Housing of outdoor air-conditioning unit and outdoor air-conditioning unit

Abstract

The present invention discloses a housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner includes a casing and a front panel assembly, a fan chamber and a compressor chamber are provided in the casing, an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the fan chamber are provided in the casing, and a maintenance window communicating with the compressor chamber is further provided in the casing. The front panel assembly includes a first panel and a second panel, the first panel is connected to the casing and covers the air outlet, ventilation holes communicating with the air outlet are provided in the first panel, the second panel is rotatably connected to the first panel, and the second panel is configured to rotate relative to the first panel to open or close the maintenance window. The technical solution of the present invention facilitates maintenance of the outdoor unit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of air conditioner technologies, in particular to a housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is mounted outdoors, where it is exposed to harsh environments such as high temperature, low temperature, and humidity for extended periods while maintaining normal operation. Due to external factors, the internal components of the outdoor unit are easily damaged, requiring replacement, repair, and other maintenance work.

[0003] Usually, when performing maintenance on the internal components of a traditional air conditioner outdoor unit, it requires to remove an entire front panel from the front of the outdoor unit or detach a panel on a side corresponding to a compressor chamber. Alternatively, the front panel is hinged to one side of a housing of the air conditioner outdoor unit to allow it to swing open for access to the interior of the air conditioner outdoor unit.

[0004] The removal of the front panel is extremely cumbersome and requires a large working space to complete the task. However, the mounting environment of the air conditioner outdoor unit often cannot provide such ample space, making it difficult to perform the task in confined areas. In the scheme where the front panel is hinged to one side of the housing of the air conditioner outdoor unit, the rotation of the front panel still requires significant space. In addition, the entire weight of the front panel bears down on one or more hinge points at the same side, making it prone to fracture at the hinge points.SUMMARY

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide a housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner, so as to facilitate the maintenance of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner.

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner includes a casing and a front panel assembly. A fan chamber and a compressor chamber are provided in the casing, an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the fan chamber are provided in the casing, and a maintenance window communicating with the compressor chamber is further provided in the casing. The front panel assembly includes a first panel and a second panel, the first panel is connected to the casing and covers the air outlet, ventilation holes communicating with the air outlet are provided in the first panel, the second panel is rotatably connected to the first panel, and the second panel is configured to rotate relative to the first panel to open or close the maintenance window.

[0007] Optionally, the front panel assembly further includes a fixed shaft and two rotating brackets, the fixed shaft is fixedly connected to the first panel, the two rotating brackets are spaced apart from each other and mounted on the second panel, and the two rotating brackets are rotatably connected to the fixed shaft.

[0008] Optionally, both end surfaces of the fixed shaft in a length direction of the fixed shaft are recessed with pivot holes, each of the rotating brackets includes a mounting base and a pivot shaft, each mounting base is fixedly connected to the second panel, one end of each pivot shaft is connected to a corresponding mounting base, and the other end of each pivot shaft is rotatably connected to a corresponding pivot hole.

[0009] Optionally, an outer peripheral wall of each pivot shaft is recessed with a limiting groove, and each limiting groove extends in a circumferential direction of the corresponding pivot shaft. The front panel assembly further includes two limiting pins, the two limiting pins are respectively disposed at two ends of the fixed shaft in the length direction, and each limiting pin is at least partially arranged in the corresponding limiting groove, to restrict the corresponding pivot shaft from disengaging from the corresponding pivot hole.

[0010] Optionally, both end surfaces of the fixed shaft in the length direction are recessed with clearance holes, and each clearance hole is configured to communicate with the corresponding pivot hole on the same side. Each limiting pin extends into a corresponding clearance hole in a width direction or a thickness direction of the fixed shaft, and a portion of each limiting pin located in the corresponding clearance hole is configured to cooperate with the limiting groove in the corresponding pivot shaft.

[0011] Optionally, one end surface of the fixed shaft in the length direction is recessed with a positioning hole, the positioning hole is disposed around the periphery of the corresponding pivot hole on the same side, and the positioning hole extends in a circumferential direction of the corresponding pivot hole. A positioning protrusion is provided on a mounting base adjacent to the positioning hole among two mounting bases, and the positioning protrusion is configured to extend into the positioning hole and is in clearance fit with the positioning hole.

[0012] Optionally, the housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner further includes: a first connecting member and a second connecting member, the first connecting member is mounted on the second panel, the second connecting member is mounted on the casing, and the first connecting member is detachably connected to the second connecting member.

[0013] Optionally, the first connecting member is a first magnetic element, the second connecting member is a second magnetic element, and the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are magnetically attracted to each other.

[0014] Optionally, the front panel further includes a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket includes a mounting plate and two elastic arms, the mounting plate is connected to a surface of the second panel facing the casing, the two elastic arms are spaced apart from each other and arranged on the mounting plate, the two elastic arms each extend toward the casing, and the two elastic arms are inclined away from each other. The first magnetic element includes a connection plate and a magnet, assembly holes are respectively provided at both ends of the connection plate in a length direction thereof, each assembly hole of the connection plate engages with a corresponding elastic arm, such that the connection plate is connected to the mounting plate through the two elastic arms, and the magnet is fixedly mounted on a side of the connection plate opposite to the mounting plate.

[0015] Optionally, the casing includes a base plate, a top cover, a front enclosure plate, a rear enclosure plate, a side enclosure plate, a partition plate, and a protective plate. The top cover and the base plate are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction, the front enclosure plate, the rear enclosure plate, and the side enclosure plate are mounted between the top cover and the base plate, the front enclosure plate and the rear enclosure plate are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction, a length of the front enclosure plate in a left-right direction is less than a length of the rear enclosure plate in the left-right direction, and the side enclosure plate is configured to connect one side of the front enclosure plate in the left-right direction to a corresponding side of the rear enclosure plate in the left-right direction. The partition plate is mounted between the top cover and the base plate, the partition plate is configured to connect the other side of the front enclosure plate in the left-right direction to a middle portion of the rear enclosure plate, the base plate, the top cover, the front enclosure plate, the rear enclosure plate, the side enclosure plate, and the partition plate enclose the fan chamber, the air inlet is arranged in the rear enclosure plate, and the air outlet is arranged in the front enclosure plate. The protective plate is mounted between the top cover and the base plate, the protective plate is of an L-shape, one side of the protective plate is connected to one side of the rear enclosure plate away from the side enclosure plate, the other side of the protective plate is connected to one side of the front enclosure plate away from the side enclosure plate, the base plate, the top cover, the partition plate, and the protective plate enclose the compressor chamber, and the maintenance window is arranged in the protective plate.

[0016] The present invention further provides an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, including a fan, a compressor, and the above-mentioned housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner, where the fan is mounted in the fan chamber, and the compressor is mounted in the compressor chamber.

[0017] According to the above solution of the present invention, a housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner includes a casing in which a fan chamber and a compressor chamber are provided, an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the fan chamber, and a maintenance window communicating with the compressor chamber are provided in the casing. Low-temperature external air can enter the casing through the air inlet, absorb heat from the interior of the casing, and be discharged to the outside through the air outlet. A front panel assembly includes a first panel and a second panel that are rotatably connected to each other. Ventilation holes are provided in the first panel, and the first panel is connected to the casing and covers the air outlet, so that the first panel can protect the interior of the fan chamber, preventing external foreign objects from interfering with or colliding with internal components of the fan chamber. Furthermore, the second panel is mounted on the casing and can rotate relative to the first panel, covering the maintenance window, so as to protect the interior of the compressor chamber and preventing external foreign objects from interfering with or colliding with internal components of the compressor chamber. When maintenance or servicing of the compressor chamber is required, the second panel is rotated to open the maintenance window, allowing direct visual inspection of the internal condition of the compressor chamber, enabling assessment of component integrity. In addition, the internal components of the compressor chamber can be replaced or repaired through this maintenance window without the need to remove the entire front panel, thereby simplifying the maintenance process for the outdoor unit. Moreover, since only the second panel needs to be rotated, the gravitational force on the rotating connection is reduced, ensuring effortless operation, and reducing the required working space for rotating the second panel.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention or in the prior art in a clearer manner, the drawings required for the description of the embodiments of the present invention or in the prior art will be described hereinafter briefly. Apparently, the following drawings merely relate to some embodiments of the present invention, and based on these drawings, a person of ordinary skill in the art may obtain other drawings without any creative effort. Fig. 1 is a solid view of a housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a solid view of the housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner in Fig. 1 where a second panel is opened; Fig. 3 is another solid view of the housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a solid view of a casing and a fan in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a solid view of a front panel assembly in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the casing in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion B in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a schematic assembly view of a fixed shaft and a rotating bracket in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a solid view of the rotating bracket in Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a solid view of the fixed shaft in Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a schematic assembly view of a second panel and a first connecting member in Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion C in Fig. 10; and Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion A in Fig. 2.

[0019] Reference Sign List1housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner10casing232clearance hole11base plate233positioning hole12top cover24rotating bracket13front enclosure panel241mounting base131air outlet242positioning protrusion14rear enclosure panel243pivot shaft141air inlet244limiting groove15side enclosure panel245locking hole16partition plate25limit pin17protective plate26mounting bracket171maintenance window261mounting plate18fan chamber262elastic arm19compressor chamber27arc guide surface20front panel assembly30first magnetic element21first panel31connection plate211ventilation hole32assembly hole22second panel33magnet23fixed shaft40second magnetic element231pivot hole5fan

[0020] The achievement of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter clearly and completely with reference to the drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the following embodiments merely relate to a part of, rather than all of, the embodiments of the present invention, and based on these embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art may, without any creative effort, obtain other embodiments, which also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0022] Unless otherwise specified, such words as "connect" and "fix" should be construed in a broad sense. For example, it may be a fixed connection, or a detachable connection, or integral; it may be a mechanic connection or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection, or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, or an interior connection of two elements or an interaction relationship between two elements. A person of ordinary skill in the art may derive the specific meaning of the term in the present disclosure according to specific situations.

[0023] In the present invention, the terms such as "first" and "second" are merely used for illustrative purposes, but shall not construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly includes at least one of the feature. Moreover, the technical solutions in various embodiments may be combined with each other based on that it is capable of being carried out by a person skilled in the art. When there is a conflict during the combination or a combination is not achieved by a person skilled in the art, it should be considered that such combination of the technical solutions is not existed and is not within the scope of the present invention.

[0024] The present invention provides a housing 1 of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner. Referring Fig. 1 to Fig. 6, in the embodiments of the present invention, the housing 1 of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner includes a casing 10 and a front panel assembly 20. A fan chamber 18 and a compressor chamber 19 are provided in the casing 10. The fan chamber 18 is configured to arrange such components as a fan 5 and a heat exchanger, and the compressor chamber 19 is configured to accommodate such components as a compressor, a circuit board, a plate heat exchanger, pipes, and valves.

[0025] As can be appreciated, in practical applications, the fan chamber 18 and the compressor chamber 19 may be interconnected in various ways. For example, it may be that an interconnected channel is formed in the casing 10, or that a channel that enables the fan chamber 18 and the compressor chamber 19 to be interconnected is connected outside the casing 10. This arrangement allows the fan 5 to take away the heat in the compressor chamber 19, thereby ensuring the heat dissipation.

[0026] An air inlet 141 and an air outlet 131 that communicate with the fan chamber 18 are provided in the casing 10, and a maintenance window 171 communicating with the compressor chamber 19 is further provided in the casing 10. In this embodiment, the air outlet 131 is circular in shape to correspond with the operating trajectory of the fan blades of the fan 5. This ensures smooth air exhaust of the fan 5 while minimizing the size of air outlet 131, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the casing 10 and enhancing overall stability. Furthermore, the air outlet 131 features a sloped curved surface that extends toward the center of the air outlet 131 in the casing 10, so as to effectively reduce rainwater ingress into the fan chamber 18. The air inlet 141 is of a mesh-shape, which guarantees adequate air intake for the fan chamber 18 while providing protection for the internal components of the fan chamber 18.

[0027] The maintenance window 171 is square-shaped, which allows external observation of components in the compressor chamber 19. Through the maintenance window 171, maintenance and replacement of electrical components such as the circuit board in the compressor chamber 19 may be performed. As can be appreciated, a removable transparent panel may be arranged on the maintenance window 171. This facilitates observation while protecting in a better manner the interior of the compressor chamber 19 from contamination by external dust, moisture, etc. The specific shape of each of the air inlet 141, air outlet 131, and maintenance window 171 is not limited in the present invention, which may be square, circular, diamond, and etc.

[0028] The front panel assembly 20 includes a first panel 21 and a second panel 22, the first panel 21 is connected to the casing 10 and covers the air outlet 131, ventilation holes 211 communicating with the air outlet 131 are provided in the first panel 21. The connection manner between the first panel 21 and the casing 10 includes, but is not limited to, adhesive, welding, threaded connection, or snap-fit connection. The materials of the first panel 21 and the second panel 22 may include, but are not limited to, plastic and metal.

[0029] Multiple holes are provided in the first panel 21 to forming ventilation holes 211. These multiple holes give the first panel 21 an overall flat mesh-like structure. The holes may be of various shapes, including but not limited to diamond, triangular, circular, or square. Hot air can be discharged from the air outlet 131 via the ventilation holes 211. As can be appreciated, the first panel 21 may be of a similar shape to the air outlet 131, precisely covering the air outlet 131, or, the first panel 21 may be larger than the air outlet 131, so as to be integrated with the casing 10 for enhanced aesthetic appearance of the outdoor unit.

[0030] The second panel 22 is rotatably connected to the first panel 21, and the second panel 22 is configured to rotate relative to the first panel 21 to open or close the maintenance window 171. As can be appreciated, the rotatable connection between the first panel 21 and the second panel 22 may be implemented in many manners. For example, this rotatable connection may be implemented through hinges mounted between the first panel 21 and second panel 22, or a rotatable connection shaft mounted between the first panel 21 and second panel 22. The second panel 22 may be of a similar shape to the maintenance window 171, precisely covering the maintenance window 171, or, the second panel 22 may be larger than the maintenance window 171, so as to be integrated with the casing 10 for enhanced aesthetic appearance of the outdoor unit.

[0031] There is a relatively large secured area between the first panel 21 and the casing 10. This enhances the stability between the first panel 21 and the casing 10, thereby enabling it to support heavier front panel assembly 20. The front panel assembly 20 can thus be applied for high-capacity units (where "high-capacity" indicates a larger surface area of the front panel assembly 20). This addresses the technical issue in conventional designs where increased weight of the front panel assembly 20 requires additional screws on the casing 10 and more complex mounting procedures. Consequently, the present invention improves mounting efficiency and enhances the adaptability of the front panel assembly 20.

[0032] According to the above solution of the present invention, a housing 1 of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner includes a casing 10 in which a fan chamber 18 and a compressor chamber 19 are provided, an air inlet 141 and an air outlet 131 that communicate with the fan chamber 18, and a maintenance window 171 communicating with the compressor chamber 19 are provided in the casing 10. Low-temperature external air can enter the casing 10 through the air inlet 141, absorb heat from the interior of the casing 10, and be discharged to the outside through the air outlet 131. A front panel assembly 20 includes a first panel 21 and a second panel 22 that are rotatably connected to each other. Ventilation holes 211 are provided in the first panel 21, and the first panel 21 is connected to the casing 10 and covers the air outlet 131, so that the first panel 21 can protect the interior of the fan chamber 18, preventing external foreign objects from interfering with or colliding with internal components of the fan chamber 18. Furthermore, the second panel 22 is mounted on the casing 10 and can rotate relative to the first panel 21, covering the maintenance window171, so as to protect the interior of the compressor chamber 19 and preventing external foreign objects from interfering with or colliding with internal components of the compressor chamber 19. When maintenance or servicing of the compressor chamber 19 is required, the second panel 22 is rotated to open the maintenance window 171, allowing direct visual inspection of the internal condition of the compressor chamber 19, and enabling assessment of component integrity. In addition, the internal components of the compressor chamber 19 can be replaced or repaired through this maintenance window 171 without the need to remove the entire front panel, thereby simplifying the maintenance process for the outdoor unit. Moreover, since only the second panel 22 needs to be rotated, the gravitational force on the rotating connection is reduced, ensuring effortless operation, and reducing the required working space for rotating the second panel 22.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the front panel assembly 20 further includes a fixed shaft 23 and two rotating brackets 24, the fixed shaft 23 is fixedly connected to the first panel 21, the two rotating brackets 24 are spaced apart from each other and mounted on the second panel 22, and the two rotating brackets 24 are rotatably connected to the fixed shaft 23. As an exemplary embodiment, the two rotating brackets 24 are located at both ends of the fixed shaft 23 in its length direction. The second panel 22 is rotatably connected to the fixed shaft 23 through the two rotating brackets 24, while the fixed shaft 23 is fixedly connected to the first panel 21. This establishes a rotatable connection between the second panel 22 and the first panel 21 via the two rotating brackets 24. The fixed connection between the fixed shaft 23 and the first panel 21 may be achieved through various manners, including but not limited to, welding, interference fit, adhesive, threaded connection, or snap-fit connection. The two rotating brackets 24 may be mounted on the second panel 22 through detachable fixed connection (e.g., threaded connection, snap-fit connection), or non-detachable fixed connection (e.g., adhesive, welding).

[0034] The two rotating brackets 24 are located at both ends of the fixed shaft 23 in its length direction, so that the gravitational force of the second panel 22 onto the fixed shaft 23 may be distributed through the two rotating brackets 24, preventing localized stress concentration that could lead to fracture of the fixed shaft 23. This reduces the required material hardness for the fixed shaft 23. In some embodiments, more rotating brackets 24 may be arranged. For example, three rotating brackets 24 may be provided, uniformly dividing the fixed shaft 23 into three sections in its length direction, with the three rotating brackets 24 spaced apart from each other and arranged in the three sections respectively. This enhances the stability between the rotating brackets 24 and the fixed shaft 23. The materials of the rotating brackets 24 and the fixed shaft 23 may include, but are not limited to, plastics or metals, provided they possess suitable hardness properties.

[0035] Please refer to Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, arc-guiding surfaces 27 are provided on both longitudinal edges of the fixed shaft 23 and the two rotating brackets 24 on the side away from the casing 10. The arrangement of the arc-guiding surfaces 27 ensures that when the second panel 22 rotates relative to the first panel 21, sufficient rotating space is reserved for the rotating brackets 24, preventing interference between the mounting base 241 of the second panel 22 and the first panel 21 during the rotation of the mounting base 241 relative to the first panel 21. During rainwater exposure to the outdoor unit, the arc-guiding surfaces 27 effectively divert water flow, thereby reducing corrosion risks to the outdoor unit, and providing an aesthetic appearance.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 10, both end surfaces of the fixed shaft 23 in a length direction are recessed with pivot holes 231, each pivot hole 231 is a generally cylindrical-shaped bore. Each of the rotating brackets 24 includes a mounting base 241 and a pivot shaft 243, in this embodiment, a locking hole 245 is provided in each mounting base 241, and the locking hole 245 is connected to the second panel 22 through screws. One end of each pivot shaft 243 is connected to a corresponding mounting base 241, and the other end of each pivot shaft 243 is rotatably connected to a corresponding pivot hole 231.

[0037] The mounting base 241 can be connected to the pivot shaft 243 through various manners. In one manner, a shaft mounting hole is provided in each mounting base 241 at its connection end with the pivot shaft 243. The pivot shaft 243 is inserted into the shaft mounting hole and subsequently welded, thereby allowing the pivot shaft 243 to be firmly secured to the mounting base 241, ensuring that an axial direction of the pivot shaft 243 is parallel to the mounting base 241, and reducing the manufacture difficulty.

[0038] In another manner, the pivot shaft 243 is engaged with the shaft mounting hole through screws. As can be appreciated, the pivot shaft 243 and the mounting base 241 may be formed as one piece. This reduces assembly process requirements, and enhances structural stability.

[0039] In this embodiment, the fixed shaft 23 and the two rotating brackets 24 are arranged between the first panel 21 and the second panel 22. This arrangement ensures that when the second panel 22 covers the maintenance window 171, the connection between the fixed shaft 23 and the first panel 21 may be concealed between the first panel 21 and the second panel 22. Similarly, the connections between the two rotating brackets 24 and the second panel 22 may also be concealed between the first panel 21 and the second panel 22. Hence, it prevents rainwater ingress into the outdoor unit, thereby eliminating corrosion risks for metal mounting members.

[0040] Furthermore, an outer peripheral wall of each pivot shaft 243 is recessed with a limiting groove 244, and each limiting groove 244 extends in a circumferential direction of the corresponding pivot shaft 243. The front panel assembly 20 further includes two limiting pins 25, the two limiting pins 25 are respectively disposed at two ends of the fixed shaft 23 in the length direction, and each limiting pin 25 is at least partially arranged in the corresponding limiting groove 244, to restrict the corresponding pivot shaft 243 from disengaging from the corresponding pivot hole 231, thereby ensuring that each rotating bracket 24 is stably and rotatably connected to the corresponding end of the fixed shaft 23 without risk of disengagement. This further guarantees the rotatable connection stability between the first panel 21 and the second panel 22, and enhances the operational reliability when rotating the second panel 22 to open or cover the maintenance window 171.

[0041] In this embodiment, the outer peripheral wall of each pivot shaft 243 is recessed with the annular limiting groove 244 that has a semicircular shape along a cross-section. In some embodiments, the limiting groove 244 may have any other shape along the cross-section, e.g., a square shape, and the corresponding limiting pin 25 is configured as a cylindrical-shaped body.

[0042] The limiting pin 25 may be mounted through the following manners. For example, a through-hole communicating with the pivot hole 231 is machined in a circumferential direction of the fixed shaft 23. For another example, a through-hole that penetrates the fixed shaft 23 and crosses the pivot hole 231 is arranged in the circumferential direction of the fixed shaft 23. Further, a diameter of the through-hole may gradually decreases, and an outer diameter of the corresponding limiting pin 25 gradually decreases, thereby to facilitate the mounting of the limiting pin 25, and provide anti-disengagement performance.

[0043] The engagement between the limiting pin 25 and the limiting groove 244 restricts axial movement of the pivot shaft 243, thereby preventing the pivot shaft 243 from being separated from the corresponding pivot hole 231, and enhancing the reliability of the rotation connection.

[0044] Please refer to Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, both end surfaces of the fixed shaft 23 in the length direction are recessed with clearance holes 232, and each clearance hole 232 is configured to communicate with the corresponding pivot hole 231 on the same side. Each limiting pin 25 extends into a corresponding clearance hole 232 in a width direction or a thickness direction of the fixed shaft 23, and a portion of each limiting pin 25 located in the corresponding clearance hole 232 is configured to cooperate with the limiting groove 244 in the corresponding pivot shaft 243.

[0045] Preferably, a cross-sectional width of a connecting portion between the clearance hole 232 and the pivot hole 231 is smaller than a diameter of the pivot shaft 243, that is, the pivot hole 231 still retains more than half of the arc. In this way, the pivot shaft 243 may partially extend into the clearance hole 232 through the connecting portion between the pivot hole 231 and the clearance hole 232, and the limiting pin 25 may be attached to a hole wall of the clearance hole 232 or embedded in the hole wall of the clearance hole 232 to achieve that the clearance hole 232 cooperates with the limiting groove 244, thereby making the structure more compact, saving materials achieving light weight and the intuitive installation process, and improving the assembly efficiency. In addition, the fixed shaft 23 may also be set as a hollowed-out structure.

[0046] Moreover, one end surface of the fixed shaft 23 in the length direction is recessed with a positioning hole 233, the positioning hole 233 is disposed around the periphery of the corresponding pivot hole 231 on the same side, and the positioning hole 233 extends in a circumferential direction of the corresponding pivot hole 231. A positioning protrusion 242 is provided on a mounting base 241 adjacent to the positioning hole 233 among two mounting bases 241, and the positioning protrusion 242 is configured to extend into the positioning hole 233 and is in clearance fit with the positioning hole 233.

[0047] In this embodiment, the positioning hole 233 may be configured as the same hole as the clearance hole 232. As can be appreciated, the positioning hole 233 may be independently provided in the end surface of the fixed shaft 23. The arrangement of the positioning protrusion 242 follows a similar connection manner to that between the pivot shaft 243 and the mounting base 241, e.g., welding, threaded connection, or integral connection, which will not be elaborated again herein.

[0048] The positioning protrusion 242 is constrained to move between the two walls of the clearance hole 232, thereby limiting the rotation angle of the mounting base 241 relative to the fixed shaft 23. This further restricts the opening range of the second panel 22 to prevent interference with the first panel 21. The opening range of the second panel 22 may be adjusted according to a distance between the positioning protrusion 242 and the pivot shaft 243, or a circumferential width of the positioning hole 233. That is, the greater the distance between the positioning protrusion 242 and the pivot shaft 243, the smaller the opening range, and vice versa. The smaller the circumferential width of the positioning hole 233, the smaller the opening range, and vice versa.

[0049] In this embodiment, the front panel assembly 20 may be assembled independently before being connected to the casing 10. In this way, the front panel assembly 20 is mounted in an independent, modular manner, so that the mounting of the front panel assembly 20 is not affected by other components of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner (for example, in conventional designs, the front assembly panel 20 is fixedly connected to the upper cover 12). It only requires to mount the first panel 21 of the front panel assembly 20 onto the casing 10 of the outdoor unit to complete the mounting process, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the outdoor unit.

[0050] Specifically, the two rotating brackets 24 are rotatably connected to the two ends of the fixed shaft 23 in its length direction through the pivot shafts 243, and a through hole communicating with the pivot hole 231 is machined in the circumferential direction of the fixed shaft 23. The limiting pin 25 is inserted into the pivot hole 231 through the through hole and cooperates with the limiting groove 244 of the pivot shaft 243, so that the second panel 22 is rotatably connected to the fixed shaft 23 through the two rotating brackets 24. After the second panel 22 and the fixed shaft 23 are mounted, the second panel 22 is turned over and the first panel 21 is mounted onto the fixed shaft 23 through screws, and the assembly of the front panel assembly 20 is completed. When the front panel assembly 20 needs to be mounted onto the casing 10 of the outdoor unit, it only needs to secure the first panel 21 of the front panel assembly 20 to the casing 10 of the outdoor unit, so as to complete the assembly. Preferably, four holes spaced apart from each other are provided in the first panel 21, and the first panel 21 is secured to the casing 10 through screws.

[0051] With reference to the aforementioned assembly process of the front panel assembly 20, it can be appreciated that the disassembly of the outdoor unit is equally convenient, thereby enhancing maintenance efficiency of the outdoor unit, which will not be elaborated again herein.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 2, the housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner further includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member, the first connecting member is mounted on the second panel 22, the second connecting member is mounted on the casing 10, and the first connecting member is detachably connected to the second connecting member.

[0053] The detachable connection between the first connecting member and the second connecting member may include, but is not limited to, threaded connection, snap-fit connection, and magnetic adsorption connection. In this way, when the second panel 22 covers the maintenance window 171, it makes the second panel 22 secured to the casing 10, so that it will not be easily opened by external interference factors (such as foreign objects blown by strong wind), while it is very convenient to be opened. There may be multiple pairs of the first connecting members and the second connecting members.

[0054] Preferably, the first connecting member is a first magnetic element 30, the second connecting member is a second magnetic element 40, and the first magnetic element 30 and the second magnetic element 40 are magnetically attracted to each other. With such arrangement, it is able to improve the efficiency and convenience of opening or covering the maintenance window 171.

[0055] When covering the maintenance window 171, a user only needs to gently rotate the second panel 22 to the vicinity of a surface of the casing 10, and the first magnetic member 30 and the second magnetic member 40 can be magnetically attracted to each other and fit tightly together, so that the second panel 22 can cover the maintenance window 171 and be fixed on the casing 10. In order to facilitate opening the maintenance window 171, a handle may be provided on the second panel 22. Preferably, the handle is formed as a recess on a side of the second panel 22 away from the first panel 21.

[0056] Please refer to Fig. 2 and Fig. 11 to Fig. 13, the front panel assembly 20 further includes a mounting bracket 26, the mounting bracket 26 includes a mounting plate 261 and two elastic arms 262, the mounting plate 261 is connected to a surface of the second panel 21 facing the casing 10, the two elastic arms 262 are spaced apart from each other and arranged on the mounting plate 261, the two elastic arms 262 each extend toward the casing 10, and the two elastic arms 262 are inclined away from each other. The first magnetic element 30 includes a connection plate 31 and a magnet 33, assembly holes 32 are respectively provided at both ends of the connection plate 31 in a length direction thereof, each assembly hole 32 of the connection plate 31 engages with a corresponding elastic arm 262, such that the connection plate 31 is connected to the mounting plate 261 through the two elastic arms 262, and the magnet 33 is fixedly mounted on a side of the connection plate 31 opposite to the mounting plate 261.

[0057] The mounting plate 261 can be connected to the second panel 22 in many manners. For example, the second panel 22 may have a slot, the mounting plate 261 is U-shaped, and one side of the mounting plate 261 is fitted into the slot. For another example, the mounting plate 261 is secured to the second panel 22 by screws, or the mounting plate 261 may be welded to the second panel 22. Through the mounting bracket 26, it provides shock absorption and buffering when the second panel 22 is rotated to cover the maintenance window 171.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, the casing 10 includes a base plate 11, a top cover 12, a front enclosure plate 13, a rear enclosure plate 14, a side enclosure plate 15, a partition plate 16, and a protective plate 17. The top cover 12 and the base plate 11 are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction, the front enclosure plate 13, the rear enclosure plate 14, and the side enclosure plate 15 are mounted between the top cover 12 and the base plate 11, the front enclosure plate 13 and the rear enclosure plate 14 are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction, a length of the front enclosure plate 13 in a left-right direction is less than a length of the rear enclosure plate 14 in the left-right direction, and the side enclosure plate 15 is configured to connect one side of the front enclosure plate 13 in the left-right direction to a corresponding side of the rear enclosure plate 14 in the left-right direction.

[0059] The partition plate 16 is mounted between the top cover 12 and the base plate 11, the partition plate 16 is configured to connect the other side of the front enclosure plate 13 in the left-right direction to a middle portion of the rear enclosure plate 14, the base plate 11, the top cover 12, the front enclosure plate 13, the rear enclosure plate 14, the side enclosure plate 15, and the partition plate 16 enclose the fan chamber 18, the air inlet 141 is arranged in the rear enclosure plate 14, and the air outlet 131 is arranged in the front enclosure plate 13. The front enclosure panel 13 may be fixedly connected to the fan 5 to suspend the fan 5 above the base plate 11. As can be appreciated, the air inlet 141 may be provided in the side enclosure panel 15, the top cover 12, or any other members.

[0060] The protective plate 17 is mounted between the top cover 12 and the base plate 11, the protective plate 17 is of an L-shape, one side of the protective plate 17 is connected to one side of the rear enclosure plate 14 away from the side enclosure plate 15, the other side of the protective plate 17 is connected to one side of the front enclosure plate 13 away from the side enclosure plate 15, the base plate 11, the top cover 12, the partition plate 16, and the protective plate 17 enclose the compressor chamber 19, and the maintenance window 171 is arranged in the protective plate 17.

[0061] In this embodiment, an outer contour of the casing 10 is of a rectangular cuboid shape, or a cylindrical shape, a cubic shape, or a flat disk shape. The material of the casing 10 may include, but is not limited to, plastic or metal. To further protect the casing 10, a layer of protective paint may also be applied to the surface of casing 10.

[0062] The connection among the base plate 11, the top cover 12, the front enclosure plate 13, the rear enclosure plate 14, the side enclosure plate 15, the partition plate 16, and the protective plate 17 may be threaded connection, welding, snap-fit connection, etc. Preferably, the protective plate 17 is detachably connected to the side enclosure plate 15 and the front enclosure plate 13, e.g., in a snap-fit manner. In this way, when the protective plate 17 is removed, it provides a larger working space for maintenance workers, so as to improve efficiency. As can be appreciated, the protective plate 17 may also be set as a front protective plate 17 and a side protective plate 17, and the front protective plate 17 and the side protective plate 17 are detachably connected to each other, so that maintenance workers can choose a convenient working space according to practical applications, thereby to improve efficiency.

[0063] Furthermore, in order to facilitate the disassembly of the protective plate 17, a recessed grip may be formed in the protective plate 17, so as to improve the convenience of disassembly. Reinforcement ribs may also be provided at the edges of the maintenance window 171 and the second panel 22, so as to improve the structural rigidity. In addition, a through hole may also be provided in the partition plate 16 to connect the fan chamber 18 and the compressor chamber 19, so that the start of the fan 5 can also drive the air flow in the compressor chamber 19, thereby providing a cooling effect.

[0064] The present invention further provides an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, which includes a fan 5, a compressor and the housing 1 of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner. The specific structure of the housing 1 of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner refers to the above embodiments. Since the outdoor unit of the air conditioner adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it at least has all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated again herein. The fan 5 is mounted in the fan chamber 18, and the compressor is mounted in the compressor chamber 19.

[0065] The above are only optional embodiments of the present invention, and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Under the concept of the present invention, equivalent structural transformations obtained using the contents of the description and drawings of the present invention, or the contents of the description and drawings of the present invention being directly / indirectly applied into other related technical fields are encompassed in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A housing of an outdoor unit in an air conditioner, comprising a casing and a front panel assembly; wherein a fan chamber and a compressor chamber are provided in the casing, an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with the fan chamber are provided in the casing, and a maintenance window communicating with the compressor chamber is further provided in the casing; wherein the front panel assembly comprises a first panel and a second panel, the first panel is connected to the casing and covers the air outlet, ventilation holes communicating with the air outlet are provided in the first panel, the second panel is rotatably connected to the first panel, and the second panel is configured to rotate relative to the first panel to open or close the maintenance window.

2. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the front panel assembly further comprises a fixed shaft and two rotating brackets, wherein the fixed shaft is fixedly connected to the first panel, the two rotating brackets are spaced apart from each other and mounted on the second panel, and the two rotating brackets are rotatably connected to the fixed shaft.

3. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein both end surfaces of the fixed shaft in a length direction of the fixed shaft are recessed with pivot holes, each of the rotating brackets comprises a mounting base and a pivot shaft, each mounting base is fixedly connected to the second panel, one end of each pivot shaft is connected to a corresponding mounting base, and the other end of each pivot shaft is rotatably connected to a corresponding pivot hole.

4. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein an outer peripheral wall of each pivot shaft is recessed with a limiting groove, and each limiting groove extends in a circumferential direction of the corresponding pivot shaft; wherein the front panel assembly further comprises two limiting pins, the two limiting pins are respectively disposed at two ends of the fixed shaft in the length direction, and each limiting pin is at least partially arranged in the corresponding limiting groove, to restrict the corresponding pivot shaft from disengaging from the corresponding pivot hole.

5. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein both end surfaces of the fixed shaft in the length direction are recessed with clearance holes, and each clearance hole is configured to communicate with the corresponding pivot hole on the same side; wherein each limiting pin extends into a corresponding clearance hole in a width direction or a thickness direction of the fixed shaft, and a portion of each limiting pin located in the corresponding clearance hole is configured to cooperate with the limiting groove in the corresponding pivot shaft.

6. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein one end surface of the fixed shaft in the length direction is recessed with a positioning hole, the positioning hole is disposed around the periphery of the corresponding pivot hole on the same side, and the positioning hole extends in a circumferential direction of the corresponding pivot hole; wherein a positioning protrusion is provided on a mounting base adjacent to the positioning hole among two mounting bases, and the positioning protrusion is configured to extend into the positioning hole and is in clearance fit with the positioning hole.

7. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a first connecting member and a second connecting member; wherein the first connecting member is mounted on the second panel, the second connecting member is mounted on the casing, and the first connecting member is detachably connected to the second connecting member.

8. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the first connecting member is a first magnetic element, the second connecting member is a second magnetic element, and the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are magnetically attracted to each other.

9. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the front panel further comprises a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprises a mounting plate and two elastic arms, the mounting plate is connected to a surface of the second panel facing the casing, the two elastic arms are spaced apart from each other and arranged on the mounting plate, the two elastic arms each extend toward the casing, and the two elastic arms are inclined away from each other; wherein the first magnetic element comprises a connection plate and a magnet, assembly holes are respectively provided at both ends of the connection plate in a length direction thereof, each assembly hole of the connection plate engages with a corresponding elastic arm, such that the connection plate is connected to the mounting plate through the two elastic arms, and the magnet is fixedly mounted on a side of the connection plate opposite to the mounting plate.

10. The housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises a base plate, a top cover, a front enclosure plate, a rear enclosure plate, a side enclosure plate, a partition plate, and a protective plate; wherein the top cover and the base plate are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction, the front enclosure plate, the rear enclosure plate, and the side enclosure plate are mounted between the top cover and the base plate, the front enclosure plate and the rear enclosure plate are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction, a length of the front enclosure plate in a left-right direction is less than a length of the rear enclosure plate in the left-right direction, and the side enclosure plate is configured to connect one side of the front enclosure plate in the left-right direction to a corresponding side of the rear enclosure plate in the left-right direction; wherein the partition plate is mounted between the top cover and the base plate, the partition plate is configured to connect the other side of the front enclosure plate in the left-right direction to a middle portion of the rear enclosure plate, the base plate, the top cover, the front enclosure plate, the rear enclosure plate, the side enclosure plate, and the partition plate enclose the fan chamber, the air inlet is arranged in the rear enclosure plate, and the air outlet is arranged in the front enclosure plate; wherein the protective plate is mounted between the top cover and the base plate, the protective plate is of an L-shape, one side of the protective plate is connected to one side of the rear enclosure plate away from the side enclosure plate, the other side of the protective plate is connected to one side of the front enclosure plate away from the side enclosure plate, the base plate, the top cover, the partition plate, and the protective plate enclose the compressor chamber, and the maintenance window is arranged in the protective plate.

11. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising a fan, a compressor, and the housing of the outdoor unit in the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 10; wherein the fan is mounted in the fan chamber, and the compressor is mounted in the compressor chamber.

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