pavilion structure, fairing, fan unit, outdoor unit, air conditioner and refrigeration cycle unit

Abstract

Technical problem: providing a pavilion structure. Solution to the problem: a pavilion structure (15) which, according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes a cylindrical portion (30), having an outer wall (30a) configured to surround a fan (1); a base portion (31) extending outwards from one end (L) of the cylindrical portion (30); and reinforcing members (32, 33, 34, 35) coupled to the base portion (31) and the cylindrical portion (30). The reinforcing members (32, 33, 34, 35) extend continuously along the outer wall (30a) of the cylindrical portion (30) from one end (L) to the other end (U) in the direction of the central axis of the cylindrical portion (30) while being displaced in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion (30).

Description

Title of the invention: roof structure, fairing, fan apparatus, outdoor unit, air conditioner and refrigeration cycle apparatus Technical field

[0001] The disclosure relates to a roof structure, a fairing, a fan apparatus, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an air conditioner and a refrigeration cycle apparatus.

[0002] Context

[0003] Usually, a cylindrical horn is installed on the top of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner such as multiple air conditioners for a building so as to surround a fan disposed at the air outlets thereof. To ensure the performance of the fan apparatus, it is desirable to make the space between the fan and the horn as narrow as possible. On the other hand, in the case where the horn is made of the resin material, the horn would easily be deformed by changes in ambient temperature. If the space between the fan and the horn becomes narrower due to thermal deformation, the fan would come into contact with the horn, resulting in failure of the apparatus. Therefore, the space between the fan and the horn tends to enlarge in anticipation of thermal deformation.

[0004] With respect to the pavilion, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2019-143847 (Patent Documentation 1) is known. Patent Documentation 1 discloses that the cylindrical portion of the pavilion is formed from a plurality of vertical ribs extending parallel to the center axis of the cylindrical portion and a plurality of horizontal ribs extending in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion. The plurality of vertical ribs is formed at 8 locations in total, which includes 4 locations along the centerline in the depth direction and the centerline in the width direction passing through the center, and 4 locations along the diagonal line segment passing through the center of the cylindrical portion and the corner of the plate portion.According to the prior art disclosed in patent documentation 1, the vertical ribs have respective surfaces perpendicular to the base, and a plurality of them are installed along the circumferential direction.

[0005] In addition, recently, the roof and the shroud of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner are molded as a single piece for cost reduction.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to regulate the thermal deformation of the horn caused by the temperature change around the horn and to provide a highly rigid and highly reliable horn structure capable of suppressing the degradation of airflow performance by regulating the enlargement of the space between the fan and the horn for clearance.

[0007] List of quotes

[0008] Patent Documentation

[0009] Patent Documentation 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-143847 Summary of the invention Technical problem

[0010] The disclosure has been created in view of the above points, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a highly rigid and reliable roof structure by controlling thermal deformation of the roof due to temperature changes, thereby providing a roof structure, a shroud including the roof structure, a fan apparatus including the roof structure, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, the air conditioner, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the fan apparatus capable of suppressing performance degradation in the fan apparatus configured therewith by controlling the enlargement of the space between the fan and the roof.

[0011] Solution to the problem

[0012] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, the present disclosure provides a roof structure having the following features. That is, the roof structure includes a cylindrical portion, having an outer wall, configured to surround a fan; a base portion extending outward from one end of the cylindrical portion; and a reinforcing member coupled to the base portion and the cylindrical portion. The reinforcing member extends continuously with the outer wall of the cylindrical portion from one end to the other end in the direction of the central axis of the cylindrical portion while being moved in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion.

[0013] The present disclosure also relates to a fairing including the aforementioned roof structure, a fan apparatus including a fan and the aforementioned roof structure, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, including the aforementioned fan apparatus, an air conditioner including an indoor unit and the aforementioned outdoor unit, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the aforementioned fan apparatus.

[0014] Advantageous effects of the invention

[0015] According to the above configuration, it becomes possible to provide a highly rigid and reliable roof structure by controlling the thermal deformation of the roof due to temperature changes, thereby suppressing the performance degradation of the fan apparatus by controlling the enlargement of the space between the fan and the roof. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] [Fig.l] illustrates a schematic configuration of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner including a roof structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] [Fig.2] illustrates perspective views of fairings including respective roof structures according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0018] [Fig. 3] illustrates plan views of fairings including the respective roof structures according to the one or more embodiments of the present invention.

[0019] [Fig.4] illustrates perspective views of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having two series-installed shrouds corresponding to a two-fan apparatus, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] [Fig.5] is a diagram illustrating the simulation results of the characteristics of the respective fairings having a roof structure according to the one or more embodiments.

[0021] Description of embodiments

[0022] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the particular embodiments described below. In addition, in the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts.

[0023] The disclosure relates to a roof structure, a fairing including the roof structure, a fan apparatus including the roof structure, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner including the fan apparatus, an air conditioner including the outdoor unit, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the fan apparatus.

[0024] The roof structure according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical portion (a roof portion), having an outer wall, configured to surround a fan; a base portion extending outwardly from one end of the cylindrical portion; and a reinforcing member (angled ribs) coupled to the base portion and the cylindrical portion. In this configuration, the reinforcing member (short side rib, inclined rib) extends continuously with the outer wall of the cylindrical portion from one end to the other end in the direction of the central axis of the cylindrical part while being moved in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical part.

[0025] According to the above configuration, since the roof structure is continuously reinforced by the base portion with a certain width in the circumferential direction, it is possible to appropriately regulate or suppress the deformation of the roof caused by the temperature change and also to strengthen the rigidity of the roof. Thus, a highly rigid and highly reliable roof structure can be provided, and it becomes possible to suppress the performance degradation of the fan apparatus with the roof structure by regulating or suppressing the enlargement of the gap between the fan and the roof.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment, the cylindrical portion, the base portion and the reinforcing member are composed of a resin material, and preferably molded by a resin material. According to another preferable embodiment, the cylindrical portion, the base portion and the reinforcing member are integrally molded by a resin material.

[0027] According to a preferable embodiment, the reinforcing member comprises a first reinforcing member and a second reinforcing member, respectively, extending from the position of one end toward the other end of the cylindrical portion such that respective ends of the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member approach each other in the circumferential direction. By employing such a shape, it is possible to balance controlled thermal deformation and increased rigidity and reduced vibration.

[0028] According to another preferable embodiment, the reinforcing member further comprises a third reinforcing member which connects the ends of the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member which approach each other and is parallel to the base portion. By employing such a shape, it becomes possible to reinforce the cylindrical portion with a wider width in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion.

[0029] According to another preferable embodiment, the cylindrical portion has an approximately cylindrical shape, and the base portion, the first reinforcing member, and the second reinforcing member have respective more planar shapes. The first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member have respective surfaces inclined relative to the location of the base portion or inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base portion. This shape facilitates molding of the fairing using a mold provided with a sliding mechanism.

[0030] According to another preferable embodiment, the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member extend from the position of one end to a position in the central axis of the cylindrical portion where the radius of the cylindrical portion is minimum. This configuration makes it possible to sufficiently control the deformation with a minimal amount of reinforcement.

[0031] According to another preferable embodiment, the reinforcing members are respectively arranged on both sides of the cylindrical portion in the major axis direction. Even if the cylindrical portion is configured to be approximately cylindrical, the rigidity of the root portion is not uniform due to the shape of the base portion, so that thermal deformation results in an ellipse shape, and the horn contacts the fan on the minor axis side. By employing the above configuration, thermal deformation of the cylindrical portion in the larger direction of the major axis can be controlled or suppressed, to make the deformation closer to an exact circular shape. Accordingly, thermal deformation that would give rise to failure can be effectively prevented.

[0032] According to a particular embodiment, the roof structure includes further additional reinforcing members (long side ribs) arranged on both sides of the cylindrical portion in the direction of the minor axis. The additional reinforcing members include a first additional reinforcing member and a second additional reinforcing member (vertical ribs) which are respectively connected to the base portion and the cylindrical portion and have respective surfaces perpendicular to the base portion, and one or more third additional reinforcing members (horizontal rib) connected to the first additional reinforcing member and the second additional reinforcing member along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion.

[0033] According to a particular embodiment, a fairing including the roof structure may be provided. According to another particular embodiment, the roof structure may be provided as a separate member from the fairing.

[0034] According to a particular embodiment, a fan apparatus including a fan and the roof structure may be provided. The fan apparatus may be arranged upwardly. According to a particular embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, including the aforementioned fan apparatus, may be provided. According to a particular embodiment, an air conditioner including an indoor unit and the aforementioned outdoor unit may be provided. According to a particular embodiment, a refrigeration cycle apparatus including the aforementioned fan apparatus may be provided.

[0035] With reference to Figs. 1-4, an outdoor unit 10 of an air conditioner, including a fan apparatus 11 with a propeller fan 12, will be described in connection with Examples of a roof structure, a fairing, a fan apparatus, an outdoor unit and an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] [Fig.l] illustrates a schematic configuration of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner including a roof structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The air conditioner includes an indoor unit which is placed indoors and an outdoor unit 10 which is placed outdoors and connected to the indoor unit via piping. The indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor blower such as a cross-flow fan, in the refrigeration cycle of the air conditioner. The outdoor unit 10 includes a fan apparatus 11, a compressor 16, an outdoor heat exchanger 17, a four-way valve and an expansion valve, in the refrigeration cycle.

[0038] The outdoor unit 10 illustrated in [Fig.l] includes the compressor 16 placed in an enclosure (or case) 19, the outdoor heat exchanger 17, an electrical box 18 disposed above the compressor 16, a strut 14 on which the electrical box 18 is mounted, the fan apparatus 11 fixed to the strut 14 and a shroud 15 which is placed over the enclosure 19 and is disposed around the outer periphery of the fan apparatus 11. According to the described embodiment, the shroud 15 includes a roof structure, that is, the shroud and the roof of the outdoor unit are integrated. Furthermore, the shroud 15 is preferably made of a resin material, preferably molded by the resin material, more preferably integrally molded by the resin material.

[0039] The fan apparatus 11 includes a propeller fan 12 and a motor configured to drive the propeller fan 12. The propeller fan 12 has a blade section that is configured to circulate wind along its rotational axis. The blade section includes, for example, three blades, without limitation. The outdoor unit 10 draws air through the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 17 by rotating the propeller fan 12 of the fan apparatus 11 driven by the motor 13, exchanges heat with the outdoor heat exchanger 17, and discharges the air through the upper opening of the shroud 15 to the atmosphere.

[0040] Note that the fan apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be configured to blow or suck air by rotating the propeller fan 12 by the motor 13. Also note that the outdoor unit 10 and the fan apparatus 11 of the air conditioner are not particularly limited, as long as they are equipped with a fan and the roof structure.

[0041] As described above, to ensure the performance of the fan apparatus 11, it is desirable to make the space between the propeller fan 12 and the horn portion of the shroud 15 as narrow as possible. However, if the shroud 15 is made of the resin material, the resin-molded shroud 15 easily deforms due to changes in ambient temperature. More specifically, in response to the temperature change in the surroundings, thermal deformation of the shroud 15 occurs proportionally to the linear expansion coefficient of the resin material. If the gap between the propeller fan 12 and the horn portion of the shroud 15 becomes narrower due to thermal deformation, the propeller fan 12 and the horn portion come into contact, resulting in malfunction of the portion. Thus, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient distance between the fan and the horn portion in anticipation of thermal deformation, and reliability considerations tend to enlarge this gap distance.

[0042] Therefore, with respect to this context, there is a need to regulate the thermal deformation of the horn portion caused by the temperature change around the horn portion, to provide higher rigidity and higher reliability and to suppress the degradation of airflow performance by regulating the enlargement of the gap between the fan and the horn portion.

[0043] Therefore, according to the described embodiment, a horn portion (a cylindrical portion) which has an outer wall and is configured to surround the propeller fan 12, a base portion extending outward from the lower end (one end) of the horn portion, and a rib (reinforcing member) coupled to the base portion and the horn portion are provided, wherein the rib extends, from the base portion, continuously with the outer wall of the horn portion from the lower end toward the upper end (other end) in the direction of the central axis of the horn portion while being displaced in the circumferential direction of the horn portion.As a result, the deformation of the horn part due to temperature change can be suppressed or regulated, the rigidity of the horn part can be increased, and a horn structure having higher rigidity and higher reliability can be provided, and the performance degradation of the obtained fan apparatus can be suppressed.

[0044] [Fig. 2] illustrates perspective views of fairings including respective roof structures according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. [Fig. 3] illustrates plan views of fairings including respective roof structures according to the one or more embodiments of the present invention. [Fig. 2] (A), [Fig. 3] (A) and [Fig. 3] (B) illustrate a fairing 15 according to a first embodiment and [Fig. 2] (B), [Fig. 3] (C) and [Fig. 3] (D) illustrate a fairing 15 according to a second embodiment. [Fig. 3] (A) and [Fig. 3] (C) illustrate top views and [Fig. 3] (B) and [Fig. 3] (D) illustrate front views from a given direction of the base portion 31.

[0045] First, the fairing 15 according to the first embodiment is described. The fairing 15 illustrated in [Fig.2](A), [Fig.3](A) and [Fig.3](B) includes a roof portion 30 and a base portion 31 extending outwardly from an end L of the roof portion 30.

[0046] The horn portion 30 has approximately a cylindrical shape with openings at the top and the bottom. The horn portion 30 is configured such that air enters through the opening I at the top of the base portion 31, flows through the cylindrical shape of the horn portion 30 from the bottom toward the top, and exits through the opening at its bottom. According to the described embodiment, the diameter or radius of the cylinder of the horn portion 30 is configured to be minimum at the center M, increasing from the center M toward the upper end U, and increasing from the center M toward the lower end L. As described above, the horn portion 30 is configured to have a diameter that ensures a certain clearance from the maximum diameter of the propeller fan 12 in a state where the fan apparatus 11 is installed with the propeller fan 12.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the described embodiment, the horn portion 30 has a structure in which the diameter gradually increases from the center, which is called a multi-stage expansion structure and is also called a long horn structure. By employing this long horn structure, the airflow becomes smooth, the fan inlet can be reduced with improved efficiency and improved performance over a wide operating range.

[0048] The horn portion 30 has an inner wall and an outer wall 30a, which includes end faces 30b, 30c on both sides thereof. The end faces 30b, 30c are formed such that, when a plurality of shroud (parts) 15 for each fan apparatus 11 are arranged adjacent to each other, they do not come into contact with each other. The horn portion 30c constitutes a cylindrical portion in the described embodiment.

[0049] The base portion 31 has an approximately rectangular shape and is configured such that the shroud 15 is placed on the enclosure of the outdoor unit 10 (enclosure 19 in [Fig.l]) and fixed. The base portion 31 has the roof portion 30 formed in the center of its substantially rectangular shape, and extends outward from the lower end L of the roof portion 30 to form a rectangular shape. The base portion 31 has an opening I at the position where the roof portion 30 is formed. Note that the front left side and the rear right side shown in [Fig.2](A), the top and bottom sides shown in [Fig.3](A), the front view side of [Fig.3](B) are the short side. The base portion 31 constitutes a base portion in the described embodiment.

[0050] The fairing 15 further includes front short side ribs 32 and 33 and rear short side ribs 34 and 35 (note that the rib 35 is hidden in [Fig.2](A)) which are coupled to the base portion 31 and the roof portion 30 and are disposed at the short sides. In addition, the fairing 15 further includes front long side ribs 38-40 and rear long side ribs 41-43 (note that the rib 41-43 is hidden in [Fig.2](A)) which are similarly coupled to the base portion 31 and the roof portion 30 and are disposed at the long sides. In the described embodiment, the short side ribs 32-35 constitute the reinforcing members and the long side ribs 38-43 constitute additional reinforcing members.

[0051] The short-side ribs 32 and 33 are bonded to the upper surface of the base portion 31, from which the short-side ribs 32 and 33 extend continuously with the outer wall 30a of the roof portion 30 from the lower end L toward the upper end U in the direction of the central axis of the roof portion 30, while being displaced in the circumferential direction of the roof portion 30 (as illustrated by the bold line in [Fig.3](A)). The set of the front short-side ribs 32 and 33 extends respectively from the position of the lower end L toward the upper end U of the roof portion 30 such that the respective ends of the front short-side ribs 32 and 33 approach each other in the circumferential direction. The ribs 32 and 33 are also called "inclined ribs".The inclined ribs are inclined so as to form an inverted V shape (k) or the katakana character "ha" or the kanji character 8. Although [Fig.2](A) shows the inclined ribs 32, 33 arranged on the front short side, note, however, that similar inclined ribs 34, 35 are also arranged on the rear short side, and in [Fig.2](A), only one front rib 34 is mainly visible.

[0052] The preferable extent along the circumferential direction of the bell portion 30 which is covered by moving the one short-side rib (32, 33, 34 or 35) along the circumferential direction may be from 15 to 40 degrees and the preferable extent along the circumferential direction of the bell portion 30 which is covered by moving all of the short-side ribs (32 and 33, or 34 and 35) along the circumferential direction may be from 30 to 80 degrees. In addition, the ratio of the short-side ribs 32, 33, 34, 35 in the horizontal direction relative to the minimum diameter of the bell portion 30 in the normal view of [Fig. 3] (B) as seen from the short side may be from approximately 10% to 35%.

[0053] The number of short side ribs is not limited, however, the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2](A), [Fig.3](A) and [Fig.3](B) has ribs arranged at four locations as illustrated by numbers 32, 33, 34 and 35, which may be the most efficient configuration.

[0054] As illustrated in [Fig.2](A) and [Fig.3](B), according to the first embodiment, the short side ribs 32, 33, 34, 35 have more planar shapes, respectively, and the short side ribs 32, 33, 34, 35 have respective surfaces inclined relative to the location of the base portion 31. Alternatively, the short side ribs 32, 33, 34, 35 are inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base portion 31. Here, the angle between the more planar surfaces of the short side ribs 32, 33, 34, 35 and the more planar surface of the base portion 31 may range from approximately 30 to 65 degrees. Such a configuration operates differently from vertical ribs extending along the plane perpendicular to the plane of the base portion, which is disclosed in the patent documentation 1. In addition, such a structure provides advantages when molding the fairing 15 using a mold.

[0055] Furthermore, in [Fig.2](A) and [Fig.3](B), a preferable extent along the central axis of the horn portion 30 where the short side ribs 32-35 are arranged. The short side ribs 32-35 extend from the position of the lower end L to a position where the diameter of the horn portion 30 is minimum before the upper end of the horn portion in the central axis of the horn portion 30, more specifically a position M which is approximately central. If the distance from the lower end L increases, the characteristics will become better, but an extension to the central position M can cause the deformation to be sufficiently suppressed with the minimum amount of the reinforcement. However, this does not prevent further extension of the length of the short side ribs 32-35.

[0056] The fairing 15 illustrated in [Fig.2](A) includes additional sets of ribs, the long side ribs 38-40, 41-43 disposed at both long sides of the roof portion 30 in addition to the short side ribs 32-35 disposed at both short sides of the roof portion 30. One set of the long side ribs 38-40 includes the vertical ribs 38 and 39 which are coupled to the base portion 31 and the roof portion 30 respectively and have respective surfaces perpendicular to the plane of the base portion 31, and are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the roof portion 30. The one set of the long side ribs 38-40 further includes one or more horizontal ribs 40 connected to the vertical ribs 38, 39 along the circumferential direction of the roof portion 30. Note that in [Fig.2](A) Only the front long side ribs 38-40 are mainly illustrated, however, there are other similar long side ribs 41-43 arranged at the rear side. .

[0057] Next, with reference to [Fig.2](B), [Fig.3](C) and [Fig.3](D) the fairing 15 according to the second embodiment is described. The second embodiment will also be described with the same reference numbers given to parts corresponding to the organs of the first embodiment, and the following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the fairing 15 of the second embodiment has the same or a similar configuration to the fairing 15 of the first embodiment.

[0058] The fairing 15 illustrated in [Fig.2](B), [Fig.3](C) and [Fig.3](D) includes, similarly to the first embodiment, a roof portion 30, a base portion 31 extending outwardly from an end L of the roof portion 30, short side ribs which are coupled to the base portion 31 and the roof portion 30, and long side ribs which are also coupled to the base portion 31 and the roof portion 30.

[0059] In the fairing 15 according to the second embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2](B), the short side ribs 32, 33 extend, similarly to the first embodiment, respectively from the position of the lower end L toward the upper end U of the roof portion 30 such that respective ends of the front short side ribs 32 and 33 approach each other in the circumferential direction, the short side ribs 32, 33 of the second embodiment have a particular structure described below. That is, there is another additional rib 36 which connects the ends of a short side rib 32 and another short side rib 32 which approach each other and is parallel to the base portion 31. Here, the numbers 32 and 33 refer to the inclined ribs and the number 36 refers to a parallel rib.The inclined ribs 32, 33 and the parallel rib 36 are continuously composed and preferably integrally molded. The inclined ribs 32, 33 and the parallel rib 36 are configured to form an inverted V shape (k) or the katakana character "ha" or the kanji character 8 with the respective upper end connected. Although [Fig.2](B) shows the front inclined ribs 32, 33 and the front parallel rib 3, however, note that similar inclined ribs and parallel rib are also provided on the rear short side.

[0060] The preferable extent along the circumferential direction of the bell portion 30 which is covered by the set of inclined ribs 32 and 33 and the parallel rib may range from 40 to 90 degrees. In addition, the ratio of the set of short side ribs 32, 33, 36 in the horizontal direction relative to the minimum diameter of the bell portion 30 in the normal view of [Fig. 3] (D) as seen from the short side may range from approximately 35% to 80%.

[0061] [Fig.4] illustrates perspective views of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having two shrouds 15 corresponding to a two-fan apparatus according to the first embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2](A). As illustrated in [Fig.4], two shroud portions 15-1 and 15-2 are arranged adjacent to each other, their end faces 30b and 30c (30-1b, 30-2c) of the outer wall 30a facing each other. The shroud portions 15-1, 15-2 illustrated in [Fig.4] are internally equipped with respective propeller fans (not shown) and respective fan guards 20-1, 20-2 are attached to the air outlet opening.

[0062] Note that in the described embodiment, the roof and the fairing are integrated such that its outer wall 30a and the ribs 32, 33 are exposed in the outdoor unit and constitute the outer surface. However, they are not limited to such a configuration. As described above, the roof and the fairing are separate and the roof structure can be positioned inside the enclosure.

[0063] Hereinafter, with reference to [Fig. 5], the characteristics of the fairing 15 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described.

[0064] First, the total amount of thermal deformation is determined by the product of the coefficient of linear expansion, the amount of temperature change, and the length (size) of material. Thus, if ribs are provided for reinforcement, it does not necessarily mean that thermal deformation can be suppressed, and the total amount of thermal deformation may not change. However, the deformation becomes approximately elliptical due to the asymmetry of the structure, and the minimum gap between the propeller fan 12 and the horn portion corresponds to the gap in the minor axis thereof. That is, it is believed that a large deformation that causes contact with the propeller fan 12 can be effectively suppressed if the deformation can be brought closer to a circular shape by preferentially reinforcing the positions along the major axis (short side).In order to reinforce the portion where the deformation becomes more significant, the arrangement of the aforementioned ribs at the connecting portions between the pavilion portion 30 and the base portion 31 is effective. Although the arrangement of ribs so as to have the respective surfaces perpendicular to the base portion, as described in the patent documentation 1, is known, however in this case it is necessary to provide multiple reinforcing ribs in the area to be reinforced. Furthermore, even if multiple ribs are provided, the suppression of deformation is not as great since they are reinforced discontinuously in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, in this case, considering more ribs may increase the weight of the resin since the number of ribs increases.

[0065] On the other hand, the fairing 15 according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the ribs 32-35 are configured to be coupled to the base portion 21 and to extend continuously while being moved in the circumferential direction of the roof portion 30 and the surface of the ribs 32-35 is lowered relative to the perpendicular direction. Such a configuration allows a continuous reinforcement with a certain width in the circumferential direction at the point where reinforcement is desired, without the need to provide a plurality of ribs, thereby improving the efficiency of deformation control.

[0066] [Fig.5] shows the simulation results of the fairing characteristics respective having a pavilion structure according to the embodiment. In [Fig. 5], simulation results for fairings with different configurations are also shown for comparison. In [Fig. 5], the first column represents the experimental number, the second column represents the model shape used for simulation. The third to fifth columns represent the simulation results, where the third column represents the amount of thermal deformation, the fourth column represents the thermal stress, and the fifth column represents the first-order natural frequency. The amount of thermal deformation is the amount of radial deformation at the minimum diameter position of the horn portion 30, and the smaller the deformation, the smaller the clearance for thermal deformation, which is preferred. The smaller the thermal stress, the better.The first-order natural frequency is desired to be outside the frequency band caused by the fan speed (~ about 20 Hz), and it is better to be outside the frequency band of the blade passing frequency (BPF) in the operating range (about 20 Hz~70 Hz). As for the described range, the higher the natural frequency, the higher the reliability, which is more preferable.

[0067] The experimental result of number #1 is the experimental result for the basic model having the shape of the basic configuration. The experimental result of number #2 is the experimental result for the model of the shape obtained as a result of applying topology optimization with the objective of countermeasures against thermal deformation. Note that the model used in the experimental result of number #2 has five vertical ribs at the short sides of the roof with the respective surfaces perpendicular to the plane of the base part and extending to the center of the roof, and is a case of a conventional fairing with ribs arranged perpendicular to the base. The long side ribs of the model used for the experimental result of number #2 have a configuration similar to those illustrated in [Fig.2] and [Fig.3].Note that parametric optimization was applied to the model used for the experimental result of issue #2 with respect to the number of ribs, rib height and rib width, etc. The experimental result of issue #3 is the experimental result of the model presenting the shape obtained as a result of applying topology optimization with the objective of countermeasures against noise and vibration (high rigidity). The . The model used for the experimental result of number #3 is a model having short-side ribs similar to those shown in [Fig.2](A), [Fig.3](A) and [Fig.3](B) and vertical ribs in the center of the short side, and the long side is reinforced with a solid plate-like structure connected to the end faces 30b and 30c of the horn portion 30. Number #4 illustrates the experimental result of the model having the shape obtained as a result of the study to perform both low-noise and low-vibration (high rigidity) measurements and thermal deformation measurements, based on the experimental results of numbers 1-3. Number #5 illustrates the experimental result of the model having the shape obtained as a result of the additional study to perform both low-noise and low-vibration (high rigidity) measurements and thermal deformation measurements based on the experimental results of numbers 1-4.

[0068] Numbers #3-#5 correspond to the configuration with the distinctive inclined ribs at the short sides according to the embodiments of the present invention. As can be seen from the table in [Fig.5], the experimental result of number #1 shows that the amount of thermal deformation is large and the thermal stress is small, but the frequency is low and has the first-order natural frequency overlapping the BPF. The experimental result of number #2 shows that the thermal stress is small and the amount of thermal deformation is small compared to number #1, but the frequency is low and has the first-order natural frequency close to the BPF. The experimental result of number #3 shows that the amount of thermal deformation is smaller than those of numbers #1 and #2, and the natural frequency is the largest, but the thermal stress is also the largest.The experimental result of number #4 shows that the amount of thermal deformation is smaller than those of numbers #1 to #3, the thermal stress is sufficiently small and the frequency is sufficiently large. The experimental result of number #5 shows that the amount of thermal deformation is the smallest, the thermal stress is sufficiently small and the frequency is sufficiently large.

[0069] As described above, the configuration with the distinctive inclined ribs at the short sides according to the embodiments of the present invention has a small amount of thermal deformation and a high natural frequency, indicating that it is possible to realize both the countermeasure against thermal deformation and the countermeasure against noise and vibration (high rigidity). In particular, the configurations (#4-#5) which include the distinctive short side ribs according to the embodiment of the present invention and additional long side ribs can suppress the thermal stress, and the amount of Thermal deformation, thermal stress and natural frequency are most balanced.

[0070] As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly rigid and reliable roof structure by controlling the thermal deformation of the roof due to temperature changes, thereby providing the roof structure, the shroud having the roof structure, the fan apparatus having the roof structure, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner including the fan apparatus and the air conditioner capable of suppressing the airflow performance in the fan apparatus configured therewith by controlling the enlargement of the space between the fan and the roof.

[0071] According to the embodiments described above, the air conditioner including the outdoor unit with the aforementioned shroud or roof structure has been described as an example. However, the shroud or roof structure according to the embodiment is not limited to the fan apparatus of the air conditioner. According to another embodiment, the invention can be applied to a refrigeration cycle apparatus other than the air conditioner. Here, the refrigeration cycle apparatus is also called refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, and refrigeration and air conditioning equipment is a general term for equipment that uses refrigerants and refrigeration cycles, such as refrigerators and freezers, in addition to the aforementioned air conditioners.Examples of the refrigeration and air conditioning equipment include, more specifically, the aforementioned air conditioners such as monobloc air conditioners and multiple air conditioners for buildings, heat source equipment such as refrigerators and cooling units, commercial refrigeration machines such as display cases, refrigerator-freezers, chiller units, ice machines, etc., transport refrigerant equipment such as car air conditioners, heat pump water heaters, etc.

[0072] Note that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and may include various modifications. For example, the embodiments described above have been described in detail for the sake of clarity and are not necessarily limited to those having all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with configurations of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of this embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configurations of each embodiment with other configurations. List of reference signs

[0073] 10 an outdoor unit

[0074] 11 a fan device

[0075] 12 a propeller fan

[0076] 13 an engine

[0077] 14 a prop

[0078] 15 a fairing

[0079] 16 a compressor

[0080] 17 an external heat exchanger

[0081] 18 an electrical box

[0082] 19 an enclosure

[0083] 20 a fan protection

[0084] 30 a pavilion part

[0085] 30a an external wall

[0086] 30b,30b end faces

[0087] 31 a base part

[0088] 32, 33, 34, 35 short side ribs (inclined ribs)

[0089] 36,37 short side ribs (horizontal ribs)

[0090] 38,39,41,42 long side ribs (vertical ribs)

[0091] 40, 43 long side ribs (horizontal ribs)

Claims

Claims

1. A roof structure (15) comprising: a cylindrical portion (30), having an outer wall (30a), configured to surround a fan; a base portion (31) extending outward from one end (L) of the cylindrical portion (30); and a reinforcing member (32,33,34,35) coupled to the base portion (31) and the cylindrical portion (30); wherein the reinforcing member (32,33,34,35) extends continuously along the outer wall (30a) of the cylindrical portion (30) from one end (L) to the other end (U) in the direction of the central axis of the cylindrical portion (30) while being displaced in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion (30).

2. A roof structure (15) according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical portion (30), the base portion (31) and the reinforcing member (32,33,34,35) are integrally molded by a resin material.

3. A roof structure (15) according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a first reinforcing member (32) and a second reinforcing member (33), respectively, extending from the position of one end (L) toward the other end (U) of the cylindrical portion (30) such that respective ends of the first reinforcing member (32) and the second reinforcing member (33) approach each other in the circumferential direction.

4. A roof structure (15) according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing member further comprises a third reinforcing member (36) connecting the ends of the first reinforcing member (32) and the second reinforcing member (33) which approach each other and is parallel to the base portion (31).

5. A roof structure (15) according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical portion (30) has approximately a cylindrical shape, wherein the base portion (31), the first reinforcing member (32) and the second reinforcing member have approximately more planar shapes, respectively, the first reinforcing member (32) and the second reinforcing member reinforcement (33) have respective surfaces inclined relative to the location of the base part (31) or inclined relative to a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base part (31).

6. A roof structure (15) according to claim 1, wherein the first reinforcing member (32) and the second reinforcing member (33) extend from the position of one end (L) to a position (M) in the central axis of the cylindrical portion (30) where the radius of the cylindrical portion (30) is minimum.

7. A roof structure (15) according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing members (32, 33, 34, 35) are respectively arranged on both sides of the cylindrical portion (30) in the direction of the main axis.

8. A roof structure (15) according to claim 1, further comprising additional reinforcing members (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43) disposed on both sides of the cylindrical portion (30) in the minor axis direction, the additional reinforcing members including a first additional reinforcing member (38), a second additional reinforcing member (39), and one or more third additional reinforcing members (40); wherein the first additional reinforcing member (38) and the second additional reinforcing member (39) are each coupled to the base portion (31) and the cylindrical portion (30) and have respective surfaces perpendicular to the base portion (30), and the one or more third reinforcing members (40) are connected to the first reinforcing member (38) and the second reinforcing member (39) along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion (30).

9. A fairing (15) comprising the roof structure of claim 1.

10. A fan apparatus (11) comprising a fan (12) and the roof structure (15) of claim 1.

11. A fan apparatus (11) according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus is arranged upwardly.

12. An outdoor unit (10) of an air conditioner, comprising the fan apparatus (11) of claim 10.

13. An air conditioner comprising an indoor unit and an outdoor unit (10), the outdoor unit comprising the fan apparatus (11) of claim 10.

14. A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising the fan apparatus (11) of claim 10.