Outdoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus

A power supply panel includes an engagement portion. An electrical component box includes a hook portion that engages with the engagement portion. A temporarily fixed state in which the power supply panel is attached to the electrical component box is set when the engagement portion engages with the hook portion.A securely fixed state in which the power supply panel is positioned inside the outer periphery of a housing, as the housing is seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel is positioned below the electrical component box is set when the electrical component box is placed in a machine chamber and the power supply panel is attached to the housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In some existing outdoor units of air-conditioning apparatuses, a power supply panel is fixed to an electrical component box with screws so as to be inclined in consideration of performing an operation of electrically connecting the power supply panel to the electrical component box and an operation of connecting indoor-outdoor connection wires (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 has good workability because the power supply panel is fixed to the electrical component box with screws so as to be inclined and the power supply panel and the electrical component box are attached to the outdoor unit. However, a wasted space is formed between the electrical component box and a side panel which constitutes the outdoor unit due to the inclined structure of the power supply panel. Therefore, the outdoor unit has a large size.

The present invention has been made in order to address the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus smaller in size than the conventional outdoor unit without lowering the workability,

Solution to Problem

According to the present invention, an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a housing in which a machine chamber is formed; an electrical component box disposed in the machine chamber; and a power supply panel including a terminal block to which a connection wire is attached, the connection wire being connected to an electrical component held in the electrical component box.

The power supply panel includes a first power-supply-panel-side engagement member. The electrical component box includes an electrical-component-box-side engagement member that engages with the first power-supply-panel-side engagement member. A first state in which the power supply panel is attached to the electrical component box is set when the first power-supply-panel-side engagement member and the electrical-component-box-side engagement member engage with each other. A second state in which the power supply panel is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing, as the housing is seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel is positioned below the electrical component box is set when the electrical component box is placed in the machine chamber and the power supply panel is attached to the housing.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, a first state in which the power supply panel is attached to the electrical component box is set when the first power-supply-panel-side engagement member of the power supply panel and the electrical-component-box-side engagement member of the electrical component box engage with each other. A second state in which the power supply panel is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing, as the housing is seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel is positioned below the electrical component box is set when the electrical component box is placed in the machine chamber and the power supply panel is attached to the housing.

Therefore, the outdoor unit can be configured so that after the first power-supply-panel-side engagement member and the electrical-component-box-side engagement member are disengaged from each other, the power supply panel is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing, as the housing is seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel is positioned below the electrical component box. Accordingly, an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus smaller in size than the conventional outdoor unit without lowering the workability can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An example of an outdoor unit100of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an Embodiment of the present invention and an example of an electrical component box16of the outdoor unit100will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the Embodiment to be described below. In the following description, terms representing positions (for example, “above” and “below”) will be used to facilitate understanding. Note, however, that these terms are used only for the sake of convenience in description and do not limit the present invention.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of the outdoor unit100according to an Embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the outer periphery of the outdoor unit100is covered with a front panel1, a side panel2, a top panel3, and a protection cover4, which constitute a housing100a. As illustrated inFIG. 2, an inner space of the housing100ais divided by a separator7into an air-sending device chamber5and a machine chamber6. Components in the outdoor unit100are held on a bottom panel9having legs8.

A heat exchanger10, a propeller fan11, a motor12, and a motor mount13are disposed in the air-sending device chamber5. The motor mount13is a member that holds the motor12, to which the propeller fan11is attached. The motor mount13is disposed in front of the heat exchanger10. When the propeller fan11rotates, air passes through the heat exchanger10, flows into the outdoor unit100, passes through the propeller fan11, and is discharged to the front of the outdoor unit100. Thus, for example, during a cooling operation, a refrigerant in the heat exchanger10is cooled by air, and the air passing through the heat exchanger10is overheated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant.

A compressor14, a refrigerant pipe15, the electrical component box16, a power supply panel17, and a terminal block18are disposed in the machine chamber6. The compressor14compresses a refrigerant supplied from an indoor unit (not shown). The refrigerant compressed by the compressor14is supplied to the heat exchanger10through the refrigerant pipe15. The electrical component box16is disposed above the compressor14and the refrigerant pipe15.

The electrical component box16is configured to house various electrical components and supply each of the electrical components with, for example, electric power. The electrical component box16is made of, for example, a resin. The power supply panel17is disposed on the surface of the electrical component box16, which faces the inner surface of the side panel2. The power supply panel17is a member to be fitted with the terminal block18. The power supply panel17is made of, for example, a resin. The terminal block18is a member to be connected with indoor-outdoor connection wires for connecting the outdoor unit100to the indoor unit. Connection wires connected to electrical components in the electrical component box16are attached to the terminal block18. The terminal block18is fixed to the power supply panel17using, for example, a screw (not shown).

FIG. 3is an enlarged view of the right part of the electrical component box16of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the electrical component box16includes a hook portion16a, an electrical-component-box-side slide surface16b, a first stopper16c, a second stopper16d, and a fixing piece16e. Each of the constituent members of the electrical component box16will be described hereinafter. The frontward direction of the outdoor unit100is indicated by an arrow A, and the backward direction of the outdoor unit100is indicated by an arrow B. In the following description, “a state in which the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16” refers to a state in which the power supply panel17is attached to the electrical component box16and upward and downward movement and forward and backward movement of the power supply panel17are restrained.

The hook portion16ais configured to temporarily fix the power supply panel17to the electrical component box16. For example, the hook portion16ais an L-shaped portion extending outwards from the right side surface of the electrical component box16and having an end portion that protrudes upwards. The hook portion16ais a member that restrains downward movement of the power supply panel17in a state in which the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16. The electrical-component-box-side slide surface16bis, for example, a horizontal surface extending in the front-to-back direction on the right side surface side of the electrical component box16.

The first stopper16cis a portion that restrains movement of the power supply panel17in the frontward direction A when the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16. For example, the first stopper16cprotrudes downwards from the right side surface of the electrical component box16. The first stopper16cis positioned more to the back than the hook portion16a. The first stopper16cis positioned above the electrical-component-box-side slide surface16b.

The second stopper16dis a portion that restrains movement of the power supply panel17in the backward direction B when the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16. For example, the second stopper16dis disposed so as to stand upright from the electrical-component-box-side slide surface16b. The second stopper16dis positioned more to the back than the first stopper16c.

The fixing piece16eis a portion that restrains movement of the power supply panel17in a moment direction C (upward direction) (FIG. 6) when the power supply panel17is fixed to the electrical component box16. For example, the fixing piece16eis disposed above the electrical-component-box-side slide surface16bso as to extend parallel to the electrical-component-box-side slide surface16b.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the power supply panel17on which the terminal block18of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention is mounted.FIG. 5is a front view showing the internal structure of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a state in which the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the power supply panel17is a member for fixing the terminal block18in position. The power supply panel17includes an engagement portion17a, a power-supply-panel-side slide surface17b, a rib17c, and a tab17d.Each of the constituent members of the power supply panel17will be described hereinafter.

The engagement portion17aengages with the hook portion16a. The power-supply-panel-side slide surface17bis a surface that comes into contact with the electrical-component-box-side slide surface16bwhen the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16. The power-supply-panel-side slide surface17bis formed, for example, at the top of the power supply panel17. The power-supply-panel-side slide surface17bis positioned above the engagement portion17a.

The rib17cis a portion that restrains movement of the power supply panel17in the frontward direction A in a state in which the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16. The rib17cis formed on the power-supply-panel-side slide surface17b. The details of the tab17dwill be described later.

A power supply panel opening17A is formed in the power supply panel17. The power supply panel opening17A is, for example, a rectangular opening, into which the hook portion16aof the electrical component box16is inserted.FIG. 5illustrates a state in which the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16and the electrical component box16and the power supply panel17are mounted in the outdoor unit100.

In the above description, the first stopper16cprotrudes downwards and the rib17cprotrudes upwards. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first stopper16cmay protrude upwards and the rib17cmay protrude downwards, so that the first stopper16crestrains forward and backward movement of the power supply panel17.

FIG. 6is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7is a side view of the outdoor unit100shown inFIG. 6.FIG. 8is an enlarged view of a portion Y shown inFIG. 7.

The process of temporarily fixing the power supply panel17to the electrical component box16will be described hereinafter.

First, the power supply panel17is disposed so that a surface opposite to the power-supply-panel-side slide surface17babuts against the electrical-component-box-side slide surface16b(FIG. 3). Next, the power supply panel17is moved by a predetermined distance (reference distance) so that the rib17cis positioned more to the back of the outdoor unit100than the first stopper16c. The thus obtained positional relationship between the power supply panel17and the electrical component box16is as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8.

At this time, the second stopper16dis positioned more to the back than the rib17c. Therefore, even when the power supply panel17falls under the influence of its own weight in the backward direction B, the second stopper16dcan restrain movement of the power supply panel17in the backward direction B.

Moreover, the power-supply-panel-side slide surface17bis positioned between the electrical-component-box-side slide surface16band the fixing piece16e. Therefore, even when a moment is applied to the power supply panel17in the moment direction C, the fixing piece16ecan restrain upward movement of the power supply panel17.

Furthermore, the rib17cis positioned more to the back of the outdoor unit100than the first stopper16c. Therefore, even when the power supply panel17falls under the influence of its own weight in the frontward direction A, the first stopper16ccan restrain movement of the power supply panel17in the frontward direction A. Thus, the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16.

For example, when the operator transports the outdoor unit100in a state in which the power supply panel17is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16, by applying a force greater than the self weight of the power supply panel17to the power supply panel17in the frontward direction A, the rib17cpasses over the first stopper16cand the temporarily fixed state is released. By disengaging the hook portion16aand the engagement portion17afrom each other in this state, the electrical component box16can be removed from the power supply panel17.

The direction in which the power supply panel17is moved is not limited to the backward direction of the outdoor unit100and may be the frontward direction of the outdoor unit100. In this case, the electrical component box16and the power supply panel17are designed in such a way that the power supply panel17can be temporarily fixed to the electrical component box16by moving the power supply panel17in the frontward direction,

FIG. 9is an enlarged view illustrating the side panel2of the outdoor unit100according to an Embodiment of the present invention, when viewed in the X-direction ofFIG. 2.FIG. 10is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the power supply panel17of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention is removed from the electrical component box16and fixed to the side panel2.FIG. 11is a front view illustrating a state in which the power supply panel17of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention is securely fixed to the side panel2.FIG. 12is a side view showing the side panel2in a state in which the power supply panel17of the outdoor unit100according to the Embodiment of the present invention is attached to the side panel2.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, a side panel opening2aconfigured to receive the tab17dis formed in the side panel2. A screw hole50configured to receive a screw so as to securely fix the power supply panel17to the side panel2is formed in the side panel2at a position below the side panel opening2a. As illustrated inFIG. 10, a hook portion17econfigured to fix a lead wire is disposed on the back side of the power supply panel17. Therefore, an operation can be performed while a lead wire is hooked to the hook portion17e, Accordingly, an operation of connecting a lead wire can be efficiently performed. The present invention is not limited to the arrangement in which the power supply panel17is attached to the side panel2, and it is only necessary that the power supply panel17be attached to the housing100a.

When the tab17dof the power supply panel17is inserted into the side panel opening2a, the power supply panel17is inclined with respect to the side panel2, as illustrated inFIG. 10. With such a structure in which the power supply panel17is inclined with respect to the side panel2, the workability in connecting an indoor-outdoor connection wire (not shown) to the terminal block18can be improved.

In the state in which the tab17dis inserted into the side panel opening2aas illustrated inFIG. 10, the power supply panel17is fixed (securely fixed) to the side panel2with a screw, and the side panel2is attached to the outdoor unit100. Then, as illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12, the power supply panel17is housed in the outdoor unit100so as to be positioned in a space formed vertically below the electrical component box16. When the housing100ais viewed in a plan view, the power supply panel17is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing100aand below the electrical component box16.

As described above, in the outdoor unit100of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the Embodiment, the power supply panel17includes the engagement portion17a. The electrical component box16includes the hook portion16a that engages with the engagement portion17a. A temporarily fixed state in which the power supply panel17is attached to the electrical component box16is set when the engagement portion17aengages with the hook portion16a. A securely fixed state in which the power supply panel17is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing100a, as the housing100ais seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel17is positioned below the electrical component box16is set when the electrical component box16is placed in the machine chamber6and the power supply panel17is attached to the housing100a. Therefore, the outdoor unit100can be configured so that after the engagement portion17aand the hook portion16aare disengaged from each other, the power supply panel17is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing100a, as the housing100ais seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel17is positioned below the electrical component box16. Accordingly, the outdoor unit100of an air-conditioning apparatus smaller in size than the conventional outdoor unit without lowering the workability can be obtained.

Accordingly, even when the length of the electrical component box16increases, it is not necessary to increase the size of the outdoor unit100, so that the size of the outdoor unit100can be decreased by the space that would have been formed if the power supply panel17had an existing inclined structure. Thus, the size of the outdoor unit100can be reduced by the amount by which the power supply panel17is inclined, and the size of the outdoor unit100can be maintained the same as the conventional outdoor unit even if the size of the electrical component box16increases.

As described above, in the outdoor unit100of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment, the power supply panel17includes the engagement portion17a. The electrical component box16includes the hook portion16athat engages with the engagement portion17a. A temporarily fixed state in which the power supply panel17is attached to the electrical component box16is set when the engagement portion17aengages with the hook portion16a. A securely fixed state in which the power supply panel17is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing100a, as the housing100ais seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel17is positioned below the electrical component box16is set when the electrical component box16is placed in the machine chamber6and the power supply panel17is attached to the housing100a. Therefore, the outdoor unit100can be configured so that after the engagement portion17aand the hook portion16aare disengaged from each other, the power supply panel17is positioned inside the outer periphery of the housing100a, as the housing100ais seen in a plan view, and the power supply panel17is positioned below the electrical component box16. Accordingly, the outdoor unit100of an air-conditioning apparatus smaller in size than the conventional outdoor unit without lowering the workability can be obtained.

By making the engagement portion17aand the hook portion16aengage with each other, the operator can temporarily fix these portions to each other without supporting them with his/her hands. Therefore, the operator can perform an operation of wiring other portions in the temporarily fixed state until the power supply panel17is attached to the side panel2. When fixing the power supply panel17to the side panel2, the operator removes the power supply panel17from the electrical component box16, and the operator can attach the power supply panel17to the side panel2by inserting the tab17dinto the side panel opening2a. Accordingly, in contrast to existing outdoor units, it is not necessary to fix the power supply panel17to the electrical component box16with screws.

The power supply panel17may be made of a flame-resistant member (for example, a sheet metal), instead of a resin as described above. In this case, even if fire is produced and enters the outdoor unit100, spreading of the fire can be suppressed.

The engagement portion17acorresponds to a “first power-supply-panel-side engagement member” of the present invention.

The hook portion16acorresponds to an “electrical-component-box-side engagement member” of the present invention.

The side panel opening2acorresponds to a “side-panel-side engagement portion” of the present invention.

The tab17dcorresponds to a “second power-supply-panel-side engagement member” of the present invention.

The temporarily fixed state described above corresponds to a “first state” of the present invention.

The securely fixed state described above corresponds to a “second state” of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST