Air conditioner

Abstract

The present application provides an air conditioner (100). The air conditioner (100) includes an indoor unit (600), a refrigerant hose (200) and an outdoor unit (300). One end of the refrigerant hose (200) is connected to the indoor unit (600). The outdoor unit (300) includes an outdoor unit (300) casing (310), a partition plate (330), and a fixing assembly (340). The partition plate (330) is provided inside the outdoor unit (300) casing (310), another end of the refrigerant hose (200) extends to a surface (331) of the partition plate (330) and is connected to a pipeline (320) (302) of the outdoor unit (300), and the fixing assembly (340) is configured to fix another end of the refrigerant hose (200) to the partition plate (330).

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application Nos. 202311105800.5 and 202322343835.4, both filed on August 30, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and in particular to an air conditioner.BACKGROUND

[0003] Currently, in air conditioners, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are assembled separately. During installation, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit need to be installed separately first, then the pipelines between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected, and finally the venting and refrigerant charging operations are performed to ensure the normal operation of the air conditioner. Connecting the pipelines and charging refrigerant require professional operation. Air conditioner installation is inconvenient and labor costs are high. After connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit with refrigerant hoses and pre-charging refrigerant into the loop of the refrigerant hose, the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the connection between the refrigerant hose and the outdoor unit to avoid shaking.

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

[0005] The main objective of the present application is to propose an air conditioner, aiming to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose after it is connected to the outdoor unit, thereby guaranteeing the quality of the product.

[0006] In order to achieve the above objective, the present application provides an air conditioner, comprising: an indoor unit; a refrigerant hose, wherein one end of the refrigerant hose is connected to the indoor unit; and an outdoor unit comprising an outdoor unit casing, a partition plate, and a fixing assembly, wherein the partition plate is provided inside the outdoor unit casing, an other end of the refrigerant hose extends to a surface of the partition plate and is connected to a pipeline of the outdoor unit, and the fixing assembly is configured to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose to the partition plate.

[0007] In an embodiment, a pre-positioning structure and a screw fastening structure are provided between the fixing assembly and the partition plate, the pre-positioning structure is configured to pre-fix the fixing assembly to the partition plate, and the screw fastening structure is configured to connect and fix the fixing assembly to the partition plate.

[0008] In an embodiment, the fixing assembly comprises a first fixing member and a second fixing member, and the first fixing member and the second fixing member are spaced apart along an extension direction of the refrigerant hose.

[0009] In an embodiment, the refrigerant hose comprises an inner pipe assembly and a protective sleeve sleeved outside the inner pipe assembly, the inner pipe assembly is partially exposed outside the protective sleeve and connected to the pipeline of the outdoor unit, the first fixing member is located at the exposed portion of the inner pipe assembly, and the second fixing member is located at the protective sleeve.

[0010] In an embodiment, the pre-positioning structure comprises a first pre-positioning structure provided at one side of the first fixing member, and the screw fastening structure comprises a first fastening structure provided at an other side of the first fixing member.

[0011] In an embodiment, the first fixing member comprises a limiting section located outside the inner pipe assembly and connection sections located at both sides of the limiting section, the partition plate is provided with a limiting flange, a limiting opening is formed between the limiting flange and the partition plate, the first pre-positioning structure comprises one of the connection sections and the limiting opening for the connection section to be inserted, and the first fastening structure is provided between an other connection section and the partition plate.

[0012] In an embodiment, the pre-positioning structure comprises a second pre-positioning structure, the second pre-positioning structure comprises a buckle provided at the second fixing member and a buckle groove provided at the partition plate, and the buckle is engaged with the buckle groove.

[0013] In an embodiment, the second fixing member comprises a fixing section located outside the protective sleeve and folded edge sections located on both sides of the fixing section, the buckle is provided at one of the folded edge sections, the buckle groove passes through the partition plate, the screw fastening structure comprises a second fastening structure, and the second fastening structure is provided at both of the folded edge sections.

[0014] In an embodiment, areas of the fixing section and the partition plate that correspond to each other are provided with abutting protrusions, and the abutting protrusions abut against the protective sleeve.

[0015] In an embodiment, the outdoor unit further comprises a side plate of a heat exchanger placed inside the outdoor unit casing, one side of the partition plate is connected to the outdoor unit casing, and an other side of the partition plate is connected to the side plate of the heat exchanger.

[0016] In an embodiment, the side plate of the heat exchanger is provided with an installation lug, both the installation lug and the partition plate are provided with screw holes, and the screw holes are configured for screws to pass through and lock the partition plate to the side plate of the heat exchanger.

[0017] In an embodiment, a snap-fit structure is provided between the side plate of the heat exchanger and the partition plate, the snap-fit structure comprises a snap-fit flange provided at the side plate of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit notch provided at the partition plate, the snap-fit flange is spaced apart from the installation lug, and the snap-fit flange is partially exposed on the partition plate.

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

[0019] In an embodiment, a limiting structure is provided between the protective cover and the top cover, and the limiting structure is configured to fix the protective cover and the top cover.

[0020] In an embodiment, the limiting structure comprises a first annular protrusion provided at the clearance opening and a first annular groove provided at the protective cover, and the first annular protrusion and the first annular groove cooperate with each other.

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

[0022] In technical solutions of the present application, the indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit through the refrigerant hose. However, in the related art, the indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit through a special copper pipe. Flexible refrigerant pipes are used to connect the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit and the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant loop before the equipment leaves the factory. As such, when the users install the equipment themselves, they only need to fix the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner separately, without needing to install refrigerant pipes or add refrigerant, thus reducing the installation difficulty and making it easier for users to install the air conditioner themselves. Besides, the refrigerant hose extends to the partition plate of the outdoor unit and connects to the compressor interface. The refrigerant hose is secured by the fixing assembly to ensure its stability, prevent it from shaking, avoid loosening, and improve product quality.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the related art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the related art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other figures can be obtained according to the structures shown in the drawings without creative work. FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of an air conditioner outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 2 is a structural schematic view of the outdoor unit in FIG. 1 at a partition plate. FIG. 3 is a structural schematic view from another perspective in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of point A in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of point B in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a partition plate, a side plate, a first fixing member, and a second fixing member in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a structural schematic view from yet another perspective in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged view of point C in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a structural schematic view of an air conditioner indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Description of reference signs [Table 1_sm_0001]Reference signNameReference signName100air conditioner364buckle200refrigerant hose370side plate210inner pipe assembly371installation lug220protective sleeve372snap-fit flange300outdoor unit380protective cover310outdoor unit casing391first annular groove320pipeline392third annular protrusion330partition plate390top cover331surface393clearance opening332limiting flange394first annular protrusion333limiting opening395second annular protrusion334buckle groove396second annular groove335snap-fit notch400pre-positioning structure340fixing assembly410first pre-positioning structure350first fixing member420second pre-positioning structure351limiting section500screw fastening structure352connection section510first fastening structure360second fixing member520second fastening structure361fixing section600indoor unit362abutting protrusion610indoor unit casing363folded edge section620Installation assembly

[0025] The realization of the objective, functional characteristics, and advantages of the present application are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is obvious that the embodiments to be described are only some rather than all of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained by persons skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of the present application.

[0027] It should be noted that if there is a directional indication (such as up, down, left, right, front, rear...) in the embodiments of the present application, the directional indication is only used to explain the relative positional relationship, movement, etc. of the components in a certain posture (as shown in the drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will change accordingly.

[0028] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "fixed", etc. should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or a whole; can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; may be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and may be the internal communication between two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless specifically defined otherwise. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above-mentioned terms in the present application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0029] It should be noted that, the descriptions associated with, e.g., "first" and "second," in the present application are merely for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or suggesting relative importance or impliedly indicating the number of the indicated technical feature. Therefore, the feature associated with "first" or "second" can expressly or impliedly comprise at least one such feature. Besides, the meaning of "and / or" appearing in the present application comprises three parallel scenarios. For example, "A and / or B" comprises only A, or only B, or both A and B. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but they must be based on the realization of those of ordinary skill in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be achieved, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist, nor is it within the scope of the present application.

[0030] Currently, in air conditioners, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are assembled separately. During installation, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit need to be installed separately first, then the pipelines between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected, and finally the venting and refrigerant charging operations are performed to ensure the normal operation of the air conditioner.

[0031] However, connecting the pipelines and charging refrigerant require professional operation. Air conditioner installation is inconvenient and labor costs are high. In the related art, the refrigerant loop between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit needs to be connected by a special copper pipe. Copper pipes are rigid and easily break under stress. This means that the indoor unit and the outdoor unit cannot be pre-connected at the factory to solve the problem of connection pipes and charging refrigerant later. Refrigerant hoses replace the copper pipes in the related art. The flexibility of the refrigerant hoses allows the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to be connected together. This means that the pipe connections and refrigerant charging for the indoor unit and the outdoor unit can be completed before leaving the factory. After purchase, users only need to install the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to use the product, making it convenient for users to install themselves.

[0032] After pre-connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit with the refrigerant hose and pre-charging refrigerant into the loop of the refrigerant hose, the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit, ensure the refrigerant hose connection to the indoor unit is stable and avoid shaking. Because the compressor part of the outdoor unit and the evaporator part of the indoor unit still use copper pipe interfaces, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose after it is connected to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. It is also necessary to consider the convenience of installation, reduce the cost of parts processing, and reduce the assembly process.

[0033] Therefore, the present application provides an air conditioner, aiming to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose after it is connected to the outdoor unit, thereby guaranteeing product quality.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present application, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, an air conditioner 100 comprises an indoor unit 600, a refrigerant hose 200 and an outdoor unit 300. One end of the refrigerant hose 200 is connected to the indoor unit 600. The outdoor unit 300 comprises an outdoor unit casing 310, a partition plate 330, and a fixing assembly 340. The partition plate 330 is provided inside the outdoor unit casing 310, another end of the refrigerant hose 200 extends to a surface 331 of the partition plate 330 and is connected to a pipeline 320 of the outdoor unit 300, and the fixing assembly 340 is configured to fix another end of the refrigerant hose 200 to the partition plate 330.

[0035] In the related art, the outdoor unit 300 is connected to the indoor unit 300 through a special copper pipe. Firstly, when the air conditioner is working, the compressor in the outdoor unit 300 compresses the refrigerant, changing it from a gaseous state to a liquid state and releasing heat. Simultaneously, the liquid refrigerant enters the condenser (radiator) of outdoor unit 300, where a fan dissipates the heat generated during compression into the outdoor space, causing the refrigerant to become a cooler liquid state. This liquid then flows through copper pipes (high-pressure pipe or liquid pipe) into the evaporator of indoor unit 600. Because the pressure of the refrigerant decreases after entering the evaporator, the refrigerant quickly vaporizes and absorbs a large amount of heat from the surrounding area. The fan in the indoor unit 600 blows the cold air into the room, achieving a cooling effect. The vaporized refrigerant then exits the evaporator of the indoor unit 600 and passes through another relatively thick copper pipe (low-pressure pipe or gas pipe) connecting the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 before re-entering the compressor of the outdoor unit 300. The refrigerant hose 200 replaces the copper pipe between the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 mentioned above. The refrigerant hose 200 comprises an inner pipe assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 sleeved outside the inner pipe assembly 210. The inner pipe assembly 210 comprises the gas pipe and liquid pipe mentioned above, which are two refrigerant pipes. The inner pipe assembly 210 may also comprise water pipes, wiring, etc. The protective sleeve 220 is sleeved outside the inner pipe assembly 210 to provide protection and to ensure that the inner pipe assembly 210 is arranged in an orderly and neat manner.

[0036] In technical solutions of the present application, the indoor unit 600 is connected to the outdoor unit 300 through the refrigerant hose 200. However, in the related art, the indoor unit 600 is connected to the outdoor unit 300 through a special copper pipe. The flexibility of the refrigerant hose 200 allows for pre-filling of refrigerant into the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 before shipment, completing the refrigerant circulation loop between them. This facilitates user self-installation and makes the installation of the air conditioner 100 more convenient. Besides, the refrigerant hose 200 extends to the partition plate 330 of the outdoor unit 300 and connects to the compressor interface. The refrigerant hose 200 is fixed by the fixing assembly 340 to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose 200, prevent it from shaking, avoid loosening, and improve product quality.

[0037] In an embodiment, the fixing assembly 340 can be a cable tie, metal buckle, etc.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, in an embodiment, for ease of fixing and to ensure good fixing effect, a pre-positioning structure 400 and a screw fastening structure 500 are provided between the fixing assembly 340 and the partition plate 330. The pre-positioning structure 400 is configured to pre-fix the fixing assembly 340 to the partition plate 330, and the screw fastening structure 500 is configured to connect and fix the fixing assembly 340 to the partition plate 330.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the fixing assembly 340 comprises a first fixing member 350 and a second fixing member 360, and the first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360 are spaced apart along an extension direction of the refrigerant hose 200.

[0040] In another embodiment, the fixing assembly 340 can be an integral part consisting of the first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360.

[0041] The fixing assembly 340 is generally made of metal or hard plastic. By arranging the pre-positioning structure 400 on the fixing assembly 340, during the installation of the outdoor unit 300 of the air conditioner, the fixing assembly 340, such as the first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360, can be pre-fixed on the partition plate 330. This facilitates the subsequent screw fastening process in a limited space. Compared with the need to apply external force to fix and correspond to the screw fastening holes during installation, the installation is more convenient after being pre-fixed by the pre-positioning structure 400.

[0042] The first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360 are spaced apart along the connection direction of the refrigerant hose 200, which can achieve a better fixing effect with fewer parts. Compared with the whole method, the parts are smaller, the mold manufacturing cost is lower, and the installation is more convenient.

[0043] In an embodiment, the refrigerant hose 200 comprises an inner pipe assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 sleeved outside the inner pipe assembly 210, the inner pipe assembly 210 is partially exposed outside the protective sleeve 220 and connected to the pipeline 320 of the outdoor unit 300, the first fixing member 350 is located at the exposed portion of the inner pipe assembly 210, and the second fixing member 360 is located at the protective sleeve 220.

[0044] The first fixing member 350 is fixed at the connection point between the inlet / outlet copper pipes (liquid / gas pipes) of the outdoor unit 300 and the refrigerant hose 200, ensuring the stability of the copper pipe section of the outdoor unit 300 and preventing it from shaking. The second fixing member 360 is fixed at the protective sleeve 220, ensuring the stability of the refrigerant hose 200 on the partition plate 330. In this way, both the refrigerant hose 200 and the inlet / outlet copper pipes of the outdoor unit 300 are fixed to the partition plate 330, preventing the connection from easily coming loose and ensuring a stable connection. This prevents loosening during subsequent movement of the outdoor unit 300, ensuring product quality.

[0045] In an embodiment, the pre-positioning structure 400 comprises a first pre-positioning structure 410 provided at one side of the first fixing member 350, and the screw fastening structure 500 comprises a first fastening structure 510 provided at the other side of the first fixing member 350.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, in an embodiment, the first fixing member 350 comprises a limiting section 351 located outside the inner pipe assembly 210 and connection sections 352 located at both sides of the limiting section 351, the partition plate 330 is provided with a limiting flange 332, a limiting opening 333 is formed between the limiting flange 332 and the partition plate 330, the first pre-positioning structure 400 comprises one of the connection sections 352 and the limiting opening 333 for the connection section 352 to be inserted, and the first fastening structure 510 is provided between another connection section 352 and the partition plate 330.

[0047] In an embodiment, the elongated section of the partition plate 330 protrudes outward, functioning as a handle on a handbag. During installation, the connection section 352 of the fixing member is inserted into the limiting opening 333 formed by the handle and the partition plate 330, and the limiting section 351 abuts against the limiting opening 333. In this way, the first fixing member 350 is pre-fixed to the partition plate 330. Screw holes are provided at the opposite connection section 352. During installation, simply tightening the screws achieves the connection and fixation between the first fixing member 350 and the partition plate 330, making installation more convenient. The first fixing member 350 secures the pipeline 302 of the outdoor unit 300, ensuring that the pipeline 320 is not easily detached from the partition plate 330. Compared with other solutions, on the one hand, the fitting area between the limiting opening 333 and the connection section 352 is large, making installation convenient. During installation, only one end of the connection section 352 needs to be inserted into the limiting opening 333. Even if the compressor is closer to the chassis, it is still easier to install compared to other solutions.

[0048] In another embodiment, the first pre-positioning structure 410 can also be pre-fixed by means of buckle 364 and buckle groove 334.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the pre-positioning structure 400 comprises a second pre-positioning structure 420, the second pre-positioning structure 420 comprises a buckle 364 provided at the second fixing member 360 and a buckle groove 334 provided at the partition plate 330, and the buckle 364 is engaged with the buckle groove 334.

[0050] In an embodiment, the second fixing member 360 comprises a fixing section 361 located outside the protective sleeve 220 and folded edge sections 363 located on both sides of the fixing section 361, the buckle 364 is provided at one of the folded edge sections 363, the buckle groove 334 passes through the partition plate 330, the screw fastening structure 500 comprises a second fastening structure 520, and the second fastening structure 520 is provided at both of the folded edge sections 363.

[0051] The buckle 364 extends towards the partition plate 330 on the folded edge section 363, meaning that the buckle 364 and the folded edge section 363 intersect. The buckle 364 is a downward-bent hook, and the buckle groove 334 on the partition plate 330 is like a thin slit. During installation, the buckle 364 is inserted into the buckle groove 334, and the hook part of the buckle 364 abuts against the edge of the buckle groove 334 to achieve fixation. At this time, the folded edge section 363 is close to or against the partition plate 330, and the screw fastening structure 500 on the folded edge section 363 is configured with screw holes. When the buckle 364 engages with the buckle groove 334, and the screw holes of the folded edge section 363 and the partition plate 330 are aligned, tightening the screws will fix the second fixing member 360 to the partition plate 330. Moreover, the second fixing member 360 uses a screw fastening structure 500 on the folded edge section 363 to ensure the fixing effect of the refrigerant hose 200. The movement of the refrigerant hose 200 outside the outdoor unit 300 will not affect the fixing part on the partition plate 330, thus ensuring the quality of the product.

[0052] Further, to ensure the effective fixation of the refrigerant hose 200 by the second fixing member 360, the corresponding areas of the fixing section 361 and the partition plate 330 are provided with abutting protrusions 362, and the abutting protrusions 362 abut against the protective sleeve 220. In this way, the limiting section 351 of the second fixing member 360 can better apply pre-tightening force to the protective sleeve 220 of the refrigerant hose 200, and the cooperation of the abutting protrusion 362 can also ensure that the refrigerant hose 200 is not easy to move. Thus, the refrigerant hose 200 on the partition plate 330 can be firmly fixed by only one second fixing member 360. Moreover, the second fixing member 360 is easy to install and has low processing cost.

[0053] In related art, the outdoor unit 300 divides the interior of the outdoor unit casing 310 into chambers via a partition plate 330. One chamber houses a fan and a heat exchanger, while the other chamber houses a compressor and an electronic control components. In the present application, to ensure that the routing of the refrigerant hose 200 does not affect the subsequent installation of the outdoor unit 300, the refrigerant hose 200 is positioned at the edge of the outdoor unit 300. The outdoor unit 300 is typically rectangular, and the refrigerant hose 200 is positioned at the short edge of the rectangle, extending from the top to the bottom of the outdoor unit 300. If a traditional solution is used, the routing and fixing of the refrigerant hose 200 will be difficult. Therefore, in the present application, the outdoor unit 300 also comprises a side plate 370 of the heat exchanger placed inside the outdoor unit casing 310. One side of the partition plate 330 is connected to the outdoor unit casing 310, and the other side of the partition plate 330 is connected to the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger. In an embodiment, multiple ventilation pipe holes are provided at the surface 331 of the side plate 370 of the ventilation device for the copper pipes of the ventilation device to pass through. The side plate 370 of the air exchanger is located near the edge of the rectangle. The loop formed by the connection between the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300 and the refrigerant hose 200 is located in the receiving cavity between the partition plate 330 and the outdoor unit casing, and is fixed to the partition plate 330 by the fixing assembly 340. This design does not affect the space available for the fan and the compressor, and also ensures a stable connection between the refrigerant hose 200 and the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300, preventing them from easily coming loose and guaranteeing product quality.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, to facilitate the connection between the partition plate 330 and the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger, and to facilitate the installation of the partition plate 330, the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger is provided with an installation lug 371, both the installation lug 371 and the partition plate 330 are provided with screw holes, and the screw holes are configured for screws to pass through and lock the partition plate 330 to the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger.

[0055] In screw-based connection schemes, at least one screw position is usually required to ensure a secure fixation. However, the connection position between the partition plate 330 and the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger is close to the edge of the outdoor unit casing 310, where the operating space is limited. To improve the ease of installation and the efficiency of product assembly, a snap-fit structure is also provided between the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and the partition plate 330.

[0056] In an embodiment, the snap-fit structure comprises a snap-fit flange 372 provided at the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit notch 335 provided at the partition plate 330, the snap-fit flange 372 is spaced apart from the installation lug 371, and the snap-fit flange 372 is partially exposed on the partition plate 330.

[0057] During installation, the snap-fit flange 372 of the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger extends from the back side of the partition plate 330 to the front side of the partition plate 330 through the snap-fit notch 335. This snap-fit structure can also serve as a pre-fixing mechanism. At this time, the screw holes on the installation lug 371 are aligned with the screw holes on the partition plate 330, making it easy to tighten the screws to fix the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and the partition plate 330.

[0058] In another embodiment, the snap-fit structure can also be a sliding groove of the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger or a slider of the edge of the partition plate 330, with the partition plate 330 snapped into the sliding groove of the heat exchange plate by sliding insertion.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the refrigerant hose 200 needs to have a clearance opening 393 in the outdoor unit casing 310 to pass through it and enter the interior. The casing is generally made of sheet metal with a sharp cut, which is to prevent the refrigerant hose 200 from cutting people and to protect personnel safety. The outdoor unit 300 further comprises a protective cover 380, the outdoor unit casing 310 comprises a chassis and a top cover 390 corresponding to the chassis, the top cover 390 is provided with a clearance opening 393, the protective cover 380 is embedded in the clearance opening 393, and the refrigerant hose 200 passes through the protective cover 380.

[0060] In an embodiment, the protective cover 380 is made of rubber, possessing a certain degree of hardness and protective capability.

[0061] In other embodiments, the protective cover 380 may also be made of materials such as plastic.

[0062] To facilitate installation of the protective cover 380, in an embodiment, the protective cover 380 can be inserted into the clearance opening 393 by utilizing the flexible deformation of its material.

[0063] In an embodiment, the protective cover 380 has a cross-section. When installing the protective cover 380, the cross-sections can be misaligned, thereby facilitating the insertion of the protective cover 380 into the clearance opening 393 and simplifying installation.

[0064] Regarding the location of the protective cover 380, in an embodiment, the protective cover 380 is located on the top of the outdoor unit casing 310.

[0065] In another embodiment, the protective cover 380 may be located on the side of the outdoor unit casing 310.

[0066] To address the issue of the protective cover 380 easily becoming loose when directly embedded in the clearance opening 393, a limiting structure is provided between the protective cover 380 and the top cover 390. The limiting structure is configured to fix the protective cover 380 and the top cover 390.

[0067] In an embodiment, the limiting structure comprises a first annular protrusion 394 provided at the clearance opening 393 and a first annular groove 391 provided at the protective cover 380, and the first annular protrusion 394 and the first annular groove 391 cooperate with each other.

[0068] To further improve the securing effect of the protective cover 380, the limiting structure further comprises a second annular protrusion 395 provided at the clearance opening 393 and a third annular protrusion 392 provided at the protective cover 380, a second annular groove 396 is formed between the second annular protrusion 395 and the first annular protrusion 394, and the third annular protrusion 392 is embedded in the second annular groove 396. The cross-sectional shape of the third annular protrusion 392 is like a "7". When installing, after the protective cover 380 is inserted into the second annular groove 396, the first annular protrusion 394 is the edge of the clearance opening 393, and its cross-section is like a "-". It is embedded in the first annular groove 391. Multiple fixation ensures the stable installation of the protective cover 380. Moreover, the material of the protective cover 380, whether it is made of rubber or plastic, has a certain degree of flexibility, and it is also convenient to install.

[0069] In another embodiment, the limiting structure is a snap-fit groove configured in the clearance opening 393. The edge of the protective cover 380 is provided with corresponding snap claws. During installation, the protective cover 380 is pressed down so that the snap claws cooperate with the snap-fit groove.

[0070] Regarding the connection between the indoor unit 600 and the refrigerant hose 200:

[0071] As shown in FIG. 9, the indoor unit 600 comprises an indoor unit casing 610 and an installation assembly 620. The outer surface of the indoor unit casing 610 has an installation position. The connection pipe of the indoor unit 600 extends to the installation position. The other end of the refrigerant hose 200 is connected to the connection pipe. The installation assembly 620 is fixed to the indoor unit casing 610 to secure the refrigerant hose 200 and the connection pipe to the indoor unit casing 610.

[0072] In an embodiment, the installation assembly 620 can be a cable tie, metal buckle, etc.

[0073] In an embodiment, for ease of fixing and to ensure good fixing effect, a pre-positioning structure 400 and a screw fastening structure 500, similar to those provided for the outdoor unit 300, are provided between the installation assembly 620 and the indoor unit casing 610. The pre-positioning structure 400 is configured to pre-fix the installation assembly 620 to the indoor unit casing 610, and the screw fastening structure 500 is configured to fix the installation assembly 620 to the indoor unit casing 610.

[0074] In an embodiment, the installation assembly 620 comprises a first installation member and a second installation member, which are spaced apart at installation positions. The first installation member is located at the connection pipe, and the second installation member is located at the refrigerant hose 200.

[0075] In another embodiment, the installation assembly 620 may be a single, integral component comprising the first installation member and the second installation member.

[0076] The installation assembly 620 is generally made of metal or hard plastic. By arranging a pre-positioning structure on the installation assembly 620, the installation assembly 620, such as the first installation member and the second installation member, can be pre-fixed to the indoor unit casing 610 during the installation of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. This facilitates the subsequent screw fastening process in a limited space. Compared with the need to apply external force to fix and correspond to the screw fastening holes during installation, the installation is more convenient after pre-fixing through the pre-positioning structure.

[0077] In an embodiment, the refrigerant hose 200 comprises an inner pipe assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 sleeved outside the inner pipe assembly 210. The inner pipe assembly 210 is partially exposed outside the protective sleeve 220 and connected to the pipeline 320 of the indoor unit 600. A first installation member is located at a portion of the pipeline of the indoor unit 600, and a second installation member is located at the protective sleeve. The first installation member is fixed to the inlet and outlet copper pipes (liquid / gas pipes) of the indoor unit 600, close to the connection point of the refrigerant hose 200. This ensures the stability of the copper pipe section of the indoor unit 600 and prevents it from shaking. The second installation member is fixed to the protective sleeve 220 to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose 200 within the indoor unit casing. In this way, the refrigerant hose 200 and the inlet and outlet copper pipes of the indoor unit 600 are fixed to the indoor unit casing, and the connection is not easy to come loose, ensuring a stable connection. This will prevent the indoor unit 600 from coming loose during subsequent movement, thus ensuring product quality.

[0078] To protect the connection pipe of the indoor unit 600 and prevent leakage caused by hard contact between the first installation member and the connection pipe, the indoor unit 600 also comprises a protective member, which is sleeved on the connection pipe and located between the first installation member and the indoor unit casing.

[0079] In an embodiment, the protective member is made of rubber and has a groove on it that corresponds to the shape of the connection pipe. The connection pipe is inserted into the groove, which not only provides protection but also restricts the movement of the connection pipe, resulting in a better fixation effect based on the first installation member.

[0080] In another embodiment, the protective member is made of foam, silicone, or similar materials, and can also have an installation groove.

[0081] To protect the refrigerant hose 200 and connection pipe, the indoor unit 600 also comprises a protective housing, which is located at the installation position and fixed to the indoor unit casing 610. The installation assembly 620 is located inside the protective housing. The surface of the inner unit casing 610 is recessed inward to form the installation position. The installation position is adapted to the protective housing, so that the installation of the protective housing on the inner unit casing 610 will not appear obtrusive. It can provide protection while also ensuring the appearance.

[0082] In an embodiment, the protective housing is fixed to the indoor unit casing 610 by screws, which is simple to install and low in cost.

[0083] Using only screws for fixing is relatively difficult to assemble. In an embodiment, the indoor unit casing has a plug-in protrusion, and the bottom of the protective shell has a matching plug-in groove.

[0084] During installation, align the bottom recess of the protective housing with the protrusion of the inner unit casing. The bottom recess of the protective housing can extend along the width of the protective housing or be set in the width direction. In this way, the protective housing can be easily tightened by pushing the top of the protective housing against the inner unit casing through the cooperation of the protrusion and the recess, making the installation more convenient.

[0085] It should be noted that the air conditioner 100 can be a split-type air conditioner that is easy for users to install individually. It uses a flexible refrigerant pipe to connect the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit 300, and refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant circuit before the equipment leaves the factory. Thus, when users install the equipment themselves, they only need to fix the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 of the air conditioner separately, without needing to install refrigerant pipes or add refrigerant, thereby reducing the difficulty of installation and enabling individual user installation. However, this design is not limited to this; in other embodiments, the air conditioner can also be a regular split-type air conditioner.

[0086] The above are only some embodiments of the present application, and do not limit the scope of the present application thereto. Under the concept of the present application, equivalent structural transformations made according to the description and drawings of the present application, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields are comprised in the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising: an indoor unit; a refrigerant hose, wherein one end of the refrigerant hose is connected to the indoor unit; and an outdoor unit comprising an outdoor unit casing, a partition plate, and a fixing assembly, wherein the partition plate is provided inside the outdoor unit casing, an other end of the refrigerant hose extends to a surface of the partition plate and is connected to a pipeline of the outdoor unit, and the fixing assembly is configured to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose to the partition plate.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a pre-positioning structure and a screw fastening structure are provided between the fixing assembly and the partition plate, the pre-positioning structure is configured to pre-fix the fixing assembly to the partition plate, and the screw fastening structure is configured to connect and fix the fixing assembly to the partition plate.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the fixing assembly comprises a first fixing member and a second fixing member, and the first fixing member and the second fixing member are spaced apart along an extension direction of the refrigerant hose.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant hose comprises an inner pipe assembly and a protective sleeve sleeved outside the inner pipe assembly, the inner pipe assembly is partially exposed outside the protective sleeve and connected to the pipeline of the outdoor unit, the first fixing member is located at the exposed portion of the inner pipe assembly, and the second fixing member is located at the protective sleeve.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the pre-positioning structure comprises a first pre-positioning structure provided at one side of the first fixing member, and the screw fastening structure comprises a first fastening structure provided at an other side of the first fixing member.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the first fixing member comprises a limiting section located outside the inner pipe assembly and connection sections located at both sides of the limiting section, the partition plate is provided with a limiting flange, a limiting opening is formed between the limiting flange and the partition plate, the first pre-positioning structure comprises one of the connection sections and the limiting opening for the connection section to be inserted, and the first fastening structure is provided between an other connection section and the partition plate.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the pre-positioning structure comprises a second pre-positioning structure, the second pre-positioning structure comprises a buckle provided at the second fixing member and a buckle groove provided at the partition plate, and the buckle is engaged with the buckle groove.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the second fixing member comprises a fixing section located outside the protective sleeve and folded edge sections located on both sides of the fixing section, the buckle is provided at one of the folded edge sections, the buckle groove passes through the partition plate, the screw fastening structure comprises a second fastening structure, and the second fastening structure is provided at both of the folded edge sections.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein areas of the fixing section and the partition plate that correspond to each other are provided with abutting protrusions, and the abutting protrusions abut against the protective sleeve.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit further comprises a side plate of a heat exchanger placed inside the outdoor unit casing, one side of the partition plate is connected to the outdoor unit casing, and an other side of the partition plate is connected to the side plate of the heat exchanger.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein the side plate of the heat exchanger is provided with an installation lug, both the installation lug and the partition plate are provided with screw holes, and the screw holes are configured for screws to pass through and lock the partition plate to the side plate of the heat exchanger.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein a snap-fit structure is provided between the side plate of the heat exchanger and the partition plate, the snap-fit structure comprises a snap-fit flange provided at the side plate of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit notch provided at the partition plate, the snap-fit flange is spaced apart from the installation lug, and the snap-fit flange is partially exposed on the partition plate.

13. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit further comprises a protective cover, the outdoor unit casing comprises a chassis and a top cover corresponding to the chassis, the top cover is provided with a clearance opening, the protective cover is embedded in the clearance opening, and the refrigerant hose passes through the protective cover.

14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein a limiting structure is provided between the protective cover and the top cover, and the limiting structure is configured to fix the protective cover and the top cover.

15. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein the limiting structure comprises a first annular protrusion provided at the clearance opening and a first annular groove provided at the protective cover, and the first annular protrusion and the first annular groove cooperate with each other.

16. The air conditioner according to claim 15, wherein the limiting structure further comprises a second annular protrusion provided at the clearance opening and a third annular protrusion provided at the protective cover, a second annular groove is formed between the second annular protrusion and the first annular protrusion, and the third annular protrusion is embedded in the second annular groove.

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