Patent Publication Number: US-2017363303-A1

Title: Outdoor unit

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In a related-art outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, a compressor, a heat exchanger, a fan, and other components are accommodated in a housing. The fan is driven to supply outside air to the heat exchanger, and the compressor is operated to circulate refrigerant of a refrigeration cycle. Electric power for operating the compressor, the fan, and other components is supplied to a terminal block of the outdoor unit via a power supply wire. The power supply wire is fixed to a side panel by a fixing member at an end side to be connected to the terminal block. Further, the terminal block is exposed through an opening portion of the side panel of the housing, and the opening portion and the fixing member for the power supply wire are covered with a terminal block cover that is formed separately from the side panel (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-144944 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In the above-mentioned related-art outdoor unit, the fixing member configured to fix the power supply wire to the side panel protrudes outward from the side panel, and the terminal block cover configured to cover the fixing member also significantly protrudes outward from the side panel. 
     The above-mentioned outdoor unit including the terminal block cover significantly protruding from the side panel is upsized in outer-shape dimension. Thus, transport efficiency decreases and installation space increases. Further, a side surface of the housing protrudes by the terminal block cover. Thus, design is degraded and the terminal block cover is damaged due to collision of the terminal block cover to an object. 
     Further, when the housing width is reduced, the width dimension of the heat exchanger is reduced, leading to a reduced heat transfer area and thus decrease in heat exchange efficiency. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above, and has an object to provide an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus in which outward protruding dimension of a terminal block cover from a side panel is decreased to be small, and thus a housing is downsized. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An outdoor unit according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing including a side panel, a terminal block accommodated in the housing, and a power supply wire connected to the terminal block. The side panel includes an outer shell surface forming a part of an outer surface of the housing, a first recessed surface recessed from the outer shell surface in an inward direction of the housing, and a second recessed surface formed in the first recessed surface and recessed from the first recessed surface in the inward direction of the housing. The power supply wire is arranged on the second recessed surface. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the outdoor unit according to the one embodiment of the present invention, the outward protruding dimension of the terminal block cover from the side panel of the housing can be decreased to be small, and thus the housing can be downsized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a state in which a terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 is removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 is mounted. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 1 of Embodiment 1 is removed. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 2 of Embodiment 1 is removed. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 1 is removed. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 1 is removed. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 12  (state in which a terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted). 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a state in which a terminal block cover of an outdoor unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is removed. 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view of a side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 2 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 14  (state in which a terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted). 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of an outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of a state in which a terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 is mounted. 
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view of a side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention is described below with reference to drawings. 
     A configuration of the outdoor unit described below is merely an example, and the outdoor unit according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration described below. Further, in the drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference signs, or the reference signs for the same or similar components are omitted. Further, the illustration of details in the structure is appropriately simplified or omitted. Further, overlapping description or similar description is appropriately simplified or omitted. 
     Embodiment 1 
     An outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is described with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 . 
     &lt;Configuration of Outdoor Unit&gt; 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a housing  1  of the outdoor unit is formed of sheet metal and have a substantially cuboid shape. As illustrated in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5 , the housing  1  mainly includes an L-shaped front panel  1   a  arranged on a front side of the housing  1 , a side panel  1   b  covering a side surface of the housing  1 , a top panel  1   c  covering an upper surface of the housing  1 , and a bottom panel  1   d  arranged on a bottom surface of the housing  1 . Further, a front grille  1   e  having openings is mounted on the front panel  1   a , and a terminal block cover  1   f  covering electrical components such as a terminal block is mounted on the side panel  1   b.    
     An opening  1   h  for allowing a power supply wire  11  to pass through the opening  1   h  is formed at a lower end of the terminal block cover  1   f . On an inner side of the terminal block cover  1   f , a terminal block  10  to be used to connect power for operating a compressor  2 , a fan  4 , and other components is arranged. The terminal block  10  is supplied with, for example, three-phase power via the power supply wire  11 . 
     Further, two foot portions  1   g  for supporting the outdoor unit are arranged on a lower surface of the bottom panel  1   d  of the housing  1 . 
     The housing  1  accommodates the compressor  2  configured to compress refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger  3  configured to exchange heat between outside air and the refrigerant, the fan  4  configured to supply the outside air to the outdoor heat exchanger  3 , and a support base  5  for supporting the fan  4 , on which a motor for the fan is mounted. 
     Further, a fan chamber  4   a  in which the fan  4  is arranged and a machine chamber  2   a  in which the compressor  2  is arranged are partitioned by a partition plate  6 . 
     The outdoor heat exchanger  3  is a fin-and-tube heat exchanger in which, for example, heat transfer tubes pass through a plurality of aluminum thin plate-like fins arranged side by side. The outdoor heat exchanger  3  is entirely formed into a substantially L-shape, and is arranged along two side surfaces of the housing  1 . The fins are arranged upright in a vertical direction, and the heat transfer tubes pass through the fins in a horizontal direction. 
     The fan  4  is arranged in the vicinity of the outdoor heat exchanger  3 . Rotation of the fan  4  causes the outside air to pass between the fins of the outdoor heat exchanger  3 , and at this time, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes of the outdoor heat exchanger  3  and the outside air. The outside air after the heat exchange is exhausted to an outside of the housing  1  through the front grille  1   e.    
     When such an outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus is operated, for example, during a heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger  3  acts as an evaporator, and low-pressure gas refrigerant evaporated by receiving heat from the outside air is compressed into high-pressure gas refrigerant by the compressor  2 , and is supplied to an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit (not shown). 
     Meanwhile, during a cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger  3  acts as a condenser, and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor  2  transfers heat to the outside air and is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger  3 . Then, the condensed liquid refrigerant is decompressed and supplied to the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit (not shown). 
     &lt;Configuration Around Terminal Block&gt; 
     Next, the configuration around the terminal block of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 is described with reference to  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 is removed. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 is mounted. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the side panel  1   b  has a rectangular opening portion  15  for allowing the power supply wire  11  to the terminal block  10 . The terminal block  10  is arranged inside the opening portion  15 . 
     The side panel  1   b  includes an outer shell surface  12  forming a part of an outer shell of the housing  1 , a first recessed surface  13  recessed by one stage from the outer shell surface  12  toward the inner side of the housing  1 , and a second recessed surface  14  further recessed by one stage from the first recessed surface  13  toward the inner side of the housing  1 . 
     The outer shell surface  12 , the first recessed surface  13 , and the second recessed surface  14  are formed in parallel to each other. Each two adjacent surfaces of these three surfaces may be connected to each other with a gently inclined surface, or may be connected to each other with a perpendicular connection surface. 
     The first recessed surface  13  is formed into a rectangular shape including the periphery of the opening portion  15 , and extends downward from the opening portion  15 . 
     The second recessed surface  14  is formed within the range of the first recessed surface  13 , and is formed into a substantially rectangular shape arranged between the lower end of the opening portion  15  and the lower end of the first recessed surface  13 . 
     At the lower end of the second recessed surface  14 , a tapered surface  14   a  is formed to gently connect the second recessed surface  14  and the outer shell surface  12  to each other. 
     On the first recessed surface  13 , the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted so that an inner surface side of the terminal block cover  1   f  is brought into contact to the first recessed surface  13 . As the terminal block cover  1   f , a flat plate member or a plate-like member having a protruding circumferential edge on the inner surface side can be adopted. 
     The terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted on the first recessed surface  13  with screws or other members, and an outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  and the outer shell surface  12  are arranged to be flush with each other as the same surface. Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the lower end of the terminal block cover  1   f  is positioned not to be overlapped with the tapered surface  14   a  at the lower end of the second recessed surface  14  in side view, and the side surface of the housing  1  has an opening  1   h  communicating to the second recessed surface. The terminal block cover  1   f  is only required to be fitted between the first recessed surface  13  and the outer shell surface  12 , and the outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  may be arranged closer to the inner side of the housing  1  than the outer shell surface  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the power supply wire  11  is mounted in contact to the second recessed surface  14  of the side panel  1   b . At this time, a fixing member  16  including a recessed portion  16   a  for receiving the power supply wire  11  is used to sandwich the power supply wire  11  between the second recessed surface of the side panel  1   b  and the recessed portion  16   a  of the fixing member  16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the power supply wire  11  has one end connected to the terminal block  10 , and an other end arranged outside the terminal block cover  1   f  through downward extension of the power supply wire  11  from the terminal block  10  over the lower portion of the second recessed surface. 
     The fixing member  16  is formed of a plate-like steel member, a plate-like resin member, or other materials, and has one end  16   b  mounted to the second recessed surface  14  of the side panel  1   b  with, for example, a hinge. Further, an other end  16   c  of the fixing member  16  is fixed to a screw hole of the second recessed surface  14  with a screw or other member. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the height of the fixing member  16  in a direction perpendicular to the second recessed surface  14  is a dimension within a distance between the first recessed surface  13  and the second recessed surface  14  so that, when the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted, the terminal block cover  1   f  and the fixing member  16  do not interfere with each other. That is, the fixing member  16  is accommodated between the second recessed surface  14  and the first recessed surface  13 . 
     &lt;Mounting of Power Supply Wire&gt; 
     When the power supply wire  11  is mounted to the terminal block  10  of the outdoor unit, first, the screws or other members fixing the terminal block cover  1   f  are removed, and the terminal block cover  1   f  is removed from the side panel  1   b . Next, a screw  16   d  or other member is removed from the fixing member  16 . Then, the power supply wire  11  is placed in the recessed portion  16   a  of the fixing member  16 , and the fixing member  16  is mounted to the side panel  1   b  again with the screw  16   d  or other member. Then, the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted on the first recessed surface  13  again. At this time, the power supply wire  11  is extended to the outside of the terminal block cover  1   f  from a clearance secured between the tapered surface  14   a , which is formed at a lower portion of the second recessed surface  14 , and the terminal block cover  1   f.    
     &lt;Effect&gt; 
     In the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1, the height dimension of the fixing member  16  in the direction perpendicular to the second recessed surface  14  is set within the distance between the first recessed surface  13  and the second recessed surface  14 , and the second recessed surface  14  is formed so that the terminal block cover  1   f  and the fixing member  16  do not interfere with each other when the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted. Consequently, the housing  1  can be downsized particularly in the width-direction dimension without protrusion of the terminal block cover  1   f  from the outer shell surface  12  in the side panel  1   b  of the housing  1 . 
     &lt;Modified Example 1&gt; 
     Modified Examples 1 to 3 of the configuration around the terminal block of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 are described with reference to  FIG. 9  to  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 1 of Embodiment 1 s removed. 
     In Embodiment 1, the second recessed surface  14  of the side panel  1   b  is formed into a linear shape extending downward from the opening portion  15 , but Modified Example 1 of  FIG. 9  is an example in which the second recessed surface  14  is formed to horizontally extend from the opening portion  15  in a back surface direction of the housing  1 . The fixing member  16  for the power supply wire  11  is arranged to sandwich the power supply wire  11  in the second recessed surface  14  in a lateral direction. Further, the terminal block cover  1   f  is arranged in contact to the first recessed surface similarly to the case of Embodiment 1, and the terminal block cover  1   f  is arranged not to be overlapped with the tapered surface  14   a  of the second recessed surface  14  in side view. The terminal block cover  1   f  has the opening  1   h  through which the power supply wire  11  is communicated to the second recessed surface  14 . 
     &lt;Effect&gt; 
     In the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 1, in addition to the effect of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1, the power supply wire  11  can be extended linearly in the back surface direction of the housing  1 . Thus, the power supply wire can be smoothly connected when the power supply is located on the back surface side of the housing  1 . 
     &lt;Modified Examples 2 and 3&gt; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 2 of Embodiment 1 is removed. 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 3 of Embodiment 1 is removed. 
     In Embodiment 1, the second recessed surface  14  of the side panel  1   b  is formed into a linear shape extending downward from the opening portion  15 , but Modified Examples 2 and 3 are examples in which, as illustrated in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the second recessed surface  14  is formed into an L-shape. The L-shape is obtained by forming the second recessed surface  14  extending downward from the opening portion  15  and then bending the second recessed surface  14  in the back surface direction of the housing  1 . The fixing member  16  of the power supply wire  11  is arranged to sandwich the power supply wire  11  in the second recessed surface  14  in a vertical direction (Modified Example 2) or in a horizontal direction (Modified Example 3). 
     Further, the terminal block cover  1   f  is arranged in contact to the first recessed surface similarly to the case of Embodiment 1, and is arranged not to be overlapped with the tapered surface  14   a  of the second recessed surface  14  in side view. The terminal block cover  1   f  has the opening  1   h  through which the power supply wire  11  is communicated to the second recessed surface  14 . 
     &lt;Effect&gt; 
     In the outdoor units according to Modified Examples 2 and 3, in addition to the effect of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1, the power supply wire  11  can be bent into an L-shape to be extended in the back surface direction of the housing  1 . Thus, even when a pulling force acts on the power supply wire  11 , the bent part may be deformed to absorb the pulling force, and thus the power supply wire  11  can be prevented from coming off from the terminal block  10 . 
     &lt;Modified Example 4&gt; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 4 of Embodiment 1 is removed. 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 12  (state in which the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted). 
     In Embodiment 1, the first recessed surface  13  of the side panel  1   b  has an independent rectangular shape, but Modified Example 4 is an example in which, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the first recessed surface  13  is formed from the periphery of the opening portion  15  to the lower end of the side panel  1   b , and the second recessed surface  14  is formed in the first recessed surface  13  and extends to the lower end of the side panel  1   b . The fixing member  16  for the power supply wire  11  is arranged to sandwich the power supply wire  11  in the second recessed surface  14  in the vertical direction. 
     &lt;Effect&gt; 
     In the outdoor unit according to Modified Example 4, in addition to the effect of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1, the power supply wire  11  can be extended to the lower end of the side panel  1   b . Thus, the power supply wire can be smoothly connected when the power supply is located on the bottom surface side of the housing  1 . Further, the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted down to the lower end of the side panel  1   b , and hence the housing  1  can have a flat side surface, leading to improvement in design. 
     Embodiment 2 
     The fixing member  16  of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1 is mounted on the second recessed surface  14  that is recessed by two stages from the outer shell surface  12  with a screw or other member, but Embodiment 2 of the present invention differs from Embodiment 1 in the mounting location of the fixing member  16 . 
     &lt;Configuration Around Terminal Block&gt; 
     The configuration around a terminal block of an outdoor unit according to Embodiment 2 is described with reference to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 . Description of configurations common to Embodiment 1 is omitted as appropriate. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 2 is removed. 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view of a side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 2 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 14  (state in which the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the side panel  1   b  includes, similarly to the case of Embodiment 1, the outer shell surface  12  forming the part of the outer shell of the housing  1 , the first recessed surface  13  recessed by one stage from the outer shell surface  12  toward the inner side of the housing  1 , and the second recessed surface  14  further recessed by one stage from the first recessed surface  13  toward the inner side of the housing  1 . 
     The first recessed surface  13  is formed into a rectangular shape including the periphery of the opening portion  15 , and extends downward from the opening portion  15 . 
     The second recessed surface  14  is formed within the range of the first recessed surface  13 , and is formed into a substantially rectangular shape arranged between the lower end of the opening portion  15  and the lower end of the first recessed surface  13 . 
     At the lower end of the second recessed surface  14 , the tapered surface  14   a  is formed to gently connect the second recessed surface  14  and the outer shell surface  12  to each other. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , on the first recessed surface  13 , the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted so that the inner surface side of the terminal block cover  1   f  is brought into contact to the first recessed surface  13 . As the terminal block cover  1   f , a flat plate member or a plate-like member having a protruding circumferential edge on the inner surface side can be adopted. 
     The terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted on the first recessed surface  13  with screws or other members, and the outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  and the outer shell surface  12  are arranged to be flush with each other as the same surface. The terminal block cover  1   f  is only required to be fitted between the first recessed surface  13  and the outer shell surface  12 , and the outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  may be arranged closer to the inner side of the housing  1  than the outer shell surface  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the power supply wire  11  is mounted in contact to the second recessed surface  14  of the side panel  1   b . At this time, a fixing member  17  having a flat plate shape is used to sandwich the power supply wire  11  between the second recessed surface  14  of the side panel  1   b  and an inner surface side of the fixing member  17 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the power supply wire  11  has the one end connected to the terminal block  10 , and the other end arranged outside the terminal block cover  1   f  through downward extension of the power supply wire  11  from the terminal block  10  over the lower portion of the second recessed surface. 
     The fixing member  17  is formed of a plate-like steel member, a plate-like resin member, or other materials, and has one end  17   a  and an other end  17   b  fixed to screw holes of the first recessed surface  13  with screws  17   c  or other members. Further, the fixing member  17  is accommodated between the first recessed surface  13  and the outer shell surface  12 . 
     &lt;Mounting of Power Supply Wire&gt; 
     When the power supply wire  11  is mounted to the terminal block  10  of the outdoor unit, first, the screws or other members fixing the terminal block cover  1   f  are removed, and the terminal block cover  1   f  is removed from the side panel  1   b . Next, the screws  17   c  or other members are removed from the fixing member  17 . Then, the power supply wire  11  is placed on the second recessed surface  14 , and the fixing member  17  is mounted to the side panel  1   b  again with the screws  17   c  or other members. Then, the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted on the first recessed surface  13  again. At this time, the power supply wire  11  is extended to the outside of the terminal block cover  1   f  from a clearance secured between the tapered surface  14   a , which is formed at the lower portion of the second recessed surface  14 , and the terminal block cover  1   f.    
     &lt;Effect&gt; 
     In the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 2, the fixing member  17  is formed into a flat plate shape to reduce the height dimension of the fixing member  17  in the direction perpendicular to the second recessed surface  14 , and the outer surface side of the terminal block cover  1   f  is arranged to be flush with the outer shell surface  12  of the side panel  1   b  when the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted. Consequently, the housing  1  can be downsized particularly in the width-direction dimension without protrusion of the terminal block cover  1   f  from the outer shell surface  12  in the side panel  1   b  of the housing  1 . 
     The outdoor unit according to Embodiment 2 may adopt the configurations of Modified Examples 1 to 4 according to Embodiment 1, to thereby lead out the power supply wire  11  in a desired direction. 
     Embodiment 3 
     An outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention differs from the outdoor units according to Embodiments 1 and 2 in the shape of the side panel  1   b , and hence this point is mainly described. Description of configurations common to Embodiments 1 and 2 is omitted as appropriate. 
     &lt;Configuration Around Terminal Block&gt; 
     The configuration around the terminal block of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 is described with reference to  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 19 . 
       FIG. 16  is a front view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3. 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3. 
       FIG. 18  is a side view of a state in which the terminal block cover of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 is mounted. 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional view of the side panel of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 taken along the line Z-Z of  FIG. 18 . 
     The housing  1  of the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3 has a basic configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 16  to  FIG. 18 , which is the same configuration as the outdoor units according to Embodiments 1 and 2. 
     However, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , a sectional shape of the side panel  1   b  is different. 
     That is, in Embodiments 1 and 2, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 15 , the side panel  1   b  is formed into a terraced mortar shape from both sides with the outer shell surface  12  forming the part of the outer shell of the housing  1 , the first recessed surface  13  recessed by one stage from the outer shell surface  12  toward the inner side of the housing  1 , and the second recessed surface  14  further recessed by one stage from the first recessed surface  13  toward the inner side of the housing  1 . In Embodiment 3, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , the outer shell surface  12  is not present on the front surface side of the housing  1  (left side in the drawing sheet), and the front surface side of the housing  1  is connected by being bent toward the front panel  1   a  side from the first recessed surface  13 . 
     Similarly to Embodiments 1 and 2, the outer shell surface  12 , the first recessed surface  13 , and the second recessed surface  14  are formed in parallel to each other. Each two adjacent surfaces of these three surfaces may be connected to each other with a gently inclined surface, or may be connected to each other with a perpendicular connection surface. 
     The first recessed surface  13  is formed into a rectangular shape including the periphery of the opening portion  15 , and extends downward from the opening portion  15 . 
     On the first recessed surface  13 , the terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted so that the inner surface side of the terminal block cover  1   f  is brought into contact to the first recessed surface  13 . As the terminal block cover  1   f , a flat plate member or a plate-like member having a protruding circumferential edge on the inner surface side can be adopted. As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the terminal block cover  1   f  is extended down to the lower end of the side panel  1   b.    
     The terminal block cover  1   f  is arranged to be fitted between the first recessed surface  13  and the outer shell surface  12 . At this time, the outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  and the outer shell surface  12  may be arranged to be flush with each other as the same surface, or the outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  may be arranged closer to the inner side of the housing  1  than the outer shell surface  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , the power supply wire  11  is mounted in contact to the second recessed surface  14  of the side panel  1   b . At this time, the fixing member  16  including the recessed portion  16   a  for receiving the power supply wire  11  is used to sandwich the power supply wire  11  between the second recessed surface of the side panel  1   b  and the recessed portion  16   a  of the fixing member  16 . 
     The power supply wire  11  has the one end connected to the terminal block  10 , and the other end arranged outside the terminal block cover  1   f  through downward extension of the power supply wire  11  from the terminal block  10  over the lower portion of the second recessed surface. 
     The height of the fixing member  16  in the direction perpendicular to the second recessed surface  14  is a dimension that enables the fixing member  16  to be accommodated inside the terminal block cover  1   f , which is a plate-like member having a protruding circumferential edge as illustrated in  FIG. 19 . Further, the outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  is formed not to protrude to the outside from the outer shell surface  12  of the side panel  1   b.    
     Further, similarly to Embodiment 1, the height of the fixing member  16  in the direction perpendicular to the second recessed surface  14  may be a dimension within the distance between the first recessed surface  13  and the second recessed surface  14  so that, when the flat plate-shaped terminal block cover  1   f  is mounted, the terminal block cover  1   f  and the fixing member  16  do not interfere with each other. 
     &lt;Effect&gt; 
     In the outdoor unit according to Embodiment 3, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , even when the outer shell surface  12  is not present on the front side (left side in the drawing) of the housing  1 , the power supply wire  11  and the fixing member  16  may be arranged on the second recessed surface  14 . Thus, the housing  1  can be downsized particularly in the width-direction dimension without protrusion of the outer surface of the terminal block cover  1   f  from the outer shell surface  12  in the side panel  1   b . Consequently, in addition to the effects of the invention according to Embodiments 1 and 2, the side panel  1   b  can be shaped in many variations, and the outdoor unit can be improved in design. 
     The shape of the side panel  1   b  according to Embodiment 3 is applicable to the configurations of the outdoor units according to Embodiments 1 and 2. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  housing  1   a  front panel  1   b  side panel  1   c  top panel  1   d  bottom panel  1   e  front grille  1   f  terminal block cover  1   g  foot portion  1   h  opening  2  compressor  2   a  machine chamber  3  outdoor heat exchanger  4  fan  4   a  fan chamber  5  support base  6  partition plate  10  terminal block  11  power supply wire  12  outer shell surface  13  first recessed surface  14  second recessed surface  14   a  tapered surface  15  opening portion  16  fixing member  16   a  recessed portion  16   b  one end  16   c  other end  16   d  screw  17  fixing member  17   a  one end  17   b  other end  17   c  screw