Patent Publication Number: US-2017350606-A1

Title: Outdoor unit

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Typically in an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus such as an air-conditioning apparatus, a compressor, a heat exchanger, a fan, and other components are housed in a housing. Moreover, the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus is connected, through a refrigerant pipe, to an indoor unit housing a heat exchanger, a fan, and other components. In the air-conditioning apparatus, when the compressor is driven, refrigerant circulates between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pipe. 
     When such a refrigerant pipe is to be connected to the outdoor unit, the refrigerant pipe is attached to a connection port provided on an outer surface of the housing of the outdoor unit. The position of the connection port is on a back panel side of the housing (see Patent Literature 1), for example. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-264586 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     An internal refrigerant circuit connecting the compressor, a four-way valve, the heat exchanger, and other components is complicatedly housed in the outdoor unit. In particular, in a machine chamber housing the compressor, components such as the refrigerant pipe connected to the pipe connection port and a refrigerant pipe connected to the heat exchanger are in a complicated arrangement. With a poor assembly accuracy of each member, the refrigerant pipe and other components may contact peripheral members due to vibration of the compressor, generating operation noise. 
     The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and is intended to provide an outdoor unit generating reduced operation noise by improvement of the assembly accuracy of each member around a pipe connection port of the outdoor unit. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The outdoor unit of an embodiment of the present invention includes a heat exchanger, and a housing having a front panel, a side panel, and a back panel. The back panel includes a connection port attachment portion to which a pipe connection port is attached, and a heat exchanger holding piece to which the heat exchanger is attached. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the outdoor unit of the embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger and the pipe connection port are attached to the back panel, and the heat exchanger and an internal refrigerant circuit in a machine chamber housing a compressor and other components are accurately positioned relative to each other. Thus, the assembly accuracy of each member around the pipe connection port, such as the internal refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger, can be improved, and consequently, operation noise due to contact with a refrigerant pipe and other components can be reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional plan of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 viewed from above. 
         FIG. 5  is a partially-enlarged view of a pipe connection port A portion in  FIG. 4  of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a heat exchanger and a back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a heat exchanger and a back panel in an outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from those of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         FIG. 14  is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 15  is a plane view and a four-sided view of an end plate panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
     The configuration of the outdoor unit described below is merely an example, and the outdoor unit of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Moreover, the same or no reference signs are used to represent the same or equivalent elements in each drawing. Further, a detailed structure will be optionally illustrated in a simplified form, or be optionally omitted from an illustration. In addition, overlapping or similar description will be optionally summarized or omitted. 
     Embodiment 1 
     An outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 2 . 
     &lt;Configuration of Outdoor Unit&gt; 
     A housing  1  of the outdoor unit is made of sheet metal in a substantially parallelepiped rectangular shape as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the housing  1  mainly includes a front panel  10  disposed on a front side of the housing  1 , two side panels  20  covering lateral sides of the housing  1 , a back panel  30 _ 1  disposed on a back side of the housing  1 , a top panel  40  covering an upper surface of the housing  1 , and a bottom panel  50  covering a lower surface of the housing  1 . 
     A front grille  11  with an opening through which external air passes is attached to the front panel  10 . A terminal block (not shown) connected to a power supply line for supplying power to the outdoor unit is disposed on the lateral side of the housing  1 , and a terminal block cover  21  covering the terminal block is attached to one of the side panels  20 . Two elongated leg portions  60  supporting the outdoor unit are attached to the lower surface of the housing  1  to extend across a short-side direction of the housing  1 . A bolt hole for fixing one of the leg portions  60  to, for example, a resin or concrete base block opens through each end of the corresponding one of the leg portions  60 . 
     A compressor (not shown) compressing refrigerant, a heat exchanger  2  exchanging heat between external air and refrigerant, a fan  3  supplying the heat exchanger  2  with external air, and other components are housed in the housing  1 . 
     The heat exchanger  2  is, for example, a finned tube heat exchanger having a heat transfer pipe penetrating a plurality of thin plate-shaped aluminum fins arranged in parallel, and the entirety of the heat exchanger  2  is formed in a substantially L-shape and is disposed along the back and lateral sides of the housing  1 . Fins stand in the vertical direction and the heat transfer pipe penetrates the fins in the horizontal direction. 
     The fan  3  is provided in the vicinity of the heat exchanger  2 , and external air passes, by rotation of the fan  3 , between the fins of the heat exchanger  2  to exchange heat between the external air and refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger  2 . The external air subjected to heat exchange is discharged to the outside of the housing  1  from the front grille  11 . 
     When the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus as described above is operated for heating operation, for example, the heat exchanger  2  acts as an evaporator. In this case, low-pressure gas refrigerant evaporated by removal of heat from external air is compressed into high-pressure gas refrigerant by the compressor, and then, the high-pressure gas refrigerant is supplied to an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) of an indoor unit. 
     On the other hand, in the case of cooling operation, the heat exchanger  2  acts as a condenser. In this case, high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed in the compressor is condensed by transfer of heat to external air in the heat exchanger  2 . Then, the pressure of the condensed liquid refrigerant is reduced, and the resultant refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (not shown) of the indoor unit. 
     &lt;Connection Ports (Corresponding to Pipe Connection Ports of the Present Invention)&gt; 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each pipe connection port (a gas pipe connection port  70 , a liquid pipe connection port  71 ) for connecting the outdoor unit and a refrigerant communication pipe for connection between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is disposed on the back side of the housing  1 . The gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  are attached to the back panel  30 _ 1  of the housing  1 . Of the refrigerant communication pipes, a gas pipe is connected to the gas pipe connection port  70 , and a liquid pipe is connected to the liquid pipe connection port  71 . 
     The gas pipe connection port  70  is a joint for connecting the gas pipe of the refrigerant communication pipes to a gas-side pipe of an internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing  1  of the outdoor unit. The gas pipe connection port  70  is a tubular member attached in an axial direction of the gas pipe connection port  70 , which is substantially coincident with a front-to-back direction (a depth direction) of the housing  1 , and is made of brass, for example. The gas pipe connection port  70  includes a valve body having a hexagonal cross section perpendicular to the axial direction. 
     The gas pipe connection port  70  is, by brazing (thermal bonding between metal and metal with brazing filler metal), bonded to a terminal end portion of the gas-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing  1 . 
     The liquid pipe connection port  71  is a joint for connecting the liquid pipe of the refrigerant communication pipes to a liquid-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing  1  of the outdoor unit. The liquid pipe connection port  71  is a tubular member attached in an axial direction of the liquid pipe connection port  71 , which is substantially coincident with the front-to-back direction (the depth direction) of the housing  1  as in the gas pipe connection port  70 , and is made of brass, for example. The liquid pipe connection port  71  includes a valve body having a hexagonal cross section perpendicular to the axial direction. 
     The liquid pipe connection port  71  has a configuration substantially similar to that of the gas pipe connection port  70 . However, the liquid-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit has a smaller diameter than that of the gas-side pipe, and consequently, the liquid pipe connection port  71  has a smaller diameter than that of the gas pipe connection port  70 . 
     The liquid pipe connection port  71  is, by brazing (thermal bonding between metal and metal with brazing filler metal), bonded to a terminal end portion of the liquid-side pipe of the internal refrigerant circuit housed in the housing  1 . 
     &lt;Back Panel&gt; 
     Next, the structure of the back panel  30 _ 1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 8 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the back panel  30 _ 1  covers the back side of the housing  1  and is formed by sheet-metal processing, for example. The back panel  30 _ 1  is fixed to the heat exchanger  2 , and is connected to one of the side panels  20  with, for example, screws. 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional plan of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 viewed from above. 
       FIG. 5  is a partially-enlarged view of a pipe connection port portion in  FIG. 4  of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a protruding attachment portion  31  (corresponding to a connection port attachment portion of the present invention) for attachment of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  is formed at a lower portion of the back panel  30 _ 1 . The protruding attachment portion  31  is in a shape protruding toward the outside of the housing  1 . Moreover, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an attachment opening  32  and bolt holes  33  for attachment of each of the two pipe connection ports (the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71 ) open through the protruding attachment portion  31 . 
     Each of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  is inserted into a corresponding one of the attachment openings  32  in the axial direction, and is fixed to the back panel  30 _ 1  by fastening of bolts to the bolt holes  33 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the back panel  30 _ 1  is formed to have a cross-sectional shape with a plurality of constituent surfaces. 
     A heat exchanger holding piece  34  having many holding holes  34   a  opening through the heat exchanger holding piece  34  and holding the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger  2  is provided on one end side of the back panel  30 _ 1 . A back portion  35  forming a part of the back-side outline of the housing  1  is perpendicularly formed from one side of the heat exchanger holding piece  34 . 
     Moreover, a side panel connection piece  37  having screw holes  37   a  opening through the side panel connection piece  37  and connected to one of the side panels  20  is provided on the other end side of the back panel  30 _ 1 . 
     Further, at a substantially center portion of the back panel  30 _ 1 , a recessed portion  36  provided with the protruding attachment portion  31  to which the pipe connection ports are attached is formed in a shape recessed from the back portion  35  and the side panel connection piece  37  toward the inside of the housing  1 . 
     The recessed portion  36  and the back portion  35  are smoothly connected together through an inclined surface  38 , and the recessed portion  36  and the side panel connection piece  37  are smoothly connected together through another inclined surface  38 . 
     The back portion  35 , the recessed portion  36 , and the side panel connection piece  37  are substantially arranged parallel to each other. 
     When the back panel  30 _ 1  with the above-described configuration is attached to the housing  1 , the recessed portion  36  is recessed toward the inside of the housing  1  from the peripheral edge of the bottom panel  50  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . With this configuration, dew condensation water adhering to the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  flows down onto the bottom panel  50 , and consequently, does not drop to a lower portion of the outdoor unit. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the heat exchanger holding piece  34  of the back panel  30 _ 1  serves as an end plate of the heat exchanger  2 , and is attached in contact with an end portion of the fins of the heat exchanger  2 . Moreover, the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger  2  is inserted into the holding holes  34   a  of the heat exchanger holding piece  34 , and the back panel  30 _ 1  and the heat exchanger  2  are fixed together. 
     The gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  are attached to the protruding attachment portion  31  provided at the recessed portion  36 , and the internal refrigerant circuit housed in a machine chamber of the housing  1  housing the compressor is connected to each pipe connection port. That is, the internal refrigerant circuit in the machine chamber is fixed to the back panel  30 _ 1  through each pipe connection port. 
     When the outdoor unit is viewed from above as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , tip end portions  72  of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a tip end position  60   a  of each leg portion  60  of the housing  1 . That is, the tip end portions  72  of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  outwardly (corresponding to a first direction of the present invention) protrude perpendicular to the back panel  30 _ 1 , but are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a virtual line  30   a  passing through the tip end position  60   a  of each leg portion  60  and extending parallel to the back panel  30 _ 1  (the tip end portion  72  of each pipe connection port is positioned closer to the back panel  30 _ 1  than the virtual line  30   a  is). 
     &lt;Advantageous Effects&gt; 
     In the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1, the heat exchanger  2  and the internal refrigerant circuit in the machine chamber housing the compressor and other components are fixed to the back panel  30 _ 1 , and are accurately positioned relative to each other. Thus, the assembly accuracy of each member around the pipe connection ports, such as the internal refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger  2 , can be improved, and operation noise due to, for example, contact with a refrigerant pipe can be reduced. 
     Moreover, the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  are arranged at the recessed portion  36  of the back panel  30 _ 1  and the tip end portions  72  of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  are arranged not to protrude to the outside beyond the virtual line  30   a  passing through the tip end position  60   a  of each leg portion  60  and extending parallel to the back panel  30 _ 1 . Thus, a packing size is not increased merely by the dimensions of the protrusion of each pipe connection port. 
     Further, the recessed portion  36  of the back panel  30 _ 1  is, as described above, recessed toward the inside of the housing  1  from the peripheral edge of the bottom panel  50 . Thus, dew condensation water adhering to the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  flows down onto the bottom panel  50 , and consequently, does not drop to the lower portion of the outdoor unit. 
     Embodiment 2 
     In Embodiment 1, the example of the outdoor unit having the back panel  30 _ 1  of the housing  1  integrally formed has been described. However, an example of an outdoor unit having a back panel  30 _ 1  separately formed will be described in Embodiment 2. 
     &lt;Configurations of Outdoor Unit and Pipe Connection Ports&gt; 
     The configurations of the outdoor unit and the pipe connection ports are similar to those of Embodiment 1, and description of the configurations will not be made. 
     &lt;Back Panel&gt; 
     Next, the structure of a back panel  30 _ 2  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 15 . 
     As in Embodiment 1, the back panel  30 _ 2  covers a back side of a housing  1  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and is formed by sheet-metal processing, for example. The back panel  30 _ 2  is fixed to a heat exchanger  2 , and is connected to one of side panels  20  with, for example, screws. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the back panel in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from that of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2 from an angle different from those of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       FIG. 14  is a plane view and a four-sided view of the back panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
       FIG. 15  is a plane view and a four-sided view of an end plate panel of the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. 
     As in Embodiment 1, a protruding attachment portion  31  (corresponding to a connection port attachment portion of the present invention) for attachment of a gas pipe connection port  70  and a liquid pipe connection port  71  is formed at a lower portion of the back panel  30 _ 2  as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The protruding attachment portion  31  is in a shape protruding toward the outside of the housing  1 . Moreover, an attachment opening  32  and bolt holes  33  for attachment of each of the two pipe connection ports (the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71 ) open through the protruding attachment portion  31 . 
     Each of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  is inserted into a corresponding one of the attachment openings  32  in an axial direction, and is fixed to the back panel  30 _ 2  by fastening of bolts to the bolt holes  33 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 14 , the back panel  30 _ 2  is formed to have a cross-sectional shape with a plurality of constituent surfaces. 
     A flat plate-shaped back panel  30 _ 2  forming a part of the back-side outline of the housing  1  is provided on one end side of the back panel  30 _ 2 . Screw holes  35   a  for attachment with a heat exchanger holding member  39  open through an end portion of the back panel  30 _ 2 . 
     A flat plate-shaped side panel connection piece  37  is provided on the other end side of the back panel  30 _ 2 . Screw holes  37   a  connected to screw holes  20   a  of the one of the side panels  20  with screws open through an end portion of the side panel connection piece  37 . 
     Further, at a substantially center portion of the back panel  30 _ 2 , a recessed portion  36  provided with the protruding attachment portion  31  to which the pipe connection ports are attached is formed in a shape recessed from a back portion  35  and the side panel connection piece  37  toward the inside of the housing  1 . 
     The recessed portion  36  and the back portion  35  are smoothly connected together through an inclined surface  38 , and the recessed portion  36  and the side panel connection piece  37  are smoothly connected together through another inclined surface  38 . 
     The back portion  35 , the recessed portion  36 , and the side panel connection piece  37  are substantially arranged parallel to each other. 
     &lt;Heat Exchanger Holding Member&gt; 
     The heat exchanger holding member  39  is a flat plate-shaped member having many holding holes  39   a  open through the heat exchanger holding member  39  and holding a heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger  2  as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 13  and  FIG. 15 . The heat exchanger holding member  39  is attached to one end side of the back portion  35  with the heat exchanger holding member  39  being perpendicular to the back portion  35  of the back panel  30 _ 2 . In this state, the heat exchanger holding member  39  and the back portion  35  are fixed together by screws inserted into screw holes  39   b  of the heat exchanger holding member  39  and the screw holes  35   a  of the back portion  35 . 
     When the back panel  30 _ 2  with the above-described configuration is attached to the housing  1 , the recessed portion  36  is, as in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of Embodiment 1, recessed toward the inside of the housing  1  from the peripheral edge of a bottom panel  50 . With this configuration, dew condensation water adhering to the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  flows down onto the bottom panel  50 , and consequently, does not drop to a lower portion of the outdoor unit. 
     The gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  are attached to the protruding attachment portion  31  provided at the recessed portion  36  of the back panel  30 _ 2 , and an internal refrigerant circuit housed in a machine chamber of the housing  1  housing a compressor is connected to each pipe connection port. That is, the internal refrigerant circuit in the machine chamber is fixed to the back panel  30 _ 2  through each pipe connection port. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the heat exchanger holding member  39  serves as an end plate of the heat exchanger  2 , and is attached in contact with an end portion of the fins of the heat exchanger  2 . Moreover, the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger  2  is inserted into the holding holes  39   a  of the heat exchanger holding member  39 . Thus, the heat exchanger  2  and the back panel  30 _ 2  are integrated together by connecting the heat exchanger holding member  39  to the back portion  35  of the back panel  30 _ 2 . 
     Moreover, as in Embodiment 1, when the outdoor unit is viewed from above as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , tip end portions  72  of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a tip end position  60   a  of each leg portion  60  of the housing  1 . That is, the tip end portions  72  of the gas pipe connection port  70  and the liquid pipe connection port  71  outwardly (corresponding to a first direction of the present invention) protrude perpendicular to the back panel  30 _ 2 , but are provided not to protrude to the outside beyond a virtual line  30   a  passing through the tip end position  60   a  of each leg portion  60  and extending parallel to the back panel  30 _ 2  (the tip end portion  72  of each pipe connection port is positioned closer to the back panel  30 _ 2  than the virtual line  30   a  is). 
     &lt;Advantageous Effects&gt; 
     In addition to the advantageous effects of Embodiment 1, the back panel  30 _ 2  and the heat exchanger holding member  39  are separated in the outdoor unit of Embodiment 2. Consequently, the degree of freedom is increased in the step of connecting the heat exchanger  2  and the back panel  30 _ 2  together, and the efficiency of manufacturing of the outdoor unit is improved. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  housing,  2  heat exchanger,  3  fan,  10  front panel,  11  front grille,  20  side panel,  20   a  screw hole,  21  terminal block cover,  30 _ 1  back panel,  30 _ 2  back panel,  30   a  virtual line,  31  protruding attachment portion (corresponding to a connection port attachment portion of the present invention),  32  attachment opening,  33  bolt hole,  34  heat exchanger holding piece, 
       34   a  holding hole,  35  back portion,  35   a  screw hole,  36  recessed portion,  37  side panel connection piece,  37   a  screw hole,  38  inclined surface,  39  heat exchanger holding member,  39   a  holding hole,  39   b  screw hole,  40  top panel,  50  bottom panel,  60  leg portion,  60   a  tip end position,  70  gas pipe connection port (corresponding to a pipe connection port of the present invention),  71  liquid pipe connection port (corresponding to a pipe connection port of the present invention),  72  tip end portion