Protective Structure

Abstract

This invention provides a protective structure for refrigerant pipes that improves the ease of installation when installing covers on refrigerant pipes between the outdoor unit and the piping duct. [Solution] A protective structure 20 for protecting the refrigerant pipe 6 of an outdoor unit, comprising a support member 30 attached to the side of the outdoor unit and a connecting member 40 connecting the outdoor unit and a piping duct in which the refrigerant pipe 6 is arranged. The support member 30 has a support member body 31 provided with an insertion portion for taking out the refrigerant pipe 6 and a protruding portion provided on the upper part around the insertion portion. The connecting member 40 is supported by the protruding portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a protective structure for protecting refrigerant pipes.

Background Art

[0002] In some cases, a plurality of outdoor units are arranged on the rooftop of a building or a predetermined site. In this case, a refrigerant pipe is connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units. The plurality of refrigerant pipes are bundled together and arranged to extend in a predetermined direction as a bundle at a position away from each outdoor unit. The plurality of bundled refrigerant pipes are collectively covered with a piping duct to protect them from wind and rain. Between the outdoor unit and the piping duct, the refrigerant pipes are individually protected by covers. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a cover for protecting a refrigerant pipe between an outdoor unit and a piping duct.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, in order to connect a refrigerant pipe to an outdoor unit, it is necessary to provide an insertion opening for inserting the refrigerant pipe in the outdoor unit. For this reason, when providing a cover on the refrigerant pipe between the outdoor unit and the piping duct, it is necessary to fill the gap formed between the insertion opening and the refrigerant pipe, which takes time for construction work.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] A protective structure in the first aspect that solves the above problem is a protective structure for protecting a refrigerant pipe connected to an outdoor unit, comprising a support member attached to the side of the outdoor unit and a connecting member that connects the outdoor unit and a piping duct in which the refrigerant pipe is arranged, wherein the support member has a support member body provided with an insertion portion for inserting the refrigerant pipe into the outdoor unit and a protruding portion provided on the upper part around the insertion portion, and the connecting member is supported by the protruding portion.

[0006] With the above configuration, the protruding portion supports the connecting member, making it easy to connect the connecting member and the support member. Therefore, the ease of installation when installing a cover on the refrigerant pipe between the outdoor unit and the piping duct can be improved.

[0007] The protective structure from the second perspective is such that, in the protective structure from the first perspective, the connecting member has a connecting member body and a connecting portion that connects the connecting member body and the support member, and one of the protruding portion and the connecting member body is fixed to the connecting portion by a fastening member, while the other of the protruding portion and the connecting member body is not fixed to the connecting portion.

[0008] With the above configuration, since the protruding part or the main body of the connecting member is not fixed to the connection part, vibrations caused by the outdoor unit can be suppressed from being transmitted to the connecting member.

[0009] The third aspect of the protective structure is that, in the protective structure of the second aspect, the connecting member further has an upper cover portion that can be removed from the connecting member body, the upper cover portion is positioned above the connecting member body, and the connecting portion is positioned in the vertical direction between the connecting member body and the upper cover portion.

[0010] With the above configuration, the upper cover can be removed, making it easy to perform maintenance on the refrigerant pipes.

[0011] The protective structure of the fourth viewpoint is the protective structure of the third viewpoint, wherein the connecting member further includes a water-stopping member provided between the connecting portion and the upper cover portion in the vertical direction.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the water-stopping member can prevent rainwater and other liquids from entering the interior of the connecting member.

[0013] The protective structure of the fifth viewpoint is, in any one of the protective structures of the second viewpoint to the fourth viewpoint, the connecting member further has a pipe duct reinforcing portion that extends in the vertical direction along the side surface of the pipe duct, and the pipe duct reinforcing portion is provided on the connecting member body so as to be positioned around a pipe hole provided on the side surface of the pipe duct.

[0014] According to the above configuration, the protective structure can suppress the reduction in strength caused by the pipe holes provided on the side of the piping duct.

[0015] The protective structure of the sixth aspect further comprises, in the protective structure of the fifth aspect, a first connecting plate that connects the two pipe ducts at the connection portion where the two pipe ducts are connected to each other, such that it does not interfere with the pipe hole provided at the connection portion.

[0016] According to the above configuration, even when the connecting member is attached to the connection portion of the piping duct, a piping hole can be provided at the connection portion of the piping duct.

[0017] The seventh aspect of the protective structure is the fifth aspect of the protective structure, wherein the piping duct reinforcement portion has a piping duct mounting portion, and the piping duct mounting portion includes a mounting elongated hole extending in the vertical direction.

[0018] According to the above configuration, the protective structure allows for optimal adjustment of the position of the connecting member body relative to the piping duct in the vertical direction by means of the mounting elongated holes.

[0019] In the protection structure according to the 8th aspect, in the protection structure according to any one of the 2nd to 7th aspects, the connecting member main body includes a lower member opening upward, an upper member disposed above the lower member, and a top surface member disposed above the lower member side by side with the upper member, the lower member has a first arrangement region and a second arrangement region in an opening region on an upper side of the lower member, the upper member is disposed in one of the first arrangement region and the second arrangement region, and the top surface member is disposed in the other of the first arrangement region and the second arrangement region.

[0020] According to the above configuration, the arrangement of the upper member of the connecting member main body can be changed according to the positional relationship between the outdoor unit and the piping duct. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system including the protection structure of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a side view of the air conditioning system in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of the protection structure of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is an exploded perspective view of the protection structure in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a front view of the support member in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of a case where the support member in FIG. 5 is attached to a side frame of an outdoor unit. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view of a case where the support member in FIG. 6 is fixed to a front plate of an outdoor unit. [Figure 8] It is a side view of the protection structure when the connecting member main body in FIG. 4 is disposed at a first extended position. [Figure 9] It is a side view of the protection structure when the connecting member main body in FIG. 4 is disposed at a second extended position. [Figure 10] It is a side view of the protection structure when the connecting member main body in FIG. 4 is disposed at a first vertical position. [Figure 11] It is a side view of the protection structure when the connecting member main body in FIG. 4 is disposed at a second vertical position. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram showing the case where a pipe hole is provided at the first hole position of the piping duct in Figure 2. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram showing the case where a pipe hole is provided at the second hole position of the piping duct in Figure 2. [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system including a protective structure according to a second embodiment. [Figure 15] Figure 14 is a perspective view including the upper member and standard lower member of the protective structure. [Figure 16] Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the protective structure. [Figure 17] This is a side view showing the arrangement of the water-stopping members in the protective structure of Figure 16. [Figure 18] Figure 14 is a perspective view including the upper member and the lower member for bypassing the protective structure. [Figure 19] Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of the protective structure. [Figure 20] This is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the upper member and top surface member on the lower member in Figure 19. [Figure 21] This is a schematic diagram showing the location where the bypass piping hole is provided when the bypass lower member shown in Figure 19 is selected. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] <First Embodiment> The protective structure 20 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 13. Hereinafter, when the outdoor unit 2, the piping duct 10, and the protective structure 20 connecting the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10 are installed on a predetermined site or rooftop, the direction from the outdoor unit 2 toward the piping duct 10 is defined as the extension direction X. The direction along the vertical direction is defined as the up-down direction Z. The direction perpendicular to the extension direction X and the up-down direction Z is defined as the horizontal direction Y.

[0023] [Air conditioning system] The air conditioning system 1 shown in Figure 1 is an air conditioning system that connects multiple indoor units to one outdoor unit 2, and allows for the individual operation of each of the multiple indoor units. The air conditioning system 1 comprises an outdoor unit 2 installed on the roof of a building, multiple indoor units, refrigerant pipes 6, piping ducts 10, and a protective structure 20. In Figure 1, four outdoor units 2 are shown as an example.

[0024] The refrigerant pipes 6 run from each indoor unit through the ceiling space and converge in a small shed located on the roof of the building. The refrigerant pipes 6 extend from the shed to the outdoor unit 2. The refrigerant pipes 6 connect the outdoor unit 2 to multiple indoor units.

[0025] [Piping and ductwork] The piping duct 10 protects the refrigerant pipes 6 that extend from the shed in a predetermined direction. The piping duct 10 is positioned at a distance from the outdoor unit 2 in the extension direction X. In Figure 1, the piping duct 10 leading to the shed is shown in a broken section. One or more refrigerant pipes 6 are arranged in the piping duct 10. The piping duct 10 covers and brings together multiple refrigerant pipes 6.

[0026] The piping duct 10 is supported by bridge-pier-like supports 7 installed at predetermined intervals. The supports 7 support, for example, the end 10Y of the piping duct 10 and the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10. The connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10 is the part where each piping duct 10 is connected to one another. The end 10Y of the piping duct 10 is the end of the piping duct 10 furthest from the shed. The end 10Y of the piping duct 10 is closed by an end cap.

[0027] [Protection structure] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the protective structure 20 protects the refrigerant pipe 6 connected to the outdoor unit 2. The protective structure 20 protects the refrigerant pipe 6 between the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10. The protective structure 20 connects the side surface 2A of the outdoor unit 2 and the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10. The protective structure 20 comprises a support member 30 and a connecting member 40.

[0028] [Support member] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the support member 30 is attached to the side surface 2A of the outdoor unit 2. The support member 30 has a support member body 31 and a protruding portion 33. The support member body 31 is provided with an insertion portion 32 for inserting the refrigerant pipe 6 into the outdoor unit 2.

[0029] The protruding portion 33 is provided on the upper part of the periphery of the insertion portion 32. The protruding portion 33 is flat. The protruding portion 33 projects in the extension direction X.

[0030] First flat plate portion 34 and second flat plate portion 35 are provided on the left and right sides around the insertion portion 32. The first flat plate portion 34 and second flat plate portion 35 may be connected to the protruding portion 33 or they may be separated from the protruding portion 33. In this embodiment, the first flat plate portion 34 and second flat plate portion 35 are arranged separately from the protruding portion 33 and are not connected to it.

[0031] The support member 30 further has a frame connection portion 36 that is inserted into the side frame 3 of the outdoor unit 2. The frame connection portion 36 is provided below the support member body 31. The side frame 3 of the outdoor unit 2 has a first frame 4 extending in the horizontal direction Y and a second frame 5 extending upward from the end of the first frame 4.

[0032] The first frame 4 includes a recess or a protrusion. The frame connecting portion 36 includes a recess that engages with the protrusion of the first frame 4, or a protrusion that engages with the recess of the first frame 4. In this embodiment, the first frame 4 includes a protrusion, and the frame connecting portion 36 includes a recess. The recess of the frame connecting portion 36 engages with the protrusion of the first frame 4.

[0033] The support member 30 further has a frame fixing portion 37. The frame fixing portion 37 constitutes a part of the support member body 31. The frame fixing portion 37 is fixed to the second frame 5 of the side frame 3 by fixing members such as screws and bolts.

[0034] [Connecting members] As shown in Figures 3, 4, 8, and 9, the connecting member 40 connects the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10. The connecting member 40 is supported by a protruding portion 33. The connecting member 40 has a connecting member body 41 with an opening at the top and a connecting portion 50.

[0035] The connecting portion 50 connects the connecting member body 41 and the support member 30. The connecting portion 50 has a substantially U-shape. The connecting portion 50 has a first opening 51. The first opening 51 opens downwards.

[0036] One of the protruding portion 33 and the connecting member body 41 is fixed to the connecting portion 50 by a fastening member 21. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 33 is fixed to the connecting portion 50 by a fastening member 21. The protruding portion 33 is fixed to the connecting portion 50 by a fastening member 21 via a connecting member 52. The connecting member 52 has a substantially U-shape. The connecting member 52 has a second opening 53. The second opening 53 opens downwards.

[0037] The protruding portion 33 and the other end of the connecting member body 41 are not fixed to the connecting portion 50. In this embodiment, the connecting member body 41 is not fixed to the connecting portion 50. The connecting member body 41 is connected to the support member 30 via the connecting portion 50.

[0038] The connecting member 52 is positioned so as to overlap the protruding portion 33 in the vertical direction Z. The connecting member 52 is supported by the protruding portion 33. The connecting portion 50 is positioned so as to overlap the connecting member 52 in the vertical direction Z. The connecting portion 50 is supported by the protruding portion 33 via the connecting member 52. The connecting portion 50 is fixed to the connecting member 52 in the portion of the connecting member 52 that does not overlap the protruding portion 33. The connecting portion 50 may also be fixed to the protruding portion 33 in the portion of the connecting member 52 that overlaps the protruding portion 33.

[0039] The connecting member 40 further has an upper cover portion 60 that can be removed from the connecting member body 41. The upper cover portion 60 is positioned above the connecting member body 41. The upper cover portion 60 covers the opening of the connecting member body 41, excluding the portion through which the refrigerant pipe 6 passes. The end portion 60A of the upper cover portion 60 is positioned to overlap with the connection portion 50 in the vertical direction Z. The upper cover portion 60 extends along the shape of the first side portion 42 and the second side portion 43 of the connecting member body 41 to the piping duct reinforcement portion 80. The first side portion 42, the second side portion 43, and the piping duct reinforcement portion 80 will be described later.

[0040] The connecting portion 50 is positioned between the connecting member body 41 and the upper cover portion 60 in the vertical direction Z. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 50 is positioned between the connecting member body 41 and the end portion 60A of the upper cover portion 60 in the vertical direction Z. The upper cover portion 60 is fixed to the connecting member body 41. Together with the connecting member body 41, the upper cover portion 60 forms the internal space of the connecting member 40 in which the refrigerant pipe 6 is arranged.

[0041] The connecting member 40 further has a lower cover portion 70 that can be removed from the connecting member body 41. The lower cover portion 70 is positioned below the connecting member body 41. The lower cover portion 70 covers the first opening 51 of the connecting portion 50 from below. A part of the lower cover portion 70 is positioned in the vertical direction Z between the connecting portion 50 and the first plate portion 44A of the bottom cover portion 44, which will be described later.

[0042] The lower cover portion 70 has a bottom cover portion mounting portion 71. The bottom cover portion mounting portion 71 includes a connecting elongated hole 72 extending in the extension direction X. For example, the lower cover portion 70 is provided with two connecting elongated holes 72. The first plate portion 44A of the bottom cover portion 44, described later, is fixed to the two connecting elongated holes 72.

[0043] The connecting member body 41 is composed of a first side portion 42, a second side portion 43, and a bottom cover portion 44. The first side portion 42 is attached to the bottom cover portion 44 from one side in the horizontal direction Y. The second side portion 43 is attached to the bottom cover portion 44 from the other side in the horizontal direction Y. The second side portion 43 is configured to be symmetrical with the first side portion 42.

[0044] The bottom cover portion 44 has a first plate portion 44A, a second plate portion 44B, and a third plate portion 44C. The first plate portion 44A and the third plate portion 44C each extend in the extension direction X. The first plate portion 44A is located above the third plate portion 44C in the vertical direction Z. The second plate portion 44B extends in the vertical direction Z from the end of the first plate portion 44A opposite to the end on the support member 30 side. The second plate portion 44B connects the first plate portion 44A and the second plate portion 44B. The first plate portion 44A, the second plate portion 44B, and the third plate portion 44C are formed integrally. The first plate portion 44A may be formed separately from the second plate portion 44B and attached to the second plate portion 44B. The third plate portion 44C may be formed separately from the second plate portion 44B and attached to the second plate portion 44B.

[0045] Each of the first side portion 42 and the second side portion 43 has a bottom cover fixing portion 45. One or more bottom cover fixing portions 45 are provided on each of the first side portion 42 and the second side portion 43. The bottom cover fixing portion 45 includes a first plate fixing portion 46, a second plate fixing portion 47, and a third plate fixing portion 48.

[0046] The first plate fixing portion 46 is fixed to the first plate portion 44A of the bottom cover portion 44. The first plate fixing portion 46, together with the first plate portion 44A, is fixed to the connecting elongated hole 72 of the lower cover portion 70 by fixing members such as screws and bolts. The second plate fixing portion 47 is fixed to the second plate portion 44B of the bottom cover portion 44. The third plate fixing portion 48 is fixed to the third plate portion 44C of the bottom cover portion 44.

[0047] Each of the first side portion 42 and the second side portion 43 has an upper cover portion fixing portion 49. The upper cover portion fixing portion 49 protrudes toward the bottom cover portion 44. The upper cover portion 60 is fixed to the first side portion 42 and the second side portion 43, respectively, by fixing members such as screws and bolts at the upper cover portion fixing portion 49.

[0048] As shown in Figures 4, 12, and 13, the connecting member 40 further has a pipe duct reinforcing portion 80 that extends along the side surface 10A of the pipe duct 10 in the vertical direction Z. The pipe duct reinforcing portion 80 is provided on the connecting member body 41 so as to be positioned around the pipe hole 11 provided on the side surface 10A of the pipe duct 10.

[0049] The piping duct reinforcement section 80 has a piping duct mounting section 81. The piping duct mounting section 81 is provided at the end of the first side section 42 on the piping duct 10 side, and at the end of the second side section 43 on the piping duct 10 side.

[0050] The piping duct mounting portion 81 includes a mounting slot 81A extending in the vertical direction Z. The piping duct mounting portion 81 also includes mounting holes 81B provided alongside the mounting slot 81A in the vertical direction Z. One or more mounting holes 81B are provided in the piping duct reinforcement portion 80. The mounting slot 81A is positioned above or below the mounting holes 81B.

[0051] Figure 12 shows a case where a pipe hole 11 is provided at the first hole position on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10. The first hole position is the position of the pipe hole 11 when it is not provided at the connection portion 10X where two piping ducts 10 are connected to each other. Figure 13 shows a case where a pipe hole 11 is provided at the second hole position on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10. The second hole position is the position of the pipe hole 11 when it is provided at the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10.

[0052] As shown in Figure 13, the protective structure 20 includes a first connecting plate 12. The first connecting plate 12 connects the two pipe ducts 10 at the connection portion 10X where the two pipe ducts 10 are connected to each other, so as not to interfere with the pipe holes 11 provided in the connection portion 10X.

[0053] The first connecting plate 12 is attached to the piping duct 10 at the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10 so as not to interfere with the pipe hole 11. The first connecting plate 12 is provided above and below the periphery of the pipe hole 11 in the vertical direction Z. The first connecting plate 12 is attached to the inner surface of the piping duct 10.

[0054] The protective structure 20 includes a connecting auxiliary plate 13 that assists in connecting the piping duct 10 with the first connecting plate 12. The connecting auxiliary plate 13 is provided on the upper part of the piping duct 10 at the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10. When a piping hole 11 is provided in the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10, the piping duct 10 is connected by the first connecting plate 12 and the connecting auxiliary plate 13.

[0055] The piping duct reinforcement section 80 suppresses the reduction in strength of the piping duct 10 caused by the provision of the piping hole 11. For example, when a worker stands on top of the piping duct 10 for maintenance of the outdoor unit 2, the piping duct 10 may bulge in the horizontal direction Y. In particular, the piping duct 10 is prone to bulging in the horizontal direction Y where the piping hole 11 is provided. In this embodiment, the piping duct reinforcement section 80 is arranged around the piping hole 11. Therefore, even when a worker stands on top of the piping duct 10, the piping duct reinforcement section 80 can effectively suppress the bulging of the piping duct 10 in the horizontal direction Y.

[0056] [Construction procedure for protective structures] The construction procedure for the protective structure 20 will be explained with reference to Figures 3 to 13. The construction procedure for the protective structure 20 includes a first construction procedure of attaching the support member 30 to the outdoor unit 2, and a second construction procedure of connecting the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10 with the connecting member 40.

[0057] [First Construction Procedure] The first construction procedure will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The first construction procedure includes the first step, the second step, and the third step.

[0058] The first step is to expose the side frame 3 of the outdoor unit 2 in order to attach the support member 30. In the first step, the front plate 2B of the outdoor unit 2 is removed. By removing the front plate 2B, the side frame 3 of the outdoor unit 2 is exposed.

[0059] The second step is to attach the support member 30 to the side frame 3. In the second step, the recess of the frame connection portion 36 of the support member 30 is inserted into the protrusion of the first frame 4 of the side frame 3. After inserting the recess of the frame connection portion 36 into the protrusion of the first frame 4, the frame fixing portion 37 is fixed to the second frame 5 with fixing members such as screws and bolts. The support member 30 is temporarily fixed to the outdoor unit 2 by the second step.

[0060] The third step is to fix the support member 30 to the outdoor unit 2 with the front plate 2B. In the third step, the front plate 2B is fixed to the support member 30, the first frame 4, and the second frame 5 with fastening members such as screws and bolts. The protruding portion 33 of the support member 30 is exposed from the support member exposed portion 2C of the front plate 2B when the front plate 2B is fixed.

[0061] [Second Construction Procedure] The second construction procedure will be described with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 8 through 13. The second construction procedure includes steps 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. In the second construction procedure, the refrigerant pipe 6 is connected from the piping duct 10 through the internal space of the connecting member 40 to the outdoor unit 2. The refrigerant pipe 6 is not shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0062] The fourth step is to attach the connecting member body 41 and the lower cover portion 70. In the fourth step, the lower cover portion 70 is fixed to the connecting member body 41 such that the end portion 70A of the lower cover portion 70 on the outdoor unit 2 side contacts the support member body 31 and the piping duct reinforcement portion 80 contacts the piping duct 10.

[0063] The position in which the lower cover portion 70 is attached to the connecting member body 41 is adjustable according to the length of the connecting elongated hole 72 of the lower cover portion 70. The connecting member body 41 is positioned in the extension direction X at either the first extension position shown in Figure 8 or the second extension position shown in Figure 9. The first extension position is the position in which the connecting member body 41 is closest to the support member 30. The second extension position is the position in which the connecting member body 41 is furthest from the support member 30. In the fourth step, the connecting member body 41 is moved between the first extension position and the second extension position to fix the lower cover portion 70 to the connecting member body 41.

[0064] The fifth step is to provide a pipe hole 11 on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10. When the pipe hole 11 is provided at the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10, the pipe hole 11 is provided on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10 after the piping duct 10 has been connected by the first connecting plate 12. The fifth step may be performed before the fourth step.

[0065] Steps 6 through 10 are steps for fixing the connecting member body 41 to the piping duct 10 and the support member 30. In step 6, the connecting member body 41 is fixed to the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10, aligned with the vertical Z position of the piping hole 11.

[0066] The position in which the connecting member body 41 is attached to the piping duct 10 is adjustable according to the length of the mounting slot 81A. The connecting member body 41 is positioned in the vertical direction Z at either the first vertical position shown in Figure 10 or the second vertical position shown in Figure 11. The first vertical position is the position in which the connecting member body 41 is attached to the piping duct 10 at its highest point. The second vertical position is the position in which the connecting member body 41 is attached to the piping duct 10 at its lowest point. In the sixth step, the connecting member body 41 is moved between the first and second vertical positions to fix the connecting member body 41 to the piping duct 10. Note that in Figures 10 and 11, the second side portion 43 is removed for convenience in order to show the position of screws and bolts when fixing the connecting member body 41 to the piping duct 10.

[0067] In step 7, the connecting member 52 is fixed to the protruding part 33. In step 8, the refrigerant pipe 6 is positioned along the main body 41 of the connecting member. In step 8, the refrigerant pipe 6 may be already connected to the outdoor unit 2, or it may be connected to the outdoor unit 2 in this step.

[0068] In the ninth step, the connecting portion 50 is positioned so as to overlap the connecting portion connecting member 52 and the end of the connecting member body 41 from above, and the connecting portion 50 is fixed to the connecting portion connecting member 52 by the fastening member 21. In the tenth step, the upper cover portion 60 is fixed to the connecting member body 41 so that the connecting portion 50 is positioned between the connecting member body 41 and the upper cover portion 60.

[0069] The installation of the protective structure 20 is completed by the above steps 1 through 10. In conventional installation procedures, after the refrigerant pipes 6 were installed, the refrigerant pipes 6 were covered with racking between the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10 to protect them. The protective structure 20 makes it possible to cover the refrigerant pipes 6 between the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10 both before and after the installation of the refrigerant pipes 6. Therefore, the protective structure 20 can improve the ease of installation when covering the refrigerant pipes 6 between the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10.

[0070] Furthermore, the gap between the insertion section 32 and the refrigerant pipe 6 is covered by the connecting member 40. This prevents small animals from entering the inside of the outdoor unit 2 through the insertion section 32.

[0071] <Operation of the First Embodiment> The operation of the first embodiment will now be described. In the protective structure 20, the refrigerant pipe 6 is inserted through the insertion portion 32 of the support member 30, and the connecting member 40 that protects the refrigerant pipe 6 is supported by the protruding portion 33. Therefore, as in the conventional method, the step of filling the gap between the insertion opening and the refrigerant pipe 6 after attaching a cover to the refrigerant pipe 6 between the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10 can be omitted.

[0072] <Effects of the First Embodiment> The effects of the first embodiment will be described. (1-1) The protective structure 20 for protecting the refrigerant pipes 6 connected to the outdoor unit 2 comprises a support member 30 attached to the side surface 2A of the outdoor unit 2, and a connecting member 40 that connects the outdoor unit 2 to a piping duct 10 in which one or more refrigerant pipes 6 are arranged. The support member 30 has a support member body 31 provided with an insertion portion 32 for inserting the refrigerant pipes 6 into the outdoor unit 2, and a protruding portion 33 provided on the upper part around the insertion portion 32. The connecting member 40 is supported by the protruding portion 33.

[0073] With the above configuration, the protruding portion 33 supports the connecting member 40, making it easy to connect the connecting member 40 and the support member 30. Therefore, the ease of installation when providing a cover for the refrigerant pipe 6 between the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10 can be improved.

[0074] (1-2) The connecting member 40 has a connecting member body 41 and a connecting portion 50 that connects the connecting member body 41 and the support member 30. One of the protruding portion 33 and the connecting member body 41 is fixed to the connecting portion 50 by a fastening member 21. The other of the protruding portion 33 and the connecting member body 41 is not fixed to the connecting portion 50.

[0075] With the above configuration, since the protruding portion 33 or the connecting member body 41 is not fixed to the connecting portion 50, vibrations originating from the outdoor unit 2 can be suppressed from being transmitted to the connecting member 40.

[0076] (1-3) The connecting member 40 further has an upper cover portion 60 that can be removed from the connecting member body 41. The upper cover portion 60 is positioned above the connecting member body 41. The connecting portion 50 is positioned between the connecting member body 41 and the upper cover portion 60 in the vertical direction Z.

[0077] With the above configuration, the upper cover portion 60 can be removed, making it easy to perform maintenance on the refrigerant pipe 6.

[0078] (1-4) The connecting member 40 further has a pipe duct reinforcing portion 80 that extends along the side surface 10A of the pipe duct 10 in the vertical direction Z. The pipe duct reinforcing portion 80 is provided on the connecting member body 41 so as to be positioned around the pipe hole 11 provided on the side surface 10A of the pipe duct 10.

[0079] According to the above configuration, the protective structure 20 can suppress the reduction in strength caused by the pipe holes 11 provided on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10.

[0080] (1-5) In the connection portion 10X where two pipe ducts 10 are connected to each other, a first connecting plate 12 is further provided to connect the two pipe ducts 10 so as not to interfere with the pipe hole 11 provided in the connection portion 10X.

[0081] According to the above configuration, even when the connecting member 40 is attached to the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10, a piping hole 11 can be provided in the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10.

[0082] (1-6) The piping duct reinforcement section 80 has a piping duct mounting section 81. The piping duct mounting section 81 includes a mounting elongated hole 81A that extends in the vertical direction Z.

[0083] According to the above configuration, the protective structure 20 can suitably adjust the position of the connecting member body 41 relative to the piping duct 10 in the vertical direction Z by means of the mounting elongated hole 81A.

[0084] <Second Embodiment> The protective structure 100 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 14 through 21. In this embodiment, components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and the description of redundant components is omitted.

[0085] [Protection structure] The protective structure 100 of the second embodiment protects the refrigerant pipe 6 connected to the outdoor unit 2, similar to the protective structure 20 of the first embodiment. The protective structure 100 comprises a support member 30 and a connecting member 110.

[0086] [Connecting members] The connecting member 110 connects the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10. The connecting member 110 is supported by a protruding portion 33. The connecting member 110 has a connecting member body 111 with an opening at the top, a connecting portion 50, an upper cover portion 60, a lower cover portion 70, and a water-stopping member 170.

[0087] As shown in Figures 14 to 17, the connecting member body 111 has a lower member 130, an upper member 120, and a top member 160. The lower member 130 has an opening at the top. The upper member 120 is positioned above the lower member 130. The top member 160 is positioned above the lower member 130, alongside the upper member 120.

[0088] [Upper member] The upper member 120 is composed of a first upper side portion 121, a second upper side portion 122, and an upper bottom cover portion 123. The first upper side portion 121 is attached to the upper bottom cover portion 123 from one side in the horizontal direction Y. The second upper side portion 122 is attached to the upper bottom cover portion 123 from the other side in the horizontal direction Y. The second upper side portion 122 is configured to be symmetrical with the first upper side portion 121.

[0089] The upper bottom cover portion 123 is composed of a first upper plate portion 124 and a second upper plate portion 125. The first upper plate portion 124 extends in the extension direction X. The first upper plate portion 124 is fixed to the connecting elongated hole 72 of the lower cover portion 70.

[0090] The second upper plate portion 125 extends vertically in the Z direction from the end of the first upper plate portion 124 opposite to the end on the support member 30 side. The first upper plate portion 124 is formed integrally with the second upper plate portion 125. The first upper plate portion 124 may be formed separately from the second upper plate portion 125 and attached to the second upper plate portion 125.

[0091] Each of the first upper side portion 121 and the second upper side portion 122 has an upper bottom cover portion fixing portion 126. One or more upper bottom cover portion fixing portions 126 are provided on each of the first upper side portion 121 and the second upper side portion 122. The upper bottom cover portion fixing portion 126 includes a first upper plate portion fixing portion 126A and a second upper plate portion fixing portion 126B.

[0092] The first upper plate fixing part 126A is fixed to the first upper plate part 124 of the upper bottom cover part 123. The second upper plate fixing part 126B is fixed to the second upper plate part 125 of the upper bottom cover part 123.

[0093] Each of the first upper side portion 121 and the second upper side portion 122 has an upper cover portion fixing portion 49. The upper cover portion 60 is fixed to the first upper side portion 121 and the second upper side portion 122, respectively, by fixing members such as screws and bolts at the upper cover portion fixing portion 49.

[0094] [Lower member] As shown in Figures 15 to 19, the lower member 130 is constructed separately from the upper member 120. The upper member 120 is attached to the lower member 130 from above to form the connecting member 110. The lower member 130 has an opening at the top. Specifically, the lower member 130 is formed in the shape of an open box at the top. The lower member 130 includes a standard lower member 140 and a bypass lower member 150.

[0095] [Standard lower member] As shown in Figures 14 to 16, the standard lower member 140 comprises a first lower side portion 141, a second lower side portion 142, a lower bottom cover portion 143, and a standard side portion 147. The standard lower member 140 is used when the connecting member 110 is fixed to the piping duct 10 at a position corresponding to the first hole position of the piping hole 11 shown in Figure 12.

[0096] The first lower side portion 141 is attached to the lower bottom cover portion 143 from one side in the horizontal direction Y. The first upper side portion 121 is fixed to the first lower side portion 141 from above. The second lower side portion 142 is attached to the lower bottom cover portion 143 from the other side in the horizontal direction Y. The second upper side portion 122 is fixed to the second upper side portion 122 from above. The second lower side portion 142 is configured to be symmetrical with the first lower side portion 141.

[0097] The lower bottom cover portion 143 is composed of a first lower plate portion 144 and a second lower plate portion 145. The first lower plate portion 144 extends in the vertical direction Z. When the upper member 120 is attached to the standard lower member 140, the first lower plate portion 144 is positioned to correspond to the second upper plate portion 125 of the upper bottom cover portion 123. The second lower plate portion 145 extends in the extending direction X from the end of the first lower plate portion 144 opposite to the end on the upper member 120 side. The first lower plate portion 144 and the second lower plate portion 145 are formed integrally. The first lower plate portion 144 may be formed separately from the second lower plate portion 145 and attached to the second lower plate portion 145.

[0098] Each of the first lower side portion 141 and the second lower side portion 142 has a lower bottom cover fixing portion 146. One or more lower bottom cover fixing portions 146 are provided on each of the first lower side portion 141 and the second lower side portion 142. The lower bottom cover fixing portion 146 includes a first lower plate fixing portion 146A and a second lower plate fixing portion 146B.

[0099] The first lower plate fixing part 146A is fixed to the first lower plate part 144 of the lower bottom cover part 143. The second lower plate fixing part 146B is fixed to the second lower plate part 145 of the lower bottom cover part 143.

[0100] The standard side member 147 is positioned in the extension direction X on the side opposite to the first lower plate portion 144 of the lower bottom cover portion 143. The standard side member 147 has a first lower side portion fixing portion 147A. The first lower side portion fixing portion 147A is fixed to the first lower side portion 141. The standard side member 147 has a second lower side portion fixing portion 147B which is fixed to the second lower side portion 142. The second lower side portion fixing portion 147B is fixed to the second lower side portion 142.

[0101] The standard side member 147 has a standard opening 147X and a pipe duct reinforcement section 80. The pipe duct reinforcement section 80 is provided around the standard opening 147X in the horizontal direction Y. The pipe duct reinforcement section 80 is provided on the standard side member 147 so as to be positioned around the pipe hole 11 provided on the side 10A of the pipe duct 10 shown in Figure 12. The pipe duct reinforcement section 80 has a pipe duct mounting section 81. The pipe duct mounting section 81 is provided at the end of the standard side member 147 on the pipe duct 10 side.

[0102] [Lower member for detour] As shown in Figures 14, 18, and 19, the bypass lower member 150 includes a bypass lower member body 151 and a bypass side member 152 that is detachably configured from the bypass lower member body 151. The bypass lower member 150 is used to bypass the refrigerant pipe 6 by positioning the piping hole 11 at the first hole position when the connecting member 110 is positioned in a position corresponding to the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10, based on the positional relationship between the outdoor unit 2 and the connecting member 110.

[0103] The bypass side member 152 has a main body fixing portion 152A that is fixed to the bypass lower member main body 151. One or more main body fixing portions 152A are provided on the bypass side member 152.

[0104] When the upper member 120 is fixed to the bypass lower member 150, the upper member 120 and the bypass lower member 150 are connected by a reinforcing member 112. The reinforcing member 112 is, for example, a metal plate. The reinforcing member 112 may be omitted.

[0105] The bypass side member 152 has a bypass opening 152X and a piping duct reinforcement section 80. In the horizontal direction Y, the width of the bypass opening 152X is greater than the width of the standard opening 147X. The piping duct reinforcement section 80 is provided around the bypass opening 152X in the horizontal direction Y.

[0106] As shown in Figure 21, a portion of the pipe duct reinforcement portion 80 provided on the bypass side member 152 is arranged around the bypass pipe hole 14, and the other portion of the pipe duct reinforcement portion 80 is arranged around the connection portion 10X of the pipe duct 10. The bypass pipe hole 14 is a hole provided to avoid the connection portion 10X of the pipe duct 10.

[0107] In this embodiment, the piping duct 10 is connected by a second connecting plate 15 and a connecting auxiliary plate 13. The second connecting plate 15 is, for example, a plate extending in the vertical direction Z. The second connecting plate 15 connects the piping duct 10 from the inside of the piping duct 10.

[0108] The bypass lower member 150, which serves as the lower member 130, has a first arrangement area 150X and a second arrangement area 150Y in the opening area 150A above the lower member 130. The upper member 120 is arranged in one of the first arrangement area 150X and the second arrangement area 150Y. The top member 160 is arranged in the other of the first arrangement area 150X and the second arrangement area 150Y.

[0109] [Top panel component] As shown in Figures 18 to 21, the top surface member 160 is composed of a top surface member body 161, an upper member fixing part 162, and a lower member fixing part 163. The upper member fixing part 162 is provided on one side of the top surface member body 161 in the horizontal direction Y. The lower member fixing part 163 is provided on the other side of the top surface member body 161 in the horizontal direction Y. Regardless of whether the top surface member 160 is positioned in the first arrangement area 150X or the second arrangement area 150Y, it is used by appropriately reversing its left and right orientation so that the upper member fixing part 162 is positioned on the upper member 120 side.

[0110] [Water-stopping component] As shown in Figures 15 to 17, the water-sealing member 170 is provided between the connecting portion 50 and the upper cover portion 60 in the vertical direction Z. In the extending direction X, the water-sealing member 170 is provided at a position corresponding to the end portion 60A of the upper cover portion 60. The water-sealing member 170 prevents moisture from entering from between the connecting portion 50 and the upper cover portion 60. The water-sealing member 170 includes rubber or resin. For example, the water-sealing member 170 includes ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM: Ethylene Propylene Diene Methylene Linkage).

[0111] [Construction procedure for protective structures] The construction procedure for the protective structure 100 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 11 and Figures 14 to 21. The construction procedure for the protective structure 100 includes a first construction procedure for attaching the support member 30 to the outdoor unit 2 and a second construction procedure for connecting the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10 with the connecting member 110. The first construction procedure is the same as that of the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

[0112] [Second Construction Procedure] The second construction procedure will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 14 through 21. The second construction procedure includes steps 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. In the second construction procedure, the refrigerant pipe 6 is led from the piping duct 10 through the internal space of the connecting member 40 to the outdoor unit 2.

[0113] The fourth step is to attach the upper member 120 to the lower member 130. If the connecting member 110 is positioned at a location different from the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10, the standard lower member 140 is selected as the lower member 130. If the connecting member 110 is positioned at the connection portion 10X of the piping duct 10, the bypass lower member 150 is selected as the lower member 130.

[0114] Step 5 is the process of attaching the connecting member body 111 and the lower cover portion 70, similar to Step 4 of the first embodiment, so a detailed description is omitted. Step 6 is the process of providing a pipe hole 11 or a bypass pipe hole 14 on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10. If the standard lower member 140 is selected as the lower member 130, a pipe hole 11 is provided on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10. If the bypass lower member 150 is selected as the lower member 130, a bypass pipe hole 14 is provided on the side surface 10A of the piping duct 10. Step 6 may be performed before Step 5.

[0115] In the sixth step, when a bypass lower member 150 is selected as the lower member 130, the relationship between the arrangement of the upper member 120 and the top member 160 and the bypass piping hole 14 will be explained. For example, when the upper member 120 is arranged in the first arrangement area 150X shown in Figure 20 and the top member 160 is arranged in the second arrangement area 150Y, the bypass piping hole 14 is provided at the first bypass hole position shown in Figure 21. For example, when the top member 160 is arranged in the first arrangement area 150X shown in Figure 20 and the upper member 120 is arranged in the second arrangement area 150Y, the bypass piping hole 14 is provided at the second bypass hole position shown in Figure 21.

[0116] Steps 7 through 11 are steps to fix the connecting member body 111 to the piping duct 10 and the support member 30. Steps 7 through 10 are the same as steps 6 through 9 of the first embodiment, so a detailed description is omitted. After steps 7 through 10, step 11 is performed. In step 11, the upper cover portion 60 is positioned so that the connection portion 50 is located between the connecting member body 111 and the upper cover portion 60, and the upper cover portion 60 is fixed to the connecting member body 111. At this time, a water-stopping member 170 is placed between the connection portion 50 and the upper cover portion 60. Steps 1 through 11 complete the construction procedure for the protective structure 100 of the second embodiment.

[0117] <Effects of the second embodiment> The effects of the second embodiment will be explained. (2-1) The connecting member 110 further includes a water-stopping member 170 provided between the connecting portion 50 and the upper cover portion 60 in the vertical direction Z.

[0118] According to the above configuration, the water-stopping member 170 can prevent rainwater and other liquids from entering the interior of the connecting member 110.

[0119] (2-2) The connecting member body 111 includes a lower member 130 that opens upward, an upper member 120 positioned above the lower member 130, and a top member 160 positioned above the lower member 130 alongside the upper member 120. The lower member 130 has a first arrangement area 150X and a second arrangement area 150Y in the opening area 150A on the upper side of the lower member 130. The upper member 120 is positioned in one of the first arrangement area 150X and the second arrangement area 150Y. The top member 160 is positioned in the other of the first arrangement area 150X and the second arrangement area 150Y.

[0120] According to the above configuration, the protective structure 100 can change the arrangement of the upper member 120 of the connecting member body 111 in accordance with the positional relationship between the outdoor unit 2 and the piping duct 10.

[0121] <Example of changes> In addition to the embodiments described above, the protection structures of this disclosure may also be, for example, the following modified examples, and combinations of at least two non-inconsistent modified examples.

[0122] The piping duct mounting section 81 may include multiple holes instead of the mounting elongated hole 81A. The piping duct mounting section 81 may include an elongated hole instead of the mounting hole 81B.

[0123] The connecting member 52 for the connecting portion may be omitted. In this case, the connecting portion 50 is directly fixed to the protruding portion 33 of the support member 30 by the fastening member 21.

[0124] If the connecting member bodies 41 and 111 are fixed to the connecting portion 50, and the protruding portion 33 is not fixed to the connecting portion 50, the connecting member bodies 41 and 111 may be provided with elongated holes for fixing the connecting portion 50. In this modified example, the connecting elongated hole 72 of the lower cover portion 70 may be omitted.

[0125] The protective structure 20 of the first embodiment may have a water-stopping member 170 provided between the connecting portion 50 and the upper cover portion 60, similar to the protective structure 100 of the second embodiment.

[0126] In the protective structure 100 of the second embodiment, the bypass lower member 150 as the lower member 130 may be omitted. In this case, the standard lower member 140 is used as the lower member 130. When a pipe hole 11 is provided in the connection portion 10X where two pipe ducts 10 connect to each other, the protective structure 100 of the second embodiment further includes a first connecting plate 12, similar to the protective structure 20 of the first embodiment.

[0127] The ordinal numbers such as "first, second, and third" used in this specification are simply used to distinguish between multiple members having the same name and do not have any special meaning.

[0128] The above describes various embodiments of the protective structure and examples of its modifications. It should be understood that a wide range of modifications to the form and details are possible without departing from the purpose and scope of the protective structure described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0129] 2...Outdoor unit, 2A...Side, 6...Refrigerant pipe, 10...Piping duct, 10A...Side, 10X...Connection part, 11...Piping hole, 12...First connection plate, 20, 100...Protective structure, 21...Fastening member, 30...Support member, 31...Support member body, 32...Insertion part, 33...Protruding part, 40, 110...Connecting member, 41, 111...Connecting member body, 50...Connection part, 60...Upper cover part, 80...Piping duct reinforcement part, 81...Piping duct mounting part, 81A...Mounting elongated hole, 120...Upper member, 130...Lower member, 150A...Opening area, 150X...First arrangement area, 150Y...Second arrangement area, 160...Top surface member, 170...Waterproofing member.

Claims

1. A protective structure (20) for protecting the refrigerant pipe (6) connected to the outdoor unit (2), A support member (30) is attached to the side surface (2A) of the outdoor unit (2), The system includes a connecting member (40) that connects the outdoor unit (2) and the piping duct (10) in which the refrigerant pipe (6) is arranged, The support member (30) comprises a support member body (31) having an insertion portion (32) for inserting the refrigerant pipe (6) into the outdoor unit (2), and a protruding portion (33) provided on the upper part around the insertion portion (32), The connecting member (40) is supported by the protruding portion (33). Protective structure.

2. The connecting member (40) has a connecting member body (41) and a connecting portion (50) that connects the connecting member body (41) and the support member (30), One of the protruding portion (33) and the connecting member body (41) is fixed to the connecting portion (50) by the fastening member (21), The other of the protruding portion (33) and the connecting member body (41) is not fixed to the connecting portion (50). The protective structure according to claim 1.

3. The connecting member (40) further has an upper cover portion (60) that can be removed from the connecting member body (41), The upper cover portion (60) is positioned above the connecting member body (41), The connecting portion (50) is positioned in the vertical direction (Z) between the connecting member body (41) and the upper cover portion (60). The protective structure according to claim 2.

4. The connecting member (110) further includes a water-stopping member (170) provided between the connecting portion (50) and the upper cover portion (60) in the vertical direction (Z). The protective structure according to claim 3.

5. The connecting member (40) further has a pipe duct reinforcing portion (80) that extends in the vertical direction (Z) along the side surface (10B) of the pipe duct (10), The piping duct reinforcement portion (80) is provided on the connecting member body (41) so as to be positioned around the piping hole (11) provided on the side surface (10B) of the piping duct (10), The protective structure according to claim 2.

6. In the connection portion (10X) where the two pipe ducts (10) are connected to each other, a first connecting plate (12) is further provided to connect the two pipe ducts (10) so as not to interfere with the pipe hole (11) provided in the connection portion (10X). The protective structure according to claim 5.

7. The aforementioned piping duct reinforcement portion (80) has a piping duct mounting portion (81), The aforementioned piping duct mounting portion (81) includes a mounting elongated hole (81A) extending in the vertical direction (Z), The protective structure according to claim 5.

8. The connecting member body (111) is A lower member (130) that opens upwards, An upper member (120) is positioned above the lower member (130), It has a top surface member (160) positioned above the lower member (130) alongside the upper member (120), The lower member (130) has a first arrangement area (150X) and a second arrangement area (150Y) in the opening area (150A) above the lower member, The upper member (120) is positioned in one of the first arrangement area (150X) and the second arrangement area (150Y). The top surface member (160) is positioned in the other of the first arrangement area (150X) and the second arrangement area (150Y). The protective structure according to claim 2.

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