Air conditioner

Abstract

The application discloses an air conditioner comprising an indoor unit, a refrigerant hose and an outdoor unit, the refrigerant hose is communicated with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit respectively and is pre-filled with refrigerant; wherein the outdoor unit comprises an outdoor unit box, a partition plate and a fixing assembly, the partition plate is arranged in the outdoor unit box, the other end of the refrigerant hose extends to the plate surface of the partition plate and is connected with the pipeline of the outdoor unit, and the fixing assembly is used for fixing the other end of the refrigerant hose on the partition plate. The technical scheme of the application guarantees the stability of the refrigerant hose after being connected with the outdoor unit, so as to guarantee the quality of the product.

Description

[0001] Case information This invention is a divisional application of Chinese invention patent application with patent number "202311105800.5", patent name "Air Conditioner", and application date of August 30, 2023. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0003] Currently, in air conditioners, the indoor and outdoor units are assembled separately. During installation, the indoor and outdoor units must be installed separately first, then the pipes between them must be connected, and finally, the air is vented and refrigerant is charged to ensure the normal operation of the air conditioner. Connecting the air conditioning pipes and charging the refrigerant requires professional personnel, making air conditioner installation inconvenient and labor-intensive. Pre-connecting the indoor and outdoor units via refrigerant hoses and pre-charging the refrigerant hoses, indoor unit, and outdoor unit circuits requires ensuring the stability of the refrigerant hose connection to the outdoor unit to prevent shaking.

[0004] The above content is only used to help understand the technical solution of the invention and does not represent an admission that the above content is prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner that ensures the stability of the refrigerant hose after it is connected to the outdoor unit, thereby guaranteeing product quality.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an air conditioner comprising: Indoor unit; Refrigerant hose, one end of which is connected to the indoor unit; and An outdoor unit includes an outdoor unit casing, a partition plate, and a fixing assembly. The partition plate is located inside the outdoor unit casing. The other end of the refrigerant hose extends to the surface of the partition plate and is connected to the piping of the outdoor unit. The fixing assembly is used to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose to the partition plate.

[0007] Optionally, a pre-positioning structure and a screw fastening structure are provided between the fixing component and the partition plate. The pre-positioning structure is used to pre-fix the fixing component to the partition plate, and the screw fastening structure is used to connect and fix the fixing component to the partition plate.

[0008] Optionally, the prepositioning structure is located on one side of the first fixing member, and the screw locking structure is located on the other side of the first fixing member.

[0009] Optionally, the refrigerant hose includes an inner pipe assembly and a protective sleeve fitted over the inner pipe assembly. A portion of the inner pipe assembly is exposed outside the protective sleeve and connected to the piping of the outdoor unit. The first fixing member is located at the exposed portion of the inner pipe assembly, and the second fixing member is located at the protective sleeve.

[0010] Optionally, the pre-positioning structure includes a first pre-positioning structure disposed on one side of the first fixing member, and the screw fastening structure includes a first fastening structure disposed on the other side of the first fixing member.

[0011] Optionally, the first fixing member includes a limiting section located outside the inner tube assembly and connecting sections located on both sides of the limiting section. The partition plate is provided with a limiting flange, and a limiting opening is formed between the limiting flange and the partition plate. The first pre-positioning structure includes one of the connecting sections and the limiting opening for the connecting section to be inserted. The first locking structure is provided between another connecting section and the partition plate.

[0012] Optionally, the pre-positioning structure includes a second pre-positioning structure, which includes a buckle disposed on the second fixing member and a buckle groove disposed on the partition plate, wherein the buckle engages with the buckle groove.

[0013] Optionally, the second fastener includes a fixing section located on the outside of the protective sleeve and folded edge sections located on both sides of the fixing section. The buckle is provided on one of the folded edge sections, the buckle groove passes through the partition plate, and the screw locking structure includes a second locking structure. The second locking structure is provided on both of the folded edge sections.

[0014] Optionally, the fixed section and the partition plate have corresponding areas with opposing abutting protrusions that abut against the protective sleeve.

[0015] Optionally, the outdoor unit also includes a side plate of a heat exchanger placed inside the outdoor unit casing, with one side of the partition plate connected to the outdoor unit casing and the other side connected to the side plate of the heat exchanger.

[0016] Optionally, the side plate of the heat exchanger is provided with mounting lugs, and both the mounting lugs and the partition plate are provided with screw holes for screws to pass through and lock the partition plate to the side plate of the heat exchanger.

[0017] Optionally, a snap-fit ​​structure is further provided between the side plate of the heat exchanger and the partition plate. The snap-fit ​​structure includes a snap-fit ​​flange on the side plate of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit ​​notch on the partition plate. The snap-fit ​​flange is spaced apart from the mounting lug, and a portion of the snap-fit ​​flange is exposed on the partition plate.

[0018] Optionally, the outdoor unit further includes a protective cover, the outdoor unit casing includes a chassis and a top cover corresponding to the chassis, the top cover is provided with a clearance opening, the protective cover is embedded in the clearance opening, and the refrigerant hose passes through the protective cover.

[0019] Optionally, a limiting structure is provided between the protective cover and the top cover, the limiting structure being used to fix the protective cover and the top cover.

[0020] Optionally, the limiting structure includes a first annular protrusion at the clearance opening and a first annular groove at the protective cover, wherein the first annular protrusion and the first annular groove cooperate with each other.

[0021] Optionally, the limiting structure further includes a second annular protrusion provided at the clearance opening and a third annular protrusion provided at the protective cover, wherein a second annular groove is formed between the second annular protrusion and the first annular protrusion, and the third annular protrusion is embedded in the second annular groove.

[0022] This invention uses a refrigerant hose to connect the indoor and outdoor units, replacing the traditional method of using a dedicated copper pipe. A flexible refrigerant hose connects the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant circuit before the equipment leaves the factory. This allows users to install the equipment themselves simply by fixing the indoor and outdoor units, eliminating the need for refrigerant hose assembly and refrigerant charging, thus reducing installation difficulty and making subsequent installation easier for users. Furthermore, the refrigerant hose extends to the outdoor unit's partition plate and connects to the compressor interface. A fixing component secures the refrigerant hose, ensuring its stability, preventing shaking, and avoiding loosening, thereby improving product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the outdoor unit at the partition plate; Figure 3 for Figure 2A structural diagram from another perspective; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 5 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle; Figure 6 for Figure 3 Exploded view of the middle partition, side panels, first fastener, and second fastener; Figure 7 for Figure 2 A structural diagram from another perspective; Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of a section at point C; Figure 9 This is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the indoor unit in an air conditioner.

[0025] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0026] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0029] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of components or the interaction between components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, if the word "and / or" appears throughout the text, it means including three parallel solutions; for example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution that simultaneously satisfies A and B. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0031] Currently, in air conditioners, the indoor and outdoor units are assembled separately. During installation, the indoor and outdoor units need to be installed separately first, then the pipelines between the indoor and outdoor units are connected, and finally the venting and refrigerant charging operations are performed to ensure the normal operation of the air conditioner.

[0032] However, connecting and charging refrigerant in air conditioning pipes requires professional operation, which is inconvenient and labor-intensive. In traditional solutions, the refrigerant circuit between the indoor and outdoor units needs to be connected by special copper pipes. Copper pipes are rigid and prone to breakage under stress, making it impossible to pre-connect the indoor and outdoor units at the factory to solve the problem of connecting pipes and charging refrigerant later. Replacing the copper pipes in the traditional solution with flexible refrigerant hoses allows the indoor and outdoor units to be connected together. This enables the pipe connection and refrigerant charging process to be completed before leaving the factory. After purchase, users only need to install the indoor and outdoor units, making it convenient for them to install themselves.

[0033] After connecting the indoor and outdoor units with refrigerant hoses and pre-charging refrigerant into the refrigerant hoses, indoor units, and outdoor unit circuits, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose connection to the indoor unit and avoid shaking. This is because the compressor part of the outdoor unit and the evaporator part of the indoor unit still have copper pipe interfaces. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose connection to the indoor and outdoor units. It is also necessary to consider the convenience of installation, reduce the cost of parts processing, and reduce the assembly process.

[0034] Therefore, this invention proposes an air conditioner designed to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose after it is connected to the outdoor unit, thereby guaranteeing product quality.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figures 1 to 8As shown, the air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 600, a refrigerant hose 200, and an outdoor unit 300. One end of the refrigerant hose 200 is connected to the indoor unit 600. The air conditioner also includes an outdoor unit casing 310, a partition plate 330, and a fixing component 340. The partition plate 330 is located inside the outdoor unit casing 310. The other end of the refrigerant hose 200 extends to the surface 331 of the partition plate 330 and is connected to the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300. The fixing component 340 is used to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose 200 to the partition plate 330.

[0036] For reference, in the traditional solution, the dedicated copper pipe connecting the outdoor unit 300 and the indoor unit 600 works as follows: First, when the air conditioner is working, the compressor in the outdoor unit 300 compresses the refrigerant, changing it from a gaseous refrigerant to a liquid state and releasing heat. At the same time, the liquid refrigerant enters the condenser (radiator) of the outdoor unit 300, where a fan dissipates the heat generated during compression to the outdoor space, causing the refrigerant to become a cooler liquid state. This liquid then enters the evaporator of the indoor unit 600 through the copper pipe (high-pressure pipe or liquid pipe). Because the pressure of the refrigerant decreases after entering the evaporator, it rapidly vaporizes and absorbs a large amount of heat from the surrounding area. The fan in the indoor unit 600 blows the "cool air" into the indoor space, achieving a cooling effect. Then, the vaporized refrigerant exits the evaporator of the indoor unit 600 and passes through another relatively thick copper pipe (low-pressure pipe or gas pipe) connecting the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300, before re-entering the compressor of the outdoor unit 300. The refrigerant hose 200 replaces the copper pipe between the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 mentioned above. The refrigerant hose 200 includes an inner pipe assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 fitted over the inner pipe assembly 210. The inner pipe assembly 210 includes the gas pipe and liquid pipe mentioned above, which are two refrigerant pipes. The inner pipe assembly 210 may also include water pipes, wiring, etc. The protective sleeve 220 is fitted over the inner pipe assembly 210 to provide protection and to ensure that the inner pipe assembly 210 is arranged in an orderly and neat manner.

[0037] The technical solution of this invention connects the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 using a refrigerant hose 200, replacing the traditional method of using a special copper pipe to connect the two units. The flexibility of the refrigerant hose 200 allows for pre-filling of the indoor unit 600 and outdoor unit 300 with refrigerant before leaving the factory, completing the refrigerant circulation loop between them. This facilitates user self-installation and makes the installation of the air conditioner 100 more convenient. Furthermore, the refrigerant hose 200 extends to the partition plate 330 of the outdoor unit 300 and connects to the compressor interface. The refrigerant hose 200 is secured by a fixing component 340, ensuring its stability, preventing shaking, and avoiding loosening, thus improving product quality.

[0038] In one embodiment, the fastening component 340 may be a cable tie, a metal buckle, etc.

[0039] Reference Figure 3 In this embodiment, in order to facilitate fixing and ensure good fixing effect, a pre-positioning structure 400 and a screw fastening structure 500 are provided between the fixing component 340 and the partition plate 330. The pre-positioning structure 400 is used to pre-fix the fixing component 340 on the partition plate 330, and the screw fastening structure 500 is used to connect and fix the fixing component 340 and the partition plate 330.

[0040] Combined with reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 In one embodiment, the fixing component 340 includes a first fixing member 350 and a second fixing member 360, which are spaced apart along the extension direction of the refrigerant hose 200.

[0041] In another embodiment, the fixing component 340 may be an integral part consisting of the first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360.

[0042] The fixing component 340 is generally made of metal or hard plastic. By arranging the pre-positioning structure 400 on the fixing component 340, during the installation of the outdoor unit 300 of the air conditioner, the fixing component 340, such as the first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360, can be pre-fixed on the partition plate 330. This facilitates the subsequent screw fastening process in a limited space. Compared with the need to apply external force to fix and correspond to the screw fastening holes during installation, the installation is more convenient after being pre-fixed by the pre-positioning structure 400.

[0043] The first fixing component 350 and the second fixing component 360 are distributed at intervals along the connection direction of the refrigerant hose 200, which can achieve a better fixing effect with fewer parts. Compared with the whole method, the parts are smaller, the mold manufacturing cost is lower, and the installation is more convenient.

[0044] Specifically, the refrigerant hose 200 includes an inner pipe assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 fitted over the inner pipe assembly 210. Part of the inner pipe assembly 210 is exposed outside the protective sleeve 220 and connected to the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300. The first fastener 350 is located at the exposed part of the inner pipe assembly 210, and the second fastener 360 is located at the protective sleeve 220.

[0045] The first fastener 350 is fixed at the connection between the inlet and outlet copper pipes (liquid pipes / gas pipes) of the outdoor unit 300 and the refrigerant hose 200, ensuring the stability of the copper pipe section of the outdoor unit 300 and preventing it from shaking. The second fastener 360 is fixed at the protective sleeve 220, ensuring the stability of the refrigerant hose 200 on the partition plate 330. In this way, both the refrigerant hose 200 and the inlet and outlet copper pipes of the outdoor unit 300 are fixed on the partition plate 330, making it difficult for the connection to come loose and ensuring a stable connection. This prevents loosening during subsequent movement of the outdoor unit 300 and ensures product quality.

[0046] Specifically, the pre-positioning structure 400 includes a first pre-positioning structure 410, which is disposed on one side of the first fixing member 350, and the screw locking structure 500 includes a first locking structure 510, which is disposed on the other side of the first fixing member 350.

[0047] Combined with reference Figure 6 In one embodiment, the first fixing member 350 includes a limiting section 351 located outside the inner tube assembly 210 and connecting sections 352 located on both sides of the limiting section 351. The partition plate 330 is provided with a limiting flange 332, and a limiting opening 333 is formed between the limiting flange 332 and the partition plate 330. The first pre-positioning structure 410 includes one of the connecting sections 352 and the limiting opening 333 for the connecting section 352 to be inserted. The first locking structure 510 is disposed between another connecting section 352 and the partition plate 330.

[0048] In the specific design, the elongated section of the partition plate 330 protrudes outward, acting like a handle for a handbag. During installation, the connecting section 352 of a fastener is inserted into the limiting opening 333 formed by the "handle" and the partition plate 330. The limiting section 351 abuts against the limiting opening 333, thus pre-fixing the first fastener 350 onto the partition plate 330. Screw holes are provided on the other opposite connecting section 352. During installation, simply tightening the screws is sufficient to connect and fix the first fastener 350 to the partition plate 330, making installation more convenient. The first fastener 350 fixes the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300, ensuring that the pipe 320 is not easily detached from the partition plate 330. Compared to other designs, this design offers a larger mating area between the limiting opening 333 and the connecting section 352, making installation easier. During installation, only one end of the connecting section 352 needs to be inserted into the limiting opening 333. Even if the compressor is closer to the chassis, installation is still more convenient than other designs.

[0049] In another embodiment, the first pre-positioning structure 410 can also be pre-fixed by means of a snap fastener 364 and a groove 334.

[0050] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 Specifically, the prepositioning structure 400 includes a second prepositioning structure 420, which includes a buckle 364 disposed on the second fixing member 360 and a buckle groove 334 disposed on the partition plate 330, wherein the buckle 364 and the buckle groove 334 are engaged.

[0051] In one embodiment, the second fastener 360 includes a fixing section 361 located outside the protective sleeve 220 and folded edge sections 363 located on both sides of the fixing section 361. A buckle 364 is provided on one of the folded edge sections 363, and a buckle groove 334 passes through the partition plate 330. The screw locking structure 500 includes a second locking structure 520, and the second locking structure 520 is provided on each of the folded edge sections 363.

[0052] The buckle 364 extends towards the partition plate 330 on the folded edge section 363, meaning the buckle 364 and the folded edge section 363 intersect. The buckle 364 is a downward-bent hook. The buckle groove 334 on the partition plate 330 is like a narrow slit. During installation, the buckle 364 is inserted into the buckle groove 334, and the hook part of the buckle 364 abuts against the edge of the buckle groove 334 to achieve fixation. At this time, the folded edge section 363 is close to or against the partition plate 330, and the screw locking structure 50 on the folded edge section 363 is engaged. The screw hole is configured so that when the buckle 364 and the buckle groove 334 are engaged, the screw holes of the folded edge section 363 and the partition plate 330 are aligned, and the screw can be tightened to fix the second fastener 360 to the partition plate 330. Moreover, the second fastener 360 adopts a screw locking structure 500 on the folded edge section 363 to ensure the fixing effect of the refrigerant hose 200. The movement of the refrigerant hose 200 outside the outdoor unit 300 will not affect the fixing part on the partition plate 330, thus ensuring the quality of the product.

[0053] Furthermore, to ensure the effective fixation of the refrigerant hose 200 by the second fastener 360, corresponding areas of the fixing section 361 and the partition plate 330 are provided with abutting protrusions 362, which abut against the protective sleeve 220. This allows the limiting section 351 of the second fastener 360 to better apply pre-tightening force to the protective sleeve 220 of the refrigerant hose 200, and the cooperation of the abutting protrusions 362 ensures that the refrigerant hose 200 is not easily moved. Thus, with just one second fastener 360, the portion of the refrigerant hose 200 on the partition plate 330 can be firmly fixed. Moreover, the second fastener 360 is easy to install and has low processing costs.

[0054] Specifically, in the traditional solution, the outdoor unit 300 is divided into chambers within the outdoor unit casing 310 by a partition plate 330. One chamber houses the fan and heat exchanger, while the other chamber houses the compressor and electronic control components. In this solution, to ensure that the routing of the refrigerant hose 200 does not affect the subsequent installation of the outdoor unit 300, the refrigerant hose 200 is positioned at the edge of the outdoor unit 300. The outdoor unit 300 is typically rectangular, and the refrigerant hose 200 is positioned at the short edge of the rectangle, extending from the top to the bottom of the outdoor unit 300. If the traditional solution is used, the routing and fixing of the refrigerant hose 200 will be difficult. Therefore, in this solution, the outdoor unit 300 also includes a side plate 370 of the heat exchanger placed inside the outdoor unit casing 310. One side of the partition plate 330 is connected to the outdoor unit casing 310, and the other side is connected to the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger. Specifically, the side plate 370 of the air exchanger has multiple air exchanger pipe holes arranged on its surface 331 for the copper pipes of the air exchanger to pass through. The side plate 370 of the air exchanger is close to the edge of the rectangle. The circuit formed by the connection between the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300 and the refrigerant hose 200 is located in the receiving cavity between the partition plate 330 and the outdoor unit casing, and is fixed to the partition plate 330 by the fixing component 340. This does not affect the arrangement space of the fan and compressor, and also ensures the stability of the connection between the refrigerant hose 200 and the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300, making it less likely to detach and ensuring the quality of the product.

[0055] Reference Figure 6 To facilitate the connection between the partition plate 330 and the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and to facilitate the installation of the partition plate 330, the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger is provided with mounting lugs 371. Both the mounting lugs 371 and the partition plate 330 are provided with screw holes for screws to pass through and lock the partition plate 330 to the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger.

[0056] In screw-based connection schemes, at least one screw position is usually required to ensure a secure fixation. However, the connection position between the partition plate 330 and the heat exchanger side plate 370 is close to the edge of the outer casing 310, where the operating space is limited. To improve the ease of installation and the efficiency of product assembly, a snap-fit ​​structure is also provided between the heat exchanger side plate 370 and the partition plate 330.

[0057] In one embodiment, the snap-fit ​​structure includes a snap-fit ​​flange 372 provided on the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit ​​notch 335 provided on the partition plate 330. The snap-fit ​​flange 372 is spaced apart from the mounting lug 371, and a portion of the snap-fit ​​flange 372 is exposed on the partition plate 330.

[0058] During installation, the snap-fit ​​flange 372 of the heat exchanger side plate 370 extends from the back side of the partition plate 330 to the front side of the partition plate 330 through the snap-fit ​​notch 335. This snap-fit ​​structure can also serve as a pre-fixing mechanism. At this time, the screw holes on the mounting lug 371 are aligned with the screw holes on the partition plate 330, making it easy to tighten the screws to fix the heat exchanger side plate 370 and the partition plate 330.

[0059] In another embodiment, the snap-fit ​​structure may also be a groove for the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and a slider for the edge of the partition plate 330, with the partition plate 330 snapped into the groove of the heat exchange plate by sliding insertion.

[0060] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 It is not hard to imagine that the refrigerant hose 200 needs to have a clearance opening 393 in the outdoor unit 310 to enter the interior when passing through the outdoor unit 310. The unit is generally made of sheet metal with a relatively sharp cut, which is to avoid the refrigerant hose 200 from being cut and to protect the safety of personnel. The outdoor unit 300 also includes a protective cover 380. The outdoor unit 310 includes a chassis and a top cover 390 corresponding to the chassis. The top cover 390 is provided with a clearance opening 393. The protective cover 380 is embedded in the clearance opening 393, and the refrigerant hose 200 passes through the protective cover 380.

[0061] Specifically, in one embodiment, the protective cover 380 is made of rubber, which has a certain degree of hardness and also provides protection.

[0062] In other embodiments, the protective cover 380 may also be made of materials such as plastic.

[0063] To facilitate the installation of the protective cover 380, in one embodiment, the protective cover 380 can be embedded into the clearance opening 393 by utilizing the flexible deformation of its own material.

[0064] In this design, the protective cover 380 has a cross section. When installing the protective cover 380, the cross sections can be misaligned, which makes it easier for the protective cover 380 to be embedded in the clearance opening 393, thus facilitating the installation of the protective cover 380.

[0065] Regarding the location of the protective cover 380, in one embodiment, the protective cover 380 is located on the top of the outer casing 310.

[0066] In another embodiment, the protective cover 380 may be disposed on the side of the outer casing 310.

[0067] To address the issue of the protective cover 380 easily becoming loose when directly embedded in the clearance opening 393, a limiting structure is provided between the protective cover 380 and the top cover 390. The limiting structure is used to fix the protective cover 380 and the top cover 390.

[0068] In one embodiment, the limiting structure includes a first annular protrusion 394 provided at the clearance opening 393 and a first annular groove 391 provided at the protective cover 380, wherein the first annular protrusion 394 and the first annular groove 391 cooperate with each other.

[0069] To further improve the fixing effect of the protective cover 380, the limiting structure also includes a second annular protrusion 395 located at the clearance opening 393 and a third annular protrusion 392 located on the protective cover 380. A second annular groove 396 is formed between the second annular protrusion 395 and the first annular protrusion 394, and the third annular protrusion 392 is embedded in the second annular groove 396. The cross-sectional shape of the third annular protrusion 392 is like a "7". When installing, after the protective cover 380 is inserted into the second annular groove 396, the first annular protrusion 394, which is the edge of the clearance opening 393, has a cross-section of "I" and is embedded in the first annular groove 391. Multiple fixings ensure the stable installation of the protective cover 380. Moreover, the material of the protective cover 380, whether made of rubber or plastic, has a certain degree of flexibility, making installation convenient.

[0070] In another embodiment, the limiting structure is positioned in the snap-fit ​​groove of the clearance opening 393, and the edge of the protective cover 380 is provided with corresponding claws. During installation, the protective cover 380 is pressed down so that the claws engage with the snap-fit ​​groove.

[0071] Regarding the connection between the indoor unit 600 and the refrigerant hose 200.

[0072] Reference Figure 9 The indoor unit 600 includes an indoor unit casing 610 and a mounting assembly 620. The outer surface of the indoor unit casing 610 is provided with a mounting position. The connecting pipe of the indoor unit 600 extends to the mounting position. The other end of the refrigerant hose 200 is connected to the connecting pipe. The mounting assembly 620 is fixed to the indoor unit casing 610 to fix the refrigerant hose 200 and the connecting pipe to the indoor unit casing 610.

[0073] In one embodiment, the mounting component 620 may be a cable tie, a metal buckle, etc.

[0074] In this embodiment, for ease of fixing and to ensure good fixing effect, a pre-positioning structure 400 and a screw fastening structure 500 are provided between the mounting component 620 and the inner casing 610, which can be set like the outdoor unit 300. The pre-positioning structure 400 is used to pre-fix the mounting component 620 to the inner casing 610, and the screw fastening structure 500 is used to fix the mounting component 620 to the inner casing 610.

[0075] In one embodiment, the mounting assembly 620 includes a first mounting member and a second mounting member, which are spaced apart at mounting positions. The first mounting member is located at the connecting pipe, and the second mounting member is located at the refrigerant hose 200.

[0076] In another embodiment, the mounting component 620 may be an integral part consisting of the first mounting component and the second mounting component.

[0077] The mounting component 620 is generally made of metal or hard plastic. By arranging a pre-positioning structure on the mounting component 620, the mounting component 620, such as the first mounting part and the second mounting part, can be pre-fixed to the inner casing 610 during the installation of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. This facilitates the subsequent screw fastening process in a limited space. Compared with the need to apply external force to fix and correspond to the screw fastening holes during installation, the installation is more convenient after pre-fixing through the pre-positioning structure.

[0078] Specifically, the refrigerant hose 200 includes an inner pipe assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 fitted over the inner pipe assembly 210. A portion of the inner pipe assembly 210 is exposed outside the protective sleeve 220 and connected to the piping 320 of the indoor unit 600. A first mounting component is located at the piping portion of the indoor unit 600, and a second mounting component is located at the protective sleeve. The first mounting component is fixed to the inlet and outlet copper pipes (liquid / gas pipes) of the indoor unit 600 and close to the connection point of the refrigerant hose 200, ensuring the stability of the copper pipe portion of the indoor unit 600 and preventing it from shaking. The second mounting component is fixed to the protective sleeve 220, ensuring the stability of the refrigerant hose 200 within the inner casing. Thus, both the refrigerant hose 200 and the inlet and outlet copper pipes of the indoor unit 600 are fixed to the inner casing, preventing the connection from easily detaching and ensuring a stable connection. This prevents loosening during subsequent movement of the indoor unit 600, ensuring product quality.

[0079] To protect the connecting pipe of the indoor unit 600 and prevent leakage caused by hard contact between the first mounting component and the connecting pipe, the indoor unit 600 also includes a protective component, which is sleeved on the connecting pipe and located between the first mounting component and the indoor unit casing.

[0080] In one embodiment, the protective component is made of rubber and has a mounting groove corresponding to the shape of the connecting pipe. The connecting pipe is inserted into the mounting groove, which not only provides protection but also restricts the movement of the connecting pipe, resulting in a better fixing effect based on the first mounting component.

[0081] In another embodiment, the protective component is made of foam, silicone, etc., and mounting slots can also be provided.

[0082] To protect the refrigerant hose 200 and connecting pipes, the indoor unit 600 also includes a protective shell. The protective shell is located at the mounting position and is fixed to the indoor unit casing 610. The mounting assembly 620 is located inside the protective shell. The surface of the indoor unit casing 610 is recessed inward to form the mounting position, which is adapted to the protective shell. This ensures that the installation of the protective shell on the indoor unit casing 610 does not appear obtrusive, thus providing both protection and maintaining a good appearance.

[0083] In one embodiment, the protective shell is fixed to the inner casing 610 by screw fastening, which is simple to install and low in cost.

[0084] Using screws for fixing alone is difficult to assemble. In this embodiment, the inner casing is provided with a plug-in protrusion, and the bottom of the protective shell is provided with a matching plug-in groove.

[0085] During installation, align the bottom recess of the protective shell with the protrusion of the inner chassis. The bottom recess of the protective shell can extend along the width of the protective shell or be set in the width direction. In this way, the protective shell can be easily tightened by pushing the top of the protective shell against the inner chassis through the cooperation of the protrusion and the recess, making the installation more convenient.

[0086] It should be noted that the air conditioner 100 can be a split-type air conditioner that is easy for users to install themselves. It uses flexible refrigerant pipes to connect the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit 300, and refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant circuit before the equipment leaves the factory. Thus, when users install the equipment themselves, they only need to fix the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 separately, without needing to install refrigerant pipes or add refrigerant, thereby reducing installation difficulty and enabling individual installation. However, this design is not limited to this; in other embodiments, the air conditioner can also be a regular split-type air conditioner.

[0087] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: Indoor unit and outdoor unit; as well as The refrigerant hose has one end connected to the indoor unit and the other end connected to the outdoor unit. The refrigerant hose includes an inner pipe assembly and a protective sleeve fitted over the inner pipe assembly. Both ends of the inner pipe assembly are exposed outside the protective sleeve. One end of the inner pipe assembly is connected to the connecting pipe of the indoor unit, and the other end is connected to the pipe of the outdoor unit. The refrigerant hose, the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit circuits are pre-filled with refrigerant; The indoor unit includes a mounting assembly for securing one end of the refrigerant hose to the indoor unit; The outdoor unit includes an outdoor unit casing, a partition plate, a side plate of a heat exchanger, and a fixing assembly. The partition plate and the side plate are both located inside the outdoor unit casing. One side of the partition plate is connected to the outdoor unit casing, and the other side is connected to the side plate of the heat exchanger. The side plate has pipe holes on its surface. The pipes of the outdoor unit pass through the pipe holes and are fixed to the partition plate. The other end of the refrigerant hose extends to the surface of the partition plate and is connected to the pipes of the outdoor unit. The fixing component is used to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose to the partition plate. The fixing assembly includes a first fixing member and a second fixing member fixed on the partition plate. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are spaced apart along the extension direction of the refrigerant hose. The first fixing member is fixed at the connection between the outdoor unit pipeline and the refrigerant hose, and the second fixing member is located at the protective sleeve.

2. The air conditioner as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A pre-positioning structure and a screw fastening structure are provided between the installation component and the indoor unit. The pre-positioning structure is used to connect the installation component to the indoor unit, and the screw fastening structure is used to connect and fix the installation component to the indoor unit. and / or A pre-positioning structure and a screw fastening structure are provided between the fixing component and the outdoor unit. The pre-positioning structure is used to connect the fixing component to the outdoor unit, and the screw fastening structure is used to connect and fix the fixing component to the outdoor unit.

3. The air conditioner as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The pre-positioning structure between the installation component and the indoor unit and / or the pre-positioning structure between the fixing component and the outdoor unit are configured as snap-fit ​​or plug-in structures.

4. The air conditioner as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The installation assembly includes a first mounting component and a second mounting component, which are spaced apart along the extension direction of the refrigerant hose.

5. The air conditioner as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The first mounting component is located at the connecting pipe of the indoor unit, and the second mounting component is located at the protective sleeve.

6. The air conditioner as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The pre-positioning structure includes a first pre-positioning structure disposed on one side of the first fixing member, and the screw fastening structure includes a first fastening structure disposed on the other side of the first fixing member.

7. The air conditioner as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first fastener includes a limiting segment located outside the inner tube assembly and connecting segments located on both sides of the limiting segment. The partition plate is provided with a limiting port. The first pre-positioning structure includes one of the connecting segments and the limiting port for insertion of the connecting segment. The first locking structure is used to connect another connecting segment to the partition plate.

8. The air conditioner as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first fastener includes a limiting section located on the outside of the inner tube assembly and connecting sections located on both sides of the limiting section. The first pre-positioning structure includes a buckle and a buckle groove mating structure disposed between one of the connecting sections and the partition plate. The first locking structure is disposed between the other connecting section and the partition plate.

9. The air conditioner as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The pre-positioning structure includes a second pre-positioning structure, which includes a buckle provided on the second fixing member and a buckle groove provided on the partition plate, wherein the buckle and the buckle groove are engaged.

10. The air conditioner as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The second fastener includes a fixing section located on the outside of the protective sleeve and folded edge sections located on both sides of the fixing section. The buckle is provided on one of the folded edge sections, the buckle groove passes through the partition plate, and the screw locking structure includes a second locking structure. The second locking structure is provided on both of the folded edge sections.

11. The air conditioner as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The fixed section and the partition plate have corresponding areas with opposing protrusions that abut against the protective sleeve.

12. The air conditioner as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The indoor unit also includes an indoor unit casing, the outer surface of which is provided with a mounting position. The connecting pipe of the indoor unit extends to the mounting position, and the mounting assembly is fixed to the indoor unit casing to fix the refrigerant hose and the connecting pipe at the mounting position.

13. The air conditioner as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The indoor unit also includes a protective component, which is sleeved on the connecting pipe and located between the first mounting component and the mounting position.

14. The air conditioner as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The indoor unit also includes a protective shell, which is located at the mounting position and fixed to the indoor unit casing. The mounting components are located inside the protective shell.

15. The air conditioner as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchanger's side plate is provided with mounting lugs, and both the mounting lugs and the partition plate are provided with screw holes. The screw holes are used for screws to pass through and lock the partition plate to the heat exchanger's side plate.

16. The air conditioner as described in claim 15, characterized in that, A snap-fit ​​structure is also provided between the side plate of the heat exchanger and the partition plate. The snap-fit ​​structure includes a snap-fit ​​flange on the side plate of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit ​​notch on the partition plate. The snap-fit ​​flange is spaced apart from the mounting lug, and a portion of the snap-fit ​​flange is exposed on the partition plate.

17. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The outdoor unit also includes a protective cover. The outdoor unit casing includes a chassis and a top cover corresponding to the chassis. The top cover is provided with a clearance opening. The protective cover is located at the clearance opening, and the refrigerant hose passes through the clearance opening.

18. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that, A limiting structure is provided between the protective cover and the top cover, and the limiting structure is used to fix the protective cover and the top cover.

19. The air conditioner as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The limiting structure includes a first annular protrusion at the clearance opening and a first annular groove at the protective cover, wherein the first annular protrusion and the first annular groove cooperate with each other.

20. The air conditioner as described in claim 19, characterized in that, The limiting structure further includes a second annular protrusion provided at the clearance opening and a third annular protrusion provided at the protective cover. A second annular groove is formed between the second annular protrusion and the first annular protrusion, and the third annular protrusion is embedded in the second annular groove.

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