Outdoor unit of an air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, suppressing noise from outflowing to the outside of the air conditioner due to that noise generated from two inverter substrates is superposed on an AC cable.SOLUTION: An outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes: a first inverter substrate 511 for driving a first compressor, and a second inverter substrate 512 for driving a second compressor; a first filter substrate 531; and a first electric component box 321 and a second electric component box 322 arranged in a left-right direction. The first inverter substrate 511 and the first filter substrate 531 are arranged in the first electric component box 321, and the second inverter substrate 512 is arranged in the second electric component box 322. In the first electric component box 321, the first inverter substrate 511 is arranged along one of lateral face boards of left and right lateral face boards, and an AC cable 72 connected to the first filter substrate 531 is arranged along the other lateral face board of the left and right lateral face boards.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and particularly to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having an electrical component box for housing a substrate on which electronic components are mounted.

Background Art

[0002] Inside the casing of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a plurality of control units such as a main board for controlling various actuators of the outdoor unit and an inverter board for controlling the rotation speed of a variable-capacity compressor are mounted. Such a plurality of control units are connected to each other via wiring cables, and while exchanging data with each other, they overall control the entire air-conditioning operation and control components such as an inverter compressor. Here, since noise is generated particularly from the inverter board among the plurality of control units, there is a risk that noise is superimposed on the wiring cables connecting the plurality of control units. In order to prevent this noise from being radiated from the wiring cables or propagated within the cables and affecting other control units or the outside of the outdoor unit, it is necessary to devise the layout of the wiring cables.

[0003] However, no matter how the layout of the wiring cables is devised, it is difficult to completely eliminate the influence of noise from the wiring cables, and the influence of noise from the wiring cables can still remain. In particular, in recent years, with the miniaturization of the outdoor unit itself, there are also limitations in the layout of the wiring cables, and it has become difficult to suppress the influence of noise from the wiring cables.

[0004] Therefore, in order to suppress the influence of noise from the wiring cables, in the outdoor unit of an air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1, it includes a casing, a first control unit and a second control unit arranged inside the casing, and the second control unit performs wireless communication with the first control unit.

[0005] In the outdoor unit of the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1, the second control unit communicates wirelessly with the first control unit, which reduces the number of wiring cables connecting the multiple control units located inside the casing, thereby suppressing the effects of noise. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-101867 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1, the terminal block to which the AC cable for supplying power from the outside is connected and the inverter board are located in close proximity. Therefore, when the inverter board drives the variable-capacity compressor, noise generated from the inverter board is superimposed on the AC cable, causing noise to leak out of the air conditioner and affect other equipment. This problem remains unresolved. Furthermore, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1, one of the two compressors is a variable-capacity compressor and the other is a fixed-capacity compressor, so only one inverter board is needed. However, in recent years, it has become common for both compressors to be variable-capacity compressors. In that case, two inverter boards may be required. The increase in the number of inverter boards further increases the likelihood of noise leaking out of the air conditioner and affecting other equipment.

[0008] In view of the above issues, the object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit for an air conditioner that suppresses noise leakage to the outside of the air conditioner by preventing noise generated from two inverter boards from being superimposed on the AC cable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner comprising a first compressor and a second compressor, a first inverter board for driving the first compressor and a second inverter board for driving the second compressor, a first filter board for removing power supply noise, and a box-shaped first electrical component box and a second electrical component box arranged in the left-right direction, the first inverter board and the first filter board being arranged in the first electrical component box, the second inverter board being arranged in the second electrical component box, the first inverter board being arranged along one of the left and right side panels in the first electrical component box, and an AC cable connected to the first filter board and supplying power from an external power source being arranged along the other of the left and right side panels.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is an outdoor unit for an air conditioner comprising a first compressor and a second compressor, a first inverter board for driving the first compressor and a second inverter board for driving the second compressor, a first filter board for removing power supply noise, and an electrical component box that is box-shaped with an open front and has a rear back panel, left and right side panels, an upper top panel and a lower bottom panel, and houses the first inverter board, the second inverter board and the first filter board, wherein the first inverter board is arranged along the left side panel of the left and right side panels, the second inverter board is arranged along the right side panel of the left and right side panels, and an AC cable supplying power from an external power source passes through the center between the first inverter board and the second inverter board before being wired to the first filter board. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an outdoor unit for an air conditioner that suppresses noise leakage to the outside of the air conditioner by preventing noise generated from two inverter boards from being superimposed on the AC cable. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1]This is an external perspective view of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the service panel separated from the casing of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the outdoor unit housing of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment with the service panel and electrical components box removed. [Figure 4] This is a front view showing the electrical component box in the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the electrical component box in an air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the electronic circuit board in the electrical components box of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the electronic circuit board in the electrical components box of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the electronic circuit board in the electrical components box of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The air conditioner according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, this embodiment does not limit the present invention.

[0014] Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the service panel separated from the housing of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to this embodiment. [Examples]

[0015] First, referring to Figures 1 to 4, the outdoor unit (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the outdoor unit) 1 of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment is equipped with a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing 10. Since the outdoor unit 1 is an upward-discharging type, a blower room 20 is located at the top of the housing 10, and a machine room 30 is located at the bottom thereof.

[0016] 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. Inside it, two propeller fan - type blower fans 210a and 210b are arranged side - by - side in the left - right direction. Also, on the top panel 235 of the blower chamber 20, air outlets 236a and 236b, and fan guards 220a and 220b for the blower fans 210a and 210b are provided. In FIG. 4, when looking at the housing 10 from the front, among the blower chamber 20, the space where the left blower fan 210a (the first blower fan) is arranged is the left blower chamber 20L, and the space where the right blower fan 210b (the second blower fan) is arranged is the right blower chamber 20R.

[0017] The machine room 30 is a space surrounded by the front, left side, right side, and rear (back). In FIGS. 1 and 2, the front 30a, right side 30b, and left side 30c of these are shown. Note that a base bottom plate 301 is arranged on the bottom surface of the machine room 30, and the upper surface of the machine room 30 communicates with the blower chamber 20. In this embodiment, the front, left side, right side, and rear are the side surfaces arranged between the top panel 235 and the bottom plate 301. An air inlet 38a for guiding outside air to a heat exchanger 36 described later is provided from the left side to the rear of the machine room 30, and an air inlet 38b for guiding outside air to the heat exchanger 36 described later is provided from the right side to the rear of the machine room 30.

[0018] On the front 30a of the machine room 30, four service panels 311, 312, 313, and 314 that are removed during maintenance are provided. When there is no need to distinguish these service panels 311 - 314, they are generically referred to as service panel 310.

[0019] Inside the machine room 30, there are accommodated a compressor, a heat exchanger 36 as an outdoor heat exchanger, etc. The heat exchanger 36 exchanges heat between the outside air sucked in from the suction ports 38a and 38b and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path of the heat exchanger 36. Although not shown in detail, in the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 36 is arranged in a substantially U-shaped (C-shaped) manner in plan view from the left side surface 30c of the machine room 30 to the back and the center of the housing 10 in accordance with the arrangement of the first blower fan 210a and the second blower fan 210b. This heat exchanger 36 has a symmetric shape divided into two units.

[0020] An electrical component box 320 is arranged at the upper part on the front 30a side of the machine room 30. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the electrical component box 320 is removed and the entire front 30a of the machine room 30 is exposed.

[0021] This outdoor unit 1 is a large-sized outdoor unit used for a building multi-air conditioner (commercial multi-air conditioner), etc. In the refrigerant circuit in which the outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit not shown are connected to form a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner, as a compressor 350 that sends refrigerant to the heat exchanger 36, it includes two compressors, a first compressor 351 and a second compressor 352. In the present embodiment, since the compressor is accommodated in a compressor housing box (compressor box) 353, it is not shown.

[0022] Also, the electrical component box 320 is also large-sized and has a size covering the entire width from the left end portion 30L to the right end portion 30R of the front 30a of the machine room 30. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the electrical component box 320 is composed of two units, a first electrical component box 321 on the left side and a second electrical component box​​​A support column 40, having a predetermined width and positioned in the center, is erected in the center of the front 30a of the machine room 30 to increase the rigidity of the housing 10. The support column 40 divides the front 30a of the machine room 30 into left and right sides. The first electrical component box 321 is located on the left side of the front 30a of the machine room 30 (between the left end 30L and the support column 40), and the second electrical component box 322 is located on the right side of the front 30a of the machine room 30 (between the right end 30R and the support column 40). The first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 are positioned far apart, separated by the support column 40 of a predetermined width, which reduces the thermal influence they exert on each other.

[0024] Next, the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 will be described. With respect to the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322, in the context of Figure 4, the visible side (front side in the machine room 30) will be referred to as the front side, the back side (rear side in the machine room 30) as the back side, the left side (left side in the machine room 30) as the left side, the right side (right side in the machine room 30) as the right side, the top side (top side in the blower room 20) as the top side, and the bottom side (bottom side in the machine room 30) as the bottom side. Both the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 are box-shaped with the front side open. An electrical component box cover 321a is attached to the open front opening of the first electrical component box 321, and an electrical component box cover 322a is attached to the open front opening of the second electrical component box 322.

[0025] The electrical component box covers 321a and 322a are removable, and when these electrical component box covers 321a and 322a are removed, the interiors of the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 are exposed. The electrical component box cover 321a of the first electrical component box 321 is provided with a window 321b for inspecting the main circuit board 50 inside. In this embodiment, the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 have parts that share the same structure, so unless necessary, the first electrical component box 321 will be described, and the description of the second electrical component box 322 with respect to parts that share the same structure as the first electrical component box 321 will be omitted. Furthermore, since electrical component box cover 321a and electrical component box cover 322a have parts that share the same structure, unless necessary, the electrical component box cover 321a will be described, and the description of electrical component box cover 322a regarding parts that share the same structure as electrical component box cover 321a will be omitted.

[0026] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 is virtually divided into four surfaces in a 2x2 grid, and a service panel 310 is attached to each of them. The service panel 310 consists of four panels: a first service panel 311, a second service panel 312, a third service panel 313, and a fourth service panel 314. Of these, the first service panel 311 and the second service panel 312 are service panels that cover the front surface 30a of the electrical component box.

[0027] The first service panel 311 and the second service panel 312 are identical in external shape and size, and are arranged side by side so as to cover the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 from the front 30a side of the machine room 30. The first service panel 311 is provided with a window 311a for inspecting the main circuit board 50 inside the first electrical component box 321, which is located at the back of the first service panel.

[0028] 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 are the same in both external 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 access the compressor 350 (first compressor 351, second compressor 352), etc.

[0029] In other words, the front 30a of the machine room 30 is covered by 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 machine room. Each service panel 310 is screwed to the front 30a of the machine room 30 at a total of four locations: two on the left side and two on the right side.

[0030] Figure 3 shows the machine room 30 with the interior exposed after removing the four service panels 310 (1st to 4th) and the electrical component boxes 320 (1st electrical component box 321, 2nd electrical component box 322). The windward side of the left blower room 20L is called the left machine room 300L, and the windward side of the right blower room 20R is called the right machine room 300R. The windward side is the upstream side from which air flows when 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).

[0031] Referring to Figure 5, the configuration of the electrical component box 320 will be described. Both the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 are made of thin metal sheets and are box-shaped with an open front, including a rear panel 323 at the back, a left side panel 324a, a right side panel 324b, an upper panel 325, and a lower panel 326. They are grounded by being connected to the earth via an earth wire (not shown). The lower panel 326 is provided with two wiring outlets 327, through which cables connected to external actuators such as electronic expansion valves and solenoid valves pass and are connected to circuit boards located inside. Since the first electrical component box 321 is located on the left side and the second electrical component box 322 is located on the right side, the right side panel 324b of the first electrical component box 321 is on the side of the second electrical component box 322, and the left side panel 324a of the second electrical component box 322 is located on the side of the first electrical component box 321.

[0032] On the back panel 323 of the first electrical component box 321, a partition plate 360 ​​is positioned near the right side panel 324b and near the bottom panel 326. The partition plate 360 ​​is made by pressing a thin metal plate and comprises a flat raised bottom plate piece 361 positioned at a distance from the back panel 323, a left side plate piece 362a that is erected from the left end of the raised bottom plate piece 361 toward the back panel 323 and joined to the back panel 323, and a right side plate piece 362b that is erected from the right end of the raised bottom plate piece 361 toward the back panel 323 and joined to the back panel 323. The partition plate 360 ​​divides a part of the internal space of the first electrical component box 321 into a space formed by the back panel 323 and the raised bottom plate piece 361 (back side space) and a space in front of the raised bottom plate piece 361 (front side space). Furthermore, the upper end of the partition plate 360 ​​has a metal upper plate piece 363 and an opening 365. The upper plate piece 363 is erected from the upper edge of the raised bottom plate piece 361 toward the back plate 323 and joined to the back plate 323, and the opening 365 is located to the right of the upper plate piece 363. Furthermore, the lower end of the partition plate 360 ​​has a metal lower plate piece 364 and an opening 365. The lower plate piece 364 is erected from the lower edge of the raised bottom plate piece 361 toward the back plate 323 and joined to the back plate 323, and the opening 365 is located to the right of the lower plate piece 364. The left side plate piece 362a, the right side plate piece 362b, the upper plate piece 363 and the lower plate piece 364 are joined to the back plate 323 by welding. However, welding is not required; as long as electrical conductivity between the partition plate 360 ​​and the back plate 323 can be ensured, they may be joined by adhesive or other joining means.

[0033] The partition plate 360 ​​is positioned on the back panel 323 of the first electrical component box 321, closer to the right side panel 324b. The upper and lower openings 365 of the partition plate 360 ​​are positioned to the right of the upper panel piece 363 and the lower panel piece 364, respectively. Therefore, in the first electrical component box 321, the upper and lower openings 365 are positioned closer to the right side panel 324b. The first electrical component box 321 contains a power terminal 73, which will be described later, while the second electrical component box 322 does not. The partition plate 360 ​​is placed in the electrical component box where the power terminal 73 is located. Therefore, the partition plate 360 ​​is placed in the first electrical component box 321, but not in the second electrical component box 322. The second electrical component box 322 is provided with one wiring outlet 327.

[0034] Next, with reference to Figure 6, the arrangement of components and circuit boards in the electrical equipment box 320 will be described. Figure 6 is a view of the electrical equipment box 320 from the front side (the front side of the machine room 30), showing the first electrical equipment box 321 on the left, the second electrical equipment box 322 on the right, a support column 40 between the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322, and schematically showing the electronic circuit boards housed in the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322. As described above, the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with two compressors (first compressor 351, second compressor 352) and two blower fans (first blower fan 210a, second blower fan 210b). Both the first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352 are variable speed compressors controlled by inverters.

[0035] Therefore, the electrical components include two inverter boards for driving the compressor (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and two fan driver boards for driving the blower fans (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522). These fan driver boards are inverter boards for fan motors (not shown) that drive the blower fans. The unit also includes two filter boards (first filter board 531, second filter board 532) and two reactors 533 for removing power supply noise. Furthermore, it includes a power terminal 73 to which power cables connected to the main board 50 and external power supply (described later) are connected. Here, power supply noise refers to noise generated by the air conditioner that leaks out to the outside, and noise that flows in from the commercial power supply via the power cable.

[0036] The first electrical component box 321 houses a power terminal 73 to which a power cable is connected, a first filter board 531, a first inverter board 511, a main board 50, a reactor 533, and a first fan driver board 521. The second electrical component box 322 houses a second filter board 532, a second inverter board 512, a reactor 533, and a second fan driver board 522. In this embodiment, the main board 50, power terminal 73, and partition plate 360 ​​are not provided in the second electrical component box 322.

[0037] Power from an external power source is output in the first electrical component box 321 via the power terminal 73 to which the power cable is connected and the first filter board 531 to the first inverter board 511, the main board 50, the reactor 533, and the first fan driver board 521, and supplied to the first compressor 351, the first blower fan 210a, and actuators such as an electronic expansion valve and a solenoid valve (not shown).

[0038] Power from an external power source is output in the second electrical component box 322 via the power terminal 73 housed in the first electrical component box 321 and the second filter board 532 to the second inverter board 512, reactor 533, and second fan driver board 522, and supplied to the second compressor 352 and second blower fan 210b.

[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. The first inverter board 511 and the second inverter board 512 each have an input section 513 and a compressor drive section 514, and the compressor drive section 514 has an output section 515. Power is output from the output section 515 of the first inverter board 511 to the first compressor 351, and power is output from the output section 515 of the second inverter board 512 to the second compressor 352.

[0040] In this embodiment, the first electrical component box 321 is provided with a main board 50 for controlling the operation of equipment such as the first blower fan 210a, the second blower fan 210b, and the first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352 by giving them instructions such as rotation speed. The main board 50 is equipped with a microcomputer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like.

[0041] On the back panel 323 of the first electrical component box 321, the power terminal 73 is located near the right side panel 324b and between the bottom panel 326 and the partition panel 360. Similarly, the first filter board 531 is located near the right side panel 324b and between the top panel 325 and the partition panel 360. Similarly, the first inverter board 511 is located near the bottom panel 326 and along the left side panel 324a. Similarly, the reactor 533 is located near the top panel 325 and along the left side panel 324a. Similarly, the first fan driver board 521 is located above the first inverter board 511 and between the reactor 533 and the first filter board 531. The main board 50 is located on the raised bottom plate piece 361 of the partition panel 360 and is positioned in the space in front of the raised bottom plate piece 361. When viewed from the front side of the first electrical equipment box 321 (the front side of the machine room 30), the power terminal 73, the main board 50, and the first filter board 531 are arranged from bottom to top in the order of power terminal 73, main board 50, and first filter board 531.

[0042] The first filter board 531 has an input terminal 534 located on the lower right side and an output terminal 535 located on the left side, with the input terminal 534 located to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the first filter board 531. The wiring connections between the power terminal 73, the first filter board 531, the first inverter board 511, the reactor 533, the first fan driver board 521, and the main board 50, all located in the first electrical component box 321, are as follows. First, the AC cable 72 connecting the power terminal 73 to the first filter board 531 and the second filter board 532 passes through the rear space formed by the raised bottom plate piece 361 of the partition plate 360 ​​and the rear plate 323, and connects to the input terminal 534 and the power terminal 73. Specifically, the AC cable 72 passes through the upper and lower openings 365 of the partition plate 360, through the space covered by the raised bottom plate piece 361, the left side plate piece 362a, and the right side plate piece 362b, with one end connected to the power terminal 73 and the other end connected to the input terminal 534. As will be described later, the AC cable 72 is also connected to the input terminal 534 of the second filter board 532 in the second electrical component box 322. Furthermore, the output terminal 535 of the first filter board 531 and the input section 513 of the first inverter board 511 are connected by a cable, and the first inverter board 511 is connected to the reactor 533 and the first fan driver board 521 by a cable. Additionally, the output terminal 535 of the first filter board 531 and the AC section 51 of the main board 50 are connected by a cable via the first inverter board 511. Furthermore, the AC section 51 of the main board 50 and the second inverter board 512 of the second electrical component box 322 are connected by a cable.

[0043] In this configuration, the AC cable 72 is connected to the first filter board 531, and the cable is connected so that power is supplied to the first inverter board 511 and the main board 50 via the first filter board 531. Therefore, compared to the case where one AC cable 72 is connected to each of the two filter circuits corresponding to the first inverter board 511 and the main board 50, and power is supplied to the first inverter board 511 and the main board 50 via each filter circuit, the AC cable 72 can be shortened by reducing the number of cables by one, and noise superposition on the AC cable 72 can be suppressed.

[0044] The first filter board 531 is positioned near the right side panel 324b, and the input terminal 534 is positioned to the right of the center of the first filter board 531 in the left-right direction; therefore, the input terminal 534 is positioned near the right side panel 324b. Since the power terminal 73 is positioned near the right side panel 324b, the AC cable 72 connected to the power terminal 73 and the input terminal 534 of the first filter board 531 can be shortened. Furthermore, since the input terminal 534 is positioned below the first filter board 531, the AC cable 72 can be shortened even further. As a result, the superposition of noise onto the AC cable 72 can be suppressed.

[0045] The AC cable 72 passes through a space covered by the metal raised base plate 361, the left side plate 362a, and the right side plate 362b, and is therefore electromagnetically shielded by the partition plate 360. Furthermore, the left side of the upper end and the left side of the lower end of the partition plate 360 ​​are sealed by the metal upper plate 363 and lower plate 364, respectively, providing further electromagnetic shielding. As a result, the superposition of noise onto the AC cable 72 can be suppressed.

[0046] Furthermore, since the main board 50 is located on the raised bottom plate piece 361 of the partition plate 360, which is positioned closer to the bottom plate 326 than the top plate 325 of the first electrical component box 321, the cables connecting the main board 50 to external actuators such as electronic expansion valves and solenoid valves can be shortened inside the first electrical component box 321. As a result, it is possible to suppress the superposition of noise emitted by the cables supplying power to the actuators onto the AC cable 72.

[0047] The main board 50 includes an AC section 51 through which alternating current supplied from an external power source flows, a rectifier section 53 including a switching element that converts the alternating current supplied from the external power source into direct current, and a DC section 52 through which the direct current converted by the switching element flows. The AC section 51 and the DC section 52 are arranged in a left-right direction, with the AC section 51 on the right and the DC section 52 on the left, and the AC section 51 is positioned along the right side panel 324b of the first electrical equipment box 321. The rectifier section 53 is positioned above the AC section 51. When viewed from the front side of the first electrical equipment box 321 (the front side of the machine room 30), the AC cable 72 is positioned on the AC section 51 side of the DC section 52 and overlaps with the AC section 51 in the space between the partition plate 360 ​​and the back panel 323. Furthermore, the AC unit 51 is positioned along the right side panel 324b, and similarly, the AC cable 72 is positioned along the right side panel 324b. The AC cable 72 is also routed through the side panel 324b to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the first filter board 531. In the main board 50, the DC unit 52 generates noise due to switching by the rectifier unit 53, making the DC unit 52 a stronger noise source than the AC unit 51. However, since the AC cable 72 is positioned on the AC unit 51 side, the superposition of noise onto the AC cable 72 can be suppressed. In addition, since the AC cable 72 is positioned along the right side panel 324b of the first electrical component box 321, the AC cable 72 can be positioned away from noise sources inside the first electrical component box 321, thereby suppressing the superposition of noise onto the AC cable 72.

[0048] In the first filter board 531, the input terminal 534 is located on the AC section 51 side, which is to the right of the DC section 52 located to the left of the main board 50, which is positioned below it, and the output terminal 535 is located on the DC section 52 side, which is to the left of the AC section 51 located to the right of the main board 50. As a result, even in the range where electromagnetic shielding by the partition plate 360 ​​cannot be obtained, where the AC cable 72 is above the upper end of the partition plate 360, the AC cable 72 can be positioned away from the DC section 52, which is a strong source of noise, and the superposition of noise on the AC cable 72 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the AC cable 72 can be connected straight from the power terminal 73 to the input terminal 534 of the first filter board 531. As a result, the length of the AC cable 72 can be shortened, further suppressing the superposition of noise on the AC cable 72, and the AC cable 72 does not need to be bent, making it easier to connect the AC cable 72. Furthermore, when viewed from the front side of the first electrical components box 321 (the front side of the machine room 30), the main board 50 is positioned below the first filter board 531, and the first inverter board 511 is positioned to the left of the main board 50. Therefore, the length of the cable connecting the output terminal 535 of the first filter board 531 and the first inverter board 511 can be shortened.

[0049] The main board 50 also includes a display unit 54 and an input unit 55. The electrical component box cover 321a is provided with a window 321b for inspecting the main board 50 inside. The window 321b is positioned opposite the display unit 54 and input unit 55 on the main board 50 when the electrical component box cover 321a is attached to the first electrical component box 321. Therefore, when the electrical component box cover 321a is attached to the first electrical component box 321, it is easy to view and operate the display unit 54 and input unit 55 through the window 321b. Note that the window 321b does not necessarily have to be positioned opposite the display unit 54 and input unit 55; it is sufficient that the display unit 54 and input unit 55 can be viewed and operated through the window 321b.

[0050] Furthermore, the first service panel 311 is provided with a window 311a for inspecting the main circuit board 50 inside the first electrical component box 321. The window 311a is positioned opposite the window 321b provided on the electrical component box cover 321a when the first service panel 311 is mounted on the front 30a of the machine room 30. Therefore, when the first service panel 311 is mounted on the front 30a of the machine room 30 and the electrical component box cover 321a is mounted on the first electrical component box 321, it is easy to view and operate the display unit 54 and the input unit 55 through the windows 311a and 321b. Note that the window 311a does not necessarily have to be positioned opposite the window 321b; it is sufficient that the display unit 54 and the input unit 55 can be viewed and operated through the windows 311a and 321b.

[0051] The second electrical component box 322 does not contain the partition plate 360, power terminal 73, and main board 50 that were located in the first electrical component box 321, but it does contain the second filter board 532, second inverter board 512, reactor 533, and second fan driver board 522.

[0052] On the back panel 323 of the second electrical component box 322, the second filter board 532 is positioned closer to the top panel 325 and along the left side panel 324a. Similarly, the second inverter board 512 is positioned closer to the bottom panel 326 and along the right side panel 324b. Similarly, the second fan driver board 522 is positioned closer to the right side panel 324b and the top panel 325. Similarly, the reactor 533 is positioned closer to the top panel 325 and between the second filter board 532 and the second fan driver board 522. The second filter board 532 has an input terminal 534 located on the upper left side and an output terminal 535 located on the right side, with the input terminal 534 located to the left of the center of the second filter board 532 in the left-right direction.

[0053] The wiring connections between the second filter board 532, second inverter board 512, reactor 533, and second fan driver board 522, which are located in the second electrical component box 322, are as follows. First, the AC cable 72, which is housed in the first electrical component box 321 and connected to the power terminal 73, is connected to the input terminal 534 of the second filter board 532, supplying power to the second filter board 532. In addition, the output terminal 535 of the second filter board 532 and the input section 513 of the second inverter board 512 are connected by a cable, and the second inverter board 512 is connected to the reactor 533 and the second fan driver board 522 by a cable. Furthermore, the AC section 51 of the main board 50 housed in the first electrical component box 321 is connected to the second inverter board 512.

[0054] The second filter board 532 is positioned near the left side panel 324a, and the input terminal 534 is positioned to the left of the center of the second filter board 532 in the left-right direction, so the input terminal 534 is positioned near the left side panel 324a. The power terminal 73 is positioned near the right side panel 324b of the first electrical component box 321, so the AC cable 72 connecting the power terminal 73 and the input terminal 534 of the second filter board 532 can be shortened. In other words, the AC cable 72 connecting the power terminal 73 and the first filter board 531, and the AC cable 72 connecting the power terminal 73 and the second filter board 532 can each be shortened. Therefore, the superposition of noise on the AC cable 72 can be suppressed.

[0055] Furthermore, in the first electrical component box 321, the first inverter board 511 is positioned along the left side panel 324a, and in the second electrical component box 322, the second inverter board 512 is positioned along the right side panel 324b, so the first inverter board 511 and the second inverter board 512 are positioned at a distance from each other. Also, in the first electrical component box 321, the AC cable 72 is positioned along the right side panel 324b. Therefore, the AC cable 72 can be routed through the middle between the first inverter board 511 and the second inverter board 512, thus keeping it separate from the first and second inverter boards 511 and 512. Moreover, since the right side panel 324b of the first electrical component box 321 and the left side panel 324a of the second electrical component box 322 are between the AC cable 72 and the second inverter board 512, the AC cable 72 can be electromagnetically shielded from noise generated from the second inverter board 512. This makes it possible to suppress the superposition of noise onto the AC cable 72.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 are shown to be formed from thin metal sheets, but they do not need to be made of metal as long as they are made of conductive material; they may also be made of carbon-containing resin. This is because conductive material can electromagnetically shield the AC cable 72.

[0057] Furthermore, although this embodiment shows the partition plate 360 ​​being formed from a thin metal plate, it does not need to be made of metal, as long as it is a conductive material; it may be made of a carbon-containing resin. This is because a conductive material can electromagnetically shield the AC cable 72.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the AC cable 72 passes through a space covered by the metal raised base plate piece 361, the left side plate piece 362a, and the right side plate piece 362b, and is therefore electromagnetically shielded by the partition plate 360. However, the raised base plate piece 361, the left side plate piece 362a, and the right side plate piece 362b do not necessarily have to be made of metal or a conductive material. For example, if the AC cable 72 passes through a space covered by the raised base plate piece 361, the left side plate piece 362a, and the right side plate piece 362b, which are not made of a conductive material, and the AC cable itself is covered by a conductive covering member in the area where it is located in the space on the back plate side between the partition plate 360 ​​and the back plate 323, it will be electromagnetically shielded. Furthermore, even if the partition plate 360 ​​is made of a non-conductive material, the main circuit board 50 can be placed on the raised bottom plate piece 361 of the partition plate 360, so that the cables connecting the main circuit board 50 to external actuators such as electronic expansion valves and solenoid valves can be shortened inside the first electrical component box 321. As a result, the superposition of noise emitted by the cables supplying power to the actuators onto the AC cable 72 can be suppressed.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the left side of the upper end and the left side of the lower end of the partition plate 360 ​​are blocked by a metal upper plate piece 363 and a metal lower plate piece 364, respectively. However, it is not necessarily required that these be blocked by the metal upper plate piece 363 and metal lower plate piece 364. Nevertheless, it is preferable that these be blocked by the metal upper plate piece 363 and metal lower plate piece 364, as this allows for better electromagnetic shielding of the AC cable 72.

[0060] Next, the arrangement of electronic circuit boards in the electrical component box 320 according to the second embodiment will be described using Figure 7. The difference between the arrangement of electronic circuit boards in the electrical component box 320 according to the second embodiment and the arrangement of electronic circuit boards in the electrical component box 320 according to the first embodiment is that the arrangement of electronic circuit boards in the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 is different. Components common to the configuration according to the first embodiment will use the same numbering and will not be described.

[0061] Figure 7 shows the electrical component box 320 viewed from the front (front side of the machine room 30). The first electrical component box 321 houses the power terminal 73 to which the power cable is connected, the first filter board 531, the first inverter board 511, the main board 50, the reactor 533, and the first fan driver board 521. A partition plate 360 ​​is also located on the back panel 323 of the first electrical component box 321, near the right side panel 324b and near the bottom panel 326. The second electrical component box 322 does not house the partition plate 360, power terminal 73, and main board 50 that were located in the first electrical component box 321, but houses the second filter board 532, the second inverter board 512, the reactor 533, and the second fan driver board 522.

[0062] As described in the first embodiment, on the back panel 323 of the first electrical component box 321, the power terminal 73 is located near the right side panel 324b and between the bottom panel 326 and the partition panel 360. Similarly, the first filter board 531 is located near the top panel 325 and along the right side panel 324b. Similarly, the first inverter board 511 is located near the bottom panel 326 and along the left side panel 324a. Similarly, the first fan driver board 521 is located near the left side panel 324a and the top panel 325. Similarly, the reactor 533 is located near the top panel 325 and between the first filter board 531 and the first fan driver board 521. The first filter board 531 includes an input terminal 534 located on the lower right side and an output terminal 535 located on the left side, with the input terminal 534 located to the right of the left-right center of the first filter board 531. The AC cable 72 passes through the rear space formed by the raised bottom plate piece 361 of the partition plate 360 ​​and the rear plate 323, and is connected to the input terminal 534 and the power terminal 73. Thus, the AC cable 72 is connected to the input terminal 534 of the first filter board 531 along the right side plate 324b.

[0063] In the second electrical component box 322, the second filter board 532 is positioned on the back panel 323, closer to the top panel 325 and along the right side panel 324b. Similarly, the second inverter board 512 is positioned closer to the bottom panel 326 and along the left side panel 324a. Similarly, the second fan driver board 522 is positioned closer to the left side panel 324a and the top panel 325. Similarly, the reactor 533 is positioned closer to the top panel 325 and between the second filter board 532 and the second fan driver board 522. The second filter board 532, like the first filter board 532, has an input terminal 534 located on the lower right side and an output terminal 535 located on the left side, with the input terminal 534 located to the right of the left-right center of the first filter board 531. Furthermore, the AC cable 72 connected to the power terminal 73 in the first electrical component box 321 is connected to the second filter board 532 in the second electrical component box 322. In the second electrical component box 322, the AC cable 72 moves from the first electrical component box 321 to the second electrical component box 322 above the second inverter board 512, and along the left side panel 324a and the top panel 325, it is connected to the input terminal 534 of the second filter board 532.

[0064] The positional relationship between the first filter board 531, first inverter board 511, first fan driver board 521, and reactor 533 in the first electrical component box 321 is the same as the positional relationship between the second filter board 532, second inverter board 512, second fan driver board 522, and reactor 533 in the second electrical component box 322. Therefore, when workers inspect the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322, they can easily inspect them, and maintenance work such as wiring can also be easily performed.

[0065] Furthermore, the AC cable 72 is routed at a distance from the first inverter board 511 in the first electrical component box 321. In addition, the right side panel 324b of the first electrical component box 321 and the left side panel 324a of the second electrical component box 322 are located between the AC cable 72 and the second inverter board 512 in the first electrical component box 321, so the AC cable 72 can be electromagnetically shielded from noise generated from the second inverter board 512. As a result, even if the relative positions of the circuit boards in the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 are made the same as described above, making inspection and maintenance work easier, noise superposition to the AC cable 72 can be suppressed.

[0066] However, the arrangement of each board is not limited to the above, as long as the positional relationship between the first filter board 531, first inverter board 511, first fan driver board 521, and reactor 533 arranged in the first electrical component box 321 is the same as the positional relationship between the second filter board 532, second inverter board 512, second fan driver board 522, and reactor 533 arranged in the second electrical component box 322. For example, on the back panel 323 of the first electrical component box 321, the reactor 533 may be positioned closer to the top panel 325 and along the left side panel 324a, and the first fan driver board 521 may be positioned above the first inverter board 511 and between the reactor 533 and the first filter board 531. Similarly, on the back panel 323 of the second electrical component box 322, the reactor 533 may be positioned closer to the top panel 325 and along the left side panel 324a, and the second fan driver board 522 may be positioned above the second inverter board 512 and between the reactor 533 and the second filter board 532.

[0067] Next, the arrangement of electronic circuit boards in the electrical component box 320 according to the third embodiment will be explained using Figure 8. Figure 8 is a view of the electrical component box 320 from the front side (the front side of the machine room 30). In the electrical component box 320 according to the first embodiment, the first electrical component box 321 was located to the left of the support column 40, and the second electrical component box 322 was located to the right of the support column 40, with electronic circuit boards located in both the first and second electrical component boxes 321 and 322, respectively. On the other hand, the electrical component box 320 according to the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that there is no support column 40, and the first inverter board 511 and the second inverter board 512, the first fan driver board 521 and the second fan driver board 522, the first filter board 531 and the second filter board 532, two reactors 533, the main board 50, and the power terminal 73 are housed in a single electrical component box. The electrical component box 320 according to the third embodiment differs from the electrical component box 320 according to the first embodiment in that it lacks the support columns 40 and has only one electrical component box, but the arrangement of each circuit board is the same as that of the electrical component box 320 according to the first embodiment. Components common to the configuration of the first embodiment are numbered the same way and their descriptions are omitted.

[0068] The configuration of the electrical component box 320 will now be described. The electrical component box 320 is made of thin metal sheets and is box-shaped with an open front, including a rear panel 323, a left side panel 324a and a right side panel 324b, an upper panel 325, and a lower panel 326. It is grounded by being connected to the earth via an earth wire (not shown). Three wiring outlets 327 are provided on the lower panel 326, and cables that connect to actuators such as electronic expansion valves and solenoid valves outside the electrical component box 320 pass through the wiring outlets 327 and are connected to circuit boards located inside the electrical component box 320.

[0069] The following explanation will use a virtual line extending vertically from the center of the electrical component box 320 in the left-right direction as the center line (hereinafter referred to as the center line).

[0070] The electrical components box 320 houses the first inverter board 511 and the second inverter board 512, the first fan driver board 521 and the second fan driver board 522, the first filter board 531 and the second filter board 532, two reactors 533, the main board 50, and the power terminal 73.

[0071] On the back panel 323 of the electrical component box 320, the first inverter board 511, the first fan driver board 521, the first filter board 531, the reactor 533, the main board 50, and the power terminal 73 are housed to the left of the center line. Also, on the back panel 323 of the first electrical component box 321, a partition plate 360 ​​is positioned to the left of the center line. A detailed description of the configuration of the partition plate 360 ​​is omitted as it is the same as the partition plate 360 ​​of the first embodiment described above. On the right of the center line, the second inverter board 512, the second fan driver board 522, the second filter board 532, and the reactor 533 are housed.

[0072] On the rear panel 323 to the left of the centerline in the electrical component box 320, the partition plate 360 ​​is positioned along the centerline, closer to the bottom panel 326. Similarly, the power terminal 73 is positioned along the centerline, between the bottom panel 326 and the partition plate 360. Similarly, the first filter board 531 is positioned along the centerline, closer to the centerline than the left side panel 324a, and also along the top panel 325. Similarly, the first inverter board 511 is positioned along the left side panel 324a, closer to the bottom panel 326. Similarly, the reactor 533 is positioned along the left side panel 324a, closer to the top panel 325. Similarly, the first fan driver board 521 is positioned above the first inverter board 511, between the reactor 533 and the first filter board 531. The main board 50 is positioned on the raised bottom plate piece 361 of the partition plate 360, in the space in front of the raised bottom plate piece 361. When viewed from the front side of the electrical components box 320 (the front side of the machine room 30), the power terminal 73, the main board 50, and the first filter board 531 are arranged from bottom to top in the order of power terminal 73, main board 50, and first filter board 531.

[0073] On the rear panel 323 to the right of the centerline in the electrical component box 320, the second filter board 532 is positioned along the centerline, closer to the centerline than the right side panel 324b, and also along the top panel 325. Similarly, the second inverter board 512 is positioned closer to the bottom panel 326 and along the right side panel 324b. Similarly, the second fan driver board 522 is positioned along the top panel 325 and along the right side panel 324b. Similarly, the reactor 533 is positioned closer to the top panel 325 and between the second filter board 532 and the second fan driver board 522.

[0074] The first filter board 531 has an input terminal 534 located on the lower right side and an output terminal 535 located on the left side, with the input terminal 534 positioned to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the first filter board 531. Similarly, the second filter board 532 has an input terminal 534 located on the upper left side and an output terminal 535 located on the right side, with the input terminal 534 positioned to the left of the center in the left-right direction of the second filter board 532. Since both the first filter board 531 and the second filter board 532 are positioned along the center line, the input terminals 534 of both the first filter board 531 and the second filter board 532 are positioned closer to the center line.

[0075] Since the power terminal 73 is positioned along the center line, and both the input terminal 534 of the first filter board 531 and the input terminal 534 of the second filter board 532 are positioned closer to the center line, the AC cables 72 connected to the power terminal 73 and the input terminal 534 of the first filter board 531, and the AC cables 72 connected to the power terminal 73 and the input terminal 534 of the second filter board 532 can be shortened. Therefore, the superposition of noise on the AC cables 72 can be suppressed.

[0076] Furthermore, since the first inverter board 511 is positioned along the left side panel 324a and the second inverter board 512 is positioned along the right side panel 324b, the first inverter board 511 and the second inverter board 512 are positioned at a distance from each other. Therefore, the AC cable 72 can be routed through the middle between the first inverter board 511 and the second inverter board 512, thus keeping it away from the first and second inverter boards 511 and 512, and thus suppressing the superposition of noise onto the AC cable 72.

[0077] Although the above description has been made with reference to a limited number of embodiments, the scope of the rights is not limited to those embodiments, and modifications of the embodiments based on the above disclosure will be obvious to those skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1…Outdoor unit, 10…Housing, 38a, b…Intake port, 50…Main board, 51…AC section, 52…DC section, 53…Rectifier section, 54…Display section, 55…Input section, 72…AC cable, 73…Power terminal, 236a, b…Air outlet, 321…First electrical component box, 321a…Electrical component box cover, 321b…Window section, 322…Second electrical component box, 322a…Electrical component box cover, 323…Rear panel, 324a, b…Side panels, 325…Top panel, 326…Bottom panel, 327…Wiring Drawer opening, 360... partition plate, 361... raised bottom plate piece, 362a, b... side plate piece, 363... top plate piece, 364... bottom plate piece, 365... opening, 511... first inverter board, 512... second inverter board, 513... input section, 514... compressor drive section, 515... output section, 521... first fan driver board, 522... second fan driver board, 531... first filter board, 532... second filter board, 533... reactor, 534... input terminal, 535... output terminal

Claims

1. First compressor and second compressor, A first inverter board for driving the first compressor and a second inverter board for driving the second compressor, A first filter board for removing power supply noise, It is a box-shaped structure with an open front, comprising a rear panel at the back, conductive left and right side panels, an upper panel, and a lower panel, and includes a first electrical component box and a second electrical component box arranged in the left-right direction. The first inverter board and the first filter board are arranged in the first electrical component box. The second inverter board is placed in the second electrical component box. An outdoor unit for an air conditioner, characterized in that, in the first electrical component box, the first inverter board is arranged along one of the left and right side panels, and the AC cable connected to the first filter board and supplying power from an external power source is arranged along the other of the left and right side panels.

2. Of the left and right side panels of the first electrical component box, the other side panel is located on the side of the second electrical component box. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the left and right side panels in the second electrical component box is located on the side of the first electrical component box.

3. The first filter board is positioned along the other side panel of the left and right side panels of the first electrical component box, The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the first electrical component box, the AC cable, which is arranged along the other side panel of the left and right side panels, is routed to pass on the side of the other side panel of the left and right side panels, rather than the center of the first filter board in the left-right direction.

4. The second filter board is located in the second electrical component box, The AC cable is connected to the second filter board. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the second filter board is arranged along one of the left and right side panels of the second electrical component box.

5. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the second inverter board is arranged along the other side panel of the left and right side panels of the second electrical component box.

6. The second filter board is located in the second electrical component box, The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the positional relationship between the first inverter board and the first filter board in the first electrical component box is the same as the positional relationship between the second inverter board and the second filter board in the second electrical component box.

7. The first filter board and the second filter board each have an input terminal to which the AC cable is connected. The input terminal of the first filter board is located on the side of the other side panel of the left and right side panels of the first electrical component box. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 4, characterized in that the input terminal of the second filter board is located on one of the left and right side panels of the second electrical component box.

Images