Air Conditioner Outdoor Unit, Air Conditioner and Cleaning Control Methods

Abstract

This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and provides an outdoor unit for an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a cleaning control method. The outdoor unit includes a casing, a heat exchanger, and a cleaning assembly. The heat exchanger is disposed within the casing. The cleaning assembly includes a track component, a cleaning brush, and a drive component. The track component includes a first track and a second track arranged opposite to each other, both extending from the outer bottom of the heat exchanger, through the top of the heat exchanger, to the inner bottom of the heat exchanger. The cleaning brush is movably disposed between the first and second tracks. The drive component drives the cleaning brush to move along the first and second tracks. The cleaning brush is configured to contact the surface of the heat exchanger during movement to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger. By driving the cleaning brush along the first and second tracks, the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger are cleaned, thereby removing dust adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger and avoiding affecting heat exchange efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a cleaning control method. Background Technology

[0002] When an air conditioner's outdoor unit is placed outdoors and used normally for a period of time, a certain thickness of dust will accumulate on the surface of the heat exchanger. Alternatively, when the user does not use the air conditioner, dust can penetrate the unit's mesh cover and accumulate on the inner surface of the heat exchanger after a long period of inactivity, resulting in dust adhering to both the inside and outside of the heat exchanger. When the accumulated dust reaches a certain thickness, it will affect the air conditioner's heat exchange efficiency and impact the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, or at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides an outdoor unit for an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a cleaning control method.

[0004] The first aspect of this application provides an outdoor unit for an air conditioner, comprising:

[0005] chassis;

[0006] The heat exchanger is housed within the casing.

[0007] A cleaning assembly includes a track component, a cleaning brush, and a drive component. The track component includes a first track and a second track arranged opposite to each other. Both the first track and the second track extend from the outer bottom of the heat exchanger, through the top of the heat exchanger, to the inner bottom of the heat exchanger. The cleaning brush is movably disposed between the first track and the second track.

[0008] The drive unit drives the cleaning brush to move along the first track and the second track. The cleaning brush is configured to contact the surface of the heat exchanger during movement to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger.

[0009] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner provided in this application includes a cleaning component. The cleaning component includes a track, a cleaning brush, and a drive unit. The track includes a first track and a second track arranged opposite each other. Both the first track and the second track extend from the outer bottom of the heat exchanger, through the top of the heat exchanger, to the inner bottom of the heat exchanger. The cleaning brush is movably disposed between the first track and the second track. With this arrangement, the drive unit drives the cleaning brush to move along the first track and the second track. During the movement, the cleaning brush contacts the surface of the heat exchanger, enabling the cleaning brush to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger from the outside to the inside (or from the inside to the outside), thereby removing dust adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger. This prevents dust from accumulating to a certain thickness and affecting the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner, thus improving the user experience.

[0010] In some embodiments, the track further includes a track cover connected between the top of the first track and the top of the second track, with an movable gap formed between the track cover and the top of the heat exchanger for the cleaning brush to pass through.

[0011] In some embodiments, a fan bracket is provided inside the housing, and the upper part of the fan bracket is fixedly connected to the track cover.

[0012] In some embodiments, the upper part of the fan bracket is formed with a first bracket portion extending toward the track cover, and the first bracket portion is fixedly connected to the track cover;

[0013] Alternatively, a second support portion extending toward the fan bracket is formed on the track cover, and the second support portion is fixedly connected to the fan bracket;

[0014] Alternatively, a connector may be provided between the upper part of the fan bracket and the track cover, and the connector may be fixedly connected to the fan bracket and the track cover respectively.

[0015] In some embodiments, the housing includes a front panel, the fan bracket is disposed between the heat exchanger and the front panel, and the upper part of the fan bracket is fixedly connected to the track cover and the front panel respectively;

[0016] And / or, the housing includes a chassis, the lower part of the fan bracket is supported on the chassis and fixedly connected to the chassis.

[0017] In some embodiments, the housing includes a top cover, the top of the track cover is fitted to the top cover, or the gap between the top of the track cover and the top cover is less than a preset value.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first track includes an annular first track inner wall and a first track outer wall surrounding the periphery of the first track inner wall, and a first track groove is formed between the first track inner wall and the first track outer wall;

[0019] The second track includes an annular inner wall and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, with a second track groove formed between the inner wall and the outer wall.

[0020] The cleaning brush includes a brush body and a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel respectively disposed at both ends of the brush body. The first drive wheel is movably disposed in the first track groove, and the second drive wheel is movably disposed in the second track groove.

[0021] In some embodiments, the driving component includes a drive motor, an annular belt, and an annular rack. The annular belt is movably sleeved on the inner wall of the first track and is connected to the drive motor for transmission. An external tooth is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular belt. The annular rack is sleeved on the inner wall of the second track, and an external tooth is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular rack.

[0022] Both the first transmission wheel and the second transmission wheel are gears. The first transmission wheel meshes with the outer teeth of the annular belt for transmission, and the second transmission wheel meshes with the outer teeth of the annular rack for transmission.

[0023] In some embodiments, the housing includes a first side plate and a second side plate disposed opposite to each other, the first track being fixed to the first side plate and the second track being fixed to the second side plate.

[0024] In some embodiments, the housing includes a chassis, and the heat exchanger is supported on the chassis;

[0025] The chassis includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall connected to the outer periphery of the bottom wall. A receiving gap is formed between the outer surface of the heat exchanger and the surrounding wall of the chassis. The cleaning brush is hidden in the receiving gap when not in operation.

[0026] In some embodiments, a sensor is disposed within the housing, the sensor having a detection portion facing the inner surface of the heat exchanger, the sensor being used to detect the thickness of dust on the inner surface of the heat exchanger.

[0027] A second aspect of this application provides an air conditioner, including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit as described in any of the above embodiments, wherein the indoor unit is electrically connected to the outdoor unit via a cable.

[0028] A third aspect of this application provides a cleaning control method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner as described in any of the above embodiments, comprising the following steps:

[0029] After the air conditioner finishes running, determine the relationship between the number of days ΔD between the current date D and the last date D0 when the cleaning component was turned on, and the preset interval threshold β.

[0030] If ΔD≥β, it indicates that the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will be controlled to enter the cleaning mode.

[0031] In some embodiments, the cleaning control method further includes:

[0032] If ΔD < β, then determine the relationship between the difference Δh between the current dust thickness h on the surface of the heat exchanger and the initial dust thickness h0, and the preset thickness threshold X that needs to be cleaned.

[0033] If Δh≥X, it indicates that the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will be controlled to enter the cleaning mode.

[0034] In some embodiments, the cleaning control method further includes:

[0035] If Δh < X, then determine the relationship between the difference Δt between the current cumulative running time t and the initial cumulative running time t0 of the air conditioner and the preset cumulative running time threshold Y that needs to be cleaned;

[0036] If Δt≥Y, it indicates that the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is controlled to enter the cleaning mode.

[0037] If Δt < Y, then the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will not be prompted to be cleaned.

[0038] In some embodiments, controlling the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to enter the cleaning mode specifically includes:

[0039] The cleaning assembly is activated, and the drive unit drives the cleaning brush to move along the first and second tracks to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger until the thickness Δh2 of the dust on the surface of the heat exchanger is less than the sum of the initial dust thickness h0 and the dust thickness deviation value Z.

[0040] When the outdoor unit of the air conditioner enters the frosting and defrosting mode, the remaining dust on the surface of the heat exchanger flows into the chassis of the outdoor unit with the defrosting water, and is discharged through the drain hole of the chassis after being cleaned by the cleaning brush.

[0041] Exit cleaning mode and record the current dust thickness Δh1 on the surface of the heat exchanger as the initial dust thickness h0, the current date D as the initial running date D0, and the current cumulative running time t of the air conditioner as the initial cumulative running time t0.

[0042] In some embodiments, the activation of the cleaning assembly, wherein the driving component drives the cleaning brush to move along a first track and a second track to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger, specifically includes:

[0043] The driving component drives the cleaning brush to reset to the lowest part of the outer surface of the heat exchanger;

[0044] The driving component drives the cleaning brush to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger sequentially along the first and second tracks. After reaching the bottom of the inner surface of the heat exchanger, the driving component drives the cleaning brush back along the original path to the bottom of the outer surface of the heat exchanger. Attached Figure Description

[0045] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0046] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 2 This is a rear view structural diagram of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a schematic front view of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner with the mesh cover and other structures removed, according to an embodiment of this application.

[0050] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the AA direction;

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the heat exchanger, track components, fan bracket, and chassis of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A structural schematic diagram of the structure shown from a rear-view perspective;

[0053] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A structural schematic diagram from the front view of the structure shown;

[0054] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the BB direction;

[0055] Figure 9 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the CC direction;

[0056] Figure 10 for Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the cleaning brush's movement and cleaning trajectory;

[0057] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the heat exchanger, track components, fan bracket, and chassis of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to another embodiment of this application;

[0058] Figure 12 for Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the DD direction;

[0059] Figure 13This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the heat exchanger, track components, fan bracket, and chassis of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of this application;

[0060] Figure 14 for Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the EE direction;

[0061] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the sensor assembly structure of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of this application within the housing;

[0062] Figure 16 This is a schematic flowchart of a cleaning control method according to an embodiment of this application;

[0063] Figure 17 This is a partial flowchart illustrating the cleaning control method described in one embodiment of this application.

[0064] The components include: 1. Housing; 11. Front panel; 12. Mesh cover; 13. First side panel; 14. Second side panel; 15. Screws; 16. Top cover; 17. Chassis.

[0065] 2. Heat exchanger;

[0066] 3. Track component; 31. First track; 311. Inner wall of the first track; 312. Outer wall of the first track; 313. First track groove; 32. Second track; 321. Inner wall of the second track; 322. Outer wall of the second track; 323. Second track groove; 33. Track cover; 331. Second support part; 34. Connector;

[0067] 4. Cleaning brush; 41. Brush body; 42. First drive wheel; 43. Second drive wheel;

[0068] 5. Driving components; 51. Drive motor; 52. Annular belt; 53. Annular rack;

[0069] 6. Fan bracket; 61. First bracket section; 62. Installation section;

[0070] 7. Fan; 71. Motor; 72. Wind turbine;

[0071] 8. Sensors;

[0072] 9. Partition. Detailed Implementation

[0073] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application, the solution of this application will be further described below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0074] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this application, but this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein; obviously, the embodiments in the specification are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0075] Reference Figures 1 to 15 As shown, some embodiments of this application provide an outdoor unit for an air conditioner, including a housing 1, a heat exchanger 2, and a cleaning component. The heat exchanger 2 is disposed within the housing 1, and the cleaning component may also be entirely located within the housing 1. The cleaning component is used to clean the surface of the heat exchanger 2.

[0076] The cleaning assembly includes a track component 3, a cleaning brush 4, and a drive component 5. The track component 3 includes a first track 31 and a second track 32 arranged opposite to each other. Both the first track 31 and the second track 32 extend from the outer bottom of the heat exchanger 2, through the top of the heat exchanger 2, to the inner bottom of the heat exchanger 2. The cleaning brush 4 is movably disposed between the first track 31 and the second track 32. The drive component 5 drives the cleaning brush 4 to move along the first track 31 and the second track 32, that is, the drive component 5 drives the cleaning brush 4 to move from the outer side to the inner side (or from the inner side to the outer side) of the heat exchanger 2 along the first track 31 and the second track 32 (see reference). Figure 10 (As indicated by the arrow in the image), the cleaning brush 4 is configured to contact the surface of the heat exchanger 2 during movement to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2.

[0077] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner provided in this application embodiment is configured such that both the first track 31 and the second track 32 extend from the outer bottom of the heat exchanger 2, through the top of the heat exchanger 2, to the inner bottom of the heat exchanger 2. The cleaning brush 4 is movably disposed between the first track 31 and the second track 32. Thus, the cleaning brush 4 is driven by the driving member 5 to move along the first track 31 and the second track 32, so that the cleaning brush 4 can move from the outside of the heat exchanger 2, through the top of the heat exchanger 2, to the inside of the heat exchanger 2, or from the inside of the heat exchanger 2, through the top of the heat exchanger 2, to the outside of the heat exchanger 2, and the cleaning brush 4 contacts the surface of the heat exchanger 2 during the movement, so that the cleaning brush 4 can clean the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 from the outside to the inside (or from the inside to the outside), thereby removing the dust attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2, avoiding the accumulation of dust to a certain thickness that would affect the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner, and improving the user experience.

[0078] It should be noted that the casing 1 typically houses a fan 7 for driving airflow. The fan 7 includes a motor 71 and a fan wheel 72 driven by the motor 71. The casing 1 includes a front panel 11, on which a mesh cover 12 is mounted, corresponding to the fan wheel 72. Outdoor dust not only accumulates on the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2 but can also penetrate the mesh cover 12 and enter the casing 1, accumulating on the inner surface of the heat exchanger 2. The outdoor air conditioner unit provided in this embodiment can utilize a cleaning assembly to remove dust from the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2, preventing dust from affecting the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 2.

[0079] In specific implementation, the first track 31 and the second track 32 can be arranged opposite each other at the two opposite edges of the heat exchanger 2 along the width direction. The cleaning brush 4 extends along the width direction of the heat exchanger 2, and its two ends along the extension direction are respectively movably arranged in the first track 31 and the second track 32. With this arrangement, when the driving member 5 drives the cleaning brush 4 to move along the first track 31 and the second track 32, the cleaning brush 4 can clean the entire width range of the heat exchanger 2, ensuring the cleaning effect of the heat exchanger 2; and the arrangement of the first track 31 and the second track 32 does not affect the heat exchange between the airflow and the heat exchanger 2. That is, while ensuring that the heat exchanger 2 can exchange heat normally with the airflow, the surface cleaning operation of the heat exchanger 2 is achieved.

[0080] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 As shown, the housing 1 includes a first side plate 13 and a second side plate 14 disposed opposite to each other. A first track 31 is fixed on the first side plate 13, and a second track 32 is fixed on the second side plate 14. This arrangement is to fix the first track 31 and the second track 32 on the housing 1.

[0081] Specifically, the first side panel 13 and the second side panel 14 can be arranged opposite each other along the width direction of the housing 1. Taking the main view of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner as a reference, the first side panel 13 and the second side panel 14 can be arranged opposite each other along the left and right direction of the housing 1. The first side panel 13 can be called the right side panel, and the second side panel 14 can be called the left side panel. Correspondingly, the first track 31 can be called the right track, and the second track 32 can be called the left track.

[0082] In specific implementation, the first track 31 can be connected to the first side plate 13 by screws 15, and the second track 32 can be connected to the second side plate 14 by screws 15; of course, welding, snap-fit ​​connection or other methods can also be used to achieve the connection of the first track 31 to the first side plate 13 and the connection of the second track 32 to the second side plate 14.

[0083] Furthermore, the first track 31 is not limited to being fixedly connected to the first side plate 13, and the second track 32 is not limited to being fixedly connected to the second side plate 14. For example, the housing 1 includes a rear plate connected between the first side plate 13 and the second side plate 14, and both the first track 31 and the second track 32 may be fixedly connected to the rear plate.

[0084] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the track also includes a track cover 33, which connects the top of the first track 31 and the top of the second track 32. A movable gap is formed between the track cover 33 and the top of the heat exchanger 2 for the cleaning brush 4 to pass through. This arrangement connects the first track 31 and the second track 32 through the track cover 33, improving the overall structural strength of the track; and the movable gap between the track cover 33 and the top of the heat exchanger 2 allows the cleaning brush 4 to pass through, avoiding the movement trajectory of the cleaning brush 4 and ensuring that the cleaning brush 4 can move from one side surface of the heat exchanger 2 through the top of the heat exchanger 2 to the other side surface of the heat exchanger 2.

[0085] In a specific implementation, the track cover 33 can extend along the width of the heat exchanger 2 and cover the top of the heat exchanger 2. Specifically, the vertical cross-section of the track cover 33 can be an arc-shaped structure with the opening facing downwards, or the track cover 33 can be formed as an arc-shaped cover structure with the opening facing downwards. An movable gap is formed between the inner surface of the track cover 33 and the upper part of the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2, the top of the heat exchanger 2, and the upper part of the inner surface of the heat exchanger 2 to allow the cleaning brush 4 to pass through.

[0086] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the housing 1 includes a top cover 16, and the top of the track cover 33 is fitted into the top cover 16. Alternatively, there may be a small gap between the top of the track cover 33 and the top cover 16, and the gap distance between the top of the track cover 33 and the top cover 16 is less than a preset value, for example, less than 5 mm. This is configured to prevent airflow from blowing in through the gap between the top of the track cover 33 and the top cover 16, thus affecting the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 2. It should be noted that this preset value is not limited to 5 mm and can be reasonably set according to actual conditions.

[0087] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a fan 7 is installed inside the casing 1 to drive airflow, so that outdoor air is drawn into the casing 1 through the fan 7, so that the air exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 2 inside the casing 1, and then the heat-exchanged air is blown out of the casing 1.

[0088] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 4 to 6As shown, a fan bracket 6 is provided inside the housing 1, and a fan 7 is mounted on the fan bracket 6. Specifically, the fan 7 includes a motor 71 and a fan wheel 72 that is drively connected to the output shaft of the motor 71. The motor 71 is mounted on the fan bracket 6. Exemplarily, a mounting part 62 is provided on the fan bracket 6, and the motor 71 is mounted on the mounting part 62 of the fan bracket 6. The motor 71 drives the fan wheel 72 to rotate, thereby causing airflow.

[0089] Continue to refer to Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the upper part of the fan bracket 6 is fixedly connected to the track cover 33. This arrangement ensures a stable connection between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33, thereby ensuring the stability of the fan bracket 6 within the housing 1 and, consequently, the reliability of the motor 71 mounted on the fan bracket 6.

[0090] In practical implementation, the upper part of the fan bracket 6 can be fixedly connected to the outer surface of the track cover 33, so that the connection between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33 avoids the movement trajectory of the cleaning brush 4. In this way, by fixing the upper part of the fan bracket 6 to the track cover 33, the stability of the fan bracket 6 installed in the housing 1 is ensured, and the cleaning component structure enables the cleaning of both the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 using the cleaning brush 4. In other words, without damaging the overall structure, a single cleaning component is used to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2.

[0091] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the upper part of the fan bracket 6 has a first bracket portion 61 extending toward the track cover 33. The first bracket portion 61 is fixedly connected to the track cover 33, so as to achieve a fixed connection between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33. Specifically, the first bracket portion 61 can be fixedly connected to the track cover 33 by means of screw connection, welding, snap-fit ​​connection, etc.

[0092] In other embodiments, reference is made to Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, a second support portion 331 extending toward the fan bracket 6 is formed on the track cover 33. The second support portion 331 is fixedly connected to the fan bracket 6 so as to achieve a fixed connection between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33. Specifically, the second support portion 331 can be fixedly connected to the upper part of the fan bracket 6 by means of screw connection, welding, snap-fit ​​connection, etc.

[0093] In yet other embodiments, reference is made to Figure 13 and Figure 14As shown, a connector 34 is provided between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33. The connector 34 is fixedly connected to both the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33. Specifically, the connector 34 may have a first end and a second end. The first end of the connector 34 may be fixedly connected to the upper part of the fan bracket 6 by means of screw connection, welding, snap-fit ​​connection, etc., and the other end of the connector 34 may be fixedly connected to the track cover 33 by means of screw connection, welding, snap-fit ​​connection, etc.

[0094] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the housing 1 includes a front panel 11, and a fan bracket 6 is disposed between the heat exchanger 2 and the front panel 11. The upper part of the fan bracket 6 is fixedly connected to the track cover 33 and the front panel 11, respectively. This arrangement increases the connection and fixing points between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and other components, thereby better ensuring the stability of the fan bracket 6 installed inside the housing 1.

[0095] In specific implementation, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the upper part of the fan bracket 6 has a third bracket portion extending toward the front panel 11. The third bracket portion is fixedly connected to the front panel 11, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the front panel 11. The upper part of the fan bracket 6 also has a first bracket portion 61 extending toward the track cover 33. The extension direction of the first bracket portion 61 may be opposite to the extension direction of the third bracket portion. The first bracket portion 61 is fixedly connected to the track cover 33, thereby achieving a fixed connection between the upper part of the fan bracket 6 and the track cover 33. Thus, the upper part of the fan bracket 6 is fixedly connected to both the front panel 11 and the track cover 33.

[0096] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the housing 1 includes a chassis 17, and the lower part of the fan bracket 6 is supported on the chassis 17 and fixedly connected to the chassis 17. This arrangement enables the fan bracket 6 to be installed and fixed within the housing 1, and ensures the reliability of the connection and fixation between the lower part of the fan bracket 6 and the chassis 17.

[0097] In one specific embodiment, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the housing 1 includes a chassis 17 and a front panel 11. The fan bracket 6 is supported on the chassis 17 and located between the heat exchanger 2 and the front panel 11. The lower part of the fan bracket 6 is fixedly connected to the chassis 17, and the upper part of the fan bracket 6 is fixedly connected to the track cover 33 and the front panel 11, respectively. This arrangement ensures the stable installation of the fan bracket 6 on the housing 1.

[0098] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 6As shown, the housing 1 includes a chassis 17, and the heat exchanger 2 is supported on the chassis 17. Specifically, the chassis 17 is provided with a drain hole, and the condensate water condensed on the heat exchanger 2 can fall onto the chassis 17 and be discharged through the drain hole on the chassis 17.

[0099] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 6 As shown, the chassis 17 includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall connected to the outer periphery of the bottom wall. A receiving gap is formed between the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2 and the surrounding wall of the chassis 17, and the cleaning brush 4 is hidden in the receiving gap when not in operation. This arrangement ensures that the normal heat exchange of the heat exchanger 2 is not affected when the cleaning brush 4 is not in operation. In addition, the dust cleaned by the cleaning brush 4 can fall onto the chassis 17 and eventually be discharged through the drain hole on the chassis 17.

[0100] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 7 to 10 As shown, the first track 31 includes an annular inner wall 311 and an outer wall 312 surrounding the inner wall 311, with a first track groove 313 formed between the inner wall 311 and the outer wall 312; the second track 32 includes an annular inner wall 321 and an outer wall 322 surrounding the inner wall 321, with a second track groove 323 formed between the inner wall 321 and the outer wall 322. The cleaning brush 4 includes a brush body 41 and a first drive wheel 42 and a second drive wheel 43 respectively disposed at both ends of the brush body 41. The first drive wheel 42 is movably disposed within the first track groove 313, and the second drive wheel 43 is movably disposed within the second track groove 323.

[0101] This configuration restricts the movement trajectory of the first drive wheel 42 of the cleaning brush 4 using the first track groove 313, causing the first drive wheel 42 to move along the first track groove 313. The second track groove 323 restricts the movement trajectory of the second drive wheel 43 of the cleaning brush 4, causing the second drive wheel 43 to move along the second track groove 323. This causes the brush body 41 of the cleaning brush 4 to move relative to the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2, thereby achieving the purpose of cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 using the brush body 41 of the cleaning brush 4.

[0102] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the driving component 5 includes a drive motor 51 and an annular belt 52. The annular belt 52 is movably sleeved on the inner wall 311 of the first track and is connected to the drive motor 51 for transmission, so that the drive motor 51 drives the annular belt 52 to transmit power along the inner wall 311 of the first track. The driving component 5 also includes an annular rack 53, which is sleeved on the inner wall 321 of the second track, and external teeth are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular rack 53.

[0103] Specifically, the drive motor 51 can be mounted on the chassis 17 of the housing 1. A drive gear can be mounted on the output shaft of the drive motor 51. The drive gear is located at the bottom of the first track groove 313. An external tooth is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular belt 52. The drive gear meshes with the external tooth of the annular belt 52 to achieve the purpose of driving the annular belt 52 to transmit power along the inner wall 311 of the first track through the drive motor 51.

[0104] The first drive wheel 42 and the second drive wheel 43 of the cleaning brush 4 are both gears. The first drive wheel 42 meshes with the outer teeth of the annular belt 52, and the second drive wheel 43 meshes with the outer teeth of the annular rack 53. Thus, the annular belt 52 drives the first drive wheel 42 of the cleaning brush 4 to move along the first track groove 313, and causes the second drive wheel 43 to move along the second track groove 323, thereby achieving the purpose of driving the cleaning brush 4 to move along the first track groove 313 and the second track groove 323. At the same time, during the movement of the cleaning brush 4 along the first track groove 313 and the second track groove 323, the first drive wheel 42 of the cleaning brush 4 will roll in the first track groove 313, and the second drive wheel 43 will roll in the second track groove 323, thereby realizing that the brush body 41 of the cleaning brush 4 rolls on the surface of the heat exchanger 2, which is conducive to achieving a deeper cleaning of the fins of the heat exchanger 2, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

[0105] This configuration allows the cleaning brush 4 to move along the first track 31 and the second track 32 via the same drive motor 51, annular belt 52, and annular rack 53. The structure is simpler and the movement of the cleaning brush 4 is more reliable.

[0106] Of course, in specific implementation, it is also feasible to use two drive motors 51 to drive the first transmission wheel 42 and the second transmission wheel 43 of the cleaning brush 4 respectively. In this case, the drive component 5 includes two drive motors 51 and two annular belts 52. The two annular belts 52 are respectively sleeved on the inner wall 311 of the first track and the inner wall 321 of the second track. The two drive motors 51 drive the two annular belts 52 for transmission, and the two drive motors 51 move synchronously.

[0107] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 15 As shown, a sensor 8 is installed inside the housing 1. The sensor 8 has a detection part facing the inner surface of the heat exchanger 2. The sensor 8 is used to detect the thickness of dust on the inner surface of the heat exchanger 2. This configuration allows for the control of whether to activate the cleaning component to clean the surface of the heat exchanger 2 based on the detected thickness of dust on the inner surface of the heat exchanger 2, thereby saving energy and extending the service life of the cleaning component.

[0108] Specifically, sensor 8 can be a laser sensor, which can determine the thickness of the dust by detecting the time of reflected light waves and combining this information with a system algorithm. Of course, other sensors 8 capable of detecting dust thickness can also be used.

[0109] In a specific implementation, a partition 9 is provided inside the housing 1, and the sensor 8 can be installed on the partition 9 and located on the side of the partition 9 facing the heat exchanger 2, that is, the sensor 8 is located between the partition 9 and the heat exchanger 2.

[0110] Other embodiments of this application provide an air conditioner, including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit as described in any of the above embodiments, wherein the indoor unit is electrically connected to the outdoor unit via a cable.

[0111] Reference Figure 16 As shown, some other embodiments of this application provide a cleaning control method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner as described in any of the above embodiments, including the following steps:

[0112] S101, After the air conditioner finishes running, determine the relationship between the number of days ΔD between the current date D and the last date D0 when the cleaning component was turned on and the preset interval threshold β.

[0113] S102, if ΔD≥β, then the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, so as to control the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to enter the cleaning mode.

[0114] It should be noted that after each cleaning of heat exchanger 2 by turning on the cleaning component, the date of turning on the cleaning component is reset to the initial operating date D0. That is, the difference between the current date D and the initial operating date D0 is ΔD, i.e.: ΔD=D-D0.

[0115] This setup allows for intermittent operation of the cleaning component based on the number of days between its activations. This means the heat exchanger 2 of the outdoor unit is cleaned intermittently, preventing the cleaning component from running continuously and effectively extending its lifespan while saving energy. Furthermore, the cleaning component is activated in standby mode after the air conditioner has finished running to clean the heat exchanger 2 of the outdoor unit. In other words, the cleaning process is staggered from the normal operation of the air conditioner to avoid affecting its normal use.

[0116] Of course, in practice, it is also feasible to activate the cleaning component to clean the heat exchanger 2 during the operation of the air conditioner.

[0117] In addition, it should be noted that when the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs cleaning, a notification will appear on the display panel of the indoor unit. Users can then control the outdoor unit to enter cleaning mode via the control panel of the indoor unit or the remote control. Alternatively, the outdoor unit can be set to automatically enter cleaning mode as needed.

[0118] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 16 As shown, the cleaning control method also includes:

[0119] S103, if ΔD<β, then determine the relationship between the difference Δh between the current dust thickness h on the surface of heat exchanger 2 and the initial dust thickness h0 and the preset thickness threshold X that needs to be cleaned.

[0120] S104, if Δh≥X, then the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, so as to control the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to enter the cleaning mode.

[0121] To detect the thickness of the surface of heat exchanger 2, a sensor 8, such as a laser sensor, can be installed inside the housing 1. Specifically, the laser sensor can be positioned between the partition 9 of the outdoor unit and the heat exchanger 2 to detect the thickness of dust on the surface of the heat exchanger 2. The data obtained from the detection can be recorded in the air conditioning system. It should be noted that the laser sensor can operate even when the air conditioner is in standby mode.

[0122] It should be noted that after each cleaning of heat exchanger 2, the thickness of dust on the surface of heat exchanger 2 after cleaning is reset to the initial dust thickness h0, which is the difference Δh between the current dust thickness h and the initial dust thickness h0 on the surface of heat exchanger 2, where Δh = h - h0.

[0123] This configuration allows for a dual determination of whether heat exchanger 2 needs cleaning, based on both the interval in days ΔD and the dust thickness Δh. This ensures a good cleaning effect on the surface of heat exchanger 2 and avoids the problem of untimely dust removal and reduced heat exchange efficiency caused by using only the interval in days ΔD as a single parameter.

[0124] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 16 As shown, the cleaning control method also includes:

[0125] S105, if Δh < X, then determine the relationship between the difference Δt between the current cumulative running time t and the initial cumulative running time t0 of the air conditioner and the preset cumulative running time threshold Y that needs to be cleaned;

[0126] S106, if Δt≥Y, then prompt the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to need cleaning, and control the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to enter the cleaning mode;

[0127] S107, if Δt < Y, then the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will not be prompted to be cleaned.

[0128] It should be noted that after each cleaning of heat exchanger 2 by the cleaning component, the cumulative running time of the air conditioner after the cleaning is completed will be reset to the initial cumulative running time t0, which is the difference Δt between the current cumulative running time t and the initial cumulative running time t0, where Δt = t - t0.

[0129] This configuration allows for multiple determinations based on three parameters: the interval in days ΔD, the dust thickness Δh, and the cumulative runtime Δt, to determine whether heat exchanger 2 needs cleaning. This ensures a good cleaning effect on the surface of heat exchanger 2 and avoids the problem of untimely dust removal and reduced heat exchange efficiency caused by using only one or two parameters.

[0130] It should be noted that when the air conditioner is powered on for the first time and is in standby mode, the laser sensor detects the time of the reflected light wave and combines it with the system algorithm to determine the thickness of the dust on the surface of the heat exchanger 2, which is recorded as the initial dust thickness h0 (it is generally assumed that the current dust thickness is 0). The initial cumulative running time is recorded as t0 and the initial running date D0.

[0131] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 16 As shown, controlling the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to enter cleaning mode specifically includes:

[0132] S201, start the cleaning component, drive the cleaning brush 4 to move along the first track 31 and the second track 32 to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 until the thickness Δh2 of the dust on the surface of the heat exchanger 2 is less than the sum of the initial dust thickness h0 and the dust thickness deviation value Z.

[0133] S202, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner enters the frosting and defrosting mode. The remaining dust on the surface of the heat exchanger 2 flows into the chassis 17 of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner along with the defrosting water, and merges with the dust cleaned by the cleaning brush 4 and is discharged through the drain hole of the chassis 17.

[0134] S203, Exit cleaning mode, record the current dust thickness Δh1 on the surface of heat exchanger 2 as the initial dust thickness h0, the current date D as the initial running date D0, and the current cumulative running time t of the air conditioner as the initial cumulative running time t0.

[0135] This setup allows the cleaning brush 4 to clean large dust particles from the surface of the heat exchanger 2. Specifically, the heat exchanger 2 can be mounted on the chassis 17 of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, allowing large dust particles to fall along the heat exchanger 2 to the bottom of the chassis 17. After the cleaning brush 4 finishes cleaning, the remaining dust on the surface of the heat exchanger 2 is allowed to flow into the chassis 17 of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner along with the defrosting water through the frosting and defrosting modes. Finally, the dust is combined with the dust cleaned by the cleaning brush 4 and discharged through the drain hole on the chassis 17 of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, completing the cleaning operation of the heat exchanger 2. The cleaning mode is then exited, and the parameters are reset for the next start of the cleaning mode.

[0136] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 10 and Figure 17 As shown, cleaning the outer and inner surfaces of heat exchanger 2 using the cleaning components specifically includes:

[0137] S301 controls the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to enter cleaning mode;

[0138] S302, the driving component 5 drives the cleaning brush 4 to reset to the lowest part of the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2;

[0139] S303, the driving component 5 drives the cleaning brush 4 to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 sequentially along the first track 31 and the second track 32. After reaching the bottom of the inner surface of the heat exchanger 2, the driving component 5 drives the cleaning brush 4 back along the original path to the bottom of the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2 (refer to...). Figure 10 (As indicated by the arrow in the image);

[0140] S304, cleaning brush 4 completes cleaning.

[0141] It should be noted that when not in use, the cleaning brush 4 can be hidden between the chassis 17 and the bottom of the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2 to avoid interfering with the normal heat exchange of the heat exchanger 2. Therefore, the initial position of the cleaning brush 4 can be taken as the position of the bottom of the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2. Each time the cleaning brush 4 is started for cleaning, it can be driven to move from the initial position to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 in sequence.

[0142] In practice, a cycle can be completed by the cleaning brush 4 cleaning the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger 2 once and then returning to the bottom of the outer surface of the heat exchanger 2. One cleaning cycle can be included. Of course, in order to improve the cleaning effect, one cleaning cycle can also include two or three cycles as needed.

[0143] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 16As shown, after cleaning brush 4 completes cleaning, sensor 8 records the current dust thickness Δh2 on the surface of heat exchanger 2 (Z is the dust thickness deviation value). It compares Δh2 with the initial dust thickness h0. If Δh2 ≥ h0 + Z, it returns to step S302 and repeats steps S302 to S304 until Δh2 < h0 + Z. In other words, after one cleaning cycle, the thickness of the dust on the surface of heat exchanger 2 detected by sensor 8 can determine whether another cleaning cycle is needed.

[0144] It should be noted that the cleaning control method for the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is not limited to the control logic described above. The control logic can also be reasonably set and adjusted as needed. As long as it does not deviate from the design concept of this application, it should be within the protection scope of this application.

[0145] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0146] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments described herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An air conditioner outdoor unit characterized by comprising: include: chassis; The heat exchanger is housed within the casing; A cleaning assembly includes a track component, a cleaning brush, and a drive component. The track component includes a first track and a second track arranged opposite to each other. Both the first track and the second track extend from the outer bottom of the heat exchanger, through the top of the heat exchanger, to the inner bottom of the heat exchanger. The cleaning brush is movably disposed between the first track and the second track. The drive unit drives the cleaning brush to move along the first track and the second track. The cleaning brush is configured to contact the surface of the heat exchanger during movement to clean the inner and outer surfaces of the heat exchanger.

2. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 1, characterized by The track also includes a track cover, which is connected between the top of the first track and the top of the second track, and an movable gap is formed between the track cover and the top of the heat exchanger for the cleaning brush to pass through.

3. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 2, characterized by A fan bracket is installed inside the housing, and the upper part of the fan bracket is fixedly connected to the track cover.

4. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 3, characterized by The upper part of the fan bracket has a first bracket portion extending toward the track cover, and the first bracket portion is fixedly connected to the track cover. Alternatively, a second support portion extending toward the fan bracket is formed on the track cover, and the second support portion is fixedly connected to the fan bracket; Alternatively, a connector may be provided between the upper part of the fan bracket and the track cover, and the connector may be fixedly connected to the fan bracket and the track cover respectively.

5. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 3, characterized by The housing includes a front panel, the fan bracket is disposed between the heat exchanger and the front panel, and the upper part of the fan bracket is fixedly connected to the track cover and the front panel respectively; And / or, the housing includes a chassis, the lower part of the fan bracket is supported on the chassis and fixedly connected to the chassis.

6. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein The housing includes a top cover, and the top of the track cover is fitted to the top cover, or the gap between the top of the track cover and the top cover is less than a preset value.

7. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 1, characterized by The first track includes an annular inner wall and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, with a first track groove formed between the inner wall and the outer wall. The second track includes an annular inner wall and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, with a second track groove formed between the inner wall and the outer wall. The cleaning brush includes a brush body and a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel respectively disposed at both ends of the brush body. The first drive wheel is movably disposed in the first track groove, and the second drive wheel is movably disposed in the second track groove.

8. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 7, characterized by The driving component includes a drive motor, an annular belt, and an annular rack. The annular belt is movably sleeved on the inner wall of the first track and is connected to the drive motor for transmission. An external tooth is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular belt. The annular rack is sleeved on the inner wall of the second track, and an external tooth is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular rack. Both the first transmission wheel and the second transmission wheel are gears. The first transmission wheel meshes with the outer teeth of the annular belt for transmission, and the second transmission wheel meshes with the outer teeth of the annular rack for transmission.

9. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 1, characterized by The housing includes a first side plate and a second side plate disposed opposite to each other, the first track is fixed on the first side plate, and the second track is fixed on the second side plate.

10. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 1, characterized by The housing includes a chassis, and the heat exchanger is supported on the chassis; The chassis includes a bottom wall and a surrounding wall connected to the outer periphery of the bottom wall. A receiving gap is formed between the outer surface of the heat exchanger and the surrounding wall of the chassis. The cleaning brush is hidden in the receiving gap when not in operation.

11. The air conditioner outdoor unit according to claim 1, characterized by A sensor is installed inside the housing. The sensor has a detection part facing the inner surface of the heat exchanger. The sensor is used to detect the thickness of dust on the inner surface of the heat exchanger.

12. An air conditioner characterized by comprising: It includes an indoor air conditioning unit and an outdoor air conditioning unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the indoor air conditioning unit is electrically connected to the outdoor air conditioning unit via a cable.

13. A cleaning control method characterized by, The method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 11 includes the following steps: After the air conditioner finishes running, determine the relationship between the number of days ΔD between the current date D and the last date D0 when the cleaning component was turned on, and the preset interval threshold β. If ΔD≥β, it indicates that the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will be controlled to enter the cleaning mode.

14. The cleaning control method according to claim 13, wherein Also includes: If ΔD < β, then determine the relationship between the difference Δh between the current dust thickness h on the surface of the heat exchanger and the initial dust thickness h0, and the preset thickness threshold X that needs to be cleaned. If Δh≥X, it indicates that the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will be controlled to enter the cleaning mode.

15. The cleaning control method according to claim 14, wherein Also includes: If Δh < X, then determine the relationship between the difference Δt between the current cumulative running time t and the initial cumulative running time t0 of the air conditioner and the preset cumulative running time threshold Y that needs to be cleaned; If Δt≥Y, it indicates that the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is controlled to enter the cleaning mode. If Δt < Y, then the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will not be prompted to be cleaned.

16. The cleaning control method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized by, The specific steps of controlling the outdoor unit of the air conditioner to enter the cleaning mode include: The cleaning assembly is activated, and the drive unit drives the cleaning brush to move along the first and second tracks to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger until the thickness Δh2 of the dust on the surface of the heat exchanger is less than the sum of the initial dust thickness h0 and the dust thickness deviation value Z. When the outdoor unit of the air conditioner enters the frosting and defrosting mode, the remaining dust on the surface of the heat exchanger flows into the chassis of the outdoor unit with the defrosting water, and is discharged through the drain hole of the chassis after being cleaned by the cleaning brush. Exit cleaning mode and record the current dust thickness Δh1 on the surface of the heat exchanger as the initial dust thickness h0, the current date D as the initial running date D0, and the current cumulative running time t of the air conditioner as the initial cumulative running time t0.

17. The cleaning control method of claim 16, wherein, The cleaning assembly, with its driving component, drives the cleaning brush to move along the first and second tracks to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger. Specifically, this includes: The driving component drives the cleaning brush to reset to the lowest part of the outer surface of the heat exchanger; The driving component drives the cleaning brush to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the heat exchanger sequentially along the first and second tracks. After reaching the bottom of the inner surface of the heat exchanger, the driving component drives the cleaning brush back along the original path to the bottom of the outer surface of the heat exchanger.

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