Patent Publication Number: US-11378288-B2

Title: Outdoor unit of airconditioner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0012968, filed on Jan. 31, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The disclosure relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having an expansion valve unit. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In general, an air conditioner is a device including a refrigeration cycle, and the type of the air conditioner includes a split type air conditioner including an indoor unit arranged in an indoor space and an outdoor unit arranged in an outdoor space. 
     The outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat with outdoor air, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, an expansion valve unit for decompressing the refrigerant, and a housing for accommodating the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve unit, and the compressor. 
     The expansion valve unit additionally includes a capillary tube to optimize the flow rate of the refrigerant, and the tube of the capillary tube is formed thin, which causes a risk of damage. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner capable of stably fixing an expansion valve unit so as to prevent damage to the expansion valve unit. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner connectable to an indoor unit, the outdoor unit includes a compressor, a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between air introduced from outside and refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an expansion valve unit configured to decompress the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger the expansion valve unit comprising an expansion valve, a first connection portion configured to connect the expansion valve to the heat exchanger and a second connection portion configured to connect the expansion valve to the refrigerant pipe, a refrigerant pipe configured to deliver the refrigerant, which is decompressed and expanded by the expansion valve unit, to the indoor unit when the indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit, and a bracket configured to support the expansion valve unit by fixing the expansion valve, and one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion thereto. 
     The one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion may include a capillary tube connected to the expansion valve and a connection tube configured to connect the capillary tube to the heat exchanger or the refrigerant pipe, and the capillary tube is fixed to the bracket. 
     The one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion may include a capillary tube connected to the expansion valve and a connection tube configured to connect the capillary tube to the heat exchanger or the refrigerant pipe, and the connection tube is fixed to the bracket. 
     The expansion valve may be fixed to one surface of the bracket, and the one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion may be fixed to the other surface of the bracket. 
     The expansion valve may be fixed to one side of the bracket, and the one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion may be fixed to the other side of the bracket. 
     The capillary tube may include one end thereof connected to the connection tube and the other end thereof connected to the expansion valve, and the bracket may fix the expansion valve and the connection tube to maintain a separation distance in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the one end and the other end of the capillary tube. 
     The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may further include a first coupling member configured to surround at least a portion of the expansion valve and coupled to the bracket so as to allow the expansion valve to be coupled to the bracket. 
     The first coupling member may include a rubber material. 
     The first coupling member may include a first cutout portion, a first support configured to support at least one portion of the expansion valve after a lower end of the expansion valve is inserted through the first cutout portion, and a first coupling portion extending from the first cutout portion and then coupled to the bracket. 
     The first coupling portion may include a support protrusion configured to allow the first coupling portion to be supported by the bracket without being separated from the bracket after the first coupling portion is inserted into the bracket. 
     The bracket may include a coupling hook including an insertion portion to which the first coupling portion is inserted. 
     The coupling hook may be arranged at one side end of the bracket. 
     The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may further include a second coupling member configured to surround one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion and coupled to the bracket so as to allow the one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion to be coupled to the bracket. 
     The second coupling member may include a second support configured to surround the one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion and support the one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion, and a second coupling portion coupled to the bracket. 
     The second coupling portion may be screwed to the bracket, and the bracket may further include a coupling hole to which the second coupling portion is screwed. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner connectable to an indoor unit, the outdoor unit includes a compressor, a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between air introduced from outside and refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an expansion valve unit configured to decompress the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger, the expansion valve unit comprising an expansion valve, a first connection portion configured to connect the expansion valve to the heat exchanger and a second connection portion configured to connect the expansion valve to the refrigerant pipe; a refrigerant pipe configured to deliver the refrigerant, which is decompressed and expanded by the expansion valve unit, to the indoor unit when the indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit, and a bracket configured to support the expansion valve unit by fixing the expansion valve to one surface of the bracket, and by fixing one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion to the other surface of the bracket. 
     The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may further include a first coupling member configured to surround a lower portion of the expansion valve and coupled to the bracket so as to allow the lower portion of the expansion valve to be coupled to the bracket, and a second coupling member configured to surround one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion and coupled to the bracket so as to allow the one of the first connection portion or the second connection portion to be coupled to the bracket. 
     The bracket may include a coupling hook including an insertion portion to which the first coupling member is inserted, and a coupling hole to which the second coupling member is screwed, and the coupling hook may be arranged on one side of the bracket and the coupling hole may be arranged on the other side of the bracket. 
     The first coupling member may include a rubber material. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner connectable to an indoor unit, the outdoor unit includes a compressor, a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between air introduced from outside and refrigerant compressed by the compressor, an expansion valve unit configured to decompress the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger, the expansion valve unit comprising an expansion valve configured to decompress refrigerant, a capillary tube comprising one end thereof connected to the expansion valve, and a connection tube configured to connect the other end of the capillary tube to the heat exchanger or the refrigerant pipe, a refrigerant pipe configured to deliver the refrigerant, which is decompressed and expanded by the expansion valve unit, to the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and a bracket configured to support the expansion valve unit by fixing the expansion valve and the connection tube thereto to maintain a separation distance in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the one end and the other end of the capillary tube. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an expansion valve unit is fixed to a bracket in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the expansion valve unit in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and the bracket in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating one surface of the bracket in a state in which the expansion valve unit is fixed to the bracket, in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the other surface of the bracket in a state in which the expansion valve unit is fixed to the bracket, in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating one surface of a bracket in a state in which an expansion valve unit is fixed to the bracket, in the air conditioner according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of the embodiments of the disclosure, and may be modified in various different ways at the time of filing of the present application to replace the embodiments and drawings of the disclosure. 
     In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function. 
     Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, the terms “including”, “having”, and the like are used to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, a first element may be termed as a second element, and a second element may be termed as a first element. The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items. 
     The term of “upper side”, “upward”, “lower side”, and “downward” used in the description may be defined by the up and down direction of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . That is, a side corresponding to an upper side of a heat exchanger of  FIG. 1  represents an upper side, and a side corresponding to a lower side of the heat exchanger of  FIG. 1  represents a lower side. 
     In addition, as for the term “front side” and “rear side” used in the description, a direction, to which a front surface of the heat exchanger according to an embodiment of  FIG. 1  is directed, represents “front side” and a direction, to which a rear surface of the heat exchanger is directed, represents “rear side”. 
     Hereinafter the disclosure will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an expansion valve unit is fixed to a bracket in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the expansion valve unit in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes an indoor unit  20  arranged in an indoor space and an outdoor unit  10  arranged in an outdoor space, and the outdoor unit  10  and the indoor unit  20  are connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe  30  configured to deliver refrigerant. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the indoor unit  20  and the outdoor unit  10  may be connected to each other through wires for transmitting power and electric signals. 
     A single outdoor unit  10  may be connected to the plurality of indoor units  20   a  and  20   b  through the refrigerant pipe  30 .  FIG. 1  illustrates an example in which a plurality of indoor units  20   a  and  20   b  is provided, but a single indoor unit  20  or three or more indoor units  20  may be connected to a single outdoor unit  10 . 
     The indoor unit  20  includes an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) configured to exchange heat with indoor air, an indoor blower fan (not shown) configured to suck and blow indoor air to pass through the indoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve unit  100  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) configured to decompress and expand the refrigerant. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the outdoor unit  10  includes a heat exchanger  11  configured to exchange heat with outdoor air, a blower fan  12  configured to suck and blow outdoor air to pass through the heat exchanger  11 , a compressor  13  configured to compress the refrigerant, and a housing  14  configured to form an appearance of the outdoor unit  10  and accommodate the above mentioned heat exchanger  11 , blower fan  12  and compressor  13 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the housing  14  include a base plate  14   a  forming a lower surface of the housing to allow the heat exchanger  11  and the compressor  13  to be placed thereon, a partition  14   b  installed between the heat exchanger  11  and the compressor  13  to divide an inner space of the housing  14  into a space in which the outdoor heat exchanger  11  is installed and a space in which the compressor  13  is installed, a side plate  14   c  formed in a rectangular shape having an open front side so that an inside thereof forms a space in which the heat exchanger  11  and the compressor  13  are installed, a front plate  14   d  configured to cover the front side of the side plate  14   c , and a top plate  14   e  configured to cover the upper side of the side plate  14   c  and the front plate  14   d.    
     The side plate  14   c  includes an inlet port (not shown) through which outdoor air is sucked, and the front plate  14   d  includes an outlet port through which air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger  11  is discharged back to the outdoor space. 
     In addition, the housing  14  includes a control box (not shown) installed on the inner surface of the side plate  14   c  and a valve plate  14   f  on which a valve (not shown), to which the refrigerant pipe  30  is connected, is installed. 
     The outdoor unit  10  may include a discharge pipe  15  through which the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger  11  is discharged. The discharge pipe  15  may be formed as a part of the heat exchanger  11 . 
     The discharge pipe  15  may connect the heat exchanger  11  to the expansion valve unit  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The refrigerant introduced into the expansion valve unit  100  through the discharge pipe  15  may be decompressed and expanded, and then moved to the indoor unit  20  through the refrigerant pipe  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the expansion valve unit  100  may include an expansion valve  110  through which the refrigerant is decompressed and expanded. 
     The expansion valve  110  may include a first tube  112  through which the refrigerant is introduced, a body portion  111  configured to decompress and expand the refrigerant introduced from the first tube  112 , and a second tube  113  through which the decompressed and expanded refrigerant is discharged. 
     The expansion valve unit  100  may include a first connection portion  120  configured to connect the discharge pipe  15  to the first tube  112  and a second connection portion  150  configured to connect the second tube  113  and the refrigerant pipe  30 . 
     The first connection portion  120  may be configured to allow the refrigerant, which is heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger  11 , to flow into the expansion valve  110 . 
     The second connection portion  150  may be configured to allow the refrigerant, which is expanded and decompressed by the expansion valve  110 , to flow into the indoor unit  20 . 
     The first connection portion  120  may include a capillary tube  130  configured to optimize the flow rate of the refrigerant. The first connection portion  120  may include a first connection tube  140  configured to connect the capillary tube  130  to the discharge pipe  15 . 
     One end  141  of the first connection tube  140  may be connected to one end  131  of the capillary tube  130 , and the first tube  112  may be connected to the one end  131  of the capillary tube  130 . Other end  142  of the first connection tube  140  may be connected to the discharge pipe  15 . 
     Therefore, the capillary tube  130  may be arranged at the front end of the expansion valve  110  based on the flow of the refrigerant. 
     An auxiliary tube  112   a  configured to connect the first tube  112  to the capillary tube  130  may be provided between the first tube  112  and the capillary tube  130 . However, the connection of the capillary tube  130  is not limited thereto, and thus the capillary tube  130  may be directly connected to the first tube  112 . 
     The second connection portion  150  may include a second connection tube  151  configured to connect the second tube  113  to the refrigerant pipe  30 . 
     Although not shown in the drawing, the capillary tube  130  may be included in the second connection portion  150  instead of the first connection portion  120  and thus the capillary tube may be connected to the rear end of the expansion valve  110  based on the flow of the refrigerant. That is, the capillary tube  130  may be arranged between the second tube  113  and the second connection tube  151 . 
     In this case, the second connection portion  150  may be connected to the bracket  200  described later. However, only an embodiment in which the capillary tube  130  is included in the first connection portion  120  and arranged between the first tube  112  and the first connector tube  140  will be described. 
     As mentioned above, the expansion valve unit  100  may include the capillary tube  130 , and the capillary tube  130  may include a thin tube, which may cause the deformation and damage of the capillary tube  130  due to an external force. 
     In addition, a configuration in which the expansion valve unit  100  is connected to the capillary tube  130  may be deformed or damaged by an external force. 
     “External force” includes a force that is applied from the outside of the outdoor unit  10  or vibration generated upon driving of the blower fan  12  or the compressor  13  arranged inside the outdoor unit  10 . 
     Particularly, the capillary tube  130  may be arranged at the front end or the rear end of the expansion valve  110 . The expansion valve  110  is generally formed of a metal material, and the weight of the expansion valve  110  is relatively heavy. 
     Accordingly, the external force formed by the weight of the expansion valve  110  is largely transmitted to the capillary tube  130  that is physically connected to the expansion valve  110 , and thus the capillary tube  130  or a configuration coupled to the capillary tube  130  may be deformed or damaged. 
     Particularly, the expansion valve unit  100  may be arranged in a machine room formed between the partition  14   b  and the side plate  14   c  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Typically, the outdoor unit  10  of the air conditioner may be manufactured to maximize the size of the heat exchanger  11  and the blower fan  12  in order to increase the efficiency of the outdoor unit  10 , and thus the space inside the machine room may be narrow. 
     Because the machine room is narrow, when the configuration of the expansion valve unit  100  connected to the capillary tube  130  or the capillary tube  130  is deformed, the configuration or the capillary tube  130  may be in contact with a piping structure, which is arranged adjacent to the expansion valve unit  100 . Therefore, additional damage may occur and an unintentional noise caused by the contact between the components may occur. 
     In addition, when a plurality of indoor units  20   a  and  20   b  is connected to a single outdoor unit  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a plurality of expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  may be arranged in the machine room. Therefore, the expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  may be in contact with each other and damage or noise may occur due to contact. 
     In order to ease such a difficulty, the outdoor unit  10  of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a bracket  200  configured to stably support the expansion valve unit, and a first coupling member  210  and a second coupling member  220  configured to couple the bracket  100  to the expansion valve unit  100 . 
     The bracket  200  may stably support the expansion valve unit  100  to prevent the capillary tube  130  or the configuration connected to the capillary tube  130 , which have the weakest rigidity against the external force, from being deformed or damaged by the external force. 
     The bracket  200  may support the plurality of expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the bracket  200  may support four or less expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and thus the bracket  200  may include five or more coupling hooks  203  and coupling holes  205 , which are described later, for supporting five or more expansion valve units. 
     However, hereinafter the bracket  200  configured to support four or less expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  will be described. 
     Four or less expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c ,  100   d  may be simultaneously supported by the bracket  200  configured to support four expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d , as illustrated in the drawing, but alternatively, one to three expansion valve unit among four expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c ,  100   d  may be selectively supported by the bracket  200 . 
     That is, the outdoor unit  10  may include various numbers of expansion valve units  100  according to the number of the indoor units  20  connected to the outdoor unit  10 , and one expansion valve unit to four expansion valve units may be supported by a single bracket  200 . 
     The outdoor unit  10  may include a plurality of first coupling members  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c , and  210   d  configured to couple the plurality of expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  to the bracket  200 , respectively. 
     The outdoor unit  10  may include a plurality of second coupling members  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c , and  220   d  configured to couple the plurality of expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  to the bracket  200 , respectively. 
     Two fixation points fixed to the bracket  200  by the first coupling member  210  and the second coupling member  220  may be formed on the expansion valve unit  100 . Accordingly, the expansion valve unit  100  may be stably fixed to the bracket  200 . 
     The number of the first coupling members  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c  and  210   d  and the number of the second coupling members  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c  and  220   d  may be selected in accordance with the number of the expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  supported by the bracket  200 . 
     Hereinafter a structure in which the expansion valve unit  100  is coupled to the bracket  200  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and the bracket in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating one surface of the bracket in a state in which the expansion valve unit is fixed to the bracket, in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the other surface of the bracket in a state in which the expansion valve unit is fixed to the bracket, in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     The expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  to be described below have the same configuration and thus any one expansion valve unit  100   a  among the expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  will be described as an example of the expansion valve unit  100 . 
     The first coupling members  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c , and  210   d  to be described below have the same configuration, and thus the first coupling member  210   a  corresponding to one of the plurality of first coupling members  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c , and  210   d  will be described as an example of the first coupling member  210 . 
     Further, the second coupling members  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c , and  220   d  to be described below have the same configuration, and thus the second coupling member  220   a  corresponding to one of the plurality of second coupling members  220   a ,  220   b ,  220   c , and  220   d  will be described as an example of the second coupling member  220 . 
     Four coupling hooks  203   a ,  203   b ,  203   c , and  204   d  and four coupling holes  205   a ,  205   b ,  205   c , and  205   d  to be described later may be provided on the bracket  200  in accordance with the number of the expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d.    
     The four coupling hooks  203   a ,  203   b ,  203   c  and  204   d  have the same configuration and the four coupling holes  205   a ,  205   b ,  205   c  and  205   d  have the same configuration. Therefore, one coupling hook  203   a  among the plurality of coupling hooks  203   a ,  203   b ,  203   c  and  204   d  will be described as an example of the coupling hook  203  and one coupling hole  205   a  among the plurality of coupling holes  205   a ,  205   b ,  205   c  and  205   d  will be described as an example of the coupling hole  205 . 
     Further, one guide hole  206   a  among the plurality of guide holes  206   a ,  206   b ,  206   c , and  206   d  to be described later will be described as an example of the guide hole  206 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the bracket  200  may be configured to fix the expansion valve  110  and the first connection portion  120 . 
     The expansion valve  110  may be coupled by the first coupling member  210 , and the first connection portion  120  may be coupled by the second coupling member  220 . 
     Particularly, the second coupling member  220  may fix the first connection tube  140  among the first connection portion  120  to the bracket  200 . Alternatively, the second coupling member  220  may fix the capillary tube  130 , which is instead of the first connection tube  140 , to the bracket  200  although not shown in the drawing. 
     The first coupling member  210  may surround at least a portion of the expansion valve  110  and then fixed to the bracket  200  so as to allow the expansion valve  110  to be stably supported by the bracket  200 . 
     Particularly, the first coupling member  210  may surround a lower portion  111   a  of the body portion  111  of the expansion valve  110  to stably support the body portion  111  having a relatively heavy weight. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the first coupling member  210  may surround other portions of the body portion  111 . 
     Accordingly, because the body portion  111  is fixed to the bracket  200 , it is possible to allow the external force, which is generated by the weight of the body portion  111 , to be minimally transmitted to the first tube  112  extending from the body portion  111  and the other end  132  of the capillary tube  130 , which is connected to the first tube  112 . 
     The first coupling member  210  may include a first cutout portion  213 , and a first support  211  configured to surround and support the body portion  111  inserted through the first cutout portion  213 . 
     The first support  211  may be formed in a ring shape with one side cut off. The first cutout portion  213  may be arranged at one side of the first support  211 . 
     A first inserting portion  212 , which is a space into which the body portion  111  may be inserted, may be provided inside the first support  211 . 
     The lower portion  111   a  of the body portion  111  may be inserted into the first insertion portion  212  through the first cutout portion  213 , and an inner circumferential surface of the first support  211  may surround an outer circumferential surface of the lower portion  111   a  of the body portion  111 , thereby supporting the body portion  111 . 
     The first coupling member  210  may include a rubber material. Accordingly, a cut range of the first cutout portion  213  may be increased or decreased by an external force, and thus the body portion  111  may be easily inserted into the first insertion portion  212 . 
     The first coupling member  210  may include a first coupling portion  214  extending from the first cutout portion  213  to the opposite side of the first support  211  and coupled to the bracket  200 . 
     The first coupling portion  214  may be provided in a pair of protrusion shapes extending from the first cutout portion  213 . The first coupling portion  214  may be hooked to an inner space  204  of the coupling hook  203  formed in the bracket  200 . 
     As mentioned above, the first coupling member  210  includes the rubber material and the elasticity may be maintained so that the pair of protrusion shapes of the first coupling portion  214  is directed to the outside. When the pair of coupling protrusions is arranged in the inner space  204  of the coupling hook  203 , the pair of coupling protrusions may be hooked to the coupling hook  203  by the elasticity. 
     Further, the first coupling member  210  may include a support protrusion  215  arranged on the first coupling portion  214  to prevent the first coupling member  210  from being separated from the coupling hook  203 . 
     Because a coupling space  216  between the support protrusion  215  and the first support  211  is arranged in the inner space  204  of the coupling hook  203 , it is possible to maintain a state in which the first coupling portion  214  is stably coupled to the coupling hook  203 . 
     Because the first coupling member  210  includes the rubber material as mentioned above, it is possible to generate the anti-vibration effect against the vibration generated in the outdoor unit  10 . Accordingly, the first coupling member  210  may stably couple the expansion valve unit  100  to the bracket  200 , and further secure the rigidity of the expansion valve unit  100 . 
     The second coupling member  220  may include a second support  221  configured to surround and support the first connection tube  140 , a second insertion portion  222  provided inside the second support  221  and to which the first connection tube  140  is inserted, and a second cutout portion  223  formed cutout to allow the first connection tube  140  to be inserted to the second insertion portion  222 . 
     As for the first connection tube  140 , the second support  221  may surround the vicinity of the one end  141  of the first connection tube  140  coupled to the one end  131  of the capillary tube  130 . 
     Alternatively, the second support  221  may surround the one end  141  of the first connection tube  140  or the one end  131  of the capillary tube  130  although not shown in the drawings. 
     That is, in the first connection portion  120 , the one end  131  of the capillary tube  130 , the one end  141  of the first connection tube  140 , and the vicinity of the one end  141  of the first connection tube  140 , which are a portion vulnerable to damage due to external force, may be supported by the second support  221 , thereby increasing the rigidity of the first connection portion  120 . 
     In addition, as described above, the rigidity of the other end of the capillary tube  130 , the first tube  112  or a portion arranged in the auxiliary tube  112   a , which are another portion vulnerable to damage due to external force, in the first connection portion  120  may be increased because the first coupling member  210  stably supports the body portion  111 . 
     The second coupling member  220  may include a second coupling portion  224  extending from the second cutout portion  223  to the opposite side of the second support  221  and coupled to the bracket  200 . 
     The second coupling portion  224  may be screwed to the coupling hole  205  formed in the bracket  200 . The second coupling portion  224  includes a pair of plates extending from the second cutout portion  223 , and each plate may include a through hole  224  to which the screw S is passed through and which is coupled to the coupling hole  205 . 
     The bracket  200  may include the guide hole  206  arranged adjacent to the coupling hole  205  and configured to guide a position at which the second coupling member  220  is coupled to the bracket  200 . 
     As will be described later, the expansion valve unit  100  may be arranged to be inclined with respect to one end  200   a  or the other end  200   b  of the bracket  200 . The guide hole  206  may guide the position of the second coupling member  220  to allow the second coupling member  220  to be coupled to the bracket  200  at an angle in consideration of an installation angle of the expansion valve unit  100 . 
     The second coupling member  220  may include a guide protrusion  226  inserted into the guide hole  206 . Particularly, the guide protrusion  226  may protrude from the second coupling portion  224 , which is in contact with one surface  201  of the bracket  200 , to a direction coupled to the bracket  200 . 
     Before the second coupling member  220  is coupled to the bracket  200 , the guide protrusion  226  may be inserted into the guide hole  205  of the bracket  200  so as to select the position of the second coupling member  220 . Thereafter, the second coupling member  220  may be arranged at a position where the coupling hole  205  and the through hole  224  overlap each other, and the second coupling member  220  and the bracket  200  may be coupled to each other through the screw member S. 
     As mentioned above, the first coupling member  210  and the second coupling member  220  may fix the expansion valve unit  100  to the bracket  200 . Accordingly, two fixation points in the expansion valve unit  100  may be fixed to the bracket  200  by the first coupling member  210  and the second coupling member  220 . 
     Particularly, the first coupling member  210  and the second coupling member  220  may increase the rigidity of the expansion valve unit  100  by fixing the low rigidity portion of the expansion valve unit  100  to the bracket  200 . 
     The first connection tube  140  may be fixed to the one surface  201  of the bracket  200  by the second coupling member  220 , and the expansion valve  110  may be fixed to the other surface  202  of the bracket  200 , which is opposite do the one surface  201  of the bracket  200 , by the first coupling member  210 . 
     That is, the first coupling member  210  and the second coupling member  220  may respectively fix the expansion valve  110  and the first connecting pipe  140  to the bracket  200  in the opposite direction. 
     When the first coupling member  210  and the second coupling member  220  are simultaneously coupled on the same surface of the bracket  200 , a part of the expansion valve unit  100  may be deformed by the shape of the capillary tube  130 . However, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, because the expansion valve  110  is coupled to the other surface  202  of the bracket  200  and the first connection tube  140  is coupled to the one surface  201  of the bracket  200 , the expansion valve unit  100  may be easily coupled to the bracket  200  without deformation. 
     Alternatively, when the capillary tube  130  is arranged on the second connection portion  150  as described above, the expansion valve  110  may be arranged on the one surface  201  of the bracket  200  and the second connection portion  150  may be arranged on the other surface  202  of the bracket  200  by the second coupling member  220  although not shown in the drawings. 
     The coupling hook  203  may extend outwardly from the one end  200   a  of the bracket  200 . The coupling hole  205  may be arranged at a portion adjacent to the other end  200   b  arranged in the opposite direction of the one end  200   a  of the bracket  200 . 
     That is, on the same surface of the bracket  200 , the coupling hook  203  and the coupling hole  205  may be arranged adjacent to opposite ends  200   a  and  200   b , respectively. 
     Therefore, the expansion valve unit  100  may be coupled to the bracket  200  by being constrained in a region adjacent to the one end  200   a  of the bracket  200  and a region adjacent to the other end  200   b.    
     The plurality of coupling hooks  203   a ,  203   b ,  203   c , and  203   d  and the plurality of coupling holes  205   a ,  205   b ,  205   c  and  205   d  may be arranged in a direction in which the one end  200   a  or the other end  200   b  of the bracket  200  extends. 
     In a single bracket  200 , the plurality of expansion valve units  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  and  100   d  may be arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the bracket  200 . 
     Accordingly, the pipe laying in the machine room may have a simple structure and thus the inner space of the machine room may be efficiently used. Therefore, it is possible to minimize collision between components and it is possible to prevent that each expansion valve unit  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c , and  100   d  are damaged due to collision with each other. 
     The coupling hook  203  may extend outwardly at a predetermined angle θ with respect to a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the one end  200   a  or the other end  200   b  of the bracket  200 . 
     That is, the coupling hook  203  may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the one end  200   a  of the bracket  200 . Accordingly, the expansion valve unit  100  may be coupled at an angle with respect to the one end  200   a  or the other end  200   b  of the bracket  200 . 
     A length L from the other end  200   b  of the bracket  200  to one end of the body portion  111  of the expansion valve unit  100  when the expansion valve unit  100  is coupled to the bracket  200  in a direction inclined with respect to the one end  200   a  of the bracket  200  may be less than a length from the other end  200   b  of the bracket  200  to one end of the body portion  111  of the expansion valve unit  100  when the expansion valve unit  100  is coupled to the bracket  200  in a direction perpendicular to the one end  200   a  of the bracket  200 . 
     Therefore, the length from the outermost side of the expansion valve unit  100  coupled to the discharge pipe  15  to the discharge pipe  15  may be formed relatively short, and thus it is possible to efficiently use the inner space of the machine room. 
     When it is assumed that a direction, in which the one end  131  of the capillary tube  130  is formed (or a direction in which one side of the capillary tube  130  including the one end  131  extends), is e 1  and it is assumed that a direction, in which the other end  132  of the capillary tube  130  is formed (or a direction in which the other side of the capillary tube  130  including the other end extends), is e 2 , the first coupling member  210  may constrain the expansion valve  110  in the direction e 2  and the second coupling member  220  may constrain the first connection tube  140  in the direction e 1 . 
     Accordingly, even when the external force is applied to a direction in which the one end  131  and the other end  132  of the capillary tube  130  are away from each other, or a direction in which the one end  131  and the other end  132  of the capillary tube  130  are close to each other, it is possible to prevent that the capillary tube  130  is deformed in the direction in which the one end  131  and the other end  132  are away from each other or close to each other. 
     That is, the bracket  200  may support the expansion valve  110  and the first connection tube  140  to maintain a separation distance d in a direction perpendicular to the expanding directions e 1  and e 2  of the one end  131  and the other end  132  of the capillary tube  130 . 
     Because the separation distance d between the one end  131  and the other end  132  of the capillary tube  130  is maintained by the first coupling member  210  and the second coupling member  220 , it is possible to prevent the capillary tube  130  from being deformed due to the external force. 
     Hereinafter a bracket  300  configured to stably support the expansion valve unit  100  according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. A configuration to be described later except the bracket  300  may be the same as the configuration of the outdoor unit  10  of the air conditioner according to an embodiment and thus a description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 9  is a view illustrating one surface of a bracket in a state in which an expansion valve unit is fixed to the bracket, in the air conditioner according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a single indoor unit  20  may be connected to a single outdoor unit  10 . Accordingly, a single expansion valve unit  100  may be arranged in the outdoor unit  10 . 
     When a single expansion valve unit  100  is arranged in the machine room, the expansion valve unit  100  may be coupled to any one of the plurality of coupling hooks  203   a ,  203   b ,  203   c  and  203   d  and any one of the plurality of coupling holes  205   a ,  205   b  and  205   c  in the bracket  200 . 
     However, unlike this, the bracket  300  according to another embodiment of the disclosure may include one coupling hook  303  and one coupling hole (not shown). 
     Accordingly, a length of one end  300   a  or the other end  300   b  of the bracket  300  may be shortened, and thus the bracket  300  may be smaller than the bracket  200  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Because the size of the bracket  300  is reduced, the space inside the machine room of the outdoor unit  10  may be effectively used, and thus the expansion valve unit  100  may be prevented from being damaged due to contact with other components. 
     In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the bracket  300  may be implemented by a bracket including two coupling hooks and two coupling holes, or three coupling hooks and three coupling holes. 
     That is, unlike an embodiment of the disclosure or another embodiment of the disclosure, the bracket may include various numbers of coupling hooks and coupling holes. 
     As is apparent from the above description, the expansion valve unit of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner may be stably supported by the bracket, without the movement, and thus it is possible to effectively prevent the capillary tube, which is arranged in the front end or the rear of the expansion valve unit, from being damaged. 
     Although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.