outdoor unit

Abstract

This disclosure provides an outdoor unit that improves the cooling efficiency of electrical components and prevents water from entering the enclosure. [Solution] The outdoor unit comprises a housing having an intake port on the rear side and an outlet port on the front side, and a partition plate dividing the inside of the housing into a heat exchange chamber equipped with a blower and an outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine room, and further comprising an opening formed in the side wall of the housing on the machine room side, an air guide member provided spanning the machine room and the heat exchange chamber, which allows outdoor air to flow in through the opening and flows out into the heat exchange chamber, cooling fins inserted into the opening of the air guide member, and electrical components cooled by the cooling fins, wherein the inlet portion of the air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the inlet, and the outlet portion of the air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the outlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an outdoor unit having a housing partitioned into a machine room and a blower room by a partition plate, the outdoor unit including an introduction hole for introducing outside air provided in the machine room, an electronic component housing portion provided with ventilation holes, ventilation holes provided in the partition plate, and a blower provided in the blower room. By operating the blower, the outdoor unit sucks outside air from the introduction hole, sends it to the blower room through the ventilation holes of the electronic component housing portion and the partition plate, and then generates an air flow discharged to the outside of the housing, thereby cooling the electronic components and mounting substrates arranged in the electronic component housing portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] 2]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides an outdoor unit that improves the cooling efficiency of electrical components and prevents water from entering the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The outdoor unit in this disclosure comprises a housing having an intake port on the rear side and an outlet port on the front side, and a partition plate dividing the inside of the housing into a heat exchange chamber equipped with a blower and an outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine room, further comprising: an opening formed in the side wall of the housing on the machine room side, an air guide member provided spanning the machine room and the heat exchange chamber, which allows outdoor air to flow in through the opening and flows out into the heat exchange chamber, cooling fins inserted into the opening of the air guide member, and electrical components cooled by the cooling fins, wherein the inlet portion of the air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the inlet, and the outlet portion of the air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the outlet.

[0006] Furthermore, the outdoor unit in this disclosure is an outdoor unit comprising a housing provided with an opening for introducing outside air, wherein the housing is divided by a partition plate into a heat exchange chamber where a blower and an outdoor heat exchanger are arranged and a machine room where the opening is provided, and the machine room is provided with an air guide member connecting the opening and the heat exchange chamber, and the bottom surface of the air guide member comprises a first bottom material having a drainage section for draining water that has entered from the opening and a second bottom material which at least a part of which is arranged to overlap the first bottom material in the vertical direction, and the first bottom material is arranged below the second bottom material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The outdoor unit in this disclosure improves cooling efficiency by increasing the inflow and outflow area of ​​the air passage. By guiding the air through the air guide member from the back to the front along the main flow, air passage resistance can be reduced.

[0008] The outdoor unit in this disclosure is formed by dividing the bottom surface of the air guide member, allowing water that enters through the opening to be easily drained to a first bottom material having a drainage section, thereby preventing water that enters through the opening from seeping into the lower part of the machine room. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the outdoor unit 1 in Embodiment 1 [Figure 2] Perspective view of the outdoor unit with the top plate, first front panel, second front panel, and fan guard removed in Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Perspective view showing the reinforcing member in Embodiment 1 [Figure 4] Right side view of the upper part of the machine room in Embodiment 1 [Figure 5] Perspective view showing the air guide member in Embodiment 1 [Figure 6] Diagram showing the bottom material of the air guide member in Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] Perspective view showing the area around the first filter in Embodiment 1 [Figure 8] Perspective view showing the area around the second filter in Embodiment 1 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, there was an outdoor unit equipped with a housing that had an intake hole on the side for introducing outside air, and the housing was divided into a machine room and a blower room by a partition plate. The outdoor unit had a blower that generated airflow in the blower room, and an electronic component housing in the machine room. Ventilation holes were provided in the partition plate and the electronic component housing, and when the blower was operated, air drawn in from the side of the housing passed through the electronic component housing and the partition plate, and was discharged outside the housing by the blower, generating an airflow that cooled the electronic components and mounted circuit boards placed in the electronic component housing. However, with the conventional technology, when a flammable refrigerant was used, it was necessary to create a nearly sealed structure to prevent the refrigerant from entering the area housing the electrical components, which reduced the cooling efficiency. The inventors also discovered that if rainwater entered through the intake hole, water would enter the outdoor unit, and in order to solve this problem, they came to constitute the subject of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure provides an outdoor unit that can improve cooling efficiency and prevent water from entering the outdoor unit.

[0011] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, some unnecessarily detailed explanations may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0012] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, directions such as front, back, left, right, and up and down in the explanation refer to the same directions as when viewing the outdoor unit from the front in Figure 1. Also, in each figure, UP indicates the upward direction of the outdoor unit, FR indicates the forward direction, and R indicates the right direction.

[0013] (Embodiment 1) [1-1. Structure] [1-1-1. Outdoor Unit Configuration] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit 1 in Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit 1 with the top plate 20, first front panel 11, second front panel 12, and fan guard 23 removed. The outdoor unit 1 includes a housing 5. The housing 5 in this embodiment has a front panel 10 that covers the front and either the left or right side of the housing 5, a rear panel 15 that covers the rear and the right side, a top plate 20 that covers the top surface of the housing, and a bottom plate 21 that covers the bottom surface of the housing. Furthermore, the housing 5 is equipped with a partition plate 25 that divides the inside of the housing 5 into left and right sections. The partition plate 25 divides the inside of the housing 5 into a heat exchange chamber 30 in which the outdoor heat exchanger 31 is housed, and a machine room 40 in which the electrical equipment 41 of the outdoor unit 1 is housed. A ventilation hole (see Figure 8) 26 is provided at the top of the partition plate 25 that penetrates the heat exchange chamber 30 and the machine room 40. The ventilation hole 26 is provided on the rear side of the partition plate 25.

[0014] The front panel 10 is formed in an L shape, covers the front with the larger one-sided area, and covers the side adjacent to the front with the other side corresponding to the bent surface. The rear panel 15 is formed in an L shape, covers the rear with the larger one-sided area, and covers the side adjacent to the rear with the other side corresponding to the bent surface.

[0015] More specifically, the front panel 10 covers the front and side portions of the machine room 40 and the heat exchange room 30, and includes a first front panel 11 covering the upper part of the machine room 40, a second front panel 12 covering the lower part of the machine room 40, a third front panel 13 covering the upper part of the heat exchange room 30, and a fourth front panel 14 covering the lower part of the heat exchange room 30.

[0016] Also, the rear panel 15 covers the rear and side portions of the machine room 40 and the heat exchange room 30, and includes a first rear panel 16 covering the upper part of the machine room 40 and a second rear panel 17 covering the lower part of the machine room 40. A part of the rear of the machine room 40 and a part of the rear and the left side surface of the heat exchange room 30 are covered by an outdoor heat exchanger 31 described later.

[0017] The right side surface of the machine room 40 is covered by the first front panel 11, the second front panel 12, the first rear panel 16, and the second rear panel 17. The left side surface of the heat exchange room 30 is covered by the third front panel 13 and the fourth front panel 14.

[0018] That is, in the present embodiment, the first front panel 11, the second front panel 12, the first rear panel 16, and the second rear panel 17 are panels on the machine room side. The third front panel 13 and the fourth front panel 14 are panels on the heat exchange room side.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an outdoor heat exchanger 31 that performs heat exchange of the refrigerant, a blower 32 that blows the air in the outdoor unit 1 to the outside of the outdoor unit 1, and a reinforcing member 33 that reinforces the housing 5 are arranged in the heat exchange room 30. The outdoor heat exchanger 31 is located at the rear end of the housing 5. More specifically, it is located from the rear of the heat exchange chamber 30 to the left rear of the machine room 40. In other words, the rear and left side of the outdoor heat exchanger 31 are also the rear of the machine room 40 and the rear and side of the heat exchange chamber 30 of the housing 5. Intake ports (not shown) are provided on the rear and left side of the outdoor heat exchanger 31.

[0020] A ventilation hole (opening) 22 is provided on the other side 16a of the first rear panel 16. The third front panel 13 and the fourth front panel 14 are provided with circular air outlets 13a and 14a on one side of their front surface. Furthermore, the third front panel 13 and the fourth front panel 14 are provided with a grid-like fan guard (see Figure 1) 23 that covers the air outlets 13a and 14a.

[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the reinforcing member 33. The reinforcing member 33 includes a reinforcing member base 34 fixed to the bottom plate 21, a support column 35 extending from the reinforcing member base 34 to the top plate 20, a front plate reinforcing member 36 provided in the middle of the support column 35, and a top plate fixing member 37 provided at the upper end of the support column 35. The front panel reinforcing member 36 and the top panel fixing member 37 have bent portions 36a and 37a at their front ends that bend downward, and the bent portions 36a and 37a are fixed to the third front panel 13 and the fourth front panel 14 by fastening members. Furthermore, the blower 32 is supported on the support column 35 via a fan fixing member (not shown).

[0022] The blower 32 draws in air from the rear side of the blower 32 and discharges it from the front side of the blower 32. The blower 32 is supported by a front panel reinforcing member 36 at positions corresponding to the air outlets 13a and 14a provided on the third front panel 13 and the fourth front panel 14 when viewed from the front (see Figure 2). More specifically, the blower 32 is positioned such that its axis of rotation is approximately the same as the centers of the air outlets 13a and 14a. In the front-rear direction, the blower 32 is positioned on the front side of the ventilation holes 26 provided in the partition plate 25. In other words, it is positioned so that air entering the heat exchange chamber 30 from the machine room 40 side through the ventilation holes 26 can be discharged outside the outdoor unit 1.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the machine room 40 contains electrical equipment 41 such as a compressor, an air guide member 49 that connects the ventilation holes 22 of the first rear panel 16 and the ventilation holes 26 of the partition plate 25, and an electrical equipment box 45 supported by the air guide member 49. The electrical equipment 41 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 31 and the indoor unit (not shown) by refrigerant piping 42, forming a refrigerant flow path.

[0024] As described above, the outdoor heat exchanger 31 in this implementation covers a portion of the rear of the machine room 40 and a portion of the rear and left side of the heat exchange chamber 30. In addition, since the electrical equipment 41 is located in the lower part of the machine room 40, there is space above the machine room 40. The electrical equipment box 45 and the air guide member 49 are housed in this space above the machine room 40.

[0025] Figure 4 is a right side view of the upper part of the machine room 40. In Figure 4, the right side panel of the enclosure 5 is omitted from the description. The electrical box 45 is positioned in front of the air guide member 49. In other words, the first front panel 11 is positioned so that the front of the electrical box 45 and most of the right side of the electrical box 45 are covered.

[0026] The electrical box 45 contains multiple electrical components, such as circuit boards, inside. A heatsink 46 with cooling fins 46a is provided on the rear surface of the electrical box 45. The heatsink 46 cools the electrical components inside the electrical box 45. In this embodiment, the electrical box 45 has a structure that is nearly airtight, to the extent that refrigerant cannot enter from the outside. This prevents refrigerant from entering the electrical box 45 even if refrigerant leaks.

[0027] [1-1-2. Configuration of the air guide member] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the air guide member 49. The air guide member 49 is a rectangular duct having a bottom material 50, a front material 55 and a rear material 56 extending upward from the front and rear of the bottom material 50, and a top material 57 bridging the upper ends of the front material 55 and the rear material 56. In other words, the air guide member 49 serves as an air passage connecting the ventilation holes 22 provided on the other surface 16a of the first rear panel 16 and the ventilation holes 26 of the partition plate 25.

[0028] The front panel 55 and the rear panel 56 are provided along the ends of the bottom panels 51, 52, 53, and 54. Furthermore, the front panel 55 is provided with rectangular mounting holes (openings) 55a. The cooling fins 46a of the heatsink 46 provided on the electrical box 45 are inserted into and positioned in the mounting holes 55a.

[0029] The left and right ends of the air guide member 49 are bent to form flange portions 58. The flange portions 58 fix the air guide member 49 to the other surface 16a of the first rear panel 16 and the partition plate 25.

[0030] Figure 6 shows the bottom material 50 of the air guide member 49. In this embodiment, the bottom material 50 of the air guide member 49 is composed of four parts: a first bottom material 51, a second bottom material 52, a third bottom material 53, and a fourth bottom material 54.

[0031] The first bottom material 51 is a bottom material located at the right end of the air guide member 49. The first bottom material 51 has a first bottom base (flat portion) 51a that constitutes the bottom surface of the air guide member 49, and flange portions 51b that bend upward at the front and rear ends of the first base 51a.

[0032] The first bottom base portion 51a of the first bottom material 51 has a drain hole (drain section) 51c. A drain hose 63 (see Figure 4) is connected to the drain hole 51c. This allows water that has entered the air guide member 49 to be guided to the drain section of the bottom plate (not shown) and drained outside the outdoor unit 1. In other words, it is possible to prevent water that has entered the air guide member 49 from seeping into areas other than the drain section of the machine room 40.

[0033] The first bottom panel 51 has a flared shape that widens towards the rear as it approaches the right end when viewed from above. More specifically, the right end of the rear flange portion 51b1 is positioned further rearward than the left end, and when viewed from above, the length in the front-to-back direction increases as it approaches the right end of the first bottom panel 51.

[0034] The second bottom material 52 is a bottom material located to the left of the first bottom material 51. The second bottom material 52 has a second bottom base (flat portion) 52a that constitutes the bottom surface of the air guide member 49, and flange portions 52b that bend upward at the front and rear ends of the second base 52a.

[0035] The second base portion 52a of the second base material 52 has a flat surface (flat part) 52a1 formed substantially horizontally with the first base portion 51a, and an inclined surface (inclined part) 52a2 rising upward to the left from the left end of the flat surface 52a1. The right end of the flat surface 52a1 is positioned so as to overlap with the left end of the first bottom base 51a of the first bottom material 51, with the left end being on the upper side.

[0036] The third bottom material 53 is a bottom material located to the left of the second bottom material 52. The third bottom material 53 has a third bottom base (flat portion) 53a that constitutes the bottom surface of the air guide member 49, and flange portions 53b that bend upward at the front and rear ends of the third bottom base 53a.

[0037] The third base portion 53a of the third base material (further base material) 53 has a bent surface 53a1 at its right end, which is bent along the inclined surface 52a2. The bent surface 53a1 is positioned so as to be on top of the left end of the inclined surface 52a2.

[0038] The fourth bottom material 52 is a bottom material located to the left of the third bottom material 53 and is a bottom material located at the left end of the air guide member 49. The fourth bottom material 54 has a fourth bottom base (flat portion) 54a that constitutes the bottom surface of the air guide member 49, and flange portions 54b that bend upward at the front and rear ends of the fourth bottom base 54a.

[0039] The fourth bottom material 54 has a flared shape that widens towards the front as it approaches the left end when viewed from above. More specifically, the left end of the front flange portion 54b1 is formed to be located further forward of the housing 5 than the right end, and as viewed from above, the length in the front-to-back direction increases as it approaches the right end of the first bottom material 51. The fourth base portion 54a of the fourth base material 54 is positioned so as to overlap the right end of the third base portion 53a, with the upper side facing it.

[0040] As described above, the bottom material 50 has a stepped shape, with the first bottom material 51 being the lowest bottom material, and the second bottom material 52 to the fourth bottom material 54 stacked on top of it in order, and is formed to descend toward the first bottom material 51. As a result, even if water enters the inside of the air guide member 49, the invading water can be guided to the drain hole 51c of the first bottom material 51. Furthermore, by forming an inclined surface 52a2 toward the first bottom material 51 on the second bottom material 52, water is less likely to enter the heat exchange chamber 30 side, and water that has entered the drainage hole 51c of the first bottom material 51 can be efficiently guided. As described above, the air guide member 49 is equipped with a water drainage structure, which helps to suppress water ingress into the machine room 40.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, the air guide member 49 is positioned at the top of the machine room 40 when viewed from the front. Also, as shown in Figure 4, when viewed from above, the rear end 60c of the outlet section 60 of the air guide member 49 is in front of the outdoor heat exchanger 31, and the rear end 59b of the inlet section 59 is positioned to overlap with the outdoor heat exchanger 31 in the left-right direction. In this way, the air guide member 49 is positioned to avoid the outdoor heat exchanger 31, electrical equipment 41 such as the compressor, refrigerant piping 42, etc., and utilize the available space to achieve a compact arrangement that does not interfere with other components.

[0042] Furthermore, the air guide member 49 is positioned to avoid the outdoor heat exchanger 31, electrical equipment 41 such as the compressor, and refrigerant piping, thanks to the flared shape of the inlet 59 and outlet 60 and the inclined surface 52a2 of the second bottom material 52, enabling a compact arrangement that makes use of available space.

[0043] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the area around the first filter 61. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the area around the second filter 62. In this embodiment, the air guide member 49 has an inlet 59 and an outlet 60, with reference to the positions of the first bottom material 51 and the fourth bottom material 54 in the left-right direction. In other words, the inlet 59 is the part of the air guide member 49 on the side of the first bottom material 51 that has a flared shape when viewed from above. The outlet 60 is the part of the air guide member 49 on the side of the fourth bottom material 54 that has a flared shape when viewed from above. A first filter 61 is provided at the inlet 59a of the inlet section 59. A second filter 62 is provided at the outlet 60a of the outlet section 60.

[0044] The first filter 61 is louver-shaped. Specifically, it has vertically arranged vanes that slope downward from the inside to the outside of the housing 5, forming multiple holes through which airflow can pass. In this way, since the inlet 59a is an opening on the outside of the housing, the louver shape of the first filter makes it difficult for water to enter from the outside and makes it easier to discharge water to the outside of the outdoor unit 1. Multiple vertically elongated rectangular holes are formed in the second filter 62. The holes are formed in a front-to-back and top-to-bottom arrangement.

[0045] In this embodiment, the first filter 61 and the second filter 62 suppress the entry of insects and foreign matter, while simultaneously adjusting the opening area of ​​the inlet 59a and outlet 60a. More specifically, the first and second filters adjust the areas of the inlet 59a and outlet 60a so that the opening area on the outlet side is greater than or equal to the opening area on the inlet side.

[0046] [1-2. Operation, effect, etc.] When the outdoor unit 1 starts operating, the electrical components 41 and the blower 32 of the outdoor unit 1 also start operating. As a result, the blower 32 draws in air from inside the heat exchange chamber 30 and discharges it outside the housing 5. Consequently, air flows into the heat exchange chamber 30 from outside the housing 5 via the outdoor heat exchanger 31 or the air guide member 49. The incoming air is then discharged outside the outdoor unit 1 by the blower 32. In this way, air circulates as air flows in from outside the outdoor unit 1, passes through the inside of the outdoor unit 1, and is discharged outside the outdoor unit 1.

[0047] In the air circulation path, the air that has passed through the outdoor heat exchanger 31 exchanges heat with the refrigerant, and the air that has passed through the air guide member 49 cools the cooling fins 46a with air, thereby cooling the electrical components inside the electrical box 45 via the heat sink 46.

[0048] As described above, in this embodiment, the electrical box 45 has a nearly sealed structure. Therefore, when a flammable refrigerant is used, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of the flammable refrigerant into the electrical box 45 due to refrigerant leakage or the like.

[0049] If the electrical box 45 has a nearly sealed structure, the electrical components inside the electrical box 45 may not be able to be cooled, and the temperature inside the electrical box 45 may rise. However, in this embodiment, the cooling fins 46a can cool the inside of the electrical box 45, thus preventing the temperature of the electrical components inside the electrical box 45 from becoming too high.

[0050] In this embodiment, the flared shape of the inlet 59 and outlet 60 allows the air guide member 49 to be made compact while simultaneously increasing the area of ​​the inlet 59a and outlet 60a. The area of ​​the inlet 59a and outlet 60a is adjusted by the first and second filters. This improves the cooling efficiency of the electrical components inside the electrical box 45. As a result, the airflow resistance within the air guide member 49 can be reduced, and the electrical components can be cooled efficiently.

[0051] Furthermore, the rear end 59b of the inlet 59 is inclined toward the blower 32, and the front end 60b of the outlet 60 is also inclined toward the blower 32, thereby giving the air guide member 49 a flared shape. This is designed to guide air from the rear to the front, and by forming an air passage that follows the main flow, the air passage resistance within the air guide member 49 is reduced. In addition, since air is drawn toward the blower 32, it is easier to secure the airflow within the air guide member 49, and the electrical components can be cooled efficiently.

[0052] In this embodiment, the air guide member 49 has drainage holes 51c in the first bottom material 51. Therefore, even if water enters the air guide member 49, the water can be guided to the drainage section in the machine room 40 through the drainage holes 51c, thereby suppressing water ingress into the outdoor unit 1.

[0053] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, according to the embodiment of this model, the outdoor unit 1 comprises a housing 5 having an intake port on the rear side and outlets 13a and 14a on the front side, and a partition plate 25 that divides the inside of the housing 5 into a heat exchange chamber 30 equipped with a blower 32 and an outdoor heat exchanger 31, and a machine room 40, and further comprises a ventilation hole 22 formed in the side wall of the housing 5 on the machine room 40 side, an air guide member 49 provided spanning the machine room 40 and the heat exchange chamber 30 and allowing outdoor air to flow in through the ventilation hole 22 and flow out into the heat exchange chamber 30, cooling fins 46a inserted into the opening of the air guide member 49, and electrical components cooled by the cooling fins 46a, wherein the inlet portion 59 of the air guide member 49 has a flared shape that widens towards the inlet 59a, and the outlet portion 60 of the air guide member 49 has a flared shape that widens towards the outlet 60a. According to this, cooling efficiency is improved by increasing the inflow and outflow area of ​​the air passage. By guiding the air through the guide member 49 from the back to the front along the main flow, air passage resistance can be reduced.

[0054] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the inlet portion 59 is formed in a flared shape that widens toward the rear, and the outlet portion 60 is formed in a flared shape that widens toward the front. According to this, by making only the inlet 59 and outlet 60 flared outwards, the air guide member 49 can be made more compact.

[0055] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the outdoor heat exchanger 31 is positioned along the intake port, the rear end 60c of the outlet 60 is positioned in front of the outdoor heat exchanger 31, and the rear end 59b of the inlet 59 is positioned partially overlapping with the outdoor heat exchanger 31 in the left-right direction. According to this, by utilizing the available space and adopting a flared shape, it is possible to make it more compact while improving cooling efficiency.

[0056] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the front end portion 60b of the outlet portion 60 is inclined toward the housing outlet in a plan view. According to this, the air inside the air guide member 49 is drawn towards the blower 32. Therefore, it becomes easier to secure the airflow inside the air guide member 49, and the electrical components can be cooled efficiently.

[0057] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of this design, the air guide member 49 is provided with a first filter 61 covering the inlet 59a and a second filter 62 covering the outlet 60a, and the opening area of ​​the second filter 62 is approximately the same as, or larger than, the opening area of ​​the first filter 61. According to this, by reducing the flow resistance within the air guide member 49, electrical components can be cooled efficiently.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of this model, in an outdoor unit 1 equipped with a housing 5 having ventilation holes 22 for introducing outside air, the housing 5 is divided by a partition plate 25 into a heat exchange chamber 30 in which a blower 32 and an outdoor heat exchanger 31 are arranged, and a machine room 40 in which the ventilation holes 22 are provided. The machine room 40 is provided with an air guide member 49 connecting the ventilation holes and the heat exchange chamber 30. The bottom surface of the air guide member 49 is equipped with a first bottom material 51 having drainage holes 51c for draining water that has entered through the ventilation holes 22, and a second bottom material 52 in which at least a part is arranged to overlap the first bottom material 51 in the vertical direction, with the first bottom material 51 being positioned below the second bottom material 52. According to this, the bottom surface of the air guide member 49 can be divided and formed, and water that enters through the ventilation holes 22 can be easily drained to the first bottom material 51 which has drainage holes 51c, thereby preventing water that enters through the ventilation holes 22 from seeping into the lower part of the machine room 40.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of this design, the first bottom material 51 is provided with a first bottom base portion 51a, and the second bottom material 52 is provided with a flat surface 52a1. The first bottom base portion 51a and the flat surface 52a1 are arranged approximately horizontally, and the first bottom base portion 51a and the flat surface 52a1 overlap in the vertical direction. According to this design, the first bottom material 51 and the second bottom material 52 are made approximately horizontal, and their flat portions are overlapped, allowing for easy formation of the bottom surface while still guiding water that has entered the air guide member 49 to the first bottom material 51, which is located below the second bottom material 52.

[0060] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, an additional bottom material 53 is provided, and at least a portion of the additional bottom material 53 is arranged to overlap the second bottom material 52 in the vertical direction. According to this, by forming the bottom surface with more bottom material, the bottom surface of the air guide member 49 can be formed more easily, and water that has entered the air guide member 49 can be guided to the first bottom material 51.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second bottom material 52 is provided with an inclined surface (inclined portion) 52a2. According to this, the shape of the bottom surface can be formed to match the surrounding members positioned below the air guide member 49, thereby improving the flexibility of the placement of the air guide member 49.

[0062] (Other embodiments) As described above, Embodiment 1 has been presented as an example disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to create new embodiments by combining the components described in Embodiment 1. Therefore, other embodiments are illustrated below.

[0063] In the embodiment described above, the bottom material 50 of the air guide member 49 was composed of four bottom materials. However, the bottom material is not limited to four; it may be composed of four or more bottom materials, or it may be composed of three or fewer bottom materials.

[0064] In the embodiment described above, the second bottom material had a flat surface and an inclined surface. However, the inclined surface does not have to be a flat surface; it could be a step or something similar. In other words, the shape is not particularly limited as long as it can guide water toward the drainage hole.

[0065] Since the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the claims or their equivalents.

[0066] (Note) Based on the above description of embodiments, the following technologies are disclosed.

[0067] (Technology 1) An outdoor unit comprising a housing having an intake port on the rear side and an outlet port on the front side, and a partition plate dividing the inside of the housing into a heat exchange chamber equipped with a blower and an outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine room, further comprising an opening formed in the side wall of the housing on the machine room side, an air guide member provided spanning the machine room and the heat exchange chamber, which allows outdoor air to flow in through the opening and flows out into the heat exchange chamber, cooling fins inserted into the opening of the air guide member, and electrical components cooled by the cooling fins, wherein the inlet portion of the air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the inlet, and the outlet portion of the air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the outlet. According to this, cooling efficiency is improved by increasing the inflow and outflow area of ​​the air passage. By guiding the air through the guide member from the back to the front along the main flow, air passage resistance can be reduced.

[0068] (Technology 2) The outdoor unit according to Technology 1, wherein the inlet is formed in a flared shape that widens toward the rear, and the outlet is formed in a flared shape that widens toward the front. According to this, by making only the inlet and outlet sections flared outwards, the air guide component can be made more compact.

[0069] (Technical 3) The outdoor unit according to Technical 1, wherein the outdoor heat exchanger is arranged along the intake port, the rear end of the outlet is positioned in front of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the rear end of the inlet is positioned partially overlapping with the outdoor heat exchanger in the left-right direction. According to this, by utilizing the available space and adopting a flared shape, it is possible to make it more compact while improving cooling efficiency.

[0070] (Technical 4) The outdoor unit according to Technical 3, wherein the front end of the outlet section is inclined toward the housing outlet in a plan view. According to this design, the air within the air guide is drawn towards the blower. Therefore, it becomes easier to ensure sufficient airflow within the air guide, allowing for efficient cooling of electrical components.

[0071] (Technical 5) The outdoor unit according to Technical 1, wherein the air guide member is provided with a first filter covering the inlet and a second filter covering the outlet, and the opening area of ​​the second filter is substantially the same as or larger than the opening area of ​​the first filter. According to this, by reducing the flow resistance within the air guide member, electrical components can be cooled more efficiently.

[0072] (Technical 6) An outdoor unit having a housing provided with an opening for introducing outside air, wherein the housing is divided by a partition plate into a heat exchange chamber where a blower and an outdoor heat exchanger are arranged and a machine room where the opening is provided, the machine room is provided with an air guide member connecting the opening and the heat exchange chamber, the bottom surface of the air guide member comprises a first bottom material having a drainage section for draining water that has entered through the opening and a second bottom material which at least a part of which is arranged to overlap the first bottom material in the vertical direction, and the first bottom material is arranged below the second bottom material, an outdoor unit. According to this design, the bottom surface of the air guide member can be divided and formed, while water that enters through the opening can be easily drained to the first bottom material having a drainage section, thereby preventing water that enters through the opening from seeping into the lower part of the machine room.

[0073] (Technical 7) The outdoor unit according to Technical 6, wherein the first bottom material and the second bottom material each have a flat portion that is arranged substantially horizontally, and the respective flat portions overlap in the vertical direction. According to this design, the first and second bottom materials are made approximately horizontal, and their flat portions are overlapped, allowing for easy formation of the bottom surface while still guiding water that has entered the air guide member to the first bottom material, which is located below the second bottom material.

[0074] (Technical 8) The outdoor unit according to Technical 7, further comprising a further bottom material, wherein at least a portion of the further bottom material is arranged to overlap the second bottom material in a vertical direction. According to this, by forming the bottom surface with more bottom material, the bottom surface of the air guide member can be formed more easily, and water that has entered the air guide member can be guided to the first bottom material.

[0075] (Technical 9) An outdoor unit according to any one of Technical 6 to Technical 8, wherein at least one of the first bottom material, the second bottom material, and the further bottom material is provided with an inclined portion. According to this, the shape of the bottom surface can be formed to match the surrounding members positioned below the air guide member, thereby improving the flexibility of the air guide member's arrangement. [Industrial applicability]

[0076] As described above, the outdoor unit according to the present invention can be used for cooling electrical components and draining water that enters from the outside. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1 Outdoor unit 5 cabinets 10 Front Panel 11. First Front Panel 12. Second front panel 25 partition plates 26 Ventilation hole 30 Heat exchange room 31 Outdoor heat exchanger 40 Machine room 45 Electrical box 46 Heatsink 46a Cooling fins 49 Air guide member 50 Bottom material 51. First base material 51a 1st bottom base (flat part) 51c Drain hole (drainage part) 52 Second base material 52a1 Flat surface (flat part) 52a2 Slanted surface (slanted part) 53. Third base material (further base material) 54. Fourth base material 55 Front material 55a Mounting hole (opening) 58 Flange section 59 Inlet 59a Inlet 59b Back end 60 Outlet 60a Outlet 60b Front end 60c Back end 61 First Filter 62 Second filter 63 Drain hose

Claims

1. An outdoor unit comprising a housing having an intake port on the rear side and an outlet port on the front side, and a partition plate dividing the inside of the housing into a heat exchange chamber equipped with a blower and an outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine room, The enclosure further comprises: an opening formed in the side wall on the machine room side; an air guide member provided spanning the machine room and the heat exchange chamber, which allows outside air to flow in through the opening and out into the heat exchange chamber; cooling fins inserted into the opening of the air guide member; and electrical components cooled by the cooling fins. The inlet portion of the aforementioned air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the inlet, The outlet portion of the aforementioned air guide member has a flared shape that widens towards the outlet. outdoor unit.

2. The aforementioned inlet is formed in a flared shape that widens towards the rear side. The aforementioned outlet section is formed in a flared shape that widens towards the front. Outdoor unit according to claim 1

3. The outdoor heat exchanger is positioned along the intake port, The rear end of the outlet section is positioned on the front side of the outdoor heat exchanger. The rear end of the inlet is arranged so as to partially overlap with the outdoor heat exchanger in the left-right direction. The outdoor unit according to claim 1.

4. The front end of the outlet section is inclined toward the housing outlet in a plan view. The outdoor unit according to claim 3.

5. The air guide member is provided with a first filter covering the inlet and a second filter covering the outlet. The aperture area of ​​the second filter is approximately the same as the aperture area of ​​the first filter, or larger than the aperture area of ​​the first filter. The outdoor unit according to claim 1.

6. In an outdoor unit equipped with a housing that has an opening for introducing outside air, The enclosure is divided by a partition plate into a heat exchange chamber where a blower is located and a machine room where the opening is provided. The machine room is provided with an air guide member that connects the opening and the heat exchange chamber. The bottom surface of the air guide member comprises a first bottom material having a drainage section for draining water that has entered through the opening, and a second bottom material which at least a portion of which is arranged to overlap the first bottom material in the vertical direction. The first bottom material is positioned below the second bottom material. outdoor unit.

7. The first bottom material and the second bottom material each have a flat portion that is arranged substantially horizontally. Each of the aforementioned flat portions overlaps in the vertical direction. The outdoor unit according to claim 6.

8. With additional bottom material, The further bottom material is arranged such that at least a portion of it is stacked vertically on top of the second bottom material. The outdoor unit according to claim 7.

9. At least one of the first bottom material, the second bottom material, and the further bottom material is provided with an inclined portion. An outdoor unit according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

Images