Patent Publication Number: US-11022326-B2

Title: Heat source unit for refrigeration apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     A heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, provided with a fan that horizontally blows out air passing through a heat exchanger. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, there have been heat source units for refrigeration apparatuses in which fans that horizontally blow out air passing through heat exchangers are provided to internal spaces, as shown in Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-24903). A shut-off valve and a shut-off valve cover are provided to a side surface of the heat source unit so as to protrude sideways. 
     In the conventional heat source unit described above, operation of the shut-off valve and other work cannot be performed without taking the shut-off valve cover off from the side surface of the heat source unit. 
     SUMMARY 
     A heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus according to one or more embodiments comprises a casing, a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and air, a fan that horizontally blows out air passing through the heat exchanger, and at least one shut-off valve. The heat exchanger and the fan are placed in an internal space of the casing. The shut-off valve has a connection port that opens toward a front-surface side or a rear-surface side of the casing. The shut-off valve is placed so as not to protrude from a virtual cuboid defined by a top surface, bottom surface, front surface, rear surface, left-side surface, and right-side surface of the casing. Peripheral panels, which form the front surface, rear surface, left-side surface, and right-side surface of the casing, are cut-out in one part of a first portion that forms whichever of the left-side surface and the right-side surface of the casing that is closer to the shut-off valve. The heat source unit does not have a member that covers a cut-out portion of the first portion. 
     In one or more embodiments, because the shut-off valve can be accessed through the cut-out portion formed in the first portion of the casing without taking off a shut-off valve cover or similar member provided so as to protrude sideways from the side surface of the casing, work such as the operation of the shut-off valve can be performed easily. 
     According to one or more embodiments of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the peripheral panels are cut out in part of a second portion that forms whichever of the front surface and the rear surface of the casing that is closer to the connection port. A cut-out portion of the second portion is continuous with the cut-out portion of the first portion. 
     In one or more embodiments, because the connection port of the shut-off valve can be accessed through the cut-out portion formed across the first portion and the second portion of the casing, the work of connecting a refrigerant connection pipe to the shut-off valve can be performed easily. 
     According to one or more embodiments of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the peripheral panels have a first peripheral panel that forms both the first portion and the second portion. 
     According to one or more embodiments of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the peripheral panels have a second peripheral panel that forms the first portion, and a third peripheral panel that forms the second portion. 
     According to one or more embodiments of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the heat source unit further has a space-forming member that is provided to the casing and that partitions the internal space of the casing and a shut-off valve placement space in which the shut-off valve is placed. The cut-out portion of the first portion faces the shut-off valve placement space. 
     In one or more embodiments, the shut-off valve placement space can be accessed through the cut-out portion of the first portion, and work such as the operation of the shut-off valve can be performed easily. 
     According to one or more embodiments of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the space-forming member has a shut-off valve support member that supports the shut-off valve. 
     According to one or more embodiments of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the shut-off valve support member is positioned between the rear surface of the casing and the shut-off valve when the connection port opens toward the front-surface side of the casing, and the shut-off valve support member is positioned between the front surface of the casing and the shut-off valve when the connection port opens toward the rear-surface side of the casing. 
     In one or more embodiments, the internal space of the casing and the shut-off valve placement space can be partitioned in the front-rear direction by the shut-off valve support member. 
     According to one or more embodiments of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the space-forming member has an above-shut-off-valve member positioned above the shut-off valve. 
     In one or more embodiments, the internal space of the casing and the shut-off valve placement space can be vertically partitioned by the above-shut-off-valve member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus serving as a refrigeration apparatus that employs an outdoor unit serving as a heat source unit according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an external view of the outdoor unit; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the outdoor unit (with a shut-off valve depicted in dashed lines); 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the outdoor unit (with a top panel taken off); 
         FIG. 5  is a right-side surface view of the outdoor unit; 
         FIG. 6  shows the outdoor unit with the top panel and a right-side panel removed from the unit as depicted in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the outdoor unit (showing only the portion near the right-side surface); 
         FIG. 8  shows the outdoor unit with the top panel and the right-side panel removed from the unit as depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows the positional relationship between wiring holes and shut-off valves in a plan view of a casing according to one or more embodiments; and 
         FIG. 10  shows a shut-off valve (with a valve-operating part facing upward) according to one or more embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Below is a description, made with reference to the drawings, of a heat source unit for a refrigeration apparatus according to one or more embodiments. 
     (1) Configuration of Air Conditioning Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus  1  serving as a refrigeration apparatus that employs an outdoor unit  2  serving as a heat source unit according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
     &lt;Overall&gt; 
     The air conditioning apparatus  1  as a refrigeration apparatus is able to perform cooling of a room in a building, etc., by performing a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. The air conditioning apparatus  1  mainly has the outdoor unit  2  serving as a heat source unit, an indoor unit  3  serving as a usage unit, and a liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4  and gas refrigerant connection pipe  5  that connect the outdoor unit  2  and the indoor unit  3 . A vapor-compression refrigeration circuit  10  of the air conditioning apparatus  1  is configured by the outdoor unit  2  and the indoor unit  3  being connected via the refrigerant connection pipes  4 ,  5 . 
     &lt;Indoor Unit&gt; 
     The indoor unit  3  is installed in a building. The indoor unit  3 , as described above, is connected to the outdoor unit  2  via the liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4  and the gas refrigerant connection pipe  5 , thus configuring part of the refrigeration circuit  10 . The indoor unit  3  mainly has an indoor expansion valve  31  and an indoor heat exchanger  32 . 
     The indoor expansion valve  31  is an electric expansion valve that, when in operation, adjusts the flow rate of refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger  32  while decompressing the refrigerant to a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle, and is connected between the liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4  and a liquid-side end of the indoor heat exchanger  32 . 
     The indoor heat exchanger  32  is a heat exchanger that, when in operation, functions as an evaporator of refrigerant at a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle and cools indoor air. The liquid-side end of this indoor heat exchanger is connected to the indoor expansion valve  31 , and a gas-side end is connected to the gas refrigerant connection pipe  5 . 
     The indoor unit  3  has an indoor fan  33  for drawing indoor air into the indoor unit  3 , and supplying air passing through the indoor heat exchanger  32  as supply air into the room after the air has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger  32 . Specifically, the indoor unit  3  has an indoor fan  33  as a fan that supplies the indoor heat exchanger  32  with indoor air serving as a heat source for the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger  32 . The indoor fan  33  is driven by an indoor fan motor  33   a.    
     Furthermore, the indoor unit  3  has an indoor-side electric component assembly  30  that functions as an indoor-side control part to control the actions of the components configuring the indoor unit  3 . The indoor-side electric component assembly  30  has a control board and other electric components, and this assembly is designed to be capable of communicating through control signals, etc., with the outdoor unit  2 . 
     &lt;Outdoor Unit&gt; 
     The outdoor unit  2  is installed on the outside of the building. The outdoor unit  2 , as described above, is connected to the indoor unit  3  via the liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4  and the gas refrigerant connection pipe  5 , thus configuring part of the refrigeration circuit  10 . The outdoor unit  2  mainly has a compressor  21 , an outdoor heat exchanger  22 , a liquid-side shut-off valve  23  serving as a first shut-off valve, and a gas-side shut-off valve  24  serving as a second shut-off valve. 
     The compressor  21  is a device that, when in operation, compresses refrigerant at a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle to a high pressure. In one or more embodiments, a compressor having a hermetically sealed structure, in which a positive displacement compression element (not shown) is rotatably driven by a compressor motor  21   a , is employed as the compressor  21 . A discharge-side end of the compressor  21  is connected to a gas-side end of the outdoor heat exchanger  22 , and an intake-side end of the compressor  21  is connected to the gas-side shut-off valve  24 . In one or more embodiments, the intake-side end of the compressor  21  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are connected by an outdoor-side gas refrigerant pipe  26 . 
     The outdoor heat exchanger  22  is a heat exchanger that, when in operation, functions as a radiator for refrigerant at a high pressure in the refrigeration cycle. The gas-side end of this outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the discharge-side end of the compressor  21 , and a liquid-side end is connected to the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 . In one or more embodiments, the liquid-side end of the outdoor heat exchanger  22  and the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  are connected by an outdoor-side liquid refrigerant pipe  25 . 
     The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are manual valves provided to parts connecting with external devices or pipes (specifically, the liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4  and the gas refrigerant connection pipe  5 ). In the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 , an outdoor-side connection port  23   a , which is on an outdoor-side end of the valve, is connected to the outdoor-side liquid refrigerant pipe  25 , and an indoor-side connection port  23   b , which is on an indoor-side end, is connected to the liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4 . In the gas-side shut-off valve  24 , an outdoor-side connection port  24   a , which is on an outdoor-side end of the valve, is connected to the outdoor-side gas refrigerant pipe  26 , and an indoor-side connection port  24   b , which is on an indoor-side end, is connected to the gas refrigerant connection pipe  5 . The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are respectively provided with service ports  23   c ,  24   c  to which a charge hose is connected to fill refrigerant. 
     The outdoor unit  2  has an outdoor fan  27  for drawing outdoor air into the outdoor unit  2 , and blowing the air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger  22  out of the room after the air has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger  22 . Specifically, the outdoor unit  2  has the outdoor fan  27  as a fan that supplies the outdoor heat exchanger  22  with outdoor air serving as a cooling source for the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger  22 . The outdoor fan  27  is driven by an outdoor fan motor  27   a.    
     Furthermore, the outdoor unit  2  has an outdoor-side electric component assembly  20  that functions as an outdoor-side control part to control the actions of the components configuring the outdoor unit  2 . The outdoor-side electric component assembly  20  has a control board and other electric components, and this assembly is designed to be capable of communicating through control signals, etc., with the indoor unit  3  (the indoor-side electric component assembly  30  in one or more embodiments). 
     &lt;Refrigerant Connection Pipes&gt; 
     The refrigerant connection pipes  4 ,  5  are constructed on-site when the air conditioning apparatus  1  is installed in a building or another installation site. One end of the liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4  is connected to the indoor-side connection port  23   b  of the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  of the outdoor unit  2 , and the other end of the liquid refrigerant connection pipe  4  is connected to the indoor expansion valve  31  of the indoor unit  3 . One end of the gas refrigerant connection pipe  5  is connected to the indoor-side connection port  24   b  of the gas-side shut-off valve  24  of the outdoor unit  2 , and the other end of the gas refrigerant connection pipe  5  is connected to a gas-side end of the indoor heat exchanger  32  of the indoor unit  3 . 
     (2) Configuration of Outdoor Unit 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an external view of the outdoor unit  2 .  FIG. 3  is a plan view of the outdoor unit  2  (with the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  shown in dashed lines).  FIG. 4  is a plan view of the outdoor unit  2  (with a top-surface panel  62  removed).  FIG. 5  is a right-side view of the outdoor unit  2 .  FIG. 6  shows the outdoor unit with the top-surface panel  62  and a right-side panel  65  removed from the unit as depicted in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 7  is a rear view of the outdoor unit  2  (showing only the portion near the right side).  FIG. 8  shows the outdoor unit with the top-surface panel  62  and the right-side panel  65  removed from the unit as depicted in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  shows the positional relationship between wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b  and the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  in a plan view of a casing  60 .  FIG. 10  shows the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  (with a valve-operating part  23   g  facing upward). In the following description, the terms “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “lateral,” “top surface,” “bottom surface,” “front surface,” and “back surface,” unless otherwise specified, refer to directions and/or surfaces assuming that the “front surface” is the left-diagonal-facing surface of the outdoor unit  2  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     &lt;Basic Configuration&gt; 
     First, the basic configuration of the outdoor unit  2  shall be described. 
     The outdoor unit  2  is a heat source unit with a structure (a “trunk-type structure”) having the substantially cuboid box-shaped casing  60 , the outdoor heat exchanger  22  serving as a heat exchanger that is placed in an internal space S of the casing  60  and that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and air, and the outdoor fan  27  serving as a fan that is placed in the internal space S of the casing  60  and that horizontally blows out air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger  22 . The outdoor unit  2  mainly has: the casing  60 ; the outdoor fan  27 ; refrigerant circuit structural components that configure part of the refrigeration circuit  10 , including the compressor  21 , the outdoor heat exchanger  22 , and/or other devices, the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  and other valves, and the refrigerant pipes  25 ,  26  and other refrigerant pipes; and the outdoor-side electric component assembly  20 . 
     The casing  60  mainly has a bottom-surface panel  61 , the top-surface panel  62 , and peripheral panels (front-surface panel  63 , left-side panel  64 , right-side panel  65 , and back-surface panel  66 ) forming the front surface, back surface, left-side surface, and right-side surface of the casing  60 . 
     The bottom-surface panel  61  is a laterally extending panel-shaped member forming the bottom surface of the casing  60 . In a plan view of the casing  60 , the bottom-surface panel  61  has a rectangular shape in which the left-rear corner and the right-rear corner are chamfered. A lower surface of the bottom-surface panel  61  is provided with a fixing leg  67  fixed to an on-site installation surface. 
     The top-surface panel  62  is a laterally extending panel-shaped member forming a top surface of the casing  60 . In a plan view of the casing  60 , the top-surface panel  62 , similar to the bottom-surface panel  61 , has a rectangular shape in which the left-rear corner and the right-rear corner are chamfered. The top-surface panel  62  is fixed by screws, etc., to the front-surface panel  63 , the left-side panel  64 , the right-side panel  65 , and the back-surface panel  66 . 
     The front-surface panel  63  is one peripheral panel of the casing  60 . The front-surface panel  63  is a panel-shaped member forming a front surface of the casing  60 , a portion on the front-surface-side end of the left-side surface, and a portion on the front-surface-side end of the right-side surface. A lower part of the front-surface panel  63  is fixed by screws, etc., to the bottom-surface panel  61 . A portion near the left-side surface of the front-surface panel  63  is provided with a blow-out port  63   a  for blowing out to the exterior air that has been taken into the internal space S from the back-surface and left-side surface of the casing  60  by the outdoor fan  27 . A fan grill  63   b  is provided to the blow-out port  63   a.    
     The left-side panel  64  is a panel-shaped member forming the left-side surface (excluding the portion on the front-surface-side end of the left-side surface in one or more embodiments) of the casing  60  and the left-side-surface end of the back surface, thus configuring part of the peripheral panels of the casing  60 . A lower part of the left-side panel  64  is fixed by screws, etc., to the bottom-surface panel  61 . In the left-side panel  64  is formed an intake port  64   a  for air taken into the internal space S of the casing  60  by the outdoor fan  27 . 
     The right-side panel  65  is a panel-shaped member forming the right-side surface (excluding the portion on the front-surface-side end of the right-side surface in one or more embodiments) of the casing  60  and the right-side-surface end of the back surface, thus configuring part of the peripheral panels of the casing  60 . A lower part of the right-side panel  65  is fixed by screws, etc., to the bottom-surface panel  61 . 
     The back-surface panel  66  is a panel-shaped member forming the back surface (excluding the right-side-surface end portion and near-left-side-surface portion of the back surface) of the casing  60 , thus configuring part of the peripheral panels of the casing  60 . A lower part of the back-surface panel  66  is fixed by screws, etc., to the bottom-surface panel  61 . In the back-surface panel  66  is formed an intake port  66   a  for air taken into the internal space S of the casing  60  by the outdoor fan  27 . 
     A partitioning panel  68  is provided inside the casing  60 . The partitioning panel  68  is a panel-shaped member extending vertically and in the front-rear direction over the bottom-surface panel  61 , and is disposed so as to partition the internal space S of the casing  60  into two left and right spaces (fan compartment S 1 , machinery compartment S 2 ). In a plan view of the casing  60 , the partitioning panel  68  extends toward the back-surface side from a right-side portion of the blow-out port  63   a  of the front-surface panel  63 , and reaches a right-end part of the substantially L-shaped outdoor heat exchanger  22 , which is disposed so as to extend along the back surface from the left-side surface of the casing  60 . A lower part of the partitioning panel  68  is fixed by screws, etc., to the bottom-surface panel  61 , a front part is fixed by screws, etc., to the front-surface panel  63 , and a rear part is fixed by screws, etc., to the right-end part of the outdoor heat exchanger  22 . 
     The compressor  21  is in the shape of an upright cylinder, and is disposed in the machinery compartment S 2 . The compressor  21  is provided over the bottom-surface panel  61 . 
     In a plan view of the casing  60 , the outdoor heat exchanger  22  is substantially L-shaped, and is disposed in the fan compartment S 1 . The outdoor heat exchanger  22  is provided over the bottom-surface panel  61  so as to extend along the back surface from the left-side surface of the casing  60 . 
     The outdoor fan  27  is a propeller fan and is disposed in the fan compartment S 1 . The outdoor fan  27  is provided so as to face the blow-out port  63   a  in a front side of the outdoor heat exchanger  22 . The outdoor fan motor  27   a  is provided between the outdoor fan  27  and the outdoor heat exchanger  22  in the front-rear direction. 
     The outdoor-side electric component assembly  20  is a component in which the control board and other electric components are assembled, and is disposed in the machinery compartment S 2 . The outdoor-side electric component assembly  20  is provided in an upper part of the machinery compartment S 2 . 
     Though not depicted in  FIGS. 4, 6, and 8 , refrigeration circuit structural components other than the compressor  21 , the outdoor heat exchanger  22 , and the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  are also disposed in the internal space S of the casing  60 . 
     &lt;Shut-Off Valves and Structures of Peripheries Thereof) 
     Next, the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  of the outdoor unit  2  and the structures of the peripheries thereof shall be described. 
     The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  mainly has a valve main body  23   d  in which is formed a flow channel  23   e  through which refrigerant flows, a valve body  23   f  that opens and closes the flow channel  23   e , and a valve-operating part  23   g  that operates the valve body  23   f . Specifically, using as a reference a state in which the valve-operating part  23   g  faces upward, formed in the valve main body  23   d  are the substantially horizontally facing flow channel  23   e , the outdoor-side connection port  23   a , which is an opening corresponding to one end of the flow channel  23   e , and the indoor-side connection port  23   b , which is an opening corresponding to the other end of the flow channel  23   e . Also provided to the valve main body  23   d  are the valve-operating part  23   g , which protrudes upward from some point in the flow channel  23   e , and a service port  23   c , which protrudes in a direction intersecting the flow channel  23   e  and the valve-operating part  23   g . The valve body  23   f  is threaded into the valve-operating part  23   g  so as to be capable of moving vertically. In an upper end of the valve body  23   f  is formed an engaging part  23   h , which is composed of a concaved portion or groove into which a hexagonal wrench, a driver, or another tool fits. A valve cover  23   i  is detachably threaded into the valve-operating part  23   g . A tip end of the service port  23   c  serves as a nozzle part to which a charge hose, etc., can be connected. A center line of the valve-operating part  23   g  is denoted as  23   p , a center line of the service port  23   c  is denoted as  23   q , and a center line of the indoor-side connection port  23   b  is denoted as  23   r.    
     The gas-side shut-off valve  24  is larger in diameter than the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 , and is similar in structure to the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 . Therefore, for the structure of the gas-side shut-off valve  24 , the symbols  23   a  to  23   i  and  23   p  to  23   r , which indicate the components of the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 , are replaced with the symbols  24   a  to  24   i  and  24   p  to  24   r , and descriptions of these components are omitted. 
     The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are disposed so as not to protrude from a virtual cuboid C defined by the top surface, bottom surface, front surface, back surface, left-side surface, and right-side surface of the casing  60 . In one or more embodiments, the virtual cuboid C is a cuboid-shaped spatial area formed by surfaces virtually extending in the front-rear and lateral directions through the top surface and bottom surface of the casing  60  (in one or more embodiments, surfaces extending without regard to the chamfering of the corners at the left-rear sides and the corners at the right-rear sides of the top surface and bottom surface of the casing  60 ), surfaces virtually extending in the vertical and lateral directions through the front surface and back surface of the casing  60 , and surfaces virtually extending in the vertical and front-rear directions through the left-side surface and right-side surface of the casing  60 . 
     The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are disposed in a near-back-surface portion of the right-side surface of the casing  60 , with the openings of the indoor-side connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  facing toward the back surface of the casing  60 . Specifically, the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are disposed in portions of the casing  60  that are in proximity to the right-side panel  65 , which forms the near-back-surface portion of the right-side surface. 
     The right-side panel  65  has parts cut out in proximity to the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24 . Specifically, a lower part  60   a  near the back surface of a first portion  65   a  is cut out, this first portion  65   a  being a portion in the right-side panel  65  that forms the right-side surface of the casing  60 . A lower part  60   b  near the right-side surface of a second portion  65   b  is also cut out, this second portion  65   b  being a portion in the right-side panel  65  that forms the back surface of the casing  60 . The cut-out portion  60   b  of the second portion  65   b  is continuous with the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a . Specifically, the right-side panel  65  is a first peripheral panel forming both the first portion  65   a , which forms the right-side surface of the casing  60 , and the second portion  65   b , which forms the back surface of the casing  60 . The cut-out portions  60   a ,  60   b  are formed from the right-side surface to the back surface in a lower part of a right-rear-side corner of the right-side panel  65  serving as a first peripheral panel. The casing  60  does not have a member covering the cut-out portions  60   a ,  60   b  of the right-side panel  65 , and after the outdoor unit  2  has been installed on-site, the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  can be seen through the cut-out portions  60   a ,  60   b  without taking any members off of the casing  60 . 
     The casing  60  is further provided with a space-forming member  70  that partitions the internal space S of the casing  60  and a shut-off valve placement space T in which the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed. The cut-out portions  60   a ,  60   b  of the right-side panel  65  face the shut-off valve placement space T. Specifically, the casing  60  is cut out in the portion that faces the shut-off valve placement space T. 
     The space-forming member  70  mainly has a shut-off valve support member  71  positioned between the front surface of the casing  60  and the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and gas-side shut-off valve  24  in the front-rear direction, and an above-shut-off-valve member  72  positioned above the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24 . 
     The shut-off valve support member  71  is a panel-shaped member that supports the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  at a position that is nearer to the front surface than the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a  of the right-side panel  65 . Additionally, the shut-off valve support member  71  partitions in the front-rear direction the internal space S of the casing  60  and the shut-off valve placement space T in which the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed. A lower part of the shut-off valve support member  71  is fixed by screws, etc., to the bottom-surface panel  61 , and a right-side part is fixed by screws, etc., to the right-side panel  65 . 
     Formed in the shut-off valve support member  71  are a hole  71   a  through which the outdoor-side connection port  23   a  of the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  penetrating in the front-rear direction, and a hole  71   b  through which the outdoor-side connection port  24   a  of the gas-side shut-off valve  24  penetrating in the front-rear direction. The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are supported on the shut-off valve support member  71  via brackets  73   a ,  73   b  extending from the peripheries of the holes  71   a ,  71   b  toward the back surface. 
     A left-side part of the shut-off valve support member  71  is fixed to the back-surface panel  66 . Specifically, the back-surface panel  66  has a space-partitioning part  66   b  extending toward the front surface from a right-side surface end portion of the back surface of the casing  60 . The left-side part of the shut-off valve support member  71  is fixed by screws, etc., to a lower part of the space-partitioning part  66   b . Therefore, the space-partitioning part  66   b  laterally partitions the internal space S of the casing  60  and the shut-off valve placement space T in which the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed. 
     The above-shut-off-valve member  72  is a panel-shaped member that vertically partitions the internal space S of the casing  60  and the shut-off valve placement space T in which the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed, at a position nearer to the top surface than the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a  of the right-side panel  65 . The above-shut-off-valve member  72  is fixed by screws, etc., to the space-partitioning part  66   b  of the back-surface panel  66 . 
     Vertically penetrating wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b  are formed in the above-shut-off-valve member  72 . The purpose of the wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b  is to draw electric wires  8 ,  9  out to the exterior from the internal space S of the casing  60 . In one or more embodiments, the electric wires  8 ,  9  extend from the outdoor-side electric component assembly  20  placed in the internal space S of the casing  60 , while being positioned above the wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b . Specifically, a terminal base  20   a  and/or a wiring hole  20   b  are provided to a portion of the outdoor-side electric component assembly  20  that faces the first portion  65   a  of the right-side panel  65 , the electric wire  8 , which is a power source wire, etc., and is stronger, extends from the terminal base  20   a , and the electric wire  9 , which is a communication wire, etc., and is weaker, extends from the wiring hole  20   b . In one or more embodiments, the electric wire  8  is larger in diameter than the electric wire  9 . The electric wire  8  is drawn out from the wiring hole  72   a , and the electric wire  9  is drawn out from the wiring hole  72   b . In one or more embodiments, conduit pipes  8   a ,  9   a  are attached to the wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b , and the electric wires  8 ,  9  are designed to be drawn out to the exterior through the insides of the conduit pipes  8   a ,  9   a . Wire-guiding parts  66   c ,  66   d  for directing the electric wires  8 ,  9  from the terminal base  20   a  and wiring hole  20   b  to the wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b  are formed in the space-partitioning part  66   b  of the back-surface panel  66 , at positions lower than the terminal base  20   a  and wiring hole  20   b  and higher than the wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b , so as to protrude toward the right-side panel  65 . 
     The hole  71   b  of the shut-off valve support member  71  is placed below the hole  71   a  of the shut-off valve support member  71 . Therefore, the gas-side shut-off valve  24  is placed below the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 . Additionally, the holes  71   a ,  71   b  are placed in displaced height positions near the bottom surface of the casing  60 . Specifically, the holes  71   a ,  71   b  are placed so that the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed in a range of ¾ or less of a height or distance H from the bottom surface of the casing  60  to the centers of the wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b . Between the wiring holes  72   a ,  72   b  of the above-shut-off-valve member  72 , the wiring hole  72   a  is placed so as not to overlap the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  in a plan view of the casing  60 . In a plan view of the casing  60 , the wiring hole  72   b  overlaps part of the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 , but this hole is placed so as not to overlap the valve-operating part  23   g.    
     The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed in the shut-off valve placement space T in an inclined state such that the valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  are oriented at an upward incline. In one or more embodiments, the valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  are oriented at an upward incline so as to be inclined toward the right-side surface of the casing  60 , in a front view or rear view of the casing  60 . The valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  are oriented at an upward incline at the same angle of inclination. The liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed in the shut-off valve placement space T in a state such that when the center lines  23   p ,  24   p  of the valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  are extended toward the exterior of the casing  60  (toward the right-side surface), the center lines  23   p ,  24   p  of the valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  do not reach the above-shut-off-valve member  72 . Moreover, the center lines  23   p ,  24   p  of the valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  do not reach the first portion  65   a  of the right-side panel  65  when extended toward the exterior of the casing  60  (toward the right-side surface), and the valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  can be seen through the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a  of the right-side panel  65 . Additionally, the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed in the shut-off valve placement space T in a state such that when the center lines  23   q ,  24   q  of the service ports  23   c ,  24   c  are extended toward the exterior of the casing  60  (toward the right-side surface), the center lines  23   q ,  24   q  of the service ports  23   c ,  24   c  do not reach the above-shut-off-valve member  72 . In one or more embodiments, the service ports  23   c ,  24   c  are oriented at a downward incline so as to be inclined toward the right-side surface of the casing  60 , in a front view or rear view of the casing  60 . Moreover, the center lines  23   q ,  24   q  of the service ports  23   c ,  24   c  do not reach the first portion  65   a  of the right-side panel  65  when extended toward the exterior of the casing  60  (toward the right-side surface), and the service ports  23   c ,  24   c  can be seen through the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a  of the right-side panel  65 . Additionally, the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed in the shut-off valve placement space T in a state such that when the center lines  23   r ,  24   r  of the indoor-side connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  are extended toward the exterior of the casing  60  (toward the back surface), the center lines  23   r ,  24   r  of the indoor-side connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  do not reach the above-shut-off-valve member  72 . In a side view of the casing  60 , the indoor-side connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  are oriented horizontally toward the back surface of the casing  60 . Moreover, the center lines  23   r ,  24   r  of the indoor-side connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  do not reach the second portion  65   b  of the right-side panel  65  when extended toward the exterior of the casing  60  (toward the back surface), and can be seen through the cut-out portion  60   b  of the second portion  65   b  of the right-side panel  65 . Additionally, the gas-side shut-off valve  24  is placed so that the valve-operating part  24   g  thereof is displaced farther away from the shut-off valve support member  71  (toward the back surface) than the valve-operating part  23   g  of the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 . In a plan view of the casing  60 , the hole  71   b  of the shut-off valve support member  71  is placed so as to be displaced toward the left side of the hole  71   a , i.e., away from the right-side surface of the casing  60 . Therefore, in a plan view of the casing  60 , the liquid-side shut-off valve  23  and the gas-side shut-off valve  24  are placed so as to be displaced in the direction in which the valve-operating parts  23   g ,  24   g  face (toward the right-side surface). Specifically, the gas-side shut-off valve  24  is placed so as to be displaced toward the left side of the liquid-side shut-off valve  23 , i.e., away from the right-side surface of the casing  60 . 
     (3) Characteristics 
     Next, the characteristics of the outdoor unit  2  (heat source unit) of the air conditioning apparatus  1  (refrigeration apparatus) shall be described. 
     &lt;A&gt; 
     In the trunk-structured heat source unit  2 , which has the outdoor fan  27  (a fan) that horizontally blows out air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger  22  (a heat exchanger), it is desirable that work relating to the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  during on-site installation (the work of connecting the refrigerant connection pipes  4 ,  5  to the indoor-side connection ports  23   b ,  24   b , the operation of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24 , the work of connecting charging hoses, etc., to the service ports  23   c ,  24   c ) can be performed easily. However, in a conventional heat source unit in which a shut-off valve and a shut-off valve cover are provided to a side surface of a casing so as to protrude sideways, work relating to the shut-off valve cannot be performed without taking off the shut-off valve cover, and the installation space and/or packaging size for the heat source unit will be larger. 
     In view of this, in one or more embodiments, the indoor-side connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  (connection ports) of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  are both designed to open toward the rear-surface side of the casing  60  (see  FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 to 9 ). Moreover, the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  are placed so as not to protrude from the virtual cuboid C, which is defined by the top surface, the bottom surface, the front surface, the rear surface, the left-side surface, and the right-side surface of the casing  60  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Furthermore, in the peripheral panels  63  to  66  forming the front surface, rear surface, left-side surface, and right-side surface of the casing, a cut-out portion is made in a part (the lower part near the rear surface) of the first portion  65   a  that forms whichever of the left-side surface and the right-side surface of the casing  60  that is closer to the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  (the right-side surface), and the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a  is not covered by another member (see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ). 
     Because the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  can be accessed through the cut-out portion  60   a  formed in the first portion  65   a  of the casing  60  without taking off a shut-off valve cover or similar member provided so as to protrude sideways from the side surface of the casing  60 , operation of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  and other work can be performed easily. The installation space and/or packaging size for the heat source unit  2  can also be made smaller. Additionally, the refrigerant connection pipes  4 ,  5  can easily be taken out toward the rear-surface side of the casing  60  due to being connected to the connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24 , and work such as the installation of the refrigerant connection pipes  4 ,  5  can be performed easily. 
     Though not done so in one or more embodiments, the connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  may be designed so as to open toward the front-surface side of the casing  60 . In this case, the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  may be placed near the right front part of the casing  60 , and the structure of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  and the peripheries thereof may be reversed longitudinally (in front-rear direction). 
     In one or more embodiments, the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  are placed near the right rear part of the casing  60 , but the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  may be placed near the left rear part or near the left front part of the casing  60 . In this case, the placement of devices and/or refrigerant pipes in the internal space S of the heat source unit  2  may be reversed laterally (in the left-right direction). 
     &lt;B&gt; 
     In one or more embodiments, the peripheral panels  63  to  66  are cut out in the part (the lower part near the right-side surface) of the second portion  66   b  that forms whichever of the front surface and the rear surface of the casing  60  that is closer to the connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  (the rear surface), and the cut-out portion  60   b  of the second portion  65   b  is continuous with the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a  (see  FIGS. 2, 5, and 7 ). 
     Because the connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  can be accessed through the cut-out portions  60   a ,  60   b  formed across the first portion  65   a  and the second portion  65   b  of the casing  60 , the work of connecting the refrigerant connection pipes  4 ,  5  to the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  can be performed easily. 
     The connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  may be opened not toward the rear-surface side of the casing  60 , but toward the front-surface side. 
     Among the peripheral panels  63  to  66 , the right-side panel  65  configures the first peripheral panel forming both the first portion  65   a  and the second portion  65   b , but this configuration is not provided by way of limitation. For example, among the peripheral panels  63  to  66 , the right-side panel  65  may configure a second peripheral panel forming the first portion  65   a , and the rear-surface panel  66  may configure a third peripheral panel forming the second portion  65   b.    
     &lt;C&gt; 
     In one or more embodiments, the casing  60  is further provided with a space-forming member  70  that partitions the internal space S of the casing  60  and a shut-off valve placement space T in which the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  are placed, and the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a  faces the shut-off valve placement space T (see  FIGS. 2, 5, and 7 ). 
     The shut-off valve placement space T can be accessed through the cut-out portion  60   a  of the first portion  65   a , and work such as the operation of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  can be performed easily. 
     The cut-out portion  60   b  of the second portion  65   b  also faces the shut-off valve placement space T (see  FIGS. 2, 5, and 7 ). 
     The shut-off valve placement space T can be accessed through the cut-out portion  60   b  of the second portion  65   b  as well, and work such as the operation of the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  can be performed easily. 
     &lt;D&gt; 
     In one or more embodiments, the space-forming member  70  has a shut-off valve support member  71  that supports the shut-off valves  23 ,  24 , and the shut-off valve support member  71  is positioned between the front surface of the casing  60  and the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
     When the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  are placed such that the connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  face toward the rear-surface side of the casing  60 , the internal space S of the casing  60  and the shut-off valve placement space T can be partitioned in the front-rear direction by the shut-off valve support member  71 . 
     Though not employed in one or more embodiments, a configuration may be used in which the shut-off valve support member  71  is positioned between the rear surface of the casing  60  and the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  when the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  are placed such that the connection ports  23   b ,  24   b  open toward the front-surface side of the casing  60 . 
     &lt;E&gt; 
     In one or more embodiments, the space-forming member  70  has an above-shut-off-valve member  72  positioned above the shut-off valves  23 ,  24  (see  FIGS. 5 to 9 ). 
     The internal space S of the casing  60  and the shut-off valve placement space T can be vertically partitioned by the above-shut-off-valve member  72 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention was described above, but it is understood that various changes can be made to the previously-described embodiments and/or details, as long as such changes do not deviate from the scope and range of the present invention set forth in the claims. 
     The present invention is widely applicable to heat source units for refrigeration apparatuses provided with fans that horizontally blow out air passing through heat exchangers. 
     Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  Air conditioning apparatus (refrigeration apparatus) 
           2  Outdoor unit (heat source unit) 
           20  Outdoor-side electric component assembly (electric component assembly) 
           22  Outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 
           23  Liquid-side shut-off valve (first shut-off valve) 
           23   b  Indoor-side connection port (connection port) 
           24  Gas-side shut-off valve (second shut-off valve) 
           24   b  Outdoor-side connection port (connection port) 
           27  Outdoor fan (fan) 
           60  Casing 
           60   a ,  60   b  Cut-out portions 
           63  Front-surface panel (peripheral panel) 
           64  Left-side panel (peripheral panel) 
           65  Right-side panel (peripheral panel, first peripheral panel, second peripheral panel) 
           65   a  First portion 
           65   b  Second portion 
           66  Rear-surface panel (peripheral panel, third peripheral panel) 
           70  Space-forming member 
           71  Shut-off valve support member 
           72  Above-shut-off-valve member 
         C Virtual cuboid 
         S Internal space 
         T Shut-off valve placement space 
       
    
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-24903