Air conditioner outdoor unit

Abstract

To surely cool (cool by air) a heat generating component in an outdoor unit in which two air blowing fans are arranged side by side, even in one fan operation mode in which one air blowing fan is in an operated state.SOLUTION: An outdoor unit 1 for the air conditioner comprises a casing 10 which is partitioned into an air blowing fan room 20 on the upper part and a machine room 30 on the lower part, two air blowing fans, namely, a first air blowing fan 210b and a second air blowing fan 210a are arranged side by side in the air blowing fan room 20, a first electrical equipment box 321 is arranged in the machine room 30 at the windward side of the first air blowing fan 210a, and a second electrical equipment box 322 is arranged at the windward side of the second air blowing fan 210b. In the outdoor unit 1, heat generating components 511, 512, 521, 522 are arranged intensively on the second electrical equipment box 322 side. In one fan operation in which only one of the two air blowing fans 210a, 210b is operated, the second air blowing fan 210b is operated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and more specifically to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having two blower fans. [Background technology]

[0002] In many cases, the interior of the housing of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is divided into a blower chamber that houses the blower fan, and a machine chamber that houses the heat exchanger and compressor. In an up-blowing type outdoor unit, an air outlet is provided on the top surface (upper face) of the housing, the blower chamber is located at the top of the housing, and the machine chamber is located at the bottom of the housing. An electrical equipment box that houses the electrical components of the control system is also provided in the machine chamber.

[0003] Large models that require large air conditioning capacity may be equipped with multiple blower fans (for example, two fans, a first blower fan and a second blower fan) and multiple compressors (for example, two compressors, a first compressor and a second compressor). In this case, for example, the inside of the housing is further divided into left and right. Looking at the housing from the front, the machine room is divided into a left machine room on the left side and a right machine room on the right side, and the blower room is also divided into a left blower room on the left side and a right blower room on the right side.

[0004] The first compressor is disposed in the left machine room, the second compressor in the right machine room, and the first blower fan is disposed in the left blower room, the second blower fan in the right blower room. Note that the heat exchanger may be disposed as an integrated unit across the left and right machine rooms, or may be divided into two and disposed separately in the left and right machine rooms.

[0005] An electrical component box (referred to as a first electrical component box) is disposed in the left machine room, and an electrical component box (referred to as a second electrical component box) is disposed in the right machine room.

[0006] Various control circuit boards are mounted inside each electrical equipment box, including an inverter board for the compressor and an inverter board for the fan motor. Typically, these inverter boards are equipped with an IPM (Intelligent Power Module), which is a power semiconductor element.

[0007] For example, IPMs and electrolytic capacitors generate heat when the inverter board on which they are mounted is in operation, and therefore need to be cooled. Normally, heat sinks are attached to heat-generating components such as IPMs, but in order to cool them further by exposing them to airflow, the first electrical component box is placed in a position in the left machine room where the airflow passes as the first blower fan rotates in the left blower room. Similarly, the second electrical component box is placed in a position in the right machine room where the airflow passes as the second blower fan rotates in the right blower room. Each electrical component box has an air inlet at the bottom and an air outlet at the top.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a housing partitioned into a blower chamber in which at least two blower fans, a first blower fan and a second blower fan, are arranged side by side in an upper portion, and a machine chamber in which a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger and an electrical equipment box accommodating a control unit that controls the operation of at least the compressor and the blower fans are arranged in a lower portion, the electrical equipment box is disposed on the windward side of the first blower fan and on the windward side of the second blower fan, On the windward side of the second blower fan of the electrical equipment box In the control section, heat-generating components including the IPM that require cooling are concentrated and arranged. No heat-generating components including the IPM are disposed on the windward side of the first blower fan of the electrical component box, and A heat generating component not including the IPM is disposed, When only one of the two blower fans is in operation, The second blower fan It is characterized by having been driven.

[0009] However, the first and second blower fans are not always in operation (two-fan operation mode). For example, when the indoor unit reaches close to the set temperature or when the capacity requirements from the indoor units decrease due to a decrease in the number of indoor units in operation, the system may enter one-fan operation mode in which only one of the first or second blower fans is operating.

[0010] Conventionally, when entering the single fan operation mode, there is no particular decision as to which blower fan to operate, and the control unit randomly selects which blower fan to operate. Also, with regard to the compressor, in the single fan operation mode, in consideration of preventing uneven distribution of refrigeration oil, both the first compressor and the second compressor may be operated continuously, or one of the compressors may be operated alternately.

[0011] For example, when the first blower fan on the left side is selected as the operating side, air is less likely to flow to the second electrical equipment box on the leeward side of the second blower fan on the right side, which causes a problem that the IPM of the inverter board for the compressor in the second electrical equipment box is not sufficiently cooled even if it is heated by the operation of the second compressor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-4230 A (see FIG. 5) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit for an air conditioner having at least two blower fans, which, in a one-fan operation mode in which only one of the blower fans is in operation, can cool the heat-generating components that are to be air-cooled by the other blower fan using the airflow from that one fan. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a housing partitioned into a blower chamber in an upper portion in which at least two blower fans, a first blower fan and a second blower fan, are arranged side by side, and a machine chamber in a lower portion in which a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger and an electrical component box accommodating a control unit that controls operation of at least the compressor and the blower fans are arranged; When only one of the two blower fans is operated, the cooling unit is located on the windward side of the blower fan that is being operated. Including IPM Necessary heat generating components are arranged in a concentrated manner. A heat generating component not including the IPM is disposed on the windward side of the other blower fan that is not operated when the first fan is operated. It is characterized by the fact that

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the electrical equipment box comprises a first electrical equipment box on the windward side of the first blower fan and a second electrical equipment box on the windward side of the second blower fan, and the second electrical equipment box housing the heat-generating components is disposed on the windward side of the second blower fan which is operated during single fan operation.

[0016] In addition, a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a support pillar supporting the blower chamber is erected in the machine chamber, and the support pillar is arranged between the first electrical equipment box and the second electrical equipment box.

[0017] Furthermore, the second electrical equipment box is characterized in that an air flow path is formed through which air in the machine room flows from below to above, and as the second blower fan operates, air flows from below to above along the circuit board surface in the second electrical equipment box. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having at least two blower fans, heat-generating components can be reliably cooled (air-cooled) even in a one-fan operation mode in which only one of the blower fans is in operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a service panel separated from a housing of the outdoor unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the entire front surface of a machine chamber of the outdoor unit is exposed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a two-part electrical component box of the outdoor unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the inside of the electrical equipment box with the electrical equipment box cover removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an air flow path inside the electrical equipment box. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which both of the two divided electrical equipment boxes are open. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a part of the center pillar and the electrical equipment boxes adjacent to both sides of the center pillar. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a hinge portion attached to the center pillar. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main portion for explaining a hinge structure of the electrical component box. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main portion showing a drawer portion formed in an electrical component box divided into two parts. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the wiring that is laid between the two separate electrical equipment boxes. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing a state in which the wiring portion of the connection wiring is covered with a wiring cover. [Figure 14] 1A is a front perspective view of the wiring cover, and FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the wiring cover. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the wiring cover. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion showing a state in which electrical component box covers are placed on both sides of the wiring cover. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 16. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Next, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 17, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0021] Overall Configuration (Basic Configuration) 1 to 4, an outdoor unit 1 of an air conditioner according to this embodiment (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the outdoor unit) is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped housing 10. As the outdoor unit 1 is of an upward blowing type, a blower chamber 20 is disposed in the upper part of the housing 10, and a machine chamber 30 is disposed below the blower chamber 20.

[0022] The blower chamber 20 is surrounded by a front panel 231, a left side panel 232, a right side panel 233, a rear panel 234, and a top panel 235, and inside the blower chamber 20, two propeller type blower fans 210a, 210b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In addition, the top panel 235 of the blower chamber 20 is provided with fan guards 220a, 220b for the blower fans 210a, 210b. In FIG. 4, when the housing 10 is viewed from the front, the space in the blower chamber 20 where the left blower fan 210a (first blower fan) is arranged is referred to as the left blower chamber 20L, and the space where the right blower fan 210b (second blower fan) is arranged is referred to as the right blower chamber 20R.

[0023] The machine room 30 is a space surrounded by a front, left side, right side and back (rear) sides, of which the front side 30a, the right side 30b and the left side 30c are shown in Figures 1 and 2. A bottom plate 301 serving as a base is disposed on the bottom of the machine room 30, and the top of the machine room 30 communicates with the blower room 20.

[0024] Four service panels 311, 312, 313, and 314 that can be removed during maintenance are provided on a front surface 30a of the machine room 30. When it is not necessary to distinguish between these service panels 311 to 314, they will be collectively referred to as service panels 310.

[0025] A compressor, a heat exchanger 36, and the like are housed in the machine room 30. Although not shown in detail, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 36 is arranged in a substantially U-shape in plan view from the left side surface 30c of the machine room 30 to the back surface and the center of the housing 10 in accordance with the arrangement of the first blower fan 210a and the second blower fan 210b. The heat exchanger 36 is divided into two units having a symmetrical shape.

[0026] An electrical equipment box 320 is disposed at the upper portion of the front face 30a of the machinery room 30, and FIG. 3 shows the state in which the electrical equipment box 320 has been removed, exposing the entire front face 30a of the machinery room 30.

[0027] This outdoor unit 1 is a large outdoor unit used in a multi-air conditioner for a building (commercial multi-air conditioner) or the like, and is equipped with two compressors, a first compressor 351 and a second compressor 352, as a heat source section 350 on the heat source side of the refrigeration cycle. In this embodiment, the compressors are stored in a compressor storage box (compressor box) 353 and are not shown in the figure.

[0028] In addition, the electrical component box 320 is also large, and has a size that covers the entire width from the left end 30L to the right end 30R of the front surface 30a of the machine room 30. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the electrical component box 320 is made up of two boxes, a first electrical component box 321 on the left side and a second electrical component box 322 on the right side.

[0029] A center pillar (a support pillar arranged in the center) 40 having a predetermined width is erected in the center of the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30 in order to increase the rigidity of the housing 10. The front surface 30a of the machinery room 30 is divided into left and right sides by the center pillar 40, and the first electric component box 321 is arranged on the left side of the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30 (between the left end portion 30L and the center pillar 40), and the second electric component box 322 is arranged on the right side of the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30 (between the right end portion 30R and the center pillar 40). The first electric component box 321 and the second electric component box 322 are arranged apart from each other with the center pillar 40 having a predetermined width therebetween, so that the thermal influence they have on each other is reduced.

[0030] Both the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 have a box body with an open front including a rectangular side frame and a bottom plate, and an electrical equipment box cover 321a is attached to the front of the first electrical equipment box 321, and an electrical equipment box cover 322a is attached to the front of the second electrical equipment box 322.

[0031] Electrical component box cover 321a and electrical component box cover 322a are detachable, and when electrical component box covers 321a, 322a are removed, the insides of first electrical component box 321 and second electrical component box 322 are exposed, as shown in Fig. 5. Note that electrical component box cover 321a of first electrical component box 321 is provided with a small window 321b for inspecting control unit 50 inside.

[0032] 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 is virtually divided into four surfaces in a 2-row by 2-column arrangement, and each surface is fitted with a service panel 310. The service panels 310 are a first service panel 311, a second service panel 312, a third service panel 313, and a fourth service panel 314, of which the first service panel 311 and the second service panel 312 are service panels that cover the front surface 30a side of the electrical equipment box.

[0033] The first service panel 311 and the second service panel 312 have the same external shape and size, and are arranged side by side on the left and right so as to cover the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 from the front surface 30a of the machine room 30.

[0034] The third service panel 313 and the fourth service panel 314 are service panels that cover the front 30a side of the compressor 350 (first compressor 351, second compressor 352), etc. The third service panel 313 and the fourth service panel 314 also have the same outer shape and size, and are arranged side by side on the left and right so as to cover the first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352 from the front 30a side of the machine room 30. By removing the third service panel 313 and the fourth service panel 314, it is possible to touch the compressor 350 (first compressor 351, first compressor 352), etc.

[0035] That is, the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30 is covered with four service panels: a first service panel 311 for the electrical equipment box, a second service panel 312, and a third service panel 313 and a fourth service panel 314 for the machinery room. Each service panel 310 is screwed to the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30 at four points, two on the left side and two on the right side.

[0036] 3 shows the inside of the machine room 30 exposed with the first through fourth service panels 310 and the electrical component box 320 (first electrical component box 321, second electrical component box 322) removed. Within the machine room 30, the windward side of the left blower room 20L is referred to as the left machine room 300L, and the windward side of the right blower room 20R is referred to as the right machine room 300R. Note that the windward side is the upstream side from which air flows as viewed from the blower room (blower fan), and the leeward side is the downstream side from which air is sent out from the blower room (blower fan).

[0037] Cooling of heat generating components (first embodiment) The configuration of the electrical component box 320 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. As described above, the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment includes two compressors (the first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352) and two blower fans (the first blower fan 210a and the second blower fan 210b). The first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352 are both variable speed compressors controlled by inverters.

[0038] Therefore, the electrical equipment includes two inverter boards for driving the compressors (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and two fan driver boards for driving the blower fans (first fan drive board 521, second fan drive board 522). These fan drive boards are inverter boards for the fan motors.

[0039] The first inverter board 511 is for the first compressor 351, the second inverter board 512 is for the second compressor 352, the first fan driver board 521 is for the first blower fan 210a, and the second fan driver board 522 is for the second blower fan 210b.

[0040] Each of these boards 511, 512, 521, and 522 is equipped with an IPM (Intelligent Power Module), which is a power semiconductor element, as an example. The IPM generates heat when it operates. In addition, two smoothing circuit boards (a first smoothing circuit board 531 and a second smoothing circuit board 532) each including an electrolytic capacitor are provided. The first smoothing circuit board 531 is for the first inverter board 511, and the second smoothing circuit board 532 is for the second inverter board 512. The electrolytic capacitors included in these smoothing circuit boards 531 and 532 also generate heat when the IPM operates.

[0041] For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, a heat sink 54 is attached to the rear surface of each of the substrates 511, 512, 521, and 522 in order to dissipate heat from the heat generating components.

[0042] According to this embodiment, inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) having heat-generating components, fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) and smoothing circuit boards (first smoothing circuit board 531, second smoothing circuit board 532) are concentrated and arranged in a second electrical equipment box 322 (corresponding to the second electrical equipment box in claim 1) on the upwind side of the second blower fan 210b.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 6, at least second electric component box 322 has air inlet 320a at the bottom and air outlet 320b at the top, and air flows from air inlet 320a to air outlet 320b inside second electric component box 322 when second blower fan 210b is operated (see arrows in Fig. 6). Note that first electric component box 321 may also have air inlet 320a at the bottom and air outlet 320b at the top.

[0044] In this embodiment, a control unit 50 for controlling the operation of the first blower fan 210a, the second blower fan 210b, the first compressor 351, the second compressor 352, etc. is provided on the first electric component box 321 side. A microcomputer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. may be used as the control unit 50. The control unit 50 may be provided on the second electric component box 322 side.

[0045] For example, when the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit is installed reaches close to the set temperature or when the number of operating indoor units decreases, the control unit 50 enters a one-fan operation mode in which only one of the first blower fan 210a and the second blower fan 210b is operated, and in this one-fan operation mode, the control unit 50 always selects the blower fan 210b on the upwind side of the second electrical equipment box 322.

[0046] This ensures that air flows to the heat sink 54 on the rear surface of the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) arranged together in the second electric component box 322, and each of them is effectively cooled. In this case, the fan driver board 521 of the first blower fan 210a which is on the operation-inactive side in the one-fan operation mode does not generate heat, and therefore may be provided on the first electric component box 321 side instead of the second electric component box 322 side.

[0047] In addition, when the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) having each heat-generating component are arranged together on the first electrical equipment box 321 side, in the one-fan operation mode, the blower fan 210a on the upwind side of the first electrical equipment box 321 will be selected.

[0048] In addition, the compressors must be operated alternately to prevent uneven distribution of refrigeration oil, so the board that mounts the inverter board for driving the compressors must be placed directly under the blower fan that operates when one fan is in operation.

[0049] Regarding the arrangement of each board within the electrical equipment box 320, it is preferable that the smoothing circuit boards (first smoothing circuit board 531, second smoothing circuit board 532) are arranged at the top of the electrical equipment box, and the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) are arranged below that.

[0050] With this arrangement, the distance between the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and the compressors (first compressor 351, second compressor 352) is shorter, facilitating wiring work. In addition, the heat sinks 54 of the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) are not exposed to air that has been heated by cooling the smoothing circuit boards (first smoothing circuit board 531, second smoothing circuit board 532). Therefore, the inverter boards and fan driver boards, which generate more heat than the smoothing circuit boards, can be effectively cooled.

[0051] Also, providing a partition between the high-temperature area caused by the heat-generating components and the other low-temperature areas is also effective in preventing the propagation of heat. As explained above, first electric component box 321 and second electric component box 322 are separated by center pillar 40, which reduces the thermal influence between them. Also, a distance is provided between them by right side plate 321R of first electric component box 321 and left side plate 322L of second electric component box 322. This makes it easier for air to flow up and down through first electric component box 321 and second electric component box 322.

[0052] "Electrical equipment box opening / closing mechanism (second embodiment)" Next, an opening / closing mechanism for the electric component box 320 (first electric component box 321, second electric component box 322) will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0053] In the outdoor unit 1 of this embodiment, as the electrical component box 320 is enlarged, the electrical component box 320 is divided into a first electrical component box 321 and a second electrical component box 322, but the following configuration is adopted to improve ease of assembly (ease of attachment and removal) to the housing 10 and ease of maintenance.

[0054] As explained earlier, the center pillar 40 divides the front 30a of the machinery room 30 into left and right sides, with the first electrical equipment box 321 on the left side being positioned on the left side of the front 30a of the machinery room 30 and the second electrical equipment box 322 on the right side being positioned on the right side of the front 30a of the machinery room 30, but the right side frame (right side) 321R of the first electrical equipment box 321 and the left side frame (left side) 322L of the second electrical equipment box 322 are each connected to the center pillar 40 via hinges in a manner that allows them to be opened, closed, and attached / detached.

[0055] 8 and 9, the center pillar 40 is a U-shaped pillar including a front portion (front surface) 40F, a left side surface portion 40L, and a right side surface portion 40R. Referring to Fig. 3, the front surface portion 40F is disposed inside the housing 10 at a predetermined distance from the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30. In other words, the center pillar 40 is disposed at a position one step further back than the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30.

[0056] As will be described later, this is to allow the connection wiring 329 (see Figure 12) that electrically connects the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 to pass through the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 without protruding from the front surface 30a of the machinery room 30.

[0057] Of the hinges shown in Figure 10, the first hinge 6 on the right frame 321R side of the first electrical equipment box 321 has its rotation axis (bosses 612, 632) positioned to the side of the left side portion 40L of the center pillar 40 (left side in Figure 8), and at a specified left fulcrum position 60a closer to the front face 30a of the machine room 30 than the front face portion 40F of the center pillar 40.

[0058] In addition, the other second hinge 7, which is arranged on the left side frame 322 of the second electrical equipment box 322, has its rotation axis (boss 712, 732) arranged to the side of the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40 (right side in Figure 8), and at a specified right fulcrum position 70a closer to the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 than the front surface portion 40F of the center pillar 40.

[0059] The left fulcrum position 60a of the first hinge 6 and the right fulcrum position 70a of the second hinge 7 are symmetrical on the left and right sides, sandwiching the center pillar 40, inside the front face 30a of the machine room 30.

[0060] In this way, by setting the left fulcrum position 60a of the first hinge 6 and the right fulcrum position 70a of the second hinge 7 to specific positions, the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 can be opened and closed without any problems at a position closer to the center pillar 40.

[0061] Next, a specific configuration of the first hinge 6 on the right side frame 321R of the first electric component box 321 will be described. The first hinge 6 includes a first upper hinge 6U disposed between the right side frame 321R of the first electric component box 321 and the left side surface portion 40L of the center pillar 40, and at an upper portion between the two, and a first lower hinge 6L disposed between the right side frame 321R of the first electric component box 321 and the left side surface portion 40L of the center pillar 40, and at a lower portion between the two.

[0062] The first upper hinge 6U is composed of a male hinge portion 61 and a female hinge portion 62. The male hinge portion 61 includes a tongue portion 611 that protrudes horizontally (parallel to the bottom plate 301 of the housing 10) from the left side surface portion 40L of the center pillar 40 in the lateral direction (leftward in Figs. 8 and 9), and a cylindrical or columnar boss 612 that is provided vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 611.

[0063] The female hinge portion 62 has a hinge piece 621 that projects horizontally from the right side frame 321R of the first electrical component box 321 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 611, and a bearing hole 622 that fits into the boss 612 is drilled in the hinge piece 621.

[0064] The first lower hinge 6L is composed of a male hinge portion 63 and a female hinge portion 64. The male hinge portion 63 includes a tongue portion 631 that protrudes horizontally in the lateral direction (leftward in Figs. 8 and 9) from the left side surface portion 40L of the center pillar 40, and a cylindrical or columnar boss 632 that is provided vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 631.

[0065] The boss 612 of the first upper hinge 6U and the boss 632 of the first lower hinge 6L are both coaxially disposed at the left fulcrum position 60a.

[0066] The female hinge portion 64 has a hinge piece 641 that extends horizontally from the right side frame 321R of the first electrical component box 321 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 631, and a bearing hole 642 that fits into the boss 632 is drilled in the hinge piece 641.

[0067] Next, a description will be given of the second hinge 7 on the left side frame 322L of the second electric component box 322. The second hinge 7 includes a second upper hinge 7U disposed in an upper portion near the blower chamber 20 side between the left side frame 322L of the second electric component box 322 and the right side surface portion 40R of the center pillar 40, and a second lower hinge 7L disposed in a lower portion near the bottom plate 301 side between the left side frame 322L of the second electric component box 322 and the right side surface portion 40R of the center pillar 40.

[0068] The second upper hinge 7U is composed of a combination of a male hinge portion 71 and a female hinge portion 72. The male hinge portion 71 includes a tongue portion 711 that protrudes horizontally in the lateral direction (to the right in Figs. 8 and 9) from the right side surface portion 40R of the center pillar 40, and a cylindrical or columnar boss 712 that is provided vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 711.

[0069] The female hinge portion 72 has a hinge piece 721 that extends horizontally from the left side frame 322L of the second electrical component box 322 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 711, and a bearing hole 722 that fits into the boss 712 is drilled in the hinge piece 721.

[0070] The second lower hinge 7L is composed of a combination of a male hinge portion 73 and a female hinge portion 74. The male hinge portion 73 includes a tongue portion 731 that protrudes horizontally in the lateral direction (to the right in Figs. 8 and 9) from the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40, and a cylindrical or columnar boss 732 that is provided vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 731.

[0071] The boss 712 of the second upper hinge 7U and the boss 732 of the second lower hinge 7L are both coaxially disposed at the right fulcrum position 70a.

[0072] The female hinge portion 74 has a hinge piece 741 that extends horizontally from the left side frame 322L of the second electrical component box 322 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 731, and a bearing hole 742 that fits into the boss 732 is drilled in the hinge piece 741.

[0073] In this embodiment, the male hinge portion 61 of the first upper hinge 6U and the male hinge portion 71 of the second upper hinge 7U are formed integrally with an attachment fitting 410 and are fixed to the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 via a bracket 411.

[0074] Additionally, the male hinge portion 63 of the first lower hinge 6L and the male hinge portion 73 of the second lower hinge 7L are formed integrally with an attachment metal fitting 420, and are fixed to the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 via the attachment metal fitting 420. In Fig. 10, reference numeral 421 denotes a receiving metal fitting for engaging a portion of the service panels 311, 312 for the electrical equipment box.

[0075] By employing such hinges (first hinge 6, second hinge 7), as shown in FIG. 7, first electrical component box 321 and second electrical component box 322 can be opened appropriately with the center pillar 40 side as a fulcrum during maintenance.

[0076] Moreover, the first electric component box 321 can be removed by lifting up the first electric component box 321 and disengaging the bearing holes 622, 642 from the bosses 612, 632. Similarly, to remove the second electric component box 321, the second electric component box 322 can be lifted up and disengaged the bearing holes 722, 742 from the bosses 712, 732.

[0077] To explain the installation method using the first electrical equipment box 321 as an example, the first electrical equipment box 321 can be rotatably (openably and closably) attached to the center pillar 40 by fitting the bearing holes 622, 642 into the bosses 612, 632, but it is preferable to make the axial length of the lower boss 632 longer than the axial length of the upper boss 612.

[0078] According to this, first the lower bearing hole 642 is fitted into its mating boss 632, and then the upper bearing hole 622 is fitted into its mating boss 612, making the fitting process easier than when the two upper and lower bearing holes 622, 642 are fitted into the bosses 612, 632 at the same time.

[0079] <<Routing of connection wiring between electrical equipment boxes (third embodiment)>> As described above, as the electric component box 320 is divided into the first electric component box 321 and the second electric component box 322, connecting wiring is laid between the first electric component box 321 and the second electric component box 322, but for convenience of the wiring work and maintenance, it is preferable to secure a wiring path on the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40. Therefore, the configuration will be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 17.

[0080] First, as shown in Fig. 11, in a preferred embodiment, a fascia board 430 is attached to the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40. The fascia board 430 also serves as a decorative board, and has a width sufficient to cover and conceal the gap G (see Fig. 8) between the right frame 321R of the first electric component box 321 on the left side and the left side portion 40L of the center pillar 40, and the gap G (see Fig. 8) between the left frame 322L of the second electric component box 322 on the right side and the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40, when viewed from the front portion 30a of the machine room 30.

[0081] Next, when pulling out the connection wiring from the electrical equipment box, providing an opening in the electrical equipment box cover of the electrical equipment box may allow rainwater to enter, so it is not preferable to provide an opening in the electrical equipment box cover facing the service panels 311, 312 (310).

[0082] 11 and 12, an extraction portion 330 for the connection wiring 329 is formed on the right frame 321R of the first electric component box 321. Also, an extraction portion 330 for the connection wiring 329 is formed on the left frame 322L of the second electric component box 322.

[0083] According to this embodiment, the drawer portion 330 of the first electrical equipment box 321 is a cutout groove 331 formed in a portion of the front end side of its right side frame 321R, and similarly, the drawer portion 330 of the second electrical equipment box 322 is a cutout groove 332 formed in a portion of the front end side of its left side frame 322L.

[0084] In this embodiment, each of the cutout grooves 331 and 332 is a single large cutout, but as shown in Fig. 7, two cutout grooves 331 and two cutout grooves 332 may be formed. The number of cutout grooves 331 and 332 to be provided is arbitrary.

[0085] The space between the cutout grooves 331, 332 on the front side of the header panel 430 is used as a routing portion 440 for the connection wiring 329. As described above, the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 is recessed further inside the housing 10 than the front face 30a of the machinery room 30. Therefore, even if the header panel 430 is provided, the connection wiring 329 can be passed in front of the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 without protruding from the front face 30a of the machinery room 30.

[0086] 13 and 14, a wiring cover 450 is placed over the wiring routing portion 440. The wiring cover 450 has a size sufficient to cover the cutout groove 331 on the first electric component box 321 side and the cutout groove 332 on the second electric component box 322 side (a size sufficient to straddle the cutout grooves 331, 332).

[0087] In this embodiment, since the wiring cover 450 is made of sheet metal, both ends 451, 451 of the wiring cover 450 are folded back to the front side to prevent the cut edges from touching the connection wiring 329 and thus preventing the connection wiring 329 from being damaged by the cut edges.

[0088] According to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, a wire pressing member 411 for the connection wire 329 is provided on the wire routing section 440. Also, as shown in Fig. 15, a wire pressing member 453 for the connection wire 329 is provided on the back surface 542 side of the wiring cover 450. The wire pressing members 411, 453 are preferably made of an elastic material such as sponge, and the connection wire 329 is sandwiched between the wire pressing members 411, 453 as the wiring cover 450 is attached to the wire routing section 440. Note that one of the wire pressing members 411, 453 may be omitted. As a further preferred embodiment, a heat insulating material 454 is provided on the back surface 452 side of the wiring cover 450 as a measure against condensation.

[0089] 16, in wiring routing portion 440, both ends 451 of wiring cover 450 are held down by electrical component box cover 321a of first electrical component box 321 and electrical component box cover 322a of second electrical component box 322, thereby improving the sealing performance.

[0090] As described above, according to the third embodiment, in an air conditioner outdoor unit in which the electrical equipment box is divided into two, a first electrical equipment box and a second electrical equipment box, by a center pillar in between, the connecting wiring that runs between each electrical equipment box can be passed through the front side of the center pillar, and by forming an extraction portion for the connecting wiring on the side frame of each electrical equipment box facing the center pillar, a highly sealed electrical equipment box that can prevent the infiltration of rainwater, etc. and the spread of fire outside the unit is obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1 Outdoor unit 10. Chassis 20 Blower room 210 Blower 220 Fan Guard 30 Machine room 30a Front of the machine room 310(311~314) Service Panel 320 Electrical equipment box 321 First Electrical Equipment Box 321a First electrical equipment box cover 322 Second Electrical Equipment Box 322a Second electrical equipment box cover 329 Connection Wiring 330 Drawer section 331,332 Notch groove 350 Heat source (compressor) 351 First heat source (first compressor) 352 Second heat source section (second compressor) 40 Center pillar 40F front section 40L left side 40R Right side part 411,453 Wiring clamping member 440 Wiring section 450 Wiring cover 50 Control section 511,512 Inverter board 521,522 Fan driver board 531,532 Smoothing circuit board 54 Heat sink 6,7 Hinge 6U,7U upper hinge 6L,7L Lower hinge 60a,70a fulcrum position 61, 63, 71, 73 Male hinge part 62, 64, 72, 74 Female hinge part 612,632,712,732 Boss (rotation axis) 622,642,722,742 Bearing hole

Claims

1. The air conditioner includes a housing partitioned into a blower chamber in an upper portion in which at least two blower fans, a first blower fan and a second blower fan, are arranged side by side, and a machine chamber in a lower portion in which a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger and an electrical equipment box accommodating a control unit that controls operation of at least the compressor and the blower fans are arranged. the electrical equipment box is disposed on the windward side of the first blower fan and on the windward side of the second blower fan, heat generating components including an IPM that needs to be cooled in the control unit are collectively arranged on the upwind side of the second blower fan of the electrical equipment box, and heat generating components including the IPM are not arranged on the upwind side of the first blower fan of the electrical equipment box, and heat generating components not including the IPM are arranged, The outdoor unit of an air conditioner, wherein the second blower fan is operated during single fan operation in which only one of the two blower fans is operated.

2. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner as described in Claim 1, characterized in that the electrical equipment box is composed of a first electrical equipment box on the windward side of the first blower fan and a second electrical equipment box on the windward side of the second blower fan, and a support pillar supporting the blower chamber is erected in the machine room, and the support pillar is positioned between the first electrical equipment box and the second electrical equipment box.

3. 3. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner as described in claim 2, characterized in that an air flow path is formed in the second electrical equipment box through which air in the machine room flows from below to above, and air flows from below to above along the substrate surface in the second electrical equipment box as the second blower fan is operated.

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