Air conditioner
By adopting flexible refrigerant hoses and fixed components in the air conditioner, the problem of unstable connection between the refrigerant hoses and outdoor units is solved, and the convenient installation and high-quality operation of the air conditioner is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2023/128845
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-08-30
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-06
AI Technical Summary
During the installation process of existing air conditioners, the connection between the refrigerant hose and the outdoor unit is unstable, resulting in inconvenient installation, high labor costs, and traditional copper pipes are prone to rupture, affecting the normal operation of the equipment.
The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected by flexible refrigerant hose, and refrigerant is injected in advance before leaving the factory. The refrigerant hose is fixed on the partition plate of the outdoor unit through a fixing assembly to ensure the stability of the connection.
It reduces the installation difficulty and labor cost of the air conditioner, improves the stability of the connection between the refrigerant hose and the outdoor unit, avoids refrigerant leakage and equipment failure, and improves the quality of the product.
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Figure CN2023128845_06032025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
air conditioner
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent applications filed on August 30, 2023, with application number 202311105800.5 and application number 202322343835.4, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field
[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and in particular to an air conditioner. Background Art
[0003] Currently, air conditioners have separate indoor and outdoor units. During installation, the indoor and outdoor units must be installed separately before connecting the pipes between them. Finally, the air venting and refrigerant charging are performed to ensure proper operation. Connecting the air conditioning pipes and charging refrigerant require specialized personnel, making installation inconvenient and labor-intensive. Furthermore, after pre-connecting the indoor and outdoor units with refrigerant hoses and pre-filling the refrigerant circuits between the hoses, indoor unit, and outdoor unit, the connection between the hoses and the outdoor unit must be stable to prevent shaking.
[0004] The above content is only used to assist in understanding the technical solution of the invention and does not constitute an admission that the above content is prior art. Technical issues
[0005] The main purpose of this application is to propose an air conditioner, which aims to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose after being connected to the outdoor unit and to ensure the quality of the product. Technical Solutions
[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application proposes an air conditioner comprising:
[0007] Indoor unit;
[0008] a refrigerant hose, one end of which is connected to the indoor unit; and
[0009] The outdoor unit includes an outer case, a partition plate and a fixing assembly. The partition plate is arranged in the outer case. The other end of the refrigerant hose extends to the plate surface of the partition plate and is connected to the pipeline of the outdoor unit. The fixing assembly is used to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose on the partition plate.
[0010] In one embodiment, a pre-positioning structure and a screw locking structure are provided between the fixing component and the partition plate, the pre-positioning structure is used to pre-fix the fixing component on the partition plate, and the screw locking structure is used to connect and fix the fixing component to the partition plate.
[0011] In one embodiment, the pre-positioning structure is provided on one side of the first fixing member, and the screw locking structure is provided on the other side of the first fixing member.
[0012] In one embodiment, the refrigerant hose includes an inner tube assembly and a protective sleeve mounted on the outside of the inner tube assembly. Part of the inner tube assembly is exposed from the protective sleeve and is connected to the pipeline of the outdoor unit. The first fixing member is located at the exposed part of the inner tube assembly, and the second fixing member is located at the protective sleeve.
[0013] In one embodiment, the pre-positioning structure includes a first pre-positioning structure, which is arranged on one side of the first fixing member, and the screw locking structure includes a first locking structure, which is arranged on the other side of the first fixing member.
[0014] In one embodiment, the first fixing member includes a limiting section located on the outside of the inner tube assembly and connecting sections located on both sides of the limiting section. A limiting flange is provided on the partition plate, and a limiting opening is formed between the limiting flange and the partition plate. The first pre-positioning structure includes one connecting section and the limiting opening for inserting the connecting section. The first locking structure is provided between the other connecting section and the partition plate.
[0015] In one embodiment, the pre-positioning structure includes a second pre-positioning structure, and the second pre-positioning structure includes a buckle provided on the second fixing member and a buckle groove provided on the partition plate, and the buckle is engaged with the buckle groove.
[0016] In one embodiment, the second fixing member includes a fixing section located on the outside of the protective cover and folded edge sections located on both sides of the fixing section, the buckle is provided on one of the folded edge sections, the buckle groove passes through the partition plate, the screw locking structure includes a second locking structure, and the second locking structure is provided on both of the folded edge sections.
[0017] In one embodiment, corresponding regions of the fixing section and the partition plate are provided with abutment protrusions facing each other, and the abutment protrusions abut against the protective cover.
[0018] In one embodiment, the outdoor unit further includes a side plate of a heat exchanger placed in the outer casing, and one side of the partition plate is connected to the outer casing, and the other side is connected to the side plate of the heat exchanger.
[0019] In one embodiment, the side plate of the heat exchanger is provided with a mounting lug, and both the mounting lug and the partition plate are provided with screw holes for screws to pass through to lock the partition plate to the side plate of the heat exchanger.
[0020] In one embodiment, a snap-fit structure is further provided between the side plate of the heat exchanger and the partition plate, and the snap-fit structure includes a snap-fit flange provided on the side plate of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit notch provided on the partition plate. The snap-fit flange is spaced apart from the mounting lug, and a portion of the snap-fit flange is exposed on the partition plate.
[0021] In one embodiment, the outdoor unit further includes a protective cover, the external chassis includes a chassis and a top cover corresponding to the chassis, the top cover is provided with a relief opening, the protective cover is embedded in the relief opening, and the refrigerant hose is passed through the protective cover.
[0022] In one embodiment, a limiting structure is provided between the protective cover and the top cover, and the limiting structure is used to fix the protective cover and the top cover.
[0023] In one embodiment, the limiting structure includes a first annular protrusion provided at the avoidance opening, and a first annular groove provided at the protective cover, and the first annular protrusion cooperates with the first annular groove.
[0024] In one embodiment, the limiting structure also includes a second annular protrusion provided on the avoidance opening, and a third annular protrusion provided on the protective cover, a second annular groove is formed between the second annular protrusion and the first annular protrusion, and the third annular protrusion is embedded in the second annular groove. Beneficial effects
[0025] The technical solution of the present application connects the indoor unit and the outdoor unit by using a refrigerant hose, replacing the traditional solution of using a dedicated copper pipe to connect the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. A flexible refrigerant pipe is used to connect the indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner indoor unit and the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner outdoor unit, and refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant circuit before the equipment leaves the factory. In this way, when the user installs the equipment by themselves, they only need to fix the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner separately, without having to assemble the refrigerant pipe and add refrigerant, thereby reducing the difficulty of installation. This makes it easier for users to install the air conditioner by themselves later, making the installation of the air conditioner more convenient. In addition, the refrigerant hose extends to the partition plate of the outdoor unit and is connected to the interface of the compressor. The refrigerant hose is fixed by a fixing assembly to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose, prevent it from shaking, and avoid loosening, thereby improving the quality of the product. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.
[0027] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner of the present application;
[0028] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of the outdoor unit at the partition plate in FIG1 ;
[0029] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of FIG2 from another perspective;
[0030] FIG4 is a partial enlarged view of point A in FIG3 ;
[0031] FIG5 is a partial enlarged view of point B in FIG3;
[0032] FIG6 is an exploded view of the partition plate, side plate, first fixing member and second fixing member in FIG3;
[0033] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of FIG2 from another perspective;
[0034] FIG8 is a partial enlarged view of point C in FIG7;
[0035] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of an indoor unit in an air conditioner.
[0036] Description of Figure Numbers:
[0037] Reference number name Reference number name 100 air conditioner 364 buckle 200 refrigerant hose 370 side plate 210 inner tube assembly 371 mounting lug 220 protective cover 372 snap-fit flange 300 outdoor unit 380 protective cover 310 outer case 391 first annular groove 320 pipeline 392 third annular protrusion 330 partition plate 390 top cover 331 plate surface 393 avoidance opening 332 limiting flange 394 first annular protrusion 333 limiting opening 395 second annular Protrusion 334, buckle groove 396, second annular groove 335, snap-fitting notch 400, pre-positioning structure 340, fixing assembly 410, first pre-positioning structure 350, first fixing member 420, second pre-positioning structure 351, limiting section 500, screw locking structure 352, connecting section 510, first locking structure 360, second fixing member 520, second locking structure 361, fixing section 600, indoor unit 362, abutting protrusion 610, inner chassis 363, folded edge section 620, mounting assembly
[0038] The realization of the objectives, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0039] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0040] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present application involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), such directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.
[0041] In this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "connection" and "fixation" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixation" can mean fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal connection of components or interaction between components, unless otherwise specified. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0042] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present application, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or suggesting their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, if the meaning of "and / or" appearing in the full text is to include three parallel schemes, taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes scheme A, or scheme B, or a scheme in which A and B are satisfied at the same time. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of ordinary technicians in this field to implement. When the combination of technical solutions is mutually contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by this application.
[0043] Currently, in air conditioners, the indoor unit and outdoor unit are assembled separately. During installation, the indoor unit and outdoor unit need to be installed separately first, and then the pipelines between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit need to be connected. Finally, the air is exhausted and the refrigerant is charged to ensure the normal operation of the air conditioner.
[0044] However, the connection of air conditioning pipelines and the filling of refrigerant require professional operation, which is inconvenient to install and has high labor costs. In the traditional solution, the refrigerant circuit between the indoor and outdoor units needs to be connected through a dedicated copper pipe. The copper pipe is a hard pipe that is easily broken under stress. As a result, the indoor and outdoor units cannot be pre-connected before leaving the factory to solve the problem of subsequent connection of pipelines and filling of refrigerant. The refrigerant hose is used to replace the copper pipe in the traditional solution. The flexibility of the refrigerant hose allows the indoor and outdoor units to be connected together, so that the process of connecting the indoor and outdoor units and filling the refrigerant can be completed in advance before leaving the factory. In this way, users only need to install the indoor and outdoor units after purchase, which is convenient for users to install themselves.
[0045] After pre-connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit through the refrigerant hose and pre-filling the refrigerant in the refrigerant hose, indoor unit and outdoor unit circuits, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the connection between the refrigerant hose and the indoor unit to avoid shaking. Because the compressor part of the outdoor unit and the evaporator part of the indoor unit are still copper pipe interfaces, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose after connection with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. It is also necessary to consider the convenience of installation, reduce the cost of parts processing, and shorten the assembly process.
[0046] To this end, the present application proposes an air conditioner, which aims to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose after being connected to the outdoor unit and to ensure the quality of the product.
[0047] In one embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figures 1 to 8, the air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 600, a refrigerant hose 200 and an outdoor unit 300, one end of the refrigerant hose 200 is connected to the indoor unit 600; it includes an outer case 310, a partition plate 330 and a fixing assembly 340, the partition plate 330 is arranged in the outer case 310, the other end of the refrigerant hose 200 extends to the plate surface 331 of the partition plate 330, and is connected to the pipeline 320 of the outdoor unit 300, and the fixing assembly 340 is used to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose 200 on the partition plate 330.
[0048] For reference, in the traditional solution, the outdoor unit 300 and the indoor unit 600 are connected by a dedicated copper pipe. First, when the air conditioner is working, the compressor in the outdoor unit 300 compresses the refrigerant, turning the gaseous refrigerant into liquid and releasing heat. At the same time, the liquid refrigerant enters the condenser (radiator) of the outdoor unit 300. The fan discharges the heat generated during compression to the outdoor space, turning the refrigerant into a liquid with a lower temperature. The refrigerant passes through the copper pipe (high-pressure pipe or liquid pipe) and enters the evaporator of the indoor unit 600. Because the pressure of the refrigerant decreases after entering the evaporator, the refrigerant quickly vaporizes and absorbs a large amount of heat around the evaporator. The fan in the indoor unit 600 can blow "cold air" into the indoor space, achieving a cooling effect. The vaporized refrigerant then comes out of the evaporator of the indoor unit 600, passes through another relatively thick copper pipe (low-pressure pipe or gas pipe) connecting the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300, and enters the compressor of the outdoor unit 300 again. The refrigerant hose 200 here replaces the copper pipe between the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 mentioned above. The refrigerant hose 200 includes an inner tube assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 sleeved on the outside of the inner tube assembly 210. The inner tube assembly 210 includes the above-mentioned gas pipe and liquid pipe, that is, two refrigerant pipes. The inner tube assembly 210 can also include water pipes, lines, etc. The protective sleeve 220 is sleeved on the outside of the inner tube assembly 210 to play a protective role and also ensure that the inner tube assembly 210 is arranged in an orderly and neat manner.
[0049] The technical solution of the present application connects the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 by using a refrigerant hose 200, replacing the traditional solution in which a dedicated copper tube is used to connect the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300. Due to the flexibility of the refrigerant hose 200, the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 can be pre-filled with refrigerant before leaving the factory, completing the refrigerant circulation loop of the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300. This makes it easier for users to install the air conditioner 100 later, and the installation of the air conditioner 100 is more convenient. In addition, the refrigerant hose 200 extends to the partition plate 330 of the outdoor unit 300 and is connected to the interface of the compressor. The refrigerant hose 200 is fixed by the fixing assembly 340 to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose 200, prevent it from shaking, avoid loosening, etc., and improve the quality of the product.
[0050] In one embodiment, the fixing component 340 can be a cable tie, a metal buckle, etc.
[0051] 3 , in one embodiment, in order to facilitate fixation and ensure a good fixation effect, a pre-positioning structure 400 and a screw locking structure 500 are provided between the fixing assembly 340 and the partition plate 330. The pre-positioning structure 400 is used to pre-fix the fixing assembly 340 on the partition plate 330, and the screw locking structure 500 is used to connect and fix the fixing assembly 340 to the partition plate 330.
[0052] 4 and 5 , in one embodiment, the fixing assembly 340 includes a first fixing member 350 and a second fixing member 360 . The first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360 are spaced apart along the extending direction of the refrigerant hose 200 .
[0053] In another embodiment, the fixing assembly 340 may be a unitary member formed by the first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360 .
[0054] The fixing component 340 is generally made of metal or hard plastic. By arranging a pre-positioning structure 400 on the fixing component 340, during the installation process of the air-conditioning outdoor unit 300, the fixing component 340, such as the first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360, can be pre-fixed on the partition plate 330. This can facilitate the subsequent screw locking process within a limited space. Compared with the need to apply external force to fix and correspond to the screw locking holes during installation, it is more convenient to install after being pre-fixed by the pre-positioning structure 400.
[0055] The first fixing member 350 and the second fixing member 360 are spaced apart along the connection direction of the refrigerant hose 200, so that fewer parts can be used to achieve a better fixing effect. Compared with the overall method, the parts are smaller in size, the mold making cost is lower, and the installation is more convenient.
[0056] Specifically, the refrigerant hose 200 includes an inner tube assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 mounted on the outside of the inner tube assembly 210. Part of the inner tube assembly 210 is exposed from the protective sleeve 220 and is connected to the pipeline 320 of the outdoor unit 300. The first fixing member 350 is located at the exposed part of the inner tube assembly 210, and the second fixing member 360 is located at the protective sleeve 220.
[0057] The first fixing part 350 is fixed at the connection between the inlet and outlet copper pipes (liquid pipe / gas pipe) of the outdoor unit 300 and the refrigerant hose 200, so as to ensure that the copper pipe part of the outdoor unit 300 is stable and not easy to shake; and the second fixing part 360 is fixed at the protective cover 220 to ensure the stability of the refrigerant hose 200 on the partition plate 330, so that the refrigerant hose 200 and the inlet and outlet copper pipes of the outdoor unit 300 are fixed on the partition plate 330, and the connection is not easy to detach, thereby ensuring a stable connection. In this way, it is not easy to loosen during the subsequent movement of the outdoor unit 300, thereby ensuring the quality of the product.
[0058] Specifically, the pre-positioning structure 400 includes a first pre-positioning structure 410, which is arranged on one side of the first fixing member 350, and the screw locking structure 500 includes a first locking structure 510, which is arranged on the other side of the first fixing member 350.
[0059] 6 , in one embodiment, the first fixing member 350 includes a limiting section 351 located on the outside of the inner tube assembly 210, and connecting sections 352 located on both sides of the limiting section 351. A limiting flange 332 is provided on the partition plate 330, and a limiting opening 333 is formed between the limiting flange 332 and the partition plate 330. The first pre-positioning structure 410 includes a connecting section 352 and a limiting opening 333 for inserting the connecting section 352. The first locking structure 510 is provided between the other connecting section 352 and the partition plate 330.
[0060] In one embodiment, the long strip portion of the partition plate 330 protrudes outward, equivalent to the handle of a handbag. During installation, the connecting section 352 of a fixing member is inserted into the limiting opening 333 formed by the "handle" and the partition plate 330, and the limiting section 351 abuts against the limiting opening 333. In this way, the first fixing member 350 is pre-fixed to the partition plate 330. A screw hole is provided on the other opposite connecting section 352. During installation, the first fixing member 350 and the partition plate 330 can be connected and fixed by simply tightening the screw, which is more convenient. The first fixing member 350 fixes the pipe 320 of the outdoor unit 300 to ensure that the pipe 320 is not easily detached from the partition plate 330. Compared with other solutions, the matching area between the limiting opening 333 and the connecting section 352 is larger, and installation is convenient. During installation, only one end of the connecting section 352 needs to be inserted into the limiting opening 333. Even if the compressor is closer to the chassis, installation is still very convenient compared to other solutions.
[0061] In another embodiment, the first pre-positioning structure 410 may also be pre-fixed by means of a buckle 364 and a buckle groove 334 .
[0062] 5 and 6 , specifically, the pre-positioning structure 400 includes a second pre-positioning structure 420 , which includes a buckle 364 provided on the second fixing member 360 and a buckle groove 334 provided on the partition plate 330 , wherein the buckle 364 is engaged with the buckle groove 334 .
[0063] In one embodiment, the second fixing member 360 includes a fixing section 361 located on the outside of the protective cover 220, and folded edge sections 363 located on both sides of the fixing section 361. The buckle 364 is provided on a folded edge section 363, and the buckle groove 334 passes through the partition plate 330. The screw locking structure 500 includes a second locking structure 520, and the second locking structure 520 is provided on each of the folded edge sections 363.
[0064] The buckle 364 extends on the folding edge section 363 toward the partition plate 330, that is, the buckle 364 section and the folding edge section 363 are in an intersecting relationship. The buckle 364 is a hook bent downward, and the buckle groove 334 on the partition plate 330 is like a long and narrow slit. When installing, the buckle 364 is inserted into the buckle groove 334, and the hook part of the buckle 364 abuts against the groove edge of the buckle groove 334 to achieve fixation. At this time, the folding edge section 363 is in contact with or close to the partition plate 330, and the screw locking structure 50 on the folding edge section 363 is fixed. 0 is configured as a screw hole, so that when the buckle 364 cooperates with the buckle groove 334, the screw holes of the folding section 363 and the partition plate 330 are relatively positioned, and the locking screws can achieve the fixation of the second fixing member 360 and the partition plate 330. In addition, the second fixing member 360 adopts a screw locking structure 500 set on the folding section 363 to ensure the fixing effect of the refrigerant hose 200. The movement of the refrigerant hose 200 outside the outdoor unit 300 will not affect the fixed part on the partition plate 330, thereby ensuring the quality of the product.
[0065] Furthermore, to ensure that the second fixing member 360 secures the refrigerant hose 200, corresponding regions of the fixing section 361 and the partition plate 330 are provided with abutment protrusions 362 facing each other, and the abutment protrusions 362 abut the protective sleeve 220. This allows the limiting section 351 of the second fixing member 360 to better apply a pre-tightening force to the protective sleeve 220 of the refrigerant hose 200, and the engagement of the abutment protrusions 362 also ensures that the refrigerant hose 200 is not easily dislodged. Thus, only the second fixing member 360 is required to secure the portion of the refrigerant hose 200 on the partition plate 330 securely. Furthermore, the second fixing member 360 is easy to install and has low processing costs.
[0066] Specifically, in the traditional solution, the outdoor unit 300 divides the outer case 310 into chambers through a partition plate 330. A fan and a heat exchanger are arranged in one chamber, and a compressor and electronic control components are arranged in the other chamber. In the present application, in order to ensure that the routing of the refrigerant hose 200 does not affect the subsequent installation of the outdoor unit 300, the refrigerant hose 200 is arranged at the edge of the outdoor unit 300. The outdoor unit 300 is usually rectangular, and the refrigerant hose 200 is arranged at the short edge of the rectangle, extending from the top of the outdoor unit 300 to the bottom. If the traditional solution is adopted at this time, the routing process of the refrigerant hose 200 will be difficult to fix. Therefore, in the present application, the outdoor unit 300 also includes a side plate 370 of the heat exchanger placed in the outer case 310. One side of the partition plate 330 is connected to the outer case 310, and the other side is connected to the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger. Specifically, a plurality of ventilator pipe holes are arranged on the plate surface 331 of the side plate 370 of the ventilator for the copper tubes of the ventilator to pass through. The side plate 370 of the ventilator is close to the edge of the rectangle. The loop formed by the connection between the pipeline 320 of the outdoor unit 300 and the refrigerant hose 200 is located in the accommodating cavity between the partition plate 330 and the outer casing, and is fixed to the partition plate 330 by the fixing component 340. This does not affect the arrangement space of the fan and the compressor, and also ensures that the connection between the refrigerant hose 200 and the pipeline 320 of the outdoor unit 300 is stable and not easy to detach, thereby ensuring the quality of the product.
[0067] 6 , in order to facilitate the connection between the partition plate 330 and the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and to facilitate the installation of the partition plate 330 , the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger is provided with a mounting lug 371 , and both the mounting lug 371 and the partition plate 330 are provided with screw holes for screws to pass through to lock the partition plate 330 to the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger.
[0068] In the connection scheme using screws, at least screw positions are usually required to ensure the fixing effect. The connection position between the partition plate 330 and the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger is close to the edge of the outer chassis 310, and the operating space is limited. In order to improve the convenience of installation and improve the assembly efficiency of the product, a snap-on structure is also provided between the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and the partition plate 330.
[0069] In one embodiment, the snap-fit structure includes a snap-fit flange 372 provided on the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit notch 335 provided on the partition plate 330 . The snap-fit flange 372 is spaced apart from the mounting lug 371 , and a portion of the snap-fit flange 372 is exposed on the partition plate 330 .
[0070] During installation, the snap-fit flange 372 of the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger passes through the snap-fit notch 335 from the back side of the partition plate 330 to the front side of the partition plate 330. In this way, the snap-fit structure can also play a role of pre-fixing. At this time, the screw holes on the mounting lugs 371 are aligned with the screw holes on the partition plate 330, and it is very convenient to tighten the screws to fix the side plate 370 and the partition plate 330 of the heat exchanger.
[0071] In another embodiment, the snap-fit structure may be a slide groove provided on the side plate 370 of the heat exchanger and a slider provided on the edge of the partition plate 330, and the partition plate 330 is snapped into the slide groove of the heat exchange plate by sliding and plugging.
[0072] 7 and 8 , it is not difficult to imagine that the refrigerant hose 200 needs to have a clearance opening 393 opened in the outer case 310 in the process of passing through the outer case 310 and entering the inner part. The case is generally made of sheet metal, and the cut is relatively sharp. In order to avoid cuts to the refrigerant hose 200 and protect the safety of personnel, the outdoor unit 300 also includes a protective cover 380. The outer case 310 includes a chassis and a top cover 390 corresponding to the chassis. The top cover 390 is provided with a clearance opening 393. The protective cover 380 is embedded in the clearance opening 393, and the refrigerant hose 200 is passed through the protective cover 380.
[0073] Specifically, in one embodiment, the protective cover 380 is made of rubber, which has a certain hardness and protective capability.
[0074] In other embodiments, the protective cover 380 may also be made of materials such as plastic.
[0075] In order to facilitate the installation of the protective cover 380 , in one solution, the protective cover 380 can be embedded into the avoidance opening 393 by utilizing the flexible deformation of its own material.
[0076] In one embodiment, the protective cover 380 is provided with a cross section. When the protective cover 380 is installed, the cross sections can be staggered, thereby facilitating the protective cover 380 to be embedded in the avoidance opening 393 and facilitating the installation of the protective cover 380.
[0077] Regarding the location of the protective cover 380 , in one embodiment, the protective cover 380 is disposed on the top of the outer chassis 310 .
[0078] In another embodiment, the protective cover 380 may be provided on a side of the outer chassis 310 .
[0079] In order to solve the problem that the protective cover 380 is easily loosened when directly embedded in the avoidance opening 393, a limiting structure is provided between the protective cover 380 and the top cover 390, and the limiting structure is used to fix the protective cover 380 and the top cover 390.
[0080] In one embodiment, the limiting structure includes a first annular protrusion 394 provided at the avoidance opening 393 and a first annular groove 391 provided on the protective cover 380 , wherein the first annular protrusion 394 cooperates with the first annular groove 391 .
[0081] In order to further enhance the securing effect of the protective cover 380, the retaining structure further includes a second annular protrusion 395 provided on the avoidance opening 393, and a third annular protrusion 392 provided on the protective cover 380. A second annular groove 396 is formed between the second annular protrusion 395 and the first annular protrusion 394, and the third annular protrusion 392 is embedded in the second annular groove 396. The cross-sectional shape of the third annular protrusion 392 is similar to a "7". When installing, after the protective cover 380 is inserted into the second annular groove 396, the first annular protrusion 394, which is the edge of the avoidance opening 393 and has a "1" cross-sectional shape, is embedded in the first annular groove 391. Multiple fixings ensure stable installation of the protective cover 380. Moreover, whether the material of the protective cover 380 is rubber or plastic, it has a certain degree of flexibility, which is also convenient for installation.
[0082] In another embodiment, the limiting structure is a snap-fit groove configured in the avoidance opening 393, and a corresponding claw is provided on the edge of the protective cover 380. During installation, the protective cover 380 is pressed downward to make the claw cooperate with the snap-fit groove.
[0083] Regarding the connection between the indoor unit 600 and the refrigerant hose 200.
[0084] 9 , the indoor unit 600 includes an inner chassis 610 and a mounting assembly 620 . The outer surface of the inner chassis 610 is provided with a mounting position. The connecting pipe of the indoor unit 600 extends to the mounting position. The other end of the refrigerant hose 200 is connected to the connecting pipe. The mounting assembly 620 is fixed to the inner chassis 610 to fix the refrigerant hose 200 and the connecting pipe in the inner chassis 610 .
[0085] In one embodiment, the mounting assembly 620 may be a cable tie, a metal buckle, or the like.
[0086] In one embodiment, in order to facilitate fixation and ensure good fixation effect, a pre-positioning structure 400 and a screw locking structure 500 are provided between the installation component 620 and the inner chassis 610, which can be set in the same way as the outdoor unit 300. The pre-positioning structure 400 is used to pre-fix the installation component 620 on the inner chassis 610, and the screw locking structure 500 is used to fix the installation component 620 to the inner chassis 610.
[0087] In one embodiment, the mounting assembly 620 includes a first mounting member and a second mounting member, which are spaced apart at mounting positions. The first mounting member is disposed at the connecting pipe, and the second mounting member is disposed at the refrigerant hose 200 .
[0088] In another embodiment, the mounting assembly 620 may be a unitary member formed by integrating the first mounting member and the second mounting member.
[0089] The mounting assembly 620 is generally made of metal or hard plastic. By arranging a pre-positioning structure on the mounting assembly 620, during the installation of the air conditioner outdoor unit, the mounting assembly 620, such as the first mounting part and the second mounting part, can be pre-fixed on the inner chassis 610. This facilitates the subsequent screw locking process within a limited space. Compared to the need to apply external force to fix and correspond to the screw locking holes during installation, it is more convenient to install after being pre-fixed by the pre-positioning structure.
[0090] Specifically, the refrigerant hose 200 includes an inner tube assembly 210 and a protective sleeve 220 that fits over the inner tube assembly 210. Portions of the inner tube assembly 210 are exposed outside the protective sleeve 220 and connected to the indoor unit 600's piping 320. A first mounting member is located within the indoor unit 600's piping, while a second mounting member is located within the protective sleeve. The first mounting member is secured to the indoor unit 600's inlet and outlet copper pipes (liquid pipe / gas pipe) near the connection of the refrigerant hose 200, ensuring stability and preventing the copper pipes from shaking. The second mounting member is secured to the protective sleeve 220, ensuring the stability of the refrigerant hose 200 within the inner chassis. This ensures that the refrigerant hose 200 and the indoor unit 600's inlet and outlet copper pipes are both securely fixed to the inner chassis, preventing them from becoming detached and maintaining a stable connection. This prevents loosening during subsequent movement of the indoor unit 600, thus ensuring product quality.
[0091] In order to protect the connecting pipe of the indoor unit 600 and avoid the problem of leakage caused by the first mounting part and the connecting pipe colliding head-on, the indoor unit 600 also includes a protective part, which is mounted on the connecting pipe and located between the first mounting part and the inner chassis.
[0092] In one embodiment, the protective member is made of rubber material, and is provided with a mounting groove corresponding to the shape of the connecting pipe. The connecting pipe is inserted into the mounting groove, which not only provides protection but also limits the movement of the connecting pipe. On the basis of the first mounting member, the fixing effect is better.
[0093] In another embodiment, the protective member is made of foam, silicone, etc., and a mounting groove can also be provided.
[0094] To protect the refrigerant hose 200 and connecting pipe, the indoor unit 600 also includes a protective housing. This housing is located in the mounting area and secured to the inner chassis 610. The mounting assembly 620 is located within the housing. The inner chassis 610 has an inward recessed surface to form the mounting area, which accommodates the protective housing. This allows the housing to be mounted unobtrusively on the inner chassis 610, ensuring both protection and aesthetic appeal.
[0095] In one embodiment, the protective shell is fixed to the inner chassis 610 by screwing, which is simple to install and low in cost.
[0096] The fixing method of purely adopting screws is relatively difficult to assemble. In one embodiment, the inner chassis is provided with a plug-in protrusion, and the bottom of the protective shell is provided with a matching plug-in groove.
[0097] During installation, the plug-in groove at the bottom of the protective shell is aligned with the plug-in protrusion of the inner chassis. The plug-in groove at the bottom of the protective shell can extend along the width of the protective shell, or can be set in the width direction. In this way, the protective shell can be matched with the plug-in protrusion and the plug-in groove, and the top of the protective shell can be pushed close to the inner chassis to conveniently perform the screw tightening operation, making installation more convenient.
[0098] It should be noted that the air conditioner 100 can be a split-type air conditioner for easy user installation. It uses a flexible refrigerant pipe to connect the indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner indoor unit 600 and the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner outdoor unit 300, and refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant circuit before the device leaves the factory. This allows users to install the device themselves by simply securing the indoor unit 600 and the outdoor unit 300 separately, eliminating the need to assemble the refrigerant pipe and inject refrigerant. This reduces installation complexity and facilitates user-friendly installation. However, the present design is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the air conditioner can also be a conventional split-type air conditioner.
[0099] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present application and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. All equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present application specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present application, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present application.
Claims
1. An air conditioner, wherein: The air conditioner comprises: Indoor unit; a refrigerant hose, one end of which is connected to the indoor unit; and The outdoor unit includes an outer case, a partition plate and a fixing assembly, wherein the partition plate is arranged in the outer case, the other end of the refrigerant hose extends to the plate surface of the partition plate and is connected to the pipeline of the outdoor unit, and the fixing assembly is used to fix the other end of the refrigerant hose on the partition plate.
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: A pre-positioning structure and a screw locking structure are provided between the fixing component and the partition plate. The pre-positioning structure is used to pre-fix the fixing component on the partition plate, and the screw locking structure is used to connect and fix the fixing component to the partition plate.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein: The fixing assembly includes a first fixing member and a second fixing member, and the first fixing member and the second fixing member are arranged at intervals along the extending direction of the refrigerant hose.
4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein: The refrigerant hose includes an inner tube assembly and a protective sleeve mounted on the outside of the inner tube assembly. Part of the inner tube assembly is exposed from the protective sleeve and connected to the pipeline of the outdoor unit. The first fixing part is located at the exposed part of the inner tube assembly, and the second fixing part is located at the protective sleeve.
5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein: The pre-positioning structure includes a first pre-positioning structure, which is arranged on one side of the first fixing member, and the screw locking structure includes a first locking structure, which is arranged on the other side of the first fixing member.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein: The first fixing member includes a limiting section located on the outside of the inner tube assembly and a connecting section located on both sides of the limiting section. A limiting flange is provided on the partition plate, and a limiting opening is formed between the limiting flange and the partition plate. The first pre-positioning structure includes a connecting section and the limiting opening for inserting the connecting section. The first locking structure is arranged between the other connecting section and the partition plate.
7. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein: The pre-positioning structure includes a second pre-positioning structure, and the second pre-positioning structure includes a buckle provided on the second fixing member and a buckle groove provided on the partition plate, and the buckle is engaged with the buckle groove.
8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein: The second fixing member includes a fixing section located on the outside of the protective cover and folded edge sections located on both sides of the fixing section, the buckle is arranged on one of the folded edge sections, the buckle groove passes through the partition plate, the screw locking structure includes a second locking structure, and the second locking structure is arranged on both of the folded edge sections.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein: The fixing section and the partition plate are provided with abutting protrusions facing each other in corresponding areas, and the abutting protrusions abut against the protective cover.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: The outdoor unit also includes a side plate of a heat exchanger placed in the outer casing, one side of the partition plate is connected to the outer casing, and the other side is connected to the side plate of the heat exchanger.
11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein: The side plate of the heat exchanger is provided with a mounting lug, and both the mounting lug and the partition plate are provided with screw holes, and the screw holes are used for screws to pass through to lock the partition plate to the side plate of the heat exchanger.
12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein: A snap-fit structure is also provided between the side plate of the heat exchanger and the partition plate, and the snap-fit structure includes a snap-fit flange provided on the side plate of the heat exchanger and a snap-fit notch provided on the partition plate. The snap-fit flange is spaced apart from the mounting lug, and a portion of the snap-fit flange is exposed on the partition plate.
13. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: The outdoor unit further comprises a protective cover, the outer case comprises a chassis and a top cover corresponding to the chassis, the top cover is provided with an escape opening, the protective cover is embedded in the escape opening, and the refrigerant hose is passed through the protective cover.
14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein: A limiting structure is provided between the protective cover and the top cover, and the limiting structure is used to fix the protective cover and the top cover.
15. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein: The limiting structure includes a first annular protrusion arranged at the avoidance opening, and a first annular groove arranged at the protective cover, and the first annular protrusion matches with the first annular groove.
16. The air conditioner according to claim 15, wherein: The limiting structure also includes a second annular protrusion arranged on the avoidance opening, and a third annular protrusion arranged on the protective cover, a second annular groove is formed between the second annular protrusion and the first annular protrusion, and the third annular protrusion is embedded in the second annular groove.
Citation Information
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