Outdoor unit of air-conditioning device, and air-conditioning device

Abstract

This outdoor unit of an air-conditioning device comprises a first unit and a second unit that are configured to be freely coupled and separated from each other. The first unit has a first connector attached to first electric wiring. The second unit has: a second connector attached to second electric wiring and connected to the first connector, thereby electrically connecting the first electric wiring and the second electric wiring; and a movement mechanism. The movement mechanism causes the second connector to reciprocate between a detachment position where the second connector is detached from the first connector and a connection position where the second connector can be connected to the first connector. One of the first unit and the second unit has at least one unit protrusion protruding in a facing direction, and the other of the first unit and the second unit has at least one unit guide part for guiding and accommodating the unit protrusion in the coupled state.

Description

Outdoor unit of air conditioner and air conditioner

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit for an air conditioner and an air conditioner.

[0002] As described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, an air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit that exchanges heat between a refrigerant sent from the indoor unit and outdoor air. The outdoor unit includes multiple components, such as a heat exchanger, a blower, and a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, and a housing that houses these components together.

[0003] JP-A-5-52365, JP-A-6-288578, JP-A-6-281202, JP-A-7-217947

[0004] Because outdoor units are relatively heavy, transporting them to the desired installation location when installing an air conditioning system requires a significant amount of work. Furthermore, because outdoor units are relatively large, it can be difficult to install them in spaces with limited installation area or in convoluted spaces. Furthermore, installing an outdoor unit in such a constrained space requires manual labor, which increases the workload. In recent years, outdoor units have tended to become larger and heavier, making these problems more pronounced.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure provides an outdoor unit for an air conditioner and an air conditioner that can reduce the workload involved in installation even when the unit is large or heavy, and can be easily installed in spaces with small installation areas or constrained spaces such as complicated spaces.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes a first unit having some components of multiple elements, including at least a heat exchanger, a compressor, a decompression device, and a blower, and a second unit having the remaining components of the multiple elements, the first unit being configured to be connectable and detachable to each other. The first unit includes a first housing, a first electrical wiring housed in the first housing, and a first connector attached to the first electrical wiring. The second unit includes a second housing, a second electrical wiring housed in the second housing, and a second connector attached to the second electrical wiring and connected to the first connector, thereby electrically connecting the first electrical wiring and the second electrical wiring. The second unit also includes a movement mechanism that reciprocates the second connector between a disengaged position where the second connector is disengaged from the first connector and a connected position where the second connector is connectable to the first connector. When the first unit and the second unit are coupled together, and the direction in which the first housing and the second housing face each other is defined as the facing direction, one of the first unit and the second unit has at least one unit protrusion that protrudes in the facing direction, and the other of the first unit and the second unit has at least one unit guide that guides and houses the unit protrusion in the coupled state.

[0007] An air conditioner according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an outdoor unit of the air conditioner described above.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an outdoor unit for an air conditioner and an air conditioner that can reduce the workload involved in placement even when the unit is large or heavy, and that can be placed well in constrained spaces such as spaces with small installation areas or complicated spaces.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning apparatus according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an outdoor unit in a coupled state in which the first unit and the second unit of Fig. 1 are coupled. Fig. 3 is a diagram partially showing the appearance of the first unit of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagram partially showing the appearance of the second unit of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a movement mechanism of the second unit of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the movement mechanism when the second connector of Fig. 5 is arranged in the detached position. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the movement mechanism when the second connector of Fig. 5 is arranged in the connected position. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an outdoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus according to a second embodiment.

[0010] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described as an example of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings.

[0011] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the outdoor unit 3 in a combined state (hereinafter simply referred to as the combined state) in which the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 shown in FIG. 1 are combined. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes an indoor unit 2, an outdoor unit 3, and multiple refrigerant pipes RP1 to RP4 connecting the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3. The air conditioner 1 is driven (operated) in one of multiple modes, including a cooling mode, a heating mode, and a dehumidification mode. The outdoor unit 3 includes a first unit 4 and a second unit 5 that are configured to be freely combined and separated from each other. The first unit 4 includes at least some components of multiple elements, including an outdoor heat exchanger 30 (an example of a heat exchanger according to the present disclosure, hereinafter simply referred to as the heat exchanger 30), a compressor 31, a pressure reducing device 32, and a blower 33. The second unit 5 includes the remaining components of the multiple elements (hereinafter also referred to as a component group 35). By allowing the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 to be separated freely, the air conditioning device 1 is configured so that the outdoor unit 3 can be positioned properly even if the outdoor unit 3 becomes larger or heavier.

[0012] Specifically, the indoor unit 2 includes an indoor heat exchanger 20 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the heat exchanger 20) that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and indoor air, and a blower 21 that blows indoor air toward the heat exchanger 20. The blower 21 includes a fan 23 and a fan motor M1 that drives and rotates the fan 23. The indoor unit 2 further includes a temperature sensor S that detects the indoor temperature, and a user operation unit 22 that allows the user to turn the air conditioning apparatus 1 on and off, switch the operation mode, etc.

[0013] The outdoor unit 3 includes a heat exchanger 30 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and outside air, a compressor 31 that compresses the refrigerant, a pressure reduction device 32 that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, and a blower 33 that blows outside air toward the heat exchanger 30. The pressure reduction device 32 includes, for example, a pressure reduction valve. The blower 33 includes a fan 38 and a fan motor M2 that drives and rotates the fan 38. In this embodiment, the fan motors M1 and M2 are electric motors. A refrigerant circulates through the heat exchanger 20, the heat exchanger 30, the compressor 31, and the pressure reduction device 32 via a plurality of refrigerant pipes RP1 to PR4.

[0014] The outdoor unit 3 further includes a switching valve V that switches the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing inside the outdoor unit 3. The switching valve V is, for example, a four-way valve. The outdoor unit 3 further includes various valve devices, strainers, and the like, as appropriate. For example, the refrigerant pipe RP1 connects the heat exchanger 20 and the pressure reducing device 32. The refrigerant pipe RP2 connects the pressure reducing device 32 and the heat exchanger 30. The refrigerant pipe RP3 connects the heat exchanger 20 and the switching valve V. The refrigerant pipe RP4 connects the heat exchanger 30 and the switching valve V. As shown in FIG. 2 , the outdoor unit 3 of this embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with the X direction as the width direction, the Y direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2 ) as the depth direction, and the Z direction as the height direction.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first unit 4 includes at least one electrical component E, a first housing 36 that houses the electrical component E, and a first electrical wiring L1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the electrical wiring L1) that is housed in the first housing 36 and supplies power to the electrical component E. The second unit 5 includes a second housing 37 and a second electrical wiring L2 (hereinafter simply referred to as the electrical wiring L2) that is housed in the second housing 37 and receives power from outside the second housing 37. The outdoor unit 3 also includes a predetermined component group 35. The component group 35 includes a compressor 31, a heat exchanger 30, and a blower 33. The first housing 36 houses some of the components in the component group 35, including the heat exchanger 30 and the blower 33. The second housing 37 houses the remaining components in the component group 35, including the compressor 31.

[0016] The component group 35 of this embodiment includes a plurality of electrical components E housed in each of the first housing 36 and the second housing 37. The electrical components E housed in the second housing 37 include a compressor 31. The electrical components E housed in the first housing 36 include a fan motor M2. As an example, the second unit 5 has a power line PL to which power is supplied from the outside. In this case, the electrical components E housed in the second housing 37 include a power supply device 34 that supplies power to the electrical components E housed in the first housing 36 and the second housing 37. In the outdoor unit 3, power supplied from the outside to the power line PL is supplied to the electrical components E via the power supply device 34 of the second unit 5.

[0017] The outdoor unit 3 of this embodiment also has a cover 80 that is detachably attached to the second housing 37. The cover 80 externally covers an input portion 54d, which will be described later. As an example, the cover 80 is attached to the second housing 37 with a fastening member. The cover 80 has insertion holes 80c through which the fastening member is inserted (see FIG. 4).

[0018] Here, the direction in which the first housing 36 and the second housing 37 face each other in the coupled state is referred to as the facing direction (hereinafter also simply referred to as the facing direction). At this time, one of the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 has at least one unit protrusion that protrudes in the facing direction, and the other has at least one unit guide portion that guides and accommodates the unit protrusion in the coupled state. The unit protrusion protrudes outward from the outer surface of the housing of the one unit (either the housing 36 or 37). The unit guide portion guides and accommodates the unit protrusion in the coupled state regardless of whether the second connector C2 is positioned in the connected position X2 or the detached position X1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram partially illustrating the appearance of the first unit 4 of FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a diagram partially illustrating the appearance of the second unit 5 of FIG. 2 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , in this embodiment, the one unit is the second unit 5 and the other unit is the first unit 4. The second unit 5 has a pair of unit protrusions 39 arranged at a predetermined interval as the at least one unit protrusion. In this embodiment, the unit protrusions 39 are plate-shaped. The unit protrusions 39 include a main body portion 39A extending from the outer surface of the second housing 37 toward the outside in opposing directions, and an extension portion 39B extending from the tip of the main body portion 39A in the opposing direction in one of the up and down directions (the longitudinal direction of a guide groove 41 a, described later).

[0020] The first unit 4 has a pair of unit guide portions 41 as the at least one unit guide portion. The unit guide portion 41 includes a guide groove 41a that accommodates and guides the unit protrusion 39. The unit guide portion 41 of this embodiment includes an engagement portion 41d that engages with the extension portion 39B accommodated in the guide groove 41a. The engagement portion 41d engages with the extension portion 39B in a direction that includes the opposing direction.

[0021] In this embodiment, the first housing 36 has a first opposing surface F1 that faces the second housing 37 in the combined state and a first top surface F2 that extends from the upper end of the first opposing surface F1. The second housing 37 has a second opposing surface G1 that faces the first opposing surface F1 in the combined state and from which the unit protrusion 39 protrudes. The guide groove 41a extends between the first opposing surface F1 and the first top surface F2 and guides the unit protrusion 39 in one direction (for example, downward in the up-down direction). The guide groove 41a includes a guide opening 41b that is disposed on the first top surface F2 and opens toward the other direction (for example, upward in the up-down direction), and a guide opening 41c that is disposed on the first opposing surface F1 and opens in the opposite direction. In this embodiment, the guide openings 41b and 41c have a groove width that allows the unit protrusion 39 to be inserted and are connected to each other. The unit protrusion 39 can be inserted into the guide groove 41a from either of the guide openings 41b and 41c.

[0022] In this embodiment, the unit protrusion 39 includes a protrusion end surface 39C disposed in a plane perpendicular to the opposing direction (for example, the YZ plane) and an inclined end surface 39D that is continuous with the protrusion end surface 39C and inclined with respect to the perpendicular plane. In other words, the unit protrusion 39 is chamfered. The inclined end surface 39D has a shape that extends in the vertical direction. In a front view of the first opposing surface F1, the guide groove 41a extends linearly.

[0023] The first unit 4 has a first connector C1. The first connector C1 is attached to the electrical wiring L1. The second unit 5 has a second connector C2. The second connector C2 is attached to the electrical wiring L2. The second connector C2 is connected to the first connector C1, thereby electrically connecting the electrical wiring L1 and L2.

[0024] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the movement mechanism 50 of the second unit 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the movement mechanism 50 when the second connector C2 in Fig. 5 is located at the detached position X1. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the movement mechanism 50 when the second connector C2 in Fig. 5 is located at the connected position X2. In Figs. 5 to 7, the electrical wiring L1, L2 is omitted from illustration.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 , the second unit 5 includes a moving mechanism 50. The moving mechanism 50 reciprocates the second connector C2 between a detachment position X1, where the second connector C2 is detached from the first connector C1, and a connection position X2, where the second connector C2 can be connected to the first connector C1. The detachment position X1 in this embodiment is a position where the second connector C2 retracts into the second housing 37 and is a position where the second connector C2 is detached from the first connector C1. The connection position X2 in this embodiment is a position where the second connector C2 protrudes from the detachment position X1 to the outside of the second housing 37 and is a position where the second connector C2 can be connected to the first connector C1. Furthermore, the connection position X2 in this embodiment is a position where the tip of the second connector C2 in the opposing direction is completely connected to the first connector C1. Further, the detachment position X1 in this embodiment is a position where the tip of the second connector C2 in the opposing direction is completely retracted into the interior of the second housing 37 by the moving mechanism 50.

[0026] The movement mechanism 50 of this embodiment has an input part that moves back and forth in a predetermined direction by an external force from outside the second housing 37, thereby causing the second connector C2 to move back and forth between the connection position X2 and the detachment position X1. This causes the second connector C2 to move back and forth in the predetermined direction (hereinafter, the predetermined direction will also be simply referred to as the reciprocating movement direction).

[0027] Specifically, the moving mechanism 50 of this embodiment includes a base 51, a frame-shaped first moving body 52, and a support 53 that protrudes from the base 51 toward the inside of the second housing 37 and supports the first moving body 52. ​​The moving mechanism 50 also includes a second moving body 54 that applies an external force to the first moving body 52, causing the first moving body 52 to swing around a predetermined rotation axis N. The moving mechanism 50 also includes a connector holder 55 that holds the second connector C2 and a connector guide 56 that guides the connector holder 55 to move back and forth in the reciprocating movement direction (in other words, guides the connector holder 55 along the opposing direction). That is, the second unit 5 includes the connector holder 55 and the connector guide 56. The first moving body 52 is a frame body disposed within which the connector holder 55 and the connector guide 56 are inserted. The moving mechanism 50 of this embodiment is, as an example, a link mechanism having a plurality of link components (components 52 to 54) that are connected to each other.

[0028] In this embodiment, the unit protrusion 39 is connected to the base 51. The base 51 is fixed to the second housing 37. The unit protrusion 39, connector holder 55, and connector C2 are exposed to the outside through an opening 37a provided in the second housing 37 (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 5, the first movable body 52 has an elongated extending portion 52a extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction. As an example, this longitudinal direction coincides with the Z direction. The support body 53 has a supporting portion 53a that supports the extending portion 52a. The supporting portion 53a supports the extending portion 52a so that it can rotate freely within a certain range around a rotation axis N that is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the extending portion 52a.

[0029] The second moving body 54 is supported by the second housing 37 so as to be reciprocatable in a direction (for example, the X direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the extending portion 52a. In this embodiment, the perpendicular direction is the reciprocating movement direction. The second moving body 54 has a plate-shaped main body 54a and an operating unit 54b that is continuous with the main body 54a and operates the first moving body 52. ​​The second moving body 54 is arranged so that its plate surface extends in both the X direction and the Z direction. The operating unit 54b is arranged on one plate surface of the main body 54a.

[0030] The operation unit 54b includes an operation groove 54c into which a portion of the first moving body 52 is inserted. The groove width direction of the operation groove 54c coincides with the reciprocating movement direction. The groove width of the operation groove 54c is set to a value that allows the second moving body 54 and the first moving body 52 to contact each other within the operation groove 54c without interfering with the swinging of the first moving body 52, thereby allowing the second moving body 54 to operate the first moving body 52. ​​The operation unit 54b has an input unit 54d that is disposed on the other plate surface of the main body 54a and protrudes to the outside. The input unit 54d is a plate-shaped portion having a plate surface 54e that extends in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating movement direction (in other words, extends in the Y and Z directions). The input unit 54d is the input unit of the movement mechanism 50.

[0031] The movement mechanism 50 has a connecting shaft 57 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the extension portion 52a and connects the first moving body 52 and the connector holder 55. The connecting shaft 57 is inserted through a through hole 55b provided in the connector holder 55 and a through hole 52c provided in the first moving body 52. ​​The connector guide 56 guides the connector holder 55 so that it can reciprocate along the reciprocating movement direction. This allows the first moving body 52, the connector holder 55, and the second connector C2 to reciprocate in the same direction. The connector guide 56 has, as an example, an inner circumferential surface 56a extending in the reciprocating movement direction. The inner circumferential surface 56a of the connector guide 56 slides against the outer circumferential surface 55a of the connector holder 55.

[0032] In the movement mechanism 50, when an external force is applied by an operator to the input unit 54d in a direction toward the base unit 51, the second moving body 54 moves relative to the second housing 37 in the direction of reciprocating movement toward the base unit 51. Accordingly, an external force is applied to the first moving body 52 from the second moving body 54 via the operation groove 54c. This causes the first moving body 52 to swing within a certain range around the rotation axis N. In response to this swing, an external force is applied to the connector holder 55 from the first moving body 52 via the connecting shaft 57, and the connector holder 55 is moved by the connector guide 56 in the direction of reciprocating movement so as to protrude outward together with the second connector C2. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 , the second connector C2 is positioned at the connection position X2 and exposed to the outside of the second housing 37.

[0033] In addition, in the movement mechanism 50, when an external force is applied by the operator to the input unit 54d in a direction away from the base unit 51, the second moving body 54 moves relative to the second housing 37 in the direction of reciprocating movement in which the second moving body 54 moves away from the base unit 51. Accordingly, an external force is applied to the first moving body 52 from the second moving body 54 via the operation groove 54c. This causes the first moving body 52 to swing within a certain range around the rotation axis N. In response to this swing, an external force is applied to the connector holder 55 from the first moving body 52 via the connecting shaft 57, and the connector holder 55 is moved by the connector guide 56 in the direction of retraction into the second housing 37 together with the second connector C2. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6 , the second connector C2 is positioned at the detachment position X1 and retracted into the second housing 37.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4 , the connector holder 55 of this embodiment has at least one holder protrusion that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the second housing 37 when the connector holder 55 is in a coupled state and the second connector C2 is positioned at the connection position X2. Also, as shown in FIG. 3 , the first unit 4, which is the other unit, has at least one holder guide portion that receives and guides the holder protrusion 55c. As an example, the at least one holder protrusion includes a pair of holder protrusions 55c. The second connector C2 is disposed between the pair of holder protrusions 55c. The at least one holder guide portion includes a pair of holder guide portions 42. The first connector C1 is disposed between the pair of holder guide portions 42. Furthermore, the pair of holder protrusions 55c is disposed in the space between the pair of unit protrusions 39 in the coupled state. 6 and 7 , the second unit 5 has a wall member 60 that exposes the input portion 54 d of the second movable body 54 to the outside and covers a part of the main body 54 a and the operation groove 54 c when the cover 80 is removed. The wall member 60 is supported by the second housing 37.

[0035] Next, the steps performed by an operator when connecting the first connector C1 and the second connector C2 will be described. In a separated state where the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 are separated (hereinafter also referred to simply as the separated state), the operator removes the cover 80 from the second housing 37 and operates the input unit 54d. This causes the operator to apply an external force to the input unit 54d, causing the movement mechanism 50 to position the second connector C2 in the detached position X1 ( FIG. 6 ).

[0036] Next, the worker positions the second unit 5 close to the first unit 4 and inserts the unit protrusion 39 into the guide groove 41a of the unit guide portion 41. This aligns and couples the first unit 4 and the second unit 5. The worker then operates the input portion 54d to apply an external force to the input portion 54d, causing the movement mechanism 50 to position the second connector C2 at the connection position X2 ( FIG. 7 ). As a result, the holder protrusion 55c is guided by the holder guide portion 42, further aligning the first unit 4 and the second unit 5. This mechanically couples the second connector C2 to the first connector C1, and electrically connects the electrical wiring L1 and L2.

[0037] In this way, the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 are first aligned by the unit protrusion 39 and the unit guide 41, and then further aligned by the holder protrusion 55c and the holder guide 42. Thus, the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 are aligned with high precision in two stages. In this embodiment, as an example, the second connector C2 is male and the first connector C1 is female. Therefore, the second connector C2 is inserted into the first connector C1, and the connectors C1 and C2 are securely connected. Thus, the connectors C1 and C2 are easily connected by operating the input portion 54d, and the electrical wiring L1 and L2 are electrically connected, without the need for the worker to directly operate the connectors C1 and C2 by hand. The worker then attaches the cover 80 to the second housing 37. This completes the assembly of the outdoor unit 3.

[0038] To disconnect the connectors C1 and C2 and detach the electrical wiring L1 and L2, the worker simply operates the input unit 54d again to cause the movement mechanism 50 to position the second connector C2 at the detachment position X1. The worker can detach the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 from each other by moving the guide groove 41a and the unit protrusion 39 relative to each other in the vertical direction so as to disengage the engagement portion 41d from the extension portion 39B.

[0039] Next, the air conditioner 1 during operation will be described. In heating mode, the refrigerant exchanges heat with outside air in the heat exchanger 30 and vaporizes. The vaporized refrigerant is sent to the compressor 31 via the refrigerant pipe RP4 and the switching valve V. The compressor 31 compresses and discharges the vaporized refrigerant. The vaporized refrigerant is sent to the heat exchanger 20 via the switching valve V and the refrigerant pipe RP3. The heat exchanger 20 exchanges heat with the vaporized refrigerant and indoor air. The blower 21 blows the air that has been heated by heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 20 into the room. As a result of this heat exchange, the refrigerant liquefies. The liquefied refrigerant is sent to the pressure reducing device 32 via the refrigerant pipe RP1. The pressure reducing device 32 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant to two-phase gas-liquid. The two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant returns to the heat exchanger 30 via the refrigerant pipe RP2.

[0040] In the cooling mode or dehumidification mode, the refrigerant is liquefied through heat exchange with outside air in the heat exchanger 30. The liquefied refrigerant is sent to the pressure reducing device 32 via the refrigerant pipe RP2. The pressure reducing device 32 reduces the pressure of the liquefied refrigerant. The liquefied refrigerant is sent to the heat exchanger 20 via the refrigerant pipe RP1. The heat exchanger 20 exchanges heat with the indoor air. The blower 21 blows the air that has been cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 20 into the room. As a result of this heat exchange, the refrigerant is vaporized. The vaporized refrigerant is sent to the compressor 31 via the refrigerant pipe RP3 and the switching valve V. The compressor 31 compresses and discharges the vaporized refrigerant. The vaporized refrigerant returns to the heat exchanger 30 via the switching valve V and the refrigerant pipe RP4.

[0041] As described above, the outdoor unit 3 of this embodiment includes the first unit 4 and the second unit 5, which are configured to be connectable and disconnectable to each other. The direction in which the first housing 36 and the second housing 37 face each other when the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 are connected together is defined as the facing direction. In this case, one of the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 has at least one unit protrusion 39 that protrudes in the facing direction, and the other has at least one unit guide 41 that guides and houses the unit protrusion 39 when connected together.

[0042] According to the above configuration, by separating the first unit 4 and the second unit 5, even when there are a small number of workers or when space is limited, it is possible to easily carry each unit 4, 5 into a predetermined location and install the outdoor unit 3 in a desired location. Furthermore, by guiding the unit protrusion 39 with the unit guide portion 41, the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 can be properly aligned.

[0043] Furthermore, by using the moving mechanism 50 to move the second connector C2 from the detachment position X1 to the connection position X2, the first connector C1 and the second connector C2 can be easily and reliably electrically connected or disconnected without the need for an operator to manually connect or disconnect the first connector C1 and the second connector C2. This reduces the workload involved in accurately aligning the units 4, 5 and connecting or disconnecting the electrical wiring L1, L2 between the units 4, 5 when the outdoor unit 3 of the air conditioning apparatus 1 is configured by connecting multiple units 4, 5. Furthermore, the electrical wiring L1, L2 of the units 4, 5 can be reliably electrically connected to each other when the units 4, 5 are connected together. As a result, even if the outdoor unit 3 is large or heavy, the workload involved in arranging the outdoor unit 3 can be reduced, and the outdoor unit 3 can be conveniently arranged in a space with limited installation area, a complex space, or other restricted space.

[0044] The second unit 5 of this embodiment also has a connector holder 55 that holds the second connector C2 and a connector guide 56 that guides the connector holder 55 along the opposing direction. The connector holder 55 also has at least one holder protrusion 55c that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the second housing 37 when the connectors are coupled and the second connector C2 is located at the connection position X2. The first unit 4 also has at least one holder guide 42 that houses and guides the holder protrusion 55c.

[0045] According to this configuration, the connector holder 55 is guided in the opposing direction by the connector guide 56, so that the second connector C2 can be brought close to the first connector C1 at an appropriate relative position, thereby enabling the second connector C2 to be properly connected to the first connector C1. Also, for example, the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 can be first aligned by the unit protrusion 39 and the unit guide portion 41, and then aligned by the holder protrusion 55c and the holder guide portion 42. This allows the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 to be aligned with high precision in two stages.

[0046] In this embodiment, the at least one unit protrusion 39 includes a pair of unit protrusions 39, and the at least one holder protrusion 55c includes a pair of holder protrusions 55c. As shown in Fig. 7 , the pair of holder protrusions 55c are disposed in the space between the pair of unit protrusions 39 in the coupled state.

[0047] According to this configuration, when the pair of holder protrusions 55c are accommodated in the pair of holder guides 42, the pair of unit protrusions 39 are accommodated in the pair of unit guides 41 on the side opposite to the space between the pair of holder protrusions 55c. This allows for stable alignment of the pair of holder protrusions 55c and the pair of holder guides 42. This allows for more accurate connection of the first connector C1 and the second connector C2.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the second connector C2 is disposed between the pair of holder protrusions 55c.

[0049] According to this configuration, when the pair of unit protrusions 39 are housed in the pair of unit guide portions 41 and the pair of holder protrusions 55 c are housed in the pair of holder guide portions 42, the first connector C1 and the second connector C2 can be stably aligned between the pair of holder protrusions 55 c, thereby enabling the first connector C1 and the second connector C2 to be connected more accurately.

[0050] In this embodiment, the first housing 36 has a first opposing surface F1 that faces the second housing 37 in the combined state and a first top surface F2 that extends from the upper end of the first opposing surface F1. The second housing 37 has a second opposing surface G1 that faces the first opposing surface F1 in the combined state and from which the unit protrusion 39 protrudes. The unit guide portion 41 includes a guide groove 41a that extends between the first opposing surface F1 and the first top surface F2 and guides the unit protrusion 39 in one of the vertical directions. The guide groove 41a includes a guide opening 41b that is located in the first top surface F2 and opens toward the other of the vertical directions.

[0051] According to this configuration, an operator can insert the unit protrusion 39 into the guide groove 41a through the guide opening 41b, thereby guiding the unit protrusion 39 along the guide groove 41a. This allows the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 to be properly and easily aligned, and the electrical wiring L1, L2 of each unit 4, 5 to be reliably connected. The operator also moves the second unit 5 toward the first unit 4 from above the first unit 4, and moves the first unit 4 relative to the second unit 5 in one of the vertical directions. This allows the operator to insert the unit protrusion 39 into the guide groove 41a through the guide opening 41b, and guide the unit protrusion 39 along the guide groove 41a in one of the vertical directions. This reduces the workload, allows the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 to be properly and easily aligned, and the electrical wiring L1, L2 of each unit 4, 5 to be reliably connected.

[0052] 4, the unit protrusion 39 of this embodiment includes a main body 39A extending in the opposing direction and an extension 39B extending in one of the up and down directions from the tip of the main body 39A in the opposing direction. The unit guide 41 also includes an engagement portion 41d that engages with the extension 39B housed in the guide groove 41a.

[0053] According to this configuration, the extending portion 39B of the unit protruding portion 39 engages with the engaging portion 41d of the unit guide portion 41, making it easier to maintain the coupled state of the first unit 4 and the second unit 5. This prevents the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 from accidentally detaching, and makes it possible to maintain a stable coupled state of the first unit 4 and the second unit 5.

[0054] 4, in this embodiment, the unit protrusion 39 has a protruding end surface 39C disposed in a plane perpendicular to the opposing direction, and an inclined end surface 39D that is continuous with the protruding end surface 39C and inclined with respect to the perpendicular plane. The inclined end surface 39D has a shape that extends in the vertical direction.

[0055] According to this configuration, the unit protrusion 39 has the protruding end surface 39C and the inclined end surface 39D, so that the unit protrusion 39 can be guided into the unit guide portion 41 and easily accommodated in the unit guide portion 41. This allows the first unit 4 and the second unit 5 to be aligned easily and quickly, and the electrical wiring L1, L2 of each unit 4, 5 to be reliably connected to each other.

[0056] The second embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0057] Second Embodiment Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an outdoor unit 103 of an air conditioning apparatus 101 according to a second embodiment. In the outdoor unit 103, the movable bodies 52, 54 and the connecting shaft 57 are omitted. As shown in Fig. 8, the outdoor unit 103 has a holder lever 58 that is exposed to the outside of a second housing 137. The holder lever 58 is connected to a connector holder 55. The second housing 137 has an opening 137b that exposes the holder lever 58 to the outside in a state where it can move back and forth in a reciprocating movement direction. An operator can connect or disconnect the connector C2 held in the connector holder 55 to or from the connector C1 by operating the holder lever 58 in the reciprocating movement direction.

[0058] (Additional Notes) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0059] [Technology 1] An outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to Technology 1 includes a first unit having some components of multiple elements, including at least a heat exchanger, a compressor, a pressure reducing device, and a blower, which are configured to be connectable and detachable to each other, and a second unit having the remaining components of the multiple elements. The first unit includes a first housing, a first electrical wiring housed in the first housing, and a first connector attached to the first electrical wiring. The second unit includes a second housing, a second electrical wiring housed in the second housing, a second connector attached to the second electrical wiring and connected to the first connector, thereby electrically connecting the first electrical wiring and the second electrical wiring, and a movement mechanism. The movement mechanism reciprocates the second connector between a detached position where the second connector is detached from the first connector and a connected position where the second connector is connectable to the first connector. When the first unit and the second unit are coupled together, and the direction in which the first housing and the second housing face each other is defined as the facing direction, one of the first unit and the second unit has at least one unit protrusion that protrudes in the facing direction, and the other of the first unit and the second unit has at least one unit guide that guides and houses the unit protrusion in the coupled state.

[0060] With the outdoor unit of the air conditioner having the above-described configuration, by separating the first and second units, it is possible to easily install the outdoor unit in a desired location by individually transporting each unit to a predetermined location, even when there are only a few workers or when space is limited. Furthermore, by guiding the unit protrusions with the unit guide parts, it is possible to properly align the first and second units.

[0061] Furthermore, by using the moving mechanism to move the second connector from the detached position to the connected position, the first connector and the second connector can be easily and reliably electrically connected or disconnected without the need for an operator to manually connect or disconnect the first connector and the second connector. This reduces the workload involved in accurately aligning the units and connecting or disconnecting the electrical wiring between them when the outdoor unit of an air conditioning system is configured by connecting multiple units together. Furthermore, the electrical wiring between the multiple units can be reliably connected electrically when the multiple units are connected together. As a result, even if the outdoor unit of an air conditioning system becomes larger or heavier, the workload involved in arranging the outdoor unit can be reduced, and the outdoor unit can be conveniently arranged in constrained spaces such as small installation areas or complex spaces.

[0062] [Technology 2] In an outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to Technology 2, in the outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to Technology 1, the second unit has a connector holder that holds the second connector and a connector guide that guides the connector holder along the opposing direction. The connector holder has at least one holder protrusion that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the second housing when the second connector is in the coupled state and in the connected position. The first unit has at least one holder guide that houses the holder protrusion and guides it.

[0063] According to the above configuration, the connector guide guides the connector holder along the opposing direction, so that the second connector can be brought close to the first connector at an appropriate relative position, thereby enabling the second connector to be properly connected to the first connector. Furthermore, for example, the first unit and the second unit can be first aligned using the unit protrusion and unit guide, and then aligned using the holder protrusion and holder guide. This allows the first unit and the second unit to be aligned with high precision in two stages.

[0064] [Technology 3] In an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to Technology 3, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to Technology 2, the at least one unit protrusion includes a pair of unit protrusions, and the at least one holder protrusion includes a pair of holder protrusions. The pair of holder protrusions are disposed in a space located between the pair of unit protrusions in the coupled state.

[0065] According to the above configuration, when the pair of holder protrusions are accommodated in the pair of holder guide portions, the pair of unit protrusions are accommodated in the pair of unit guide portions on the opposite side of the space between the pair of holder protrusions. This allows the pair of holder protrusions and the pair of holder guide portions to be stably aligned. This allows for more accurate connection of the first connector and the second connector.

[0066] [Technology 4] In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner of Technology 4, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner of Technology 3, a second connector is disposed between the pair of holder protrusions.

[0067] According to the above configuration, when the pair of unit protrusions are housed in the pair of unit guide portions and the pair of holder protrusions are housed in the pair of holder guide portions, the first connector and the second connector can be stably aligned between the pair of holder protrusions, thereby enabling the first connector and the second connector to be connected more accurately.

[0068] [Technology 5] In the outdoor unit for an air conditioner of Technology 5, in the outdoor unit for an air conditioner described in any one of Technology 1 to Technology 4, the first housing has a first opposing surface that faces the second housing in the combined state and a first top surface extending from an upper end of the first opposing surface. The second housing has a second opposing surface that faces the first opposing surface in the combined state and from which at least one unit protrusion protrudes. The at least one unit guide portion includes a guide groove that extends between the first opposing surface and the first top surface and guides the at least one unit protrusion along one of the vertical directions. The guide groove includes a guide opening that is located in the first top surface and opens toward the other of the vertical directions.

[0069] According to the above configuration, an operator can insert the unit protrusion from the guide opening into the guide groove and guide the unit protrusion along the guide groove. This allows the first unit and the second unit to be properly and easily aligned and the electrical wiring of each unit to be reliably connected. The operator also moves the second unit toward the first unit from above the first unit, moving the first unit relative to the second unit in one of the vertical directions. This allows the operator to insert the unit protrusion from the guide opening into the guide groove and guide the unit protrusion along the guide groove in one of the vertical directions. This reduces the workload, allows the first unit and the second unit to be properly and easily aligned, and the electrical wiring of each unit to be reliably connected.

[0070] [Technology 6] In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner of Technology 6, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner of Technology 5, at least one unit protrusion includes a main body extending in the opposing direction and an extension extending in one of the up and down directions from a tip of the main body in the opposing direction. At least one unit guide includes an engagement portion that engages with the extension housed in the guide groove.

[0071] According to the above configuration, the extension of the unit protrusion engages with the engagement portion of the unit guide portion, making it easier to maintain the first unit and the second unit in a coupled state, thereby preventing the first unit and the second unit from accidentally separating and maintaining a stable coupled state of the first unit and the second unit.

[0072] [Technology 7] In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner of Technology 7, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to any one of Technologies 1 to 6, at least one unit protrusion includes a protruding end face arranged in a plane perpendicular to the opposing direction, and an inclined end face that is continuous with the protruding end face and is inclined with respect to the perpendicular plane. The inclined end face has a shape that extends in the vertical direction.

[0073] According to the above configuration, the unit protrusion has a protruding end surface and an inclined end surface, so that the unit protrusion can be easily guided into the unit guide portion and accommodated in the unit guide portion, thereby enabling the first unit and the second unit to be aligned easily and quickly and the electrical wiring of each unit to be reliably connected.

[0074] [Technology 8] The air conditioner of Technology 8 includes an outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to any one of Technology 1 to Technology 7.

[0075] With this configuration, even if the outdoor unit becomes larger or heavier, the workload involved in placing the outdoor unit can be reduced, and the outdoor unit can be placed well in a space with limited installation area, a complicated space, or other restricted space.

[0076] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the configuration may be changed, added, or deleted without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The multiple electrical components E included in the component group 35 may be appropriately allocated and housed in at least one of the first housing 36 and the second housing 37. The detachment position X1 is a position where the second connector C2 is detached from the first connector C1, and does not necessarily have to be a position where the second connector C2 is retracted inside the second housing 37. The connection position X2 in each embodiment is a position where the second connector C2 can be connected to the first connector C1, and does not necessarily have to be a position where the second connector C2 protrudes outside the second housing 37 from the detachment position X1.

[0077] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Air conditioner 2 Indoor unit 3 Outdoor unit 4 First unit 5 Second unit 20 Indoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 21 Blower 22 User operation unit 23 Fan 30 Outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 31 Compressor 32 Pressure reducing device 33 Blower 34 Power supply unit 35 Component group 36 First housing 37 Second housing 37a Opening 38 Fan 39 Unit protrusion 39A Main body 39B Extension 39C Protrusion end surface 39D Inclined end surface 41 Unit guide 41a Guide groove 41b Guide opening 41c Guide opening 41d Engagement portion 42 Holder guide 50 Movement mechanism 51 Base 52 First moving body (component) 52a Extension 52c Through hole 53 Support body (component) 53a Support portion 54 Second moving body (component) 54a Main body portion 54b Operation portion 54c Operation groove 54d Input portion 54e Plate surface 55 Connector holder 55a Outer peripheral surface 55b Through hole 55c Holder protrusion portion 56 Connector guide 56a Inner peripheral surface 57 Connecting shaft 58 Holder lever 60 Wall member 80 Cover 80c Insertion hole 101 Air conditioning device 103 Outdoor unit 137 Second housing 137b Opening C1 First connector C2 Second connector E Electrical component F1 First opposing surface F2 First top surface G1 Second opposing surface L1 First electrical wiring L2 Second electrical wiring M1 Fan motor M2 Fan motor N Rotating shaft PL Power line RP1 Refrigerant pipe RP2 Refrigerant pipe RP3 Refrigerant pipe RP4 Refrigerant pipe S Temperature sensor V Switching valve X1 Desorption position X2 Connection position

Claims

1. A device comprising: a first unit configured to be connectable and separable with each other and having some components of a plurality of elements including at least a heat exchanger, a compressor, a pressure reducing device, and a blower; and a second unit having the remaining components of the plurality of elements, wherein the first unit has: a first housing; a first electrical wiring housed in the first housing; and a first connector attached to the first electrical wiring; and the second unit has: a second housing; a second electrical wiring housed in the second housing; and a second connector attached to the second electrical wiring and connected to the first connector, thereby electrically connecting the first electrical wiring and the second electrical wiring; and a movement mechanism that moves the second connector back and forth between a detached position where the second connector is detached from the first connector and a connected position where the second connector can be connected to the first connector, wherein when the first unit and the second unit are connected in a connected state, and the directions in which the first housing and the second housing face each other are defined as opposing directions, An outdoor unit for an air conditioning device, wherein one of the first unit and the second unit has at least one unit protrusion that protrudes in the opposing direction, and the other has at least one unit guide portion that guides and accommodates the unit protrusion in the coupled state.

2. An outdoor unit for an air conditioning apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the second unit has: a connector holder that holds the second connector; and a connector guide that guides the connector holder along the opposing direction, the connector holder having at least one holder protrusion that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the second housing when in the coupled state and with the second connector positioned in the connection position, and the first unit has at least one holder guide that accommodates the holder protrusion and guides the holder protrusion.

3. An outdoor unit for an air conditioning device as described in claim 2, wherein the at least one unit protrusion includes a pair of unit protrusions, the at least one holder protrusion includes a pair of holder protrusions, and the pair of holder protrusions are arranged in a space located between the pair of unit protrusions in the coupled state.

4. The outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the second connector is disposed between the pair of holder protrusions.

5. An outdoor unit for an air conditioning apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the first housing has a first opposing surface that faces the second housing in the combined state and a first top surface extending from an upper end of the first opposing surface, the second housing has a second opposing surface that faces the first opposing surface in the combined state and from which the at least one unit protrusion protrudes, the at least one unit guide portion includes a guide groove that extends between the first opposing surface and the first top surface and guides the at least one unit protrusion along one of the vertical directions, and the guide groove includes a guide opening that is disposed on the first top surface and opens toward the other of the vertical directions.

6. An outdoor unit for an air conditioning apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the at least one unit protrusion includes a main body portion extending in the opposing direction and an extension portion extending from a tip of the main body portion in the opposing direction toward one of the upward and downward directions, and the at least one unit guide portion includes an engagement portion that engages with the extension portion accommodated in the guide groove.

7. An outdoor unit for an air conditioning device as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one unit protrusion includes a protruding end face arranged in a plane perpendicular to the opposing direction, and an inclined end face that is continuous with the protruding end face and inclined with respect to the perpendicular plane, and the inclined end face has a shape that extends in the vertical direction.

8. An air conditioning device comprising an outdoor unit of the air conditioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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