterproof cover 3, a refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is installed on the inner surface on the side where the electric 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 electric component box 2 on the waterproof cover 3, the relative position between the electric component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is also finally positioned.

[0036] As Figure 4As shown, the refrigerant-cooled 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: with the main body portion 13a arranged longitudinally, it passes under the main body portion 13a, protrudes from the upper end of the main body portion 13a through the back surface of the main body portion 13a after passing through the back surface of the main body portion 13a, is bent into a U shape, and then passes through the back surface of the main body portion 13a again and extends below the main body portion 13a.

[0037] 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 portion where the refrigerant pipe 13b is bent above the main body portion 13a, the refrigerant pipe 13b is installed on the waterproof cover 3 in a state temporarily fixed by a resin-made bundling band, that is, a temporary fixing member 14b. The mounting member 14a located below the refrigerant-cooled radiator 13 is composed of a rubber-made holding member 14a1 that holds the refrigerant pipe 13b and a metal-made 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.

[0038] In the main body portion 13a, a plurality of screw holes 13c are provided in 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 from the inside of the electrical component box 2 through the sub-radiator 8, and thus is fixed 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.

[0039] In addition, as Figure 5 shown, the main body portion 13a is provided with a flat flat portion 13d that contacts the sub-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 fixed to the main body portion 13a by being embedded in a groove 13f provided in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the flat portion 13d. As Figure 5 shown, when assembling the electrical component box 2, the main body portion 13a contacts the guide portion 15 provided on the sub-radiator 8.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the guiding portion 15 is provided on the back surface of the auxiliary radiator 8, and has a contact surface 15a for the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 to contact, and an inclined surface 15b that stands upright from the end of the contact surface 15a and inclines toward the contact surface 15a. The inclined surface 15b is formed into a shape in which the inclination angle coincides with the chamfered portion 13e of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 within a specified accuracy range. In a 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 cooling radiator 13 can be ensured.

[0041] Then, as described above, the back side of the electric component box 2 that contacts the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is blocked by the auxiliary radiator 8. Therefore, when the electric 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.

[0042] 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 electric 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 electric component box 2. On the other hand, if the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is set in a pre-fixed state and the electric component box 2 is installed while being positioned relative to it, in the case where the electric 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.

[0043] In addition, if the electric 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.

[0044] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the chamfered portion 13e is provided on the main body portion 13a of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, and the guiding portion 15 is provided on the back surface of the electric component box 2, that is, the portion that contacts the main body portion 13a. Thus, as Figure 5As shown in 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 guide 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.

[0045] Then, the inclination of the main body portion 13a is corrected by sequentially performing screw stops from the lower end side, and it is fixed to the guide portion 15 in a state of being in close contact with the contact surface 15a in a predetermined positional relationship. 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 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.

[0046] Thus, by installing the electrical component box 2 on the waterproof cover 3, the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 are positioned, and by screwing 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 installing the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 on the waterproof cover 3, the positional relationship between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and the electrical component box 2 can be positioned.

[0047] According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0048] The outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner according to the embodiment includes a box-shaped electrical component box 2, a waterproof cover 3 that covers the electrical component box 2, and a refrigerant cooling radiator 13 that contacts the back surface of the electrical component box 2. The refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is installed on the inner surface of the waterproof cover 3, and the electrical component box 2 is installed at a predetermined position relative to the waterproof cover 3, so that the relative position between the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is positioned.

[0049] Thus, by installing the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 on the waterproof cover 3 and installing the electrical component box 2 on the waterproof cover 3, even when it is difficult to directly visually confirm the installation of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, the relative position between the electrical component box 2 and the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 can be positioned.

[0050] In addition, a guiding portion 15 is provided on one side of the electric component box 2 that contacts the refrigerant cooling radiator 13. The guiding portion 15 has a contact surface 15a that contacts the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, and an inclined surface 15b that stands upright from an end portion of the contact surface 15a and inclines toward the contact surface 15a.

[0051] Thereby, when the electric component box 2 is installed on the waterproof cover 3, the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 is guided to the contact surface 15a side by the guiding portion 15 and contacts at the appropriate position, i.e., the contact surface 15a, ensuring the cooling efficiency.

[0052] 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, improving the cooling efficiency.

[0053] 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 a mounting member 14a for installation. Thereby, the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 can be installed at a specified position on the waterproof cover 3, and the positional relationship with the electric component box 2 can be set to an appropriate relationship.

[0054] At this time, as in the present embodiment, by providing screw holes in the main body portion 13a and performing screw fixing 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, the position offset and inclination of the main body portion 13a can be corrected while being arranged at an appropriate position.

[0055] 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, vibration from a compressor or the like during operation can be suppressed from being transmitted to the electric component box 2.

[0056] 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, water intrusion into the electric component box 2 can be suppressed.

[0057] (Embodiment 2)

[0058] Next, 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 surfaces, and back surface of the box-shaped electrical component box 2, thereby protecting the electrical component box 2 from water intrusion.

[0059] At this time, around the electrical 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 electrical component box 2 needs to be arranged in a state of being in contact with the refrigerant cooling radiator 13, when the waterproof cover 3 is arranged, it is necessary to arrange the waterproof cover 3 between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and other components and pipes.

[0060] However, as Figure 2 shown, the front side of the waterproof cover 3 is open, but it is formed in a shape capable of accommodating 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 capable of accommodating the electrical component box 2, the upper, left, and right sides of the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 are blocked, so it is also difficult to install the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 after the waterproof cover 3 is installed.

[0061] Therefore, as Figure 6 shown in the state before assembly, 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 disassembled and assembled. At this time, each plate is formed of a metal plate.

[0062] When assembling the waterproof cover 3 to the outdoor unit 1, first, in a state where the top plate 3a and the left side plate 3b are pre-assembled, that is, in a state where the right side portion of the waterproof cover 3 is released, as Figure 7 shown as the left side assembly state, 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 as the right side assembly state, 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 while the left side plate 3b is arranged between the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and other components.

[0063] The end portions on the side and back sides of the top plate 3a of the waterproof cover 3 are bent downward, and 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 flowing onto the top plate 3a flows to the back side. Thus, even if water drops onto the top plate 3a, the situation of flowing down to the front side where the opening is provided can be suppressed.

[0064] 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, the exhaust port 10 is covered from the outside in a state where a gap is provided between the exhaust port 10 by bending the end portion on the back side of the top plate 3a downward at a position away 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.

[0065] In addition, a fixing mounting hole 11 for fixing the waterproof cover 3 to the outdoor unit 1 and left and right mounting holes for fixing the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c are provided at positions where screw fastening 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 a divided state, screw fastening work can be performed from the front side, and the workability can be greatly improved.

[0066] 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 by a screw hole, and the fixing mounting hole 11 for fixing the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c is formed by a hole for passing a screw.

[0067] 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 an angle member 17 installed on a beam 16 as a structure from the back side. In addition, 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.

[0068] 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 sealed structure portion. Moreover, for the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c, they are assembled in a state where the end portions thereof overlap each other on the back side, and are screwed at the overlapping portions of each other. Thereby, water intrusion between the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c can be suppressed. That is, the overlapping portion of the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c with each other becomes a sealed structure portion, suppressing water intrusion.

[0069] In addition, in the present embodiment, in order to improve workability, the electrical component box 2 can also be fixed by screwing from the front side. In this case, water may penetrate into the hole portions of the screws, the screw holes. Therefore, the electrical component box 2 is provided with hole portions for fixing the upper end side to the air duct portion 18 formed between the upper surface of the electrical component box 2 and the top plate 3a, and is fixed by fixing members 25 such as screws and bolts, for example. The air duct portion 18 is a portion 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.

[0070] At this time, the front end of the top plate 3a of the ceiling forming the air duct portion 18 is bent upward to form a sealed structure portion, and is disposed obliquely toward the back surface. Therefore, even if water drops onto the top plate 3a, the situation where the water flows to the front side can be suppressed. Thereby, the position for fixing the upper end side of the 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 intruding into the electrical component box 2.

[0071] 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 intrudes into the upper surface of the electrical component box 2, the situation where water intrudes into the electrical component box 2 from the discharge port 9 is suppressed. In addition, the exhaust port 10 provided in the waterproof cover 3 is covered by an eaves portion formed by bending the end portion on the back side of the top plate 3a downward from the outside thereof and in a state of being separated and having a gap. 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 it is also possible to suppress water from intruding from the exhaust port 10.

[0072] According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0073] 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 of the electrical component box 2 to the back surface, and a right side plate 3c covering a part from the right side surface of the electrical component box 2 to the back surface, and can be disassembled and assembled.

[0074] Accordingly, in the case where the waterproof cover 3 is arranged to cover the electrical component box 2, the waterproof cover 3 can be disassembled into respective plates for assembly. Even in a place where other components constituting a refrigeration cycle are arranged around, the waterproof cover 3 can be easily assembled.

[0075] 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 mounted on the outdoor unit 1. Accordingly, 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 mounted on the outdoor unit 1, or the top plate 3a can be mounted first and then the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c can be mounted later, etc., and the installation and assembly can be performed in a step that is easy to operate.

[0076] In addition, the left side plate 3b and the right side plate 3c of the waterproof cover 3 are assembled in a state where the end portions on the back side thereof overlap each other. The waterproof cover 3 has a split structure, so that, unlike the case of being integrally formed, although gaps are generated between the respective plates, the assembly can be performed in a state where the end portions overlap each other. Thus, 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 portion 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.

[0077] In addition, a duct portion 18 for allowing the air discharged from the electrical component box 2 to flow is formed between the electrical component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3, and the screw positions for mounting the waterproof cover 3 on the outdoor unit 1 are set inside the duct portion 18. Accordingly, even in the case where a structure for screwing the electrical component box 2 from the front side is adopted, water intrusion into the electrical component box 2 can be suppressed, and screwing can be performed from the front side, so that the workability of installation can be greatly improved.

[0078] 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 portion of the top plate 3a downward. Heat dissipation inside the waterproof cover 3 and water intrusion from the exhaust port 10 can be suppressed.

[0079] (Embodiment 3)

[0080] Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. In Embodiment 3, the details of the electrical component box 2 will be described. When the outdoor unit 1 has the same external shape but different cooling capacities, it is sometimes serialized as a series of product groups with internal components replaced. In this case, depending on the required capacity, 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, the number of fan devices required at that capacity, etc., the positions where the electrical components are installed may also be different.

[0081] Therefore, conventionally, in order to prevent water from entering, it is necessary not to provide unnecessary holes. Therefore, even in the case of serialization, an independent design in which only the required electrical components are installed each time is adopted. As a result, even for the serialized products, the number of components, the molds for metal plates, etc. increase. The more diverse the product lineup is, the more prominent this situation becomes.

[0082] On the other hand, it is not preferable to adopt a common design for the electrical component box 2 in which a plurality of component mounting holes for installing components are provided in advance. This is because the installed electrical components have a certain 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 enter.

[0083] That is, in order to achieve the sharing 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 this embodiment, as described below, in the outdoor unit 1 serialized as a product group with the same external shape, an attempt is made to achieve the sharing of components and molds required for the electrical component box 2.

[0084] In the case of the outdoor unit 1, its mechanical structure can be considered to be common. That is, 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.

[0085] In addition, among the electrical components housed in the electrical component box 2, there are common components that are common regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner, and inherent components that are different according to the capacity of the air conditioner. For example, the control circuit, noise filter circuit, external interface circuit, thermistor circuit, magnet switch circuit, or the substrate on which they are installed can be considered to be commonly used regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner.

[0086] On the other hand, for example, the drive circuits of a fan device, a compressor, a rectifier circuit, or the substrates on which they are mounted are considered to use different types and quantities depending on 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 commonization of the housing 4 can be achieved.

[0087] 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 an upper surface plate 4a forming the upper surface of the electrical component box 2, a left side panel 4b forming a part from the left side surface to the back surface of the electrical component box 2, and a right side panel 4c forming a part from 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 side panel 4b is referred to as the left internal space, and the space surrounded by the right side panel 4c is referred to as the right internal space.

[0088] The upper surface plate 4a has a double structure, which is formed by an outer plate 4a1 sized to cover the entire area of the upper surface of the electrical component box 2 in Figure 3 and an inner plate 4a2 disposed inside the outer plate 4a1 and sized to cover Figure 3 the lower half portion of the substantially illustrated area in. 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 deviated from the outer opening 4a3 and above the left internal space and the right internal space, respectively. These outer openings 4a3 and inner openings 4a4 form an exhaust port 9 for discharging the air from the inside of the electrical component box 2.

[0089] In addition, in the case of the present embodiment, the inner opening 4a4 of the right internal space is provided in front of the substrate mounting plate 19 that divides the internal space in the front-rear direction, and on the rear side of the substrate mounting plate 19, an exhaust port 9 is provided on the side surface side. Thus, even when the substrate mounting plate 19 is provided to divide the right internal space, the air in the internal space can be discharged as a whole and efficiently.

[0090] The right panel 4c surrounds the inner space on the relatively deeper right side and is formed in a shape that reaches the left panel 4b on the back side. In this embodiment, a discharge port 9 is provided on the upper end side of the right surface. In addition, the front end side of the right panel 4c forms a sealed structure portion that bends outward, and a component box mounting hole 4e is formed in this sealed structure portion. Therefore, even if there is a component box mounting hole 4e penetrating the sealed structure portion, it is possible to suppress the situation 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 panel 4b also adopts the same structure.

[0091] The left panel 4b is formed in a shape that surrounds the inner space on the left side and reaches the right panel 4c, and is connected to the right panel 4c on the back side. At this time, the left panel 4b is connected through a sealed structure portion obtained by bending the front end on the left panel 4b side of the right panel 4c outward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress rainwater from invading into the electrical component box 2 from the connection portion between the left panel 4b and the right panel 4c.

[0092] In addition, the back side of the left panel 4b is formed in a frame shape with a relatively large opening portion 20. In this frame portion, a sub-radiator 8 is detachably fixed in a manner that blocks the opening portion 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 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.

[0093] At this time, the fixing holes 21 of the left panel 4b are provided at a common position regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner. That is to say, other sub-radiators 8 with different electrical components installed 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.

[0094] In addition, in the sub-radiator 8, mounting holes 22 are provided at the positions where electrical components required according to the capacity of the air conditioner are installed. In other words, the sub-radiator 8 adopts the following structure: the mounting holes 22 for installing the electrical components required for a certain capacity are respectively formed at inherent positions, and the holes that are unnecessary for this capacity are not provided.

[0095] By installing the above-mentioned inherent components on the sub-radiator 8, thus as Figure 10As shown for the high-output type and medium-output type, the size and structure of the housing 4 can be made common, and by replacing the electrical components and circuit boards for each sub-radiator 8, electrical components corresponding to the capacity of the air conditioner can be configured. In addition, the high-output type or medium-output type means products with relatively high output and products with relatively low output among serialized products.

[0096] In addition, the sub-radiator 8 is mainly installed with proprietary components, but common components can also be installed. That is to say, the sub-radiator 8 does not necessarily only install proprietary components. For example, in Figure 10 In the example, the outdoor unit 1 of the high-output type is provided with two fan devices, so two drive circuit boards are installed. On the other hand, if it is a low-output type, the fan device may sometimes be one, and in this case, one drive circuit board is installed. Therefore, one fan device is utilized regardless of the capacity, and thus can be called a common component, but in this embodiment, it is installed on the sub-radiator 8.

[0097] 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 are arranged longitudinally along the refrigerant cooling radiator 13. Thereby, the electrical components can be cooled efficiently, and the temperature rise inside the electrical component box 2 can be suppressed.

[0098] In addition, different types of components are installed on the sub-radiator 8 according to the capacity of the air conditioner, or for example, electrical components with relatively large heat generation 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 proprietary components are installed on.

[0099] Thereby, in the electrical component box 2 of this embodiment, as long as the sub-radiator 8 corresponding to the capacity of the air conditioner is installed each time, the commonality of the housing 4 can be achieved, and different types and quantities of electrical components can be accommodated without providing unnecessary holes.

[0100] 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 assembling it to the outdoor unit 1. At this time, the electrical component box 2 needs to align the refrigerant cooling radiator 13 and the waterproof cover 3 as described above, but in a state where the upper end side is suspended, even if the possibility of falling is reduced by the return portion 7, the electrical component box 2 may swing back and forth, resulting in deteriorated workability or reduced work safety.

[0101] Therefore, in the electrical component box 2 of the present embodiment, 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, and a cover-side convex portion 24 that extends in the vertical direction and protrudes inward from the inner surface, that is, toward the electrical component box 2 side, is provided on the waterproof cover 3. By performing stretching processing on 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, each convex portion can be provided without adding additional components.

[0102] In addition, each convex portion is arranged in a state where it does not extend to the upper and lower ends of the electrical component box 2 and the waterproof cover 3, and is not connected to the front end and the rear end. That is to say, each convex portion is provided at a position far from the edge of the surface where it is formed. Thus, each convex portion, more precisely, the surface provided with each convex portion, bends when the electrical component box 2 is pressed in as described below.

[0103] 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, so that the forward movement of the electrical component box 2 is suppressed. Then, it is temporarily fixed in this state, so that the front-back rocking of the electrical component box 2 is suppressed, and the possibility of deterioration of workability or decrease in the safety of the operator can be reduced. 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.

[0104] According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0105] 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 common regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner, inherent components that are different according to the capacity of the air conditioner, and a sub-radiator 8 that is formed in a plate shape and on which the inherent components are arranged.

[0106] In the sub-radiator 8, the hole portions for mounting to the housing 4 are formed at common positions regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner. On the other hand, the hole portions for arranging the inherent components are formed at inherent positions according to the capacity of the air conditioner and can be changed according to the capacity of the air conditioner. An opening portion 20 is formed on one surface of the housing 4. By installing the sub-radiator 8, the opening portion 20 is blocked, and a state is formed in which the inherent components are located inside the electrical component box 2, and it can be shared regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner.

[0107] 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 providing unnecessary hole portions.

[0108] In addition, the auxiliary radiator 8 is set in a state of being 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. Thereby, the electrical components can be efficiently cooled, and the temperature rise in the electrical component box 2 can be suppressed.

[0109] 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 surface, and back surface of the electrical component box 2. The electrical component box 2 is provided with claw portions 5 that are hooked onto the structural portion of the outdoor unit 1 on its upper end side, 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.

[0110] 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 hooked onto 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 the movement in the front-rear direction is suppressed.

[0111] Thereby, 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 suppressed, and it is temporarily fixed in this state. Thereby, the front-rear swaying of the electrical component box 2 is suppressed, and the possibility of deterioration of workability or reduction of the operator's safety can be reduced.

[0112] In addition, the box-side convex portion 23 and the cover-side convex portion 24 are respectively formed by stretch-forming the member forming the side surface. Thereby, a temporary stop structure of the electrical component box 2 is provided without adding additional components. In this case, the convex portions are provided at positions away from the edges of the surface forming the convex portions, so that the convex portions, more precisely, the surfaces provided with the convex portions are bent, so that the electrical component box 2 can be easily arranged at the temporary stop position without applying excessive force.

[0113] As mentioned 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 scope of the claims and its equivalents. In addition, the structures illustrated in the respective embodiments can be appropriately combined.

Claims

1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising an electrical component box, a waterproof cover covering the electrical component box, and a refrigerant cooling radiator for cooling the electrical component box. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner is characterized in that, the electrical component box has: a housing; common components that are common regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner; inherent components that vary according to the capacity of the air conditioner; and a sub-radiator formed in a plate shape and configured with the inherent components, in the sub-radiator, the hole portions for mounting to the housing are formed in a common position regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner. On the other hand, the hole portions for configuring the inherent components are formed in an inherent position according to the capacity of the air conditioner and are changed according to the capacity of the air conditioner, on the waterproof cover, the refrigerant cooling radiator is mounted on the inner surface on the side where the electrical component box is disposed in a positional relationship capable of contacting the sub-radiator, in the housing, an opening portion is formed on one surface thereof. By mounting the sub-radiator, the opening portion is blocked, and a state is formed in which the inherent components are located inside the electrical component box, and it can be shared regardless of the capacity of the air conditioner, the refrigerant cooling radiator has a main body portion formed in a plate shape, the main body portion is provided with a flat portion that contacts the sub-radiator, and at both ends in the width direction of the flat portion, there are chamfered portions that are inclined from the flat portion to the opposite side of the electrical component box side, the sub-radiator is provided with a guiding portion, and the guiding portion has a contact surface for the refrigerant cooling radiator to contact and an inclined surface that stands upright from the end of the contact surface and is inclined toward the contact surface, the inclined surface is formed in a shape such that the inclination angle is consistent with the chamfered portion of the refrigerant cooling radiator within a specified accuracy range. In a state where the flat portion contacts the contact surface, the chamfered portion also contacts the inclined surface.

2. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, the sub-radiator is set in a state of contacting the refrigerant cooling radiator, and components with relatively large heat generation in the electrical components are arranged along the refrigerant cooling radiator.

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