Patent Publication Number: US-2009229290-A1

Title: Indoor unit of air conditioner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0023461 (filed on Mar. 14, 2008), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in which a compressor can be easily fixed. 
     Air conditioners are used to cool and/or heat an indoor area through heat exchange between refrigerant and indoor/outdoor air. A split type air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit is used to cool or heat indoor air through heat exchange between refrigerator and the indoor air, and the outdoor unit is used to cool or heat outdoor air through heat exchange between the refrigerator and the outdoor air. 
     In the outdoor unit, a compressor is disposed to compress the refrigerator to a high-temperature and high-pressure state. In a state where a fixing bolt welded to a base pan forming the bottom surface of the outdoor unit is inserted through a penetration hole formed through a base plate of the compressor, a fixing nut is coupled to the fixing bolt to fixing the compressor. However, the outdoor unit of an air conditioner of the related art has the following limitations. 
     As described above, in a state where the fixing bolt is previously fixed to the base pan, the fixing bolt is inserted through the penetration hole of the base plate to fix the compressor. Therefore, it is difficult to place the compressor having a weight of about 30 kg to 40 kg in a manner such that the fixing bolt is aligned with the penetration hole and inserted into the penetration hole. 
     In addition, if the compressor is not exactly placed, the compressor should be repositioned to a proper position. Furthermore, while the compressor is repositioned, the fixing bolt or other parts such as an anti-vibration member can be damaged. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that can be fixed in a simple manner. 
     Embodiments also provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that is configured to be exactly fixed. 
     In one embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprises: a base pan provided with a guide part; a grommet configured to be placed at a top surface of the base pan while being guided by the guide part; a compressor configured to be supported by the grommet; a fixing part configured to be inserted through the compressor, the grommet, and the guide part; and a coupling part configured to couple the fixing part inserted through the base pan, the grommet, and the compressor. 
     In another embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprises: a base pan forming a bottom surface of the outdoor unit; a guide protrusion disposed on a top surface of the base pan; a guide boss disposed on the top surface of the base pan; an anti-vibration member configured to be placed on the top surface of the base pan while being guided by the guide protrusion and the guide boss; a compressor provided with a base plate at a side thereof, the base plate being supported by the anti-vibration member in a state where a side of the anti-vibration member is inserted through the base plate; and a fixing member configured to fix the base plate to the top surface of the base pan. 
     In further another embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprises: a base pan forming a bottom surface of the outdoor unit; a first guide member disposed on a top surface of the base pan and comprising a hole; a second guide member disposed on the top surface of the base pan; an anti-vibration member configured to be placed on the top surface of the base pan while being guided by the first and second guide members, the anti-vibration member comprising a hole communicating with the hole of the first guide member; a compressor comprising a base plate, the base plate comprising a hole through which a portion of the anti-vibration member is inserted; a bolt configured to be inserted through the hole of the anti-vibration member and the hole of the first guide member in a state where the anti-vibration member is placed on the top surface of the base pan and is inserted through the hole of the base plate so that a portion of the bolt protrudes downward from the base pan; and a nut configured to be coupled to the bolt protruding downward from the base pan. 
     According to embodiments, a compressor can be fixed more simply and exactly. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating characteristic parts according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the characteristic parts according to the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4 to 7  are longitudinal sectional views for explaining how a compressor is fixed in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view illustrating characteristic parts of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     An outdoor unit of an air conditioner will now be described in detail according to a first embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit  1  of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment;  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating characteristic parts according to the first embodiment; and  FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the characteristic parts according to the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a base pan  10  forms the bottom surface of the outdoor unit  1 . Various parts such as a compressor  30 , an accumulator  40 , an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown), and a blower fan (not shown) are disposed in the outdoor unit  1 . The compressor  30  is fixed in a state where the compressor  30  is placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 , that is, the bottom surface of the outdoor unit  1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base pan  10  includes a plurality of guide protrusions  11  (one shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The guide protrusion  11  is formed by an upwardly protruded portion of the base pan  10 . The guide protrusion  11  is used to temporarily fix the compressor  30 , substantially, a grommet  20  (described later). 
     A penetration hole  13  is vertically formed through the guide protrusion  11 . Practically, the penetration hole  13  may be formed by cutting a portion of the base pan  10  corresponding to the guide protrusion  11 . 
     A plurality of grommets  20  are placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 . The grommets  20  may function as anti-vibration members for supporting the compressor  30  and absorbing vibrations generating when the compressor  30  operates. For example, the grommets  20  may be formed of a material having predetermined elasticity. In detail, each of the grommets  20  includes a support part  21  and an insertion part  23 . 
     The support part  21  makes contact with the top surface of the base pan  10  when the grommet  20  is placed on the base pan  10 . A receiving groove  25  is formed on the bottom surface of the support part  21  to receive the guide protrusion  11 . The receiving groove  25  is formed by upwardly recessing a portion of the bottom surface of the support part  21 . 
     The insertion part  23  is disposed at the top surface of the support part  21 . The insertion part  23  is inserted through a penetration opening  33  of a base plate  31  (described later). When the insertion part  23  is inserted through the penetration opening  33  of the base plate  31 , an upper portion of the insertion part  23  protrudes upward from the base plate  31 . After the insertion part  23  is inserted through the penetration opening  33  of the base plate  31 , the insertion part  23  may not be freely released from the penetration opening  33 . For this, the insertion part  23  may be tightly fitted into the penetration opening  33 . In addition, the upper portion of the insertion part  23  protruded upwardly from the base plate  31  may be wider than the penetration opening  33  of the base plate  31 . 
     The support part  21  and the insertion part  23  may be substantially formed in one piece, or the support part  21  and the insertion part  23  may be formed separately and fixed to each other. A penetration hole  27  is formed through the grommet  20 . Substantially, the penetration hole  27  is vertically formed through the support part  21  and the insertion part  23 . When the grommet  20  is placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 , the penetration hole  27  of the grommet  20  communicates with the penetration hole  13  of the guide protrusion  11 . 
     The base plate  31  is fixed to the bottom surface of the compressor  30 . The base plate  31  is used to fix the compressor  30  to the base pan  10 , and the shape of the base plate  31  is approximately rectangular. However, the shape of the base plate  31  is not limited to the rectangular shape. 
     A plurality of penetration openings  33  are formed through the base plate  31 . Each of the penetration openings  33  may be formed by cutting a portion of the base plate  31 . The insertion part  23  of the grommet  20  is inserted through the penetration opening  33  of the base plate  31  to support the compressor  30  using the grommet  20 . As described above, after the insertion part  23  of the grommet  20  is inserted through the penetration opening  33  of the base plate  31 , the insertion part  23  is not freely released from the penetration opening  33  because the insertion part  23  is tightly fitted into the penetration opening  33  or the upper portion of the insertion part  23  protruded upward from the base plate  31  when the insertion part  23  is inserted through the penetration opening  33  is relatively wider than the penetration opening  33 . 
     A plurality of fixing bolts (B) and a plurality of fixing nuts (N) are used to fix the compressor  30  to the base pan  10 . In a state where the grommets  20  are placed on the base pan  10  and the compressor  30  is supported on the grommets  20 , in a state where the insertion parts  23  of the grommets  20  are inserted in the penetration openings  33  of the base plate  31 , the fixing bolts (B) are inserted sequentially through the penetration holes  27  of the grommets  20  and the penetration holes  13  of the guide protrusions  11 . The fixing nuts (N) are coupled to leading ends of the fixing bolts (B) inserted through the penetration holes  27  of the grommets  20  and the penetration holes  13  of the guide protrusions  11 . The fixing nuts (N) may be previously fixed to the bottom surface of the base pan  10  by, for example, welding. In this case, the fixing bolts (B) may be coupled to the fixing nuts (N) while the fixing bolts (B) are inserted through the penetration holes  27  of the grommets  20  and the penetration holes  13  of the guide protrusions  11 . 
     Hereinafter, an detailed explanation will be given on procedures for fixing the compressor  30  of the outdoor unit  1  of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS. 4 to 7  are longitudinal sectional views for explaining how the compressor  30  is fixed in the outdoor unit  1  of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the grommet  20  is placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 . At this time, the guide protrusion  11  is inserted in the receiving groove  25 , and the penetration hole  13  of the guide protrusion  11  is aligned with the penetration hole  27  of the grommet  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the compressor  30  is placed in a manner such that the grommet  20  (that is, the insertion part  23  of the grommet  20 ) is inserted in the penetration opening  33 . Therefore, the compressor  30  (substantially, the base plate  31 ) can be supported on the grommet  20 . 
     Alternatively, the grommet  20  may be placed on the top surface of the base pan  10  after the compressor  30  is supported on the compressor  30 . That is, after the grommet  20  is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the base plate  31  by inserting the insertion part  23  of the grommet  20  through the penetration opening  33 , both the grommet  20  and the compressor  30  supported on the grommet  20  may be placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in a state where the grommet  20  is placed on the top surface of the base pan  10  and the compressor  30  is supported on the grommet  20 , a fixing bolt (B) is inserted sequentially through the penetration hole  27  of the grommet  20  and the penetration hole  13  of the guide protrusion  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a fixing nut (N) is coupled to a leading end of the fixing bolt (B) which is protruded downward from the base pan  10  after the fixing bolt (B) is inserted through the penetration hole  27  of the grommet  20  and the penetration hole  13  of the guide protrusion  11 . Therefore, the grommet  20  and the base pan  10  are compressed, and thus the compressor  30  can be securely fixed to the base pan  10 . 
     The fixing bolt (B) and the fixing nut (N) may be coupled to each other as follows. In the case where the fixing bolt (B) and the fixing bolt (B) are coupled to each other in a state where the fixing nut (N) is previously fixed to the bottom surface of the base pan  10 , the fixing bolt (B) may be coupled to the fixing nut (N) as the fixing bolt (B) is inserted through the penetration hole  27  of the grommet  20  and the penetration hole  13  of the guide protrusion  11 . 
     Next, a detailed explanation will be given on an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view illustrating characteristic parts of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment. In the following explanation of the second embodiment, the same elements as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in the current embodiment, a guide protrusion  11  and a guide boss  15  are disposed at the top surface of a base pan  10 . The guide boss  15  is spaced a predetermined distance from the outer side of the guide protrusion  11  and is formed by making a portion of the base pan  10  protuberant upwardly in a manner such that the guide boss  15  form a surface corresponding to the cross-section of a grommet  20  that will be placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 . In the current embodiment, at least the lower end portion of the grommet  20  has a cylindrical shape, and the guide boss  15  forms a circular surface corresponding to the grommet  20 . Furthermore, the inner diameter of the guide boss  15  may be equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the grommet  20 . 
     While the grommet  20  is placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 , the guide boss  15  guides the grommet  20 . In detail, when the grommet  20  is placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 , the guide protrusion  11  is inserted in a receiving groove (not shown) formed in the bottom surface of the grommet  20 . At this time, the outer surface of the lower end portion of the grommet  20  makes contact with the inner surface of the guide boss  15  or is guided by the inner surface of the guide boss  15 , so that the grommet  20  can be guided to a proper position of the top surface of the base pan  10 . 
     In the current embodiment, other elements or structures such as a compressor  30 , a base plate  31 , a penetration opening  33 , a fixing bolt (B), and a fixing nut (N) are the same as those of the first embodiment. 
     In the current embodiment, when the grommet  20  is placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 , the grommet  20  can be exactly guided to a proper position of the top surface of the base pan  10  owing to the guide boss  15 . Therefore, since the grommet  20  can be exactly placed on the top surface of the base pan  10 , the compressor  30  can be fixed more exactly. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. 
     In the above-described embodiments, a fixing bolt and a fixing nut are used as fixing members for fixing the compressor. However, the fixing members are not limited to the fixing bolt and fixing nut. That is, any fixing part that can be inserted through the bottom surface of the outdoor unit, the compressor, and the grommet, and any coupling part that can be coupled to the fixing part can be used as the fixing members. 
     As described above, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, the compressor can be fixed in a state where the compressor is placed at a proper position. Therefore, the compressor can be fixed more simply and exactly.