Patent Description:
Generally, an air conditioner uses a refrigeration cycle to control the temperature, humidity, airflow, air distribution, etc. suitable for human activity and to remove dust and the like in the air. A compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a blower, etc. are the main components of the refrigeration cycle.

In the case of a separate type air conditioner in which an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the air conditioner are separately installed, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger (hereinafter, referred to as a heat exchanger) and a blower are provided in the outdoor unit.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner makes noise or suffers from reliability issues because vibration of the blower itself and vibration generated from air discharging are moved to a cabinet that constitutes the exterior of the outdoor unit.

<CIT> discloses an air conditioner wherein brackets disposed on side panels are coupled to an upper panel.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having an improved coupling structure between a blower cover and a cabinet for reducing vibration of an outdoor unit of the air conditioner.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim <NUM>. Embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

The pair of side plates may further include a non-contact area, in the exterior surface of the pair of side plates, configured to be spaced apart from the blower cover in the outward direction of the cabinet.

The contact area may include two contact areas respectively disposed on two ends of each of the pair of side plates, and the non-contact area may be provided between the two contact areas.

The non-contact area may include a bent portion bent toward an inside of the cabinet, and an inner side portion extending upward from the bent portion.

The blower cover may be disposed apart from an exterior surface of the inner side portion.

The extension portion may include a contact portion corresponding to the contact area and a non-contact portion corresponding to the non-contact area.

The contact area may include a coupling portion engaged with the contact portion by a coupling member.

The blower cover is disposed apart from the inner side portion in the outward direction of the cabinet.

The blower cover includes an upper surface disposed on the upper side of the cabinet and an extension bent downward from the upper surface and extending.

The coupling portion may include two coupling portions respectively disposed on two ends of each of the pair of side plates.

The non-contact portion may include a bead protruding in an outward direction of the cabinet.

The bead may be disposed apart from the non-contact area in the outward direction of the cabinet.

The extension portion may be disposed apart from the front plate and the rear plate in an outward direction of the cabinet so that the extension portion is separated from the front plate and the rear plate.

The pair of side plates may disposed in a direction orthogonal to the front plate and the rear plate, and the front plate and the rear plate are hooked onto the pair of side plates.

Each of the front plate and the rear plate may include a hook formed on one side of an inner surface of each of the front plate and the rear plate, each of the pair of side plates may include a coupling surface bending toward the front plate or the rear plate and coupled with the inner surface of the front plate or the rear plate, and the coupling surface may include a hook groove into which the hook is hooked.

A side opposite the inner surface of the front plate or the rear plate may be coupled with the coupling surface by a coupling member.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may further comprise a vibration-proof member disposed between an inner surface of the upper surface and upper sides of the front plate and the rear plate,
wherein the vibration-proof member may comprise an insertion groove into which upper ends of the front plate and the rear plate are inserted.

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which.

Embodiments described in this specification and configurations illustrated in drawings are only exemplary examples of the disclosed invention.

In addition, the same reference numerals or symbols refer to parts or elements that perform substantially the same function.

In addition, terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe exemplary embodiments. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural unless it has a clearly different meaning in context. In the present specification, the terms such as "including," "having," and "comprising" are intended to indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts, or combinations thereof may be present or added.

In addition, it should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, the elements should not be limited by these terms.

It is to be understood that embodiments that do not fall within the scope of the claims are exemplary embodiments of the disclosure that are not covered by the claims.

Hereinafter, the upper, upward, lower, and downward used in the following description are defined with respect to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

And the front and forward used in the following description refer to a direction a front cabinet (also referred to as a front plate) <NUM> of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM> shown in <FIG> faces, and rear and backward refer to a direction a rear cabinet (also referred to as a rear plate) <NUM> of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM> not shown in <FIG> faces.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.

As shown in <FIG>, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM> (hereinafter, the outdoor unit1) may include a cabinet <NUM> forming an outer appearance and having four sides, a compressor <NUM> disposed inside the cabinet <NUM> for compressing refrigerant, a heat exchanger <NUM> for exchanging heat with outdoor air, a blower <NUM> for allowing outdoor air to pass through the outdoor unit <NUM> and exchange heat with the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and a drive motor <NUM> for rotating the blower <NUM>, (in <FIG>, the configuration of the compressor <NUM> and the heat exchanger <NUM> are not shown for convenience of explanation).

The blower <NUM> has a hub portion 4a with a shaft 5a of the drive motor <NUM> installed at the center of the hub portion 4a to receive rotational force from the drive motor <NUM>, and a plurality of wing portions 4b radially extending from the hub portion 4a and spaced from one another around the hub portion 4a.

The outdoor unit includes the blower <NUM>, a blower cover <NUM> covering the blower <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>, and a base member <NUM> disposed at the bottom of the cabinet <NUM> and having the compressor <NUM> seated thereon.

The cabinet <NUM> includes a front plate <NUM> disposed on the front surface of the outdoor unit <NUM>, a rear plate <NUM> disposed on the rear surface, and a pair of side cabinets (also referred to as a pair of side plates) <NUM> disposed on either side of the cabinet <NUM>, which are perpendicular to the front plate <NUM> and rear plate <NUM>.

Since the pair of side plates <NUM> has symmetrical structure, only one of the pair of side plates <NUM> will be described in the following description. However, the terms 'a (the) pair of side plates' and 'a (the) side cabinet' will both be denoted by the same reference numeral, <NUM>.

The blower cover <NUM> includes an upper surface <NUM> provided with a discharge port <NUM>, through which air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger <NUM> by the blower <NUM> is discharged, and an extension portion <NUM> extending downward from the rim of the upper surface <NUM>.

The blower <NUM> may be disposed in the upper part of the cabinet <NUM>. The outdoor unit <NUM> further include a tub-shaped molded object <NUM>, which includes a bell mouth <NUM> for guiding air to the blower <NUM> and a diffuser portion <NUM> for guiding the air from the blower <NUM> to the discharge port <NUM> arranged outside the blower <NUM> in the radial direction.

The heat exchanger <NUM> may be disposed on inner sides of the pair of side plates <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>. Accordingly, the side cabinet <NUM> may include a suction port <NUM> for sucking air into the outdoor unit <NUM> to exchange heat between the air and the heat exchanger <NUM>.

Unlike the front plate <NUM> and the side cabinet <NUM>, the rear plate <NUM> is formed to be shorter than the front plate <NUM> and the side cabinet <NUM> in the vertical direction and may include an opening (not shown) formed between a lower side of the rear plate <NUM> and the side cabinet <NUM>. Air is introduced into the outdoor unit <NUM> through the suction port <NUM> and the opening, exchanges heat with the heat exchanger <NUM> and is then discharged through the discharge port <NUM> arranged in an upper part of the outdoor unit <NUM> to the outside of the outdoor unit <NUM> of the air conditioner.

The front plate <NUM> may be separated into a front upper cabinet <NUM>, a front middle cabinet <NUM>, and a front lower cabinet <NUM>. In other words, the front plate <NUM> may be made up with three parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. However, the front plate <NUM> is not limited thereto, but may be formed in one piece.

The rear plate <NUM> may have a size corresponding to a size of the front upper cabinet <NUM>. The rear plate <NUM> and the front plate <NUM> may extend downward from a side where the blower cover <NUM> is disposed. The length in the vertical direction of the rear plate <NUM> may be extended as much as the length of the front upper cabinet <NUM>.

However, the rear plate <NUM> is not limited thereto, but may extend down from the front upper cabinet <NUM> to correspond to the entire length of the front plate <NUM>.

An additional discharge port may be provided so that external air may flow to the heat exchanger <NUM> if the rear plate <NUM> is extended to correspond to the entire vertical length of the front plate <NUM>.

A pair of first frames <NUM> may be disposed inside the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>. Specifically, the pair of first frames <NUM> may be disposed on the lower side of the front upper cabinet <NUM> and the lower side of the rear plate <NUM>. A second frame <NUM> may be disposed inside the front plate <NUM>. Specifically, the second frame <NUM> may be disposed on the lower side of the front middle cabinet <NUM>.

The lower side of the front upper cabinet <NUM> and the lower side of the rear plate <NUM> may be coupled together by the pair of first frames <NUM> and a coupling member <NUM> such as a screw or the. This will be described in detail later.

There may be brackets <NUM> orthogonally arranged between the pair of first frames <NUM>. The pair of first frames <NUM> may be coupled to the brackets <NUM>. The motor <NUM> and the blower <NUM> may be coupled to the brackets <NUM> so that the blower <NUM> may be disposed in the upper part of the cabinet <NUM>.

The tub-shaped molded object <NUM> may be coupled to the inside of the upper surface <NUM> of the blower cover <NUM>. Furthermore, a fan guard <NUM> for protecting the discharge port <NUM> may be provided above the upper surface <NUM>.

The second frame <NUM> is coupled with the front middle cabinet <NUM> to improve the rigidity of the front plate <NUM> and to support a control box (not shown) provided inside the cabinet <NUM> between the first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the cabinet <NUM> and the structure of combining the cabinet <NUM> and the blower cover will be described in detail.

The outdoor unit <NUM> of air conditioner may have vibration due to the blower <NUM> and the air discharged by the blower <NUM>, and the vibration makes the entire outdoor unit <NUM> shake, which might develop to damaging the components or making too much noise.

Since the container-shaped molded object <NUM> including the diffuser portion <NUM> for guiding air to be discharged as described above is coupled to the blower cover <NUM>, heavy vibration is generated in the blower cover <NUM> due to the air being discharged, and the vibration may be transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> through the blower cover <NUM>, shaking the entire outdoor unit <NUM>.

In order to minimize the transmission of the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> to the cabinet <NUM>, the conventional outdoor unit of air conditioner has increased engaging spots where the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> are engaged or have a lot of additional vibration-proof materials placed between the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> to secure the rigidity of the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>.

As the number of engaging spots increases, the number of coupling members for engaging the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> and the number of the vibration-proof materials increase as well, which leads to an increase of the number of entire components of the outdoor unit <NUM>. Even with the increased engaging spots to secure substantial rigidity, the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> is still transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> through the increased engaging spots without a significant drop off.

On the contrary, the outdoor unit <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure may reduce transmission of the vibration to the cabinet <NUM> from the blower cover <NUM> by securing as large a non-contact area between the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> as possible while minimizing the number of the engaging spots where the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> are coupled.

As shown in <FIG>, the blower cover <NUM> includes extension portion <NUM> extending down from the four side edges of the upper surface <NUM>. The extension portion <NUM> may be formed to cover the tops of the front plate <NUM>, rear plate <NUM>, and side cabinet <NUM>.

In detail, the extension portion <NUM> may be disposed outside the cabinet <NUM> and extend down from the upper surface <NUM>, so that at least parts of the upper portions of the cabinets <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are covered.

The upper surface <NUM> of the blower cover <NUM> may be disposed above and separated from the cabinet <NUM> in the vertical direction. That is, as the extension portion <NUM> are coupled to the outside of the cabinet <NUM>, the upper surface <NUM> is not supported directly by the cabinet <NUM>, which prevents the vibration from being directly transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> through the upper surface <NUM>.

As the extension portion <NUM> is disposed to cover the upper portion of the cabinet <NUM> as described above, it overlaps the outside of the cabinet from a predetermined height. The extension portion <NUM> may be coupled to the cabinet <NUM> from the height at which the extension portion <NUM> starts to overlap the cabinet <NUM>, so that the blower cover <NUM> may be supported on the cabinet <NUM>. Therefore, the vibration generated at the blower cover <NUM> may be transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> via the extension portion <NUM>.

In other words, the blower cover <NUM> does not contact or is supported by the cabinet <NUM> in the vertical direction, but may be coupled to the cabinet <NUM> on the side of the cabinet <NUM> or in the lateral direction of the cabinet <NUM>. Therefore, the upper portion of the outer surface of the cabinet <NUM> may have an area in which to be coupled or not coupled but overlap with the blower cover <NUM>.

In detail, the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> secure a non-contact area between them to prevent the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> from being transmitted to the cabinet <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the cabinet <NUM> includes a contact area <NUM> in which to contact the blower cover <NUM> and a non-contact area <NUM> in which to not contact the blower cover <NUM>.

The non-contact area <NUM> is disposed on the entire upper portion of the front plate <NUM> and rear plate <NUM> and the contact area <NUM> and a non-contact area <NUM> may be disposed on the upper side of the side cabinet <NUM>.

Since the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM> are disposed symmetrically with respect to the blower cover <NUM>, the structure in which the rear plate <NUM> is disposed is the same as the structure in which the front plate <NUM> is disposed, so the description thereof will be omitted.

The contact area <NUM> may include a coupling portion <NUM> for engaging the blower cover <NUM> and the side cabinet <NUM>. That is, the coupling portion <NUM>, which may be coupled to the blower cover <NUM>, may be disposed on the upper side of the side cabinet <NUM>.

In detail, two contact areas <NUM> are disposed on both sides of the upper side of the side cabinet <NUM> and the respective coupling portions <NUM> are disposed inside the two contact areas <NUM>.

The coupling portion <NUM> may be engaged with the blower cover <NUM> by e.g., screwing a coupling member <NUM>. Therefore, the coupling portion <NUM> may be provided in the shape of a coupling hole, through which a coupling member <NUM> passes.

The blower cover <NUM> may be coupled to four engaging portions <NUM> provided on both sides of the upper side of the pair of side plates <NUM>.

In the conventional case not in accordance with the invention, the blower cover is coupled to all four sides of the cabinet, and at least two coupling portions are provided in each of the four sides to be coupled to the side of the blower cover. On the contrary, according to the embodiment of the present invention the blower cover <NUM> is coupled onto a pair of facing sides of the cabinet <NUM> at the ends of the sides, minimizing the coupling portions <NUM> and thus minimizing a path, along which the vibration generated from the blower cover <NUM> is transmitted to the cabinet <NUM>.

That is, a pair of the other facing sides of the cabinet <NUM>, <NUM> and blower cover <NUM> are not coupled to each other, so the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> is not directly transmitted to the pair of the other facing sides of the cabinet <NUM>, <NUM> from blower cover <NUM>.

According to the invention, the coupling portions <NUM> are not disposed in the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM> facing each other, i.e., the blower cover <NUM> does not contact the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>, and the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> is not transmitted to the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>.

Each of the pair of side plates <NUM> has two coupling portions <NUM>, and thus the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> may be transmitted to the pair of side plates <NUM> through the coupling portions <NUM>. In this case, however, the transmission of the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> to the pair of side plates <NUM> may be minimized.

In other words, since the non-contact area <NUM> disposed on the upper sides of the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM> facing each other does not contact the blow cover <NUM>, the upper sides of the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM> are not in contact with the blower cover <NUM>. And since the pair of side plates <NUM> may have the contact area <NUM>, the vibration may be transmitted to the pair of side plates <NUM> through the contact area <NUM>.

The extension portion <NUM> of the blower cover <NUM> includes a contact portion <NUM> provided to correspond to the contact area <NUM> and a non-contact portion <NUM> provided corresponding to the non-contact area <NUM>.

The contact portion <NUM> is an area to face the outside of the cabinet <NUM> and the outside of the contact area <NUM> when the blower cover <NUM> is coupled with the cabinet <NUM>. The non-contact portion <NUM> is an area to face the outside of the cabinet <NUM> and the outside of the non-contact area <NUM> when the blower cover <NUM> is coupled with the cabinet <NUM>.

The contact portion <NUM> may be disposed in contact with the contact area <NUM> when the blower cover <NUM> is coupled to the cabinet <NUM>, and the non-contact portion <NUM> may be disposed to be separated from the non-contact area <NUM> in the outward direction of the cabinet <NUM>.

The non-contact portion <NUM> may include a first non-contact portion 222a provided to correspond to a first non-contact area 180a disposed in the side cabinet <NUM>, a second non-contact portion 222b provided to correspond to a second non-contact area 180b disposed in the front plate <NUM>.

The first non-contact portion 222a may include a bead <NUM> protruding in the outer direction from the cabinet <NUM> to prevent the first non-contact portion 222a from coming into contact with the first non-contact area 180a.

In the case of the second non-contact portion 222b, there is no area in which the front plate <NUM> and the extension portion <NUM> are in contact with each other, and the front extension portion 220b corresponding to the front plate <NUM> as a whole may be disposed on the outer side of the cabinet <NUM> rather than the front plate <NUM> as a whole.

Accordingly, even if the front extension portion 220b vertically extends down from the upper surface <NUM>, the second non-contact area 180b of the front plate <NUM> is not in contact with the upper surface <NUM>. Thus, there is no need to dispose a separate protruding bead <NUM>. However, a bead <NUM> provided to secure rigidity of the front extension portion 220b may be disposed.

Since a side extension portion 220a may include a through hole <NUM> coupled with the coupling portion <NUM> by screwing, and the contact portion <NUM> is provided to be in contact with the contact area <NUM>, the side extension portion 220a may not be disposed to be separated from the side cabinet <NUM> outside the cabinet <NUM>.

To prevent the first non-contact portion 222a from contacting the first non-contact area 180a, the first non-contact portion 222a may include the bead <NUM> projecting in the direction to the outside of the first non-contact area and the cabinet <NUM>.

The first non-contact portion 222a protrudes in the direction to the outside of the cabinet <NUM> by the bead <NUM>, so that the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a may be arranged to be separated outside the cabinet <NUM>.

Therefore, the first non-contact portion 222a does not contact the first non-contact area 180a of the side cabinet <NUM>, and thus, may not receive the vibration directly through the blower cover <NUM>.

Refer to <FIG> showing a cross-section of the AA side of the side extension portion 220a where the contact area <NUM> and the contact portion <NUM> face each other, the contact area <NUM> and the contact portion <NUM> are provided in contact with each other for the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> to be coupled with each other by the coupling member passing through the through hole <NUM> and the coupling portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the contact portion <NUM> adjacent to the through hole <NUM> may be formed to be concave toward the cabinet <NUM> and the contact area <NUM> may be formed to be concave toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM> along the contact portion <NUM>. However, contact portion <NUM> may vertically extend down from the upper surface <NUM> and the contact area <NUM> may vertically extend upward without having concaved portion.

Referring to <FIG> showing a cross-section of the BB side where the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a face each other on the side extension portion 220a, the first non-contact portion 222a may be located relatively far from the cabinet <NUM> due to the bead <NUM> as compared to the contact portion <NUM>.

Accordingly, the first non-contact portion 222a and the first non-contact area 180a may be spaced apart from each other in the outward direction of the cabinet <NUM>. Therefore, the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> is not transmitted to the first non-contact area 180a.

However, if the vibration is transmitted from the blower cover <NUM> to the cabinet <NUM>, shaking the cabinet <NUM>, the first noncontact portion 222a and the first non-contact area 180a may come into contact with each other.

Thus, in order to increase the distance between the first non-contact portion 222a and the first non-contact area 180a, the first non-contact area 180a may include a bent portion 181a bending and extending in the inward direction of the cabinet <NUM> and an inner side portion 182a disposed farther inside the cabinet <NUM> than the side cabinet <NUM> by extending upward from the bent portion 181a.

The inner side portion 182a faces the first non-contact portion 222a and might contact the first non-contact portion 222a if the cabinet <NUM> shakes. However, since the inner side portion 182a may be bent in an inward direction of the cabinet <NUM> by the bent portion 181a, a separation distance between the first non-contact portion 222a and the inner side portion 182a increases, and thus the inner side portion 182a may not contact the first non-contact portion 222a even if the cabinet <NUM> shakes.

Referring to <FIG> showing a cross-section of the CC side where the second non-contact area 180b and the second non-contact portion 222b face each other on the front extension portion 220b, second non-contact portion 222b may be spaced apart from the second non-contact area 180b in the outward direction of the cabinet <NUM>.

The entire front plate <NUM> has the second non-contact area 180b disposed on the upper portion of the front plate <NUM>, and may not be in contact with the blower cover <NUM>. Therefore, the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> is not directly transmitted to the front plate <NUM>.

However, if the vibration is transmitted from the blower cover <NUM> to the cabinet <NUM> or the vibration occurs in the blower cover <NUM>, the second non-contact portion 222b and the second non-contact area 180b may sometimes be in contact with each other.

Therefore, in order to increase the distance between the second non-contact portion 222b and the second non-contact area 180b, the second non-contact area 180b includes a bent portion 181b bending and extending in the inward direction of the cabinet <NUM> and an inner side portion 182b disposed farther inside the cabinet <NUM> than the side cabinet <NUM> by extending upward from the bent portion 181b.

The inner side portion 182b faces the second non-contact portion 222b and might contact the second non-contact portion 222b if the cabinet <NUM> shakes. However, since the inner side portion 182b may be bent in an inward direction of the cabinet <NUM> by the bent portion 181b, a separation distance between the second non-contact portion 222b and the inner side portion 182b increases, and thus the inner side portion 182b may not contact the second non-contact portion 222b even if the cabinet <NUM> shakes.

However, if the front extension portion 220b has a part bending downward formed with a large distance from the front plate <NUM> in the outward direction of the cabinet <NUM>, the front extension portion 220b may extend upward in the front plate <NUM> without the above-described bent portion 181b and the inside portion 182b.

The front extension portion 220b may be bent with a large distance in the outward direction of the cabinet <NUM> because the contact portion <NUM> is not disposed on the front extension portion 220b unlike the side extension portion 220a.

Since the front plate <NUM> does not include the coupling portion <NUM> to be coupled with the blower cover <NUM>, if the cabinet <NUM> shakes, a fixing force of the front plate <NUM> in the vertical direction is weaker than that of the side cabinet <NUM>, so the vibration may occur in the vertical direction in the front plate <NUM>.

To prevent this, a vibration-proof member <NUM> for preventing shaking of the front plate <NUM> may be provided between the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> and the upper side of the front plate <NUM>. The vibration-proof member <NUM> may be provided with an insertion groove <NUM>, into which the upper end of the front plate <NUM> is inserted. The upper end of the front plate <NUM> may be fixed by the vibration-proof member <NUM> while being inserted into the insertion groove <NUM>. Accordingly, even if the front plate <NUM> is shaken in the vertical direction, the vibration may be reduced by the vibration-proof member <NUM>.

The vibration-proof member <NUM> may include a material such as rubber having an anti-vibration property. The vibration-proof member <NUM> may be disposed in contact with the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> of the blower cover <NUM>.

Hereinafter, an assembling structure of the cabinet <NUM> will be described.

As shown in <FIG>, the front plate <NUM> may be hooked to the side cabinet <NUM>. Since the rear plate <NUM> is coupled to the side cabinet <NUM> in the same manner as does the front plate <NUM>, description of the rear plate <NUM> will be omitted below.

A hook <NUM> protruding toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM> is provided on the upper side of the inner surface of the front plate <NUM> and may be hooked to the side cabinet <NUM>.

The front plate <NUM> is composed of the front upper cabinet <NUM>, the front middle cabinet <NUM> and the front lower cabinet <NUM>, as described above. The front upper cabinet <NUM>, the front middle cabinet <NUM>, and the lower cabinet <NUM> are all hooked by the hooks <NUM> in the same manner. So, for convenience of explanation, the front upper, front middle, and front lower cabinets <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> will be collectively described as the front plate <NUM>.

Also, as described above, the front plate <NUM> is not limited thereto, but may be in one piece. In this case, the front plate <NUM> may be hooked to the side cabinets <NUM> via two hooks <NUM> provided at either end of the upper side of the inner surface of the front plate <NUM>.

The side cabinets <NUM> may each include a coupling surface <NUM> bent toward the inner surface of the front plate <NUM> and engaged with the inner surface of the front plate <NUM> (the side cabinets refer to a pair of side plates symmetrically disposed and coupled to the front plate in the same manner, so hereinafter, configuration of one side cabinet will be described for convenience of explanation).

The coupling surface <NUM> may bend in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side cabinet <NUM> so that the inner surface of the front plate <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the coupling surface <NUM>. The coupling surface <NUM> may have a hook groove <NUM>, into which the hook <NUM> of the front plate <NUM> is hooked.

The front plate <NUM> may be coupled to the side cabinet <NUM> while the hook <NUM> is hooked into the hook groove <NUM>, making the coupling surface <NUM> come into contact with the inner surface of the front plate <NUM>.

Even when the front plate <NUM> is hooked to the coupling surface <NUM>, the front plate <NUM> is not actually engaged with the coupling surface <NUM> and the hook <NUM> may be detached from the hook groove <NUM>.

Thus, to couple the front plate <NUM> onto the coupling surface <NUM>, a first coupling hole <NUM> may be formed on the lower side of the front upper cabinet <NUM>, the front middle cabinet <NUM> and the front lower cabinet <NUM> to be coupled to the coupling surface <NUM> by the coupling member <NUM>.

By screwing, the coupling member <NUM> may go through the first coupling hole <NUM> and may be coupled with a second coupling hole <NUM> formed in the coupling surface <NUM>.

The second coupling hole <NUM> may be formed to correspond to a position where the first coupling hole <NUM> is formed, when the front plate <NUM> is hooked to the coupling surface <NUM>, and may be coupled by the coupling member <NUM>.

In the conventional case not in accordance with the invention, the cabinet is assembled through screw coupling with coupling members, in which case all four sides of the cabinet are formed by the screw coupling with the coupling members, so the number of engaging spots increases, leading to an increase of configurations and processes.

Furthermore, even when the blower cover is coupled with the cabinet as described above, a large number of engaging spots are required, which also leads to an increase of configurations and processes. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the number of engaging spots is reduced by limiting the coupling portions <NUM> to four, and the quantity of the engaging spots for assembling the outdoor unit <NUM> may be reduced by replacing the coupling member <NUM> with the hook <NUM>, thereby reducing the number of the engaging spots for the coupling members <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the front plates <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be combined into the front plate <NUM> with a total of nine engaging spots: six first coupling holes <NUM> to be coupled with the coupling surface <NUM> by the coupling member <NUM>, a third coupling hole 117a formed to be coupled with the first frame <NUM> (see <FIG>) to secure extra rigidity at the lower side of the front upper cabinet <NUM>, a fourth coupling hole 117b formed to be engaged with the second frame <NUM> (see <FIG>) to secure extra rigidity at the lower side of the front middle cabinet <NUM>, and a fifth coupling hole 117c formed to be engaged with a base member <NUM> to secure extra rigidity at the lower side of the front lower cabinet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the rear plate <NUM> may be assembled with a total of five engaging spots: two first coupling holes <NUM> combined with the coupling surface <NUM> by the coupling members <NUM>, one third coupling hole 117a formed on the lower side of the rear plate <NUM> to be coupled with the first frame <NUM> to secure extra rigidity, two fifth coupling holes 117c formed on the rear plate <NUM> for the pair of side frames <NUM> to be coupled with the base member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a pair of side plates <NUM> may be assembled with a total of ten engaging spots,: two through holes <NUM> formed to couple the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>, two fifth coupling holes 117c formed for the lower side of the side cabinet <NUM> to be coupled with the base member <NUM>, and one sixth coupling hole 117d formed on the middle of the side cabinet <NUM> to be coupled with the heat exchanger <NUM> to secure extra rigidity for each side cabinet.

The number of engaging spots shown in <FIG> is the minimum number of engaging spots required for assembling the outdoor unit <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, but is not limited thereto. For example, the outdoor unit <NUM> may be assembled with more engaging spots than shown in <FIG>.

Although it was described above that the blower cover <NUM> is coupled with the pair of the side cabinets <NUM>, the blower cover, in an arrangement not according to the invention, may be coupled to the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM> and may be coupled to the cabinet <NUM> without contacting the pair of side plates <NUM>.

Also not according to the invention, at least three of the four sides of the cabinet(front plate <NUM>, rear plate <NUM>, and pair of side plates), for example, the pair of side plates <NUM> and the front plates <NUM> may be coupled to the blower cover <NUM> and may be coupled to the cabinet <NUM> without contacting the rear plate <NUM>.

However, in a case not according to the invention that the blower cover <NUM> is coupled to at least one of the four sides of the cabinet (front plate <NUM>, rear plate <NUM>, and pair of side plates), it may be difficult to secure rigidity in coupling between the blower cover <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>. Therefore, it is according to the invention to have the pair of side plates <NUM> in coupling with the blower cover <NUM> as described above.

Hereinafter, an outdoor unit <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Configurations of the outdoor unit <NUM> as will be described below are identical the outdoor unit <NUM> according to the previous embodiment of the present invention except for the configuration of the vibration-proof member, so the overlapping description will be omitted below.

The vibration-proof member <NUM> may be disposed on the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> of the blower cover <NUM>, the inner side of the front extension portion 220b, and the upper side of the front plate <NUM>. The vibration-proof member <NUM> may reduce occurrences of the vertical vibration of the front plate <NUM> by inserting the front plate <NUM> into the insertion groove <NUM> as described above.

With the vibration-proof member <NUM> located in contact with the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> and the inner side of the front extension portion 220b, vibration of the blower cover <NUM> is transmitted not directly but via the vibration-proof member <NUM> because the upper side of the front plate <NUM> is formed as the non-contact area 180b and does not contact the blower cover <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in order to minimize transmission of the vibration to the front plate <NUM> from the vibration-proof member <NUM>, the vibration-proof member <NUM> may include vibration-proof protrusions <NUM> protruding toward the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> and the inner side of the front extension portion 220b.

The vibration-proof protrusions <NUM> prevent the main body of the vibration-proof member <NUM> from contacting the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> and the inner side of the front extension portion 220b but allowing themselves to contact the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> and the inner side of the front extension portion 220b, thereby reducing an amount of vibration transmitted to the vibration-proof member <NUM> through the inner side of the upper surface <NUM> and the inner side of the front extension portion 220b.

In other words, by reducing the contact area between the vibration-proof member <NUM> and the blower cover <NUM> through the vibration-proof protrusion <NUM>, transmission of the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> to the vibration-proof member <NUM> may be minimized. Hereinafter, an outdoor unit <NUM> according to yet another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Other configurations than those of the first auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> and the coupling surface <NUM> as will be described below are the same as the configurations of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the previous embodiments of the present invention, so the overlapping description will be omitted below.

As described above, the front plate <NUM> is coupled to the engaging surface <NUM> when the hook <NUM> disposed on the inner surface of the front plate <NUM> is hooked into the hook groove <NUM> disposed on the engaging surface <NUM>.

In this case, however, the hook <NUM> and the hook groove <NUM> are simply hooked together, so if the cabinet <NUM> is shaken, the hook may be disengaged from the hook groove <NUM> or the hook <NUM> may vibrate in the hook groove <NUM> and make noise.

To prevent this, as shown in <FIG>, the outdoor unit <NUM> according to yet another embodiment of the present invention includes an auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> disposed between the hook <NUM> and a hook groove <NUM>' to prevent vibration of the hook <NUM>.

With the auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> including a vibration-resistant material disposed between the hook <NUM> and the hook groove <NUM>', the vibration of the hook <NUM> may be absorbed by the auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM>, thereby preventing the hook <NUM> from vibrating inside the hook groove <NUM>', and from falling out of the hook groove <NUM>'.

The auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> may include an insertion groove <NUM> into which the hook <NUM> is inserted and a coupling protrusion <NUM> protruding toward the coupling surface <NUM>' for the auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> to be engaged with the coupling surface <NUM>'.

The coupling surface <NUM>' may be provided with a protrusion hole <NUM>' corresponding to the coupling protrusion <NUM> so that the coupling protrusion <NUM> may pass therethrough. When assembling the auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM>, the auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> is simply pressed toward the coupling surface <NUM>' so that the coupling protrusion <NUM> penetrates the protrusion hole <NUM>' and auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> may be coupled to the coupling surface <NUM>'.

As shown in <FIG>, two coupling protrusions <NUM> and two protrusion holes <NUM>' are formed, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and more than two coupling protrusions may be used to prevent the auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> from being detached from the coupling surface <NUM>'.

Hereinafter, an outdoor unit according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Other configurations than the configuration of the second auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> as will be described below are the same as the configurations of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the previous embodiments of the present invention, so the overlapping description will be omitted below.

As shown in <FIG>, the second auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> may be located in the gap between the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a. When the gap between the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a is narrow, the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a may come into contact with each other due to the vibration of the cabinet <NUM> and the blower cover <NUM>.

In this case, the vibration generated in the blower cover <NUM> may be transmitted through the first non-contact portion 222a, and the contact between the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a may make troublesome noise.

In order to prevent this, the second auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> may be disposed between the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a to make a gap between them, and the second auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> may have a material with a good vibration-proof property to minimize the vibration generated in the first non-contact portion 222a.

In addition, since there is no supporting structure between the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a to support them, reliability issues about the rigidity might arise if there is an external impact on the cabinet <NUM>,. But, according to the present disclosure, with the second auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM>, the rigidity of the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact part 222a may be improved.

Although not shown in the drawing, the second auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> may be disposed not only between the first non-contact area 180a and the first non-contact portion 222a but also between the second non-contact area 180b and the second non-contact portion 222b.

The same effect as described above may also be obtained if the second auxiliary vibration-proof member <NUM> is disposed between the second non-contact area 180b and the second non-contact portion 222b.

Hereinafter, an outdoor unit according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Other configurations than the configurations of a bead <NUM>' and a non-contact area <NUM>' as will be described below are the same as the configurations of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the previous embodiments of the present invention, so the overlapping description will be omitted below.

The beads <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may be provided to project outward of the cabinet <NUM> so that the non-contact area <NUM> and the non-contact portion <NUM> do not contact each other.

However, due to a location where the outdoor unit 1is placed, there is a possibility that the beads <NUM> may not protrude outward from the cabinet <NUM>. In order to solve such a problem, the outdoor unit <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include an extension portion <NUM>' bending toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM> and extending a predetermined length into the cabinet <NUM>, and a non-contact area <NUM>' including an inner side portion <NUM>' extending from the upper side of the extending portion <NUM>'.

In order to prevent the non-contact area <NUM>' from contacting the non-contact portion <NUM>' when the bead <NUM>' may not protrude outward from the cabinet <NUM> as described above, the extending portion <NUM>' may extend to the inside of the cabinet <NUM> longer than the extending portion <NUM> according to the previous embodiment of the present invention, and the inner side portion <NUM>' may be provided to be disposed deep inside the cabinet <NUM>.

Accordingly, the distance between the non-contact area <NUM> 'and the non-contact area <NUM>' is formed to be long. Accordingly, even if the beads <NUM>' do not protrude outward from the cabinet <NUM>, a separation distance between the non-contact area <NUM>' and the non-contact portion <NUM>' may be maintained.

Although not shown, as the inner side portion <NUM>' is moved inward, the distance between the coupling portion <NUM> and the contact portion <NUM> to be coupled to the blower cover <NUM> in the side cabinet <NUM> may also increase. However, if the contact portion <NUM> of the blower cover <NUM> is formed in a concave shape or the like toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM> as the inner side portion <NUM>' is moved inward, the separation between the coupling portion <NUM> and the contact portion <NUM> may be reduced.

Also, as shown in <FIG>, the beads <NUM>' may be formed to be directed toward the inner side of the cabinet <NUM>. When the bead <NUM>' is formed, the value of the sectional moment of the extension portion <NUM>' increases, and rigidity may be ensured. Accordingly, if the bead <NUM>' may not be formed in the outer direction of the cabinet <NUM>, it may be formed inward to further secure the rigidity of the extension portion <NUM>'.

As the inner side portion <NUM>' is disposed deep inside the cabinet <NUM> when the beads <NUM>' are formed toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM>, the distance between the non-contact portion <NUM>' and the non-contact region <NUM>' is secured sufficiently to prevent the non-contact portion <NUM>' and the non-contact area <NUM>' from contacting each other.

Furthermore, although not shown in the drawing, the non-contact area <NUM>' as shown in <FIG> may be disposed on the front plate <NUM> as well as the side cabinet <NUM>. The beads <NUM>' may protrude to the inner side of the cabinet <NUM> on the front extension portion 220b corresponding to the front plate <NUM>, thereby securing rigidity of the front extension portion.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the outdoor unit <NUM> may reduce the number of engaging spots between the blower cover and the cabinet <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM>, leading to a reduced production cost. The vibration generated in the outdoor unit <NUM> may be reduced by minimizing transmission of the vibration generated in the blower cover to the cabinet by forming a predetermined gap between the blower cover and the cabinet.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it should be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
An outdoor unit of an air conditioner (<NUM>), the outdoor unit (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) including a front plate (no), a rear plate (<NUM>), and a pair of side plates (<NUM>);
a blower (<NUM>) configured to be disposed inside the cabinet (<NUM>); and
a blower cover (<NUM>) configured to cover the blower (<NUM>) and connect to the pair of side plates (<NUM>),
wherein the blower cover (<NUM>) has an extension portion (<NUM>, 220a, 220b, <NUM>') bending downwards from an upper surface (<NUM>) of the blower cover (<NUM>), the extension portion (<NUM>, 220a, 220b, <NUM>') overlapping with the front plate (no), the rear plate (<NUM>) and the pair of side plates (<NUM>), and the pair of side plates (<NUM>) includes at least one contact area (<NUM>), in an exterior surface of the pair of side plates (<NUM>), directly in contact with the extension portion (<NUM>, 220a, 220b, <NUM>'),
characterized in that the front plate (<NUM>) and the rear plate (<NUM>) are spaced apart from the blower cover (<NUM>).