Patent Publication Number: US-11391473-B2

Title: Outdoor unit and air conditioner

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. national stage application of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/032002 filed on Aug. 29, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an outdoor unit and an air conditioner, the outdoor unit including a heat dissipator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes: a housing with an outlet formed on a front panel; a heat exchanger, a compressor, and a blower provided in the housing; a control substrate provided in the housing and controlling the operation of the compressor and the blower; an electric component provided on the control substrate; and a heat dissipator for dissipating heat generated by the electric component. The outdoor unit further includes a partition board that partitions the space in the housing into a blower chamber and a compressor chamber, the blower chamber being a space where the blower is arranged, and the compressor chamber being a space where the compressor is arranged. The heat dissipator includes a base thermally connected to the electric component, and a plurality of fins provided on the base. An air guide is provided on the side of tips of the plurality of fins, and the space surrounded by the base, the plurality of fins, and the air guide forms an air passage. According to the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1, even when the heat dissipator is provided near the periphery of a blower fan having a relatively small amount of ventilation, the entire heat dissipator is cooled efficiently by allowing air to flow through the air passage formed in the heat dissipator. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2009-299907 
     However, when a bell mouth is provided around the outlet of the housing of the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a closed space surrounded by an outer peripheral surface of the bell mouth, an inner surface of the front panel, and the partition board is formed in the housing. The bell mouth is an annular member that projects from an annular wall surface forming the outlet into the housing so as to reduce a pressure loss when the air having passed through the heat exchanger and flowed into an blower chamber is discharged to the outside of the blower chamber through the outlet. In this closed space, the pressure tends to be high because the air flow is more stagnant therein than in the space outside the closed space. Therefore, when leeward end surfaces of the fins lie in the closed space, the air having entered the air passage formed between the adjacent fins from windward end surfaces of the fins flows toward the tips of the fins, that is, ends of the fins on the side opposite to the side of the base, before reaching the leeward end surfaces of the fins. Such a change in the direction of flow of the air having entered the air passage causes a decrease in the velocity of flow of the air at the leeward end surfaces of the fins, so that the cooling capacity of the heat dissipator cannot be sufficiently achieved. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit in which the cooling capacity of a heat dissipator can be improved even when a bell mouth is provided in a housing. 
     SUMMARY 
     An outdoor unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing that includes a front panel having an outlet for an airflow, a back panel facing the front panel, a left side panel, a right side panel facing the left side panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel facing the bottom panel. The outdoor unit further includes a control substrate that is provided in the housing and provided with an electric component, an electric component box in which the control substrate is provided, and a heat dissipator that is provided between the top panel and the electric component box and dissipates heat generated by the electric component. A region surrounded by the heat dissipator, the back panel, the front panel, the electric component box, and the top panel is formed on a windward side of the heat dissipator. 
     The outdoor unit according to the present invention has an effect that the cooling capacity of the heat dissipator can be improved even when the bell mouth is provided in the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external view of an outdoor unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an internal view of the outdoor unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  as viewed from the front. 
         FIG. 3  is an internal view of the outdoor unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  as viewed from above. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a heat dissipator illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a configuration of a heat dissipator included in an outdoor unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of a configuration of a heat dissipator included in an outdoor unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of a configuration of an outdoor unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram of a configuration of an outdoor unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an air conditioner according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An outdoor unit and an air conditioner according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. 
     First Embodiment 
     First, an overview of the configuration of an outdoor unit  1 - 1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 .  FIG. 1  is an external view of the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an internal view of the outdoor unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  as viewed from the front.  FIG. 3  is an internal view of the outdoor unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  as viewed from above. The outdoor unit  1 - 1  is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The air conditioner uses a refrigerant circulating between the outdoor unit  1 - 1  and an indoor unit placed in a room to transfer heat between the indoor air and the outdoor air, and perform air conditioning of the room. The outdoor unit  1 - 1  includes a housing  2  that forms an outer shell of the outdoor unit  1 - 1 . The outdoor unit  1 - 1  further includes a blower  13 , a bell mouth  9 , a compressor  14 , a partition board  10 , a control substrate  16 , a heat dissipator  18 - 1 , an electric component box  15 , and a heat exchanger  22  that are provided inside the housing  2 .  FIGS. 1 to 3  use left-handed XYZ coordinates to define a direction along the vertical width of the outdoor unit  1 - 1  as an X axis direction, a direction along the horizontal width of the outdoor unit  1 - 1  as a Y axis direction, and a direction along the depth of the outdoor unit  1 - 1  as a Z axis direction. The axial directions similar to the above are also applied to  FIG. 4  and the following drawings. 
     The housing  2  includes a front panel  3  that forms a front surface of the housing  2 , a back panel  8  that faces the front panel  3  and forms a back surface of the housing  2 , a left side panel  4  that forms a side surface on the left side of the housing  2  when the housing  2  is viewed from the front, a right side panel  5  that faces the left side panel  4 , a bottom panel  6  that forms a bottom surface of the housing  2 , and a top panel  7  that faces the bottom panel  6 . Note that the front panel  3  and the left side panel  4  may be formed by one component. 
     An inlet  4   a  is formed on the left side panel  4 . An inlet  8   a  is formed on the back panel  8 . The inlet  4   a  and the inlet  8   a  are for taking air from the outside of the housing  2  into the housing  2 . 
     An outlet  31  of a circular shape is formed on the front panel  3 . The outlet  31  is an opening for discharging the air taken into the housing  2  to the outside of the housing  2 . The bell mouth  9  is provided on a wall surface  3   a  having an annular shape and forming the outlet  31 . The bell mouth  9  is an annular member projecting from the wall surface  3   a  into the housing  2 . 
     Inside the housing  2 , the blower  13  is arranged within a region that is obtained by projecting an inner edge of the bell mouth  9  from the front panel  3  of the housing  2  toward the back panel  8  thereof. The blower  13  includes an impeller  13   a  and a motor  13   b  that is a power source for the impeller  13   a . When the motor  13   b  of the blower  13  is driven to cause the impeller  13   a  of the blower  13  to rotate, air is taken into a blower chamber  11  of the housing  2  through the inlets  4   a  and  8   a . The air taken into the blower chamber  11  is discharged to the outside of the housing  2  through the outlet  31 . In  FIG. 3 , a broken arrow indicates an airflow AF generated inside the housing  2  due to the rotation of the blower  13 . The airflow AF is a flow of the air taken into the blower chamber  11  of the housing  2  from the outside of the housing  2 . 
     The partition board  10  is a member that partitions the space in the housing  2  into the blower chamber  11  and a compressor chamber  12 , the blower chamber  11  being a space where the blower  13  is arranged, and the compressor chamber  12  being a space where the compressor  14  is arranged. The blower chamber  11  is the space surrounded by the front panel  3 , the left side panel  4 , the bottom panel  6 , the top panel  7 , the back panel  8 , and the partition board  10 . The compressor chamber  12  is the space surrounded by the front panel  3 , the right side panel  5 , the bottom panel  6 , the electric component box  15 , the back panel  8 , and the partition board  10 . When the outdoor unit  1 - 1  is viewed from the front, for example, the partition board  10  extends from the bottom panel  6  toward the top panel  7  and comes into contact with a lower surface of the electric component box  15  before reaching the top panel  7 . 
     The compressor chamber  12  is the space surrounded by the partition board  10  and the right side panel  5 . The compressor chamber  12  is provided with the compressor  14  for compressing the refrigerant. The compressor  14  is connected to a plurality of pipes (not shown) included in the heat exchanger  22 , and the refrigerant compressed by the compressor  14  is sent to the pipes. When air passes through the heat exchanger  22 , heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant flowing through the pipes and the heat exchanger  22 . 
     The heat exchanger  22  is provided inside the housing  2  so as to cover the inlets  4   a  and  8   a . The heat exchanger  22  is provided in the blower chamber  11  and faces the inside of each of the back panel  8  and the left side panel  4  of the housing  2 . When the outdoor unit  1 - 1  is viewed from above, for example, the heat exchanger  22  has an L-shape extending from the left side panel  4  toward the back panel  8 . The heat exchanger  22  includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins (not shown) arranged apart from one another, and the plurality of pipes (not shown) provided to pass through the plurality of heat dissipating fins and allowing the refrigerant to flow through the pipes. 
     The electric component box  15  is provided above the compressor chamber  12 . The electric component box  15  is provided in a space formed between an upper end of the partition board  10  and the top panel  7 . The electric component box  15  is for controlling components of the air conditioner, and is arranged over the blower chamber  11  and the compressor chamber  12 . 
     The electric component box  15  houses the control substrate  16  on which an electric component  17  is provided. The control substrate  16  includes a first substrate surface  16   a  and a second substrate surface  16   b  that is on the opposite side of the first substrate surface  16   a . The first substrate surface  16   a  is a substrate surface on the side of the top panel  7 . The second substrate surface  16   b  is a substrate surface on the side of the bottom panel  6 . The control substrate  16  is a plate-shaped member with the first substrate surface  16   a  being parallel to the top panel  7 . The electric component  17  is provided on the first substrate surface  16   a  of the control substrate  16 . The electric component  17  is, for example, a semiconductor element, a reactor, or the like forming an inverter circuit that converts direct current power into alternating current power and drives at least one of the compressor  14  and the blower  13 . The electric component  17  is not limited to the semiconductor element or the reactor constituting the inverter circuit and may be, for example, a semiconductor element constituting a converter circuit that converts alternating current power supplied from a commercial power source into direct current power and outputs it to an inverter circuit, a resistor for voltage detection, or a smoothing capacitor. 
     The heat dissipator  18 - 1  is in contact with the electric component  17 . The heat dissipator  18 - 1  is a component for cooling the electric component  17 . The heat dissipator  18 - 1  may be fixed to the electric component  17 , or may be fixed to the control substrate  16  or the electric component box  15  via a fixing member (not shown). In the blower chamber  11 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , for example, the heat dissipator  18 - 1  is arranged outside the region that is obtained by projecting the inner edge of the bell mouth  9  in the direction of the back panel  8  from the front panel  3  of the housing  2 , and is inside a region that is obtained by projecting the electric component box  15  in the direction of the top panel  7  from the bottom panel  6 . 
     Note that the heat dissipator  18 - 1  need only be arranged such that at least a part of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  lies in a first region R 1  between the electric component box  15  and the top panel  7 . 
     Next, a configuration of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the heat dissipator illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In the following, a side of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  corresponding to the right side panel  5  will be referred to as a windward side, and a side of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  corresponding to the left side panel  4  will be referred to as a leeward side.  FIG. 4  illustrates a state in which the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , a plurality of the electric components  17  thermally connected to the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , and the like are viewed from the side of the right side panel  5 . The plurality of electric components  17  includes, for example, a first electric component  17   a , a second electric component  17   b , and a third electric component  17   c . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the heat dissipator  18 - 1  includes a base  19  and a plurality of fins  21  provided on the base  19 . The base  19  is a rectangular plate-shaped member with the width in the Z axis direction wider than the width in the Y axis direction. Note that the shape of the base  19  is not limited to the rectangle as long as the base  19  can transfer heat, which is transferred from the plurality of electric components  17  to the base  19 , to the plurality of fins  21 . 
     A lower surface  19   a  of the base  19  is in contact with the plurality of electric components  17 . The plurality of fins  21  is provided on an upper surface  19   b  of the base  19 . Each of the plurality of fins  21  is a plate-shaped member extending in the direction toward the top panel  7  of the housing  2  from the upper surface  19   b  of the base  19 . The plurality of fins  21  is arranged apart from one another in the Z axis direction. Each of the plurality of fins  21  includes a heat dissipating surface  21   a . The heat dissipating surface  21   a  is a surface facing the adjacent one of the fins  21 . The heat dissipating surface  21   a  has a rectangular shape, for example. Note that the shape of the fin  21  is not limited to the rectangle as long as the fin  21  can dissipate the heat, which is transferred from the base  19  to the fin  21 , to the air. The heat dissipating surface  21   a  is parallel to the front panel  3 . An air passage  23  through which air passes is formed in a gap between the heat dissipating surfaces  21   a  of the fins  21  adjacent to each other. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , end surfaces on one end of the plurality of fins  21  in the Y axis direction form a windward end surface  21   c . The windward end surface  21   c  corresponds to a windward end surface of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . Also, end surfaces on another end of the plurality of fins  21  in the Y axis direction form a leeward end surface  21   d . The leeward end surface  21   d  corresponds to a leeward end surface of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . 
     Next, the flow of air in the heat dissipator  18 - 1  will be described. When the blower  13  rotates, the airflow AF is generated in the housing  2 , and the air outside the housing  2  is taken into the blower chamber  11  of the housing  2  through the inlets  4   a  and  8   a . The air taken into a second region R 2  in the housing  2  through the inlet  8   a  flows into the air passages  23  of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  from the side of the windward end surface  21   c  of the fins  21 . The second region R 2  is a space within the first region R 1  described above, is surrounded by the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , the right side panel  5 , the electric component box  15 , the top panel  7 , the front panel  3 , and the back panel  8 , and is also a region on the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . The air having flowed into the air passages  23  of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  in such a manner exchanges heat with the fins  21 , flows out to the side of the leeward end surface  21   d  of the fins  21  thereafter, and is discharged to the outside of the housing  2  through the outlet  31  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     According to the outdoor unit  1 - 1  of the first embodiment, the second region R 2  surrounded by the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , the right side panel  5 , the back panel  8 , the front panel  3 , the electric component box  15 , and the top panel  7  is formed on the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , so that there is no structure in the second region R 2 . Accordingly, even when the pressure in the closed space described above is high, the outdoor unit  1 - 1  according to the first embodiment can effectively use the air flowing in the second region R 2  and reduce or prevent a reduction in the amount of heat exchange in the heat dissipator  18 - 1  without being affected by the pressure in the closed space. Therefore, the cooling capacity of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  can be improved as compared to the case where the plurality of fins is arranged in the Z axis direction with a part of each of the plurality of fins lying in the aforementioned closed space, as in the heat dissipator disclosed in Patent Literature 1. 
     Moreover, according to the outdoor unit  1 - 1  of the first embodiment, the cooling efficiency of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  is improved so that the electric component  17  provided on the control substrate  16  is efficiently cooled. The efficient cooling of the electric component  17  can extend the life of the control substrate  16  and the electric component  17 . The outdoor unit  1 - 1  according to the first embodiment can also extend the life of another component not in contact with the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . For example, in a case where the other component is an electrolytic capacitor, the electrolytic capacitor is a component that is easily affected by the ambient temperature because it contains an electrolyte solution. Being affected by the ambient temperature, the life of the electrolytic capacitor is roughly doubled when the ambient temperature drops by 10° C. The efficient cooling of the electric component  17  can prevent or reduce an increase in the ambient temperature as well. Preventing or reducing the increase in the ambient temperature can prevent or reduce the influence of heat on the other component not in contact with the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , and can significantly extend the life thereof. 
     When the electric component  17  is downsized, the heat dissipation area of the electric component  17  is reduced, and the heat dissipation efficiency thereof is decreased. According to the outdoor unit  1 - 1  of the first embodiment, the electric component  17  is in contact with the heat dissipator  18 - 1  whose cooling efficiency is improved, and thus the decrease in the heat dissipation efficiency of the electric component  17  itself can be compensated for. As a result, the downsizing can be achieved while reducing heat generation of the reactor and the semiconductor element provided as the electric components  17 , for example. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of a configuration of a heat dissipator included in an outdoor unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. An outdoor unit  1 - 2  according to the second embodiment includes a heat dissipator  18 - 2  instead of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . The heat dissipator  18 - 2  includes a deflector plate  20   a  and a deflector plate  20   b  in addition to the base  19  and the fins  21 . 
     The deflector plate  20   a  is provided in a space between an end surface  211  of the fins  21  and the top panel  7 . The deflector plate  20   a  may be fixed to the end surface  211  of the fins  21 , or may be fixed to the inner surface of the top panel  7 . The deflector plate  20   a  includes a flat surface portion  20   a   1  of a plate shape facing and parallel to the end surface  211  of the fins  21 , and an inclined portion  20   a   2  provided at an end of the flat surface portion  20   a   1  on the windward side. The end of the flat surface portion  20   a   1  on the windward side coincides with an end of the flat surface portion  20   a   1  on the side of the second region R 2 . The flat surface portion  20   a   1  and the inclined portion  20   a   2  may be integrally manufactured using an insulating resin, a metal material, or the like, or may be individually manufactured and joined. 
     The inclined portion  20   a   2  functions as a first guide piece that guides the airflow AF generated in the second region R 2  to the windward end surface  21   c  of the fins  21 . The inclined portion  20   a   2  is a surface that is inclined at a certain angle toward the top panel  7  with respect to the Y axis direction. The certain angle is an arbitrary angle from 1° to 89°, for example. A tip of the inclined portion  20   a   2  may be in contact with the inner surface of the top panel  7 , or may be provided at a position slightly away from the inner surface of the top panel  7 . 
     The deflector plate  20   b  is provided in a space between the lower surface  19   a  of the base  19  and an upper surface of the electric component box  15 . The deflector plate  20   b  may be fixed to a lower surface  19   a  of the base  19  or may be fixed to the upper surface of the electric component box  15 . The deflector plate  20   b  includes a flat surface portion  20   b   1  of a plate shape facing and parallel to the lower surface  19   a  of the base  19 , and the inclined portion  20   b   2  provided at an end of the flat surface portion  20   b   1  on the windward side. The end of the flat surface portion  20   b   1  on the windward side coincides with an end of the flat surface portion  20   b   1  on the side of the second region R 2 . The flat surface portion  20   b   1  and an inclined portion  20   b   2  may be integrally manufactured using an insulating resin, a metal material, or the like, or may be individually manufactured and joined. 
     The inclined portion  20   b   2  functions as a second guide piece that guides the airflow AF generated in the second region R 2  to the windward end surface  21   c  of the fins  21 . The inclined portion  20   b   2  is a surface that is inclined at a certain angle toward the electric component box  15  with respect to the Y axis direction. The certain angle is an arbitrary angle from 1° to 89°, for example. A tip of the inclined portion  20   b   2  may be in contact with the upper surface of the electric component box  15 , or may be provided at a position slightly away from the upper surface of the electric component box  15 . 
     According to the heat dissipator  18 - 2  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the deflector plate  20   a  is provided on the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 2 , and thus the air that is to flow into the space between the fins  21  and the top panel  7  from the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 2  is taken into the heat dissipator  18 - 2 . Also, the deflector plate  20   b  is provided on the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 2 , and thus the air that is to flow into the space between the base  19  and the electric component box  15  from the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 2  is taken into the heat dissipator  18 - 2 . As a result, the amount of air taken into the heat dissipator  18 - 2  increases as compared to a case where the deflector plates  20   a  and  20   b  are not provided. Therefore, in the heat dissipator  18 - 2 , the velocity of flow of the air flowing through the heat dissipator  18 - 2  is faster than that flowing through the heat dissipator  18 - 1  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the cooling efficiency of the electric component  17  in contact with the heat dissipator  18 - 2  is further improved. 
     Note that the heat dissipator  18 - 2  illustrated in  FIG. 5  need only be provided with at least one of the deflector plate  20   a  and the deflector plate  20   b , and even when the heat dissipator  18 - 2  is provided with only the deflector plate  20   a , for example, the cooling efficiency of the electric component  17  can be improved compared to the heat dissipator  18 - 1  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram of a configuration of a heat dissipator included in an outdoor unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. An outdoor unit  1 - 3  according to the third embodiment includes a heat dissipator  18 - 3  instead of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . The heat dissipator  18 - 3  includes a deflector plate  20   c  and a deflector plate  20   d  in addition to the base  19  and the fins  21 . 
     The deflector plate  20   c  is provided in a space between the fins  21  and the back panel  8 . The deflector plate  20   c  may be fixed to the fin  21 , or may be fixed to the inner surface of the back panel  8 . The deflector plate  20   c  includes a flat surface portion  20   c   1  of a plate shape facing and parallel to the heat dissipating surfaces  21   a  of the fins  21 , and an inclined portion  20   c   2  provided at an end of the flat surface portion  20   c   1  on the windward side. The end of the flat surface portion  20   c   1  on the windward side coincides with an end of the flat surface portion  20   c   1  on the side of the second region R 2 . The flat surface portion  20   c   1  and the inclined portion  20   c   2  may be integrally manufactured using an insulating resin, a metal material, or the like, or may be individually manufactured and joined. 
     The inclined portion  20   c   2  functions as a third guide piece that guides the airflow AF generated in the second region R 2  to the windward end surface  21   c  of the fins  21 . The inclined portion  20   c   2  is a surface that is inclined at a certain angle toward the back panel  8  with respect to the Y axis direction. The certain angle is an arbitrary angle from 1° to 89°, for example. A tip of the inclined portion  20   c   2  may be in contact with the inner surface of the back panel  8 , or may be provided at a position slightly away from the inner surface of the back panel  8 . 
     The deflector plate  20   d  is provided in a space between the fins  21  and the front panel  3 . The deflector plate  20   d  may be fixed to the fin  21 , or may be fixed to the inner surface of the front panel  3 . The deflector plate  20   d  includes a flat surface portion  20   d   1  of a plate shape facing and parallel to the heat dissipating surfaces  21   a  of the fins  21 , and an inclined portion  20   d   2  provided at an end of the flat surface portion  20   d   1  on the windward side. The end of the flat surface portion  20   d   1  on the windward side coincides with an end of the flat surface portion  20   d   1  on the side of the second region R 2 . The flat surface portion  20   d   1  and the inclined portion  20   d   2  may be integrally manufactured using an insulating resin, a metal material, or the like, or may be individually manufactured and joined. 
     The inclined portion  20   d   2  functions as a fourth guide piece that guides the airflow AF generated in the second region R 2  to the windward end surface  21   c  of the fins  21 . The inclined portion  20   d   2  is a surface that is inclined at a certain angle toward the front panel  3  with respect to the Y axis direction. The certain angle is an arbitrary angle from 1° to 89°, for example. A tip of the inclined portion  20   d   2  may be in contact with the inner surface of the front panel  3 , or may be provided at a position slightly away from the inner surface of the front panel  3 . 
     According to the heat dissipator  18 - 3  illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the deflector plate  20   c  is provided on the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 3 , and thus the air that is to flow into the space between the fins  21  and the back panel  8  from the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 3  is taken into the heat dissipator  18 - 3 . Also, the deflector plate  20   d  is provided on the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 3 , and thus the air that is to flow into the space between the fins  21  and the front panel  3  from the windward side of the heat dissipator  18 - 3  is taken into the heat dissipator  18 - 3 . As a result, the amount of air taken into the heat dissipator  18 - 3  increases as compared to a case where the deflector plates  20   c  and  20   d  are not provided. Therefore, in the heat dissipator  18 - 3 , the velocity of flow of the air flowing through the heat dissipator  18 - 3  is faster than that flowing through the heat dissipator  18 - 1  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the cooling efficiency of the electric component  17  in contact with the heat dissipator  18 - 3  is further improved. 
     Note that the heat dissipator  18 - 3  illustrated in  FIG. 6  need only be provided with at least one of the deflector plate  20   c  and the deflector plate  20   d , and even when the heat dissipator  18 - 3  is provided with only the deflector plate  20   d , for example, the cooling efficiency of the electric component  17  can be improved compared to the heat dissipator  18 - 1  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Moreover, at least one of the deflector plate  20   c  and the deflector plate  20   d  illustrated in  FIG. 6  may be combined with the heat dissipator  18 - 2  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     Fourth Embodiment 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of a configuration of an outdoor unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In an outdoor unit  1 - 4  according to the fourth embodiment, an inlet  5   a  is formed on the right side panel  5 , and a deflector plate  20   e  is provided between the electric component box  15  and the right side panel  5 . The inlet  5   a  is provided above the position of the deflector plate  20   e  in the X axis direction. Also, as rain may enter from the inlet  5   a , the inlet  5   a  is desirably provided below the position of the upper surface of the electric component box  15  in the X axis direction. As a result, the electric component  17  is less easily hit by the rain entering from the inlet  5   a . The inlet  5   a  formed in such a manner communicates with the second region R 2 . 
     The deflector plate  20   e  extends from the electric component box  15  toward the inner surface of the right side panel  5 , and also extends from the front panel  3  illustrated in  FIG. 2  to the heat exchanger  22  provided inside the back panel  8 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1 - 4 , the air taken in from the inlet  5   a  is taken into the second region R 2  in the housing  2  without passing through the heat exchanger  22  illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and is used for cooling of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . For example, when an air conditioner equipped with the outdoor unit  1 - 4  is in cooling operation, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger  22  is higher than the outside air temperature, so that the air taken in from the inlet  8   a  of the back panel  8  is increased in temperature by exchanging heat with the heat exchanger  22  and becomes warmer than the outside temperature. Therefore, the heat dissipator  18 - 1  may not be able to be cooled effectively when the air having passed through the heat exchanger  22  is used. In the outdoor unit  1 - 4  according to the fourth embodiment, the air taken in from the inlet  5   a  does not pass through the heat exchanger  22 , whereby the cooling capacity of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  can be further improved compared to the outdoor unit  1 - 1  according to the first embodiment. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram of a configuration of an outdoor unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. An outdoor unit  1 - 5  according to the fifth embodiment includes a heat dissipator  18 - 5  instead of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 . In the outdoor units  1 - 5 , for example, the first electric component  17   a  that generates the highest amount of heat and the second electric component  17   b  and the third electric component  17   c  each generate a lower amount of heat than the first electric component  17   a  are arranged in the order of the first electric component  17   a , the second electric component  17   b , and the third electric component  17   c  from the back panel  8  toward the front panel  3 . The heat dissipator  18 - 5  is then formed such that a first fin pitch  71  of the plurality of fins  21  provided corresponding to the first electric component  17   a  is narrower than a second fin pitch  72  of the plurality of fins  21  provided corresponding to the second electric component  17   b  and the third electric component  17   c.    
     When the first electric component  17   a  is a semiconductor element formed by a wide bandgap semiconductor, the wide bandgap semiconductor has higher heat resistance performance and higher switching speed than a silicon semiconductor. Therefore, the reactor, the motor, and the like can be downsized by operating the first electric component  17   a  at a high frequency. However, the heat generated by the wide bandgap semiconductor may have a higher value than the heat generated by the silicon semiconductor depending on the frequency, so that the first electric component  17   a  needs to be sufficiently cooled. 
     Also, when the reactor is downsized, the reactor can be provided on the control substrate  16 . When the reactor is thus provided on the control substrate  16 , it is necessary to reduce the influence of the heat generated by the reactor on a component existing around the reactor, and to prevent solder used for connecting a reactor terminal to the control substrate  16  from melting due to the heat generated by the reactor. Therefore, when the reactor is provided on the control substrate  16 , it is necessary to sufficiently cool the reactor and to prevent or reduce an increase in the temperature of the reactor as compared to a case where the reactor is installed in a place other than the control substrate  16 . 
     According to the heat dissipator  18 - 5  illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the first fin pitch  71  is narrower than the second fin pitch  72  so that the heat dissipation area of the fins  21  provided in correspondence with the first electric component  17   a  is increased, and that the cooling efficiency of the heat dissipator  18 - 5  can be improved. As a result, the life of the first electric component  17   a  can be extended. Moreover, the amount of material used to form the fins  21  is reduced as compared to a case where all the fins  21  are arranged at the first fin pitch  71 , whereby the cost of manufacturing the heat dissipator  18 - 5  can be reduced. 
     Also, in a case where an electrolytic capacitor is provided as a component not in contact with the heat dissipator  18 - 5 , as described above, the life of the electrolytic capacitor is roughly doubled when the ambient temperature drops by 10° C. Even when such a component easily affected by the ambient temperature is used, the heat dissipator  18 - 5  illustrated in  FIG. 8  can significantly extend the life of the component not in contact with the heat dissipator  18 - 5 . 
     Moreover, because the plurality of electric components  17  is arranged apart from one another in the Z axis direction as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , compared to a case where the plurality of electric components  17  is arranged in the Y axis direction, the heat generated by the plurality of electric components  17  is likely to be distributed to the plurality of fins  21  so that the plurality of electric components  17  can be effectively cooled. 
     Moreover, the plurality of electric components  17  is arranged in the Z axis direction so that, as compared to a case where the plurality of electric components  17  is arranged in the Y axis direction, the heat generated by the first electric component  17   a  is less easily transferred to the second electric component  17   b  with a lower allowable temperature than the first electric component  17   a  even when the first electric component  17   a  has the highest amount of heat generated, and that it is possible to prevent the second electric component  17   b  from getting hot and failing. 
     Moreover, when the first electric component  17   a , the second electric component  17   b , and the third electric component  17   c  are arranged in the order of the first electric component  17   a , the second electric component  17   b , and the third electric component  17   c  from the windward side to the leeward side, the heat generated by the first electric component  17   a  and the second electric component  17   b  causes the temperature of a specific one of the plurality of fins  21  to be higher than the temperature of the rest of the fins  21 . Therefore, the heat generated by the third electric component  17   c  on the leeward side is less easily absorbed by the fin. On the other hand, when the first electric component  17   a , the second electric component  17   b , and the third electric component  17   c  are arranged in the Z axis direction as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the heat generated by the third electric component  17   c  is absorbed by the fin  21  corresponding to the third electric component  17   c  without being affected by the heat generated in the first electric component  17   a  and the second electric component  17   b . Therefore, the third electric component  17   c  can be effectively cooled. 
     Note that the heat dissipator  18 - 5  illustrated in  FIG. 8  may be combined with at least one of the deflector plate  20   a  and the deflector plate  20   b  illustrated in  FIG. 5 , or may be combined with at least one of the deflector plate  20   c  and the deflector plate  20   d  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Moreover, the outdoor units  1 - 1  to  1 - 5  of the first to fifth embodiments can each be used as an outdoor unit of a device other than the air conditioner such as a heat pump water heater. 
     Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the outdoor unit  1 - 1  when viewed from the front is provided with the blower chamber  11  on the left side and the compressor chamber  12  on the right side, but the outdoor unit  1 - 1  may be provided with the compressor chamber  12  on the left side and the blower chamber  11  on the right side. In this case, the second region R 2  described above is a region surrounded by the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , the left side panel  4 , the back panel  8 , the front panel  3 , the electric component box  15 , and the top panel  7 . The similar applies to the outdoor units  1 - 2  to  1 - 5  according to the second to fifth embodiments. Moreover, when the compressor chamber  12  is provided on the left side and the blower chamber  11  is provided on the right side, the inlet  5   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7  is formed on the left side panel  4  of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1 - 4  according to the fourth embodiment. 
     Sixth Embodiment 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an air conditioner according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. An air conditioner  200  includes the outdoor unit  1 - 1  according to the first embodiment and an indoor unit  210  connected to the outdoor unit  1 - 1 . The use of the outdoor unit  1 - 1  according to the first embodiment can provide the air conditioner  200  in which the housing  2  can be downsized while improving the cooling efficiency of the heat dissipator  18 - 1  illustrated in  FIG. 2  and the like. Moreover, with the improved cooling efficiency of the heat dissipator  18 - 1 , the air conditioner  200  having high reliability can be provided. Note that instead of the outdoor unit  1 - 1  according to the first embodiment, the air conditioner  200  may be combined with the outdoor unit  1 - 2  according to the second embodiment, the outdoor unit  1 - 3  according to the third embodiment, the outdoor unit  1 - 4  according to the fourth embodiment, or the outdoor unit  1 - 5  according to the fifth embodiment. 
     The configuration illustrated in the above embodiment merely illustrates an example of the content of the present invention, and can thus be combined with another known technique or partially omitted and/or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.