Patent Description:
The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

An air conditioner is a device that cools and heats an indoor space through heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing through a heat exchange cycle and indoor air and outdoor air.

Specifically, the air conditioner includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, and an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and indoor air.

The air conditioner may be equipped with a heat storage tank. In the heat storage tank, a fluid heated or cooled by the refrigerant circulating in the air conditioner may be stored. In one example, the fluid includes water.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes a case, the compressor accommodated inside the case, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the heat storage tank.

An orifice is provided on the front surface of the outdoor unit, and a fan is provided between the orifice and the outdoor heat exchanger. The fan may be an axial fan. The orifice forms a flow path for air forced to flow by the axial fan, and guides the air, which has passed through the outdoor heat exchanger, to flow in the axial direction of the fan and to be discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit.

Air passing through the orifice generates noise as it passes through the blades of the fan. The noise is generated by formation of a vortex in a gap formed between the end of the blade and the inner circumferential surface of the orifice. As flow resistance is generated by the vortex, there is a disadvantage in that the air that has passed through the outdoor heat exchanger cannot be quickly discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit.

<CIT> relates to an air conditioner and orifice applied to it.

The invention is specified by the independent claim. The present invention is proposed to improve the above problems.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base panel, a front panel erected on a front end of the base panel and having a through hole formed therein, an orifice fitted to the through hole, a fan placed behind the through hole and having at least a portion accommodated inside the orifice, and a heat exchanger placed on an edge of a rear side of the base panel. A front-to-back width of one side end of the orifice is less than that of the other side end of the orifice.

The heat exchanger comprises a short side extending along one side end of the base panel and a long side bent from a rear end of the short side and extending along a rear end of the base panel. One end of the orifice may be adjacent to the short side. The front-to-rear width of the orifice increases linearly from one end of the orifice to a center of the orifice.

The orifice may comprise a cylindrical body, a front extension rounded forward from a front end of the body, a close contact portion extending from a front end of the front extension and coming into close contact with a front surface of the front panel, and a rear extension rounded rearward from a rear end of the body. A vortex fence may protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the body to be formed in a band shape.

A rear surface of the vortex fence may be formed to be rounded with a predetermined curvature.

An end of a blade forming the fan may be located behind the vortex fence. An outer diameter of the blade may be equal to or greater than an inner diameter of the vortex fence.

Coupling guides may be formed on a front surface of the front panel and the close contact portion, respectively. The coupling guides may be placed on the same vertical line in a state where the orifice is completely coupled to the front panel.

A fastening sleeve extends at the edge of the through hole. At least a portion of the fastening sleeve is bent to a front side of the front panel.

The outdoor unit according to the present invention may further comprise misassembly prevention ribs formed at upper and lower ends of a back surface of the front panel, respectively, and misassembly prevention grooves formed in upper and lower ends of the fastening sleeve, respectively, to accommodate the misassembly prevention ribs. The misassembly prevention ribs and the misassembly prevention grooves may be formed at points spaced to the left or right from a vertical line passing through a center of the through hole.

The outdoor unit according to the present invention may further comprise fastening hooks protruding from a back surface of the close contact portion, and hook grooves formed in the fastening sleeve to accommodate the fastening hooks. When the orifice rotates in a state of being in close contact with the front panel, the fastening hooks are caught in the hook grooves.

The fastening hooks may protrude from left and right sides of a back surface of the close contact portion, respectively, the hook grooves may be formed in left and right sides of the fastening sleeve, respectively. The pair of fastening hooks may be formed symmetrically with respect to a horizontal plane.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above has the following effects.

First, the cross-section of the orifice has an asymmetric structure, which has the effect of increasing air volume.

Second, a vortex fence that suppresses vortex generation protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the orifice, which has the effect of increasing air volume and reducing noise.

Third, by improving an assembly structure between the orifice and a front panel, there is an advantage in reducing the number of screws to secure the orifice to the front panel.

Fourth, there is an advantage in preventing misassembly of the orifice by providing a misassembly prevention unit to prevent the orifice having an asymmetric shape from being incorrectly assembled on the front panel.

Hereinafter, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an outdoor unit configuring an air conditioner equipped with a heat storage tank.

Referring to <FIG>, the outdoor unit <NUM> of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a base panel <NUM>, a front panel <NUM> built on a front end of the base panel <NUM>, an orifice <NUM> coupled to the front panel <NUM>, a fan <NUM> placed behind the orifice <NUM>, and a heat exchanger <NUM> built on an upper surface of the base panel <NUM>.

Specifically, the outdoor unit <NUM> further includes a barrier <NUM> built on the upper surface of the base panel <NUM>.

The barrier <NUM> may be understood as a partition member that partitions an upper space of the base panel <NUM> into a heat exchange space on the left and an electrical equipment space on the right. In addition, the heat exchanger <NUM> is erected in the heat exchange space and is bent and extended along the side and rear ends of the base panel <NUM> to define the side and rear surfaces of the heat exchange space.

One side end of the front panel <NUM> may be coupled to the front end of the heat exchanger <NUM>, and the other side end may be coupled to the front end of the barrier <NUM>. The rear end of the barrier <NUM> may be connected to the side end of the heat exchanger <NUM>.

The outdoor unit <NUM> may further include a compressor <NUM> standing on the upper surface of the base panel <NUM> corresponding to the electrical equipment space, a heat storage tank <NUM>, and a control box <NUM> placed in the upper space of the heat storage tank <NUM>.

The heat storage tank <NUM> may be placed at a location spaced apart from the compressor <NUM>, and a flow path is provided inside the heat storage tank <NUM> to enable heat exchange between the refrigerant and water without mixing.

When the fan <NUM> rotates, outside air flows into the outdoor unit <NUM> through the short side of the heat exchanger <NUM> forming the side surface of the outdoor unit <NUM> and the long side of the heat exchanger <NUM> forming the rear surface of the outdoor unit <NUM>.

Air, which has passed through the heat exchanger <NUM>, flows from the rear surface of the fan <NUM> toward the front surface, passes through the orifice <NUM>, and is then discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit <NUM>.

Some of a plurality of blades constituting the fan <NUM> are accommodated inside the orifice <NUM> so that all air forced to flow by the fan <NUM> passes through the orifice <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a state of coupling an orifice and a front panel, and <FIG> is a rear view of the orifice.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> to which the orifice <NUM> is coupled includes a panel body <NUM> in the form of a rectangular plate, and the panel body <NUM> has a through hole <NUM> formed therein. Then, the orifice <NUM> is fitted into and coupled to the through hole <NUM>.

Specifically, a fastening sleeve <NUM> for fastening the orifice <NUM> extends at an edge of the through hole <NUM>. The fastening sleeve <NUM> is bent to the front side of the front panel <NUM> and contacts the side surface of the orifice <NUM>.

In addition, a plurality of fastening steps <NUM> are formed in the fastening sleeve <NUM>, and a screw hole <NUM> is formed in each fastening step <NUM>. The plurality of fastening steps <NUM> may be formed on the upper left and right sides and lower left and right sides, respectively, based on a vertical line bisecting the through hole <NUM> into left and right sides.

In addition, a misassembly prevention groove <NUM> may be formed in the fastening sleeve <NUM> corresponding to a space between adjacent fastening steps, and the misassembly prevention groove <NUM> may be formed in the upper and lower ends of the fastening sleeve <NUM>. In addition, the pair of misassembly prevention grooves <NUM> are formed in the left or right side of a vertical line bisecting the through hole <NUM>.

In addition, one or more hook grooves <NUM> may be formed in the fastening sleeve <NUM>. For example, the hook grooves <NUM> may be formed at positions facing each other on the left and right sides of the through hole <NUM>.

In addition, a coupling guide <NUM> may be formed on the front surface of the front panel <NUM>. The coupling guide <NUM> functions to guide the orifice <NUM> to be correctly coupled to a correct position, and may be formed at any point between an upper end of the through hole <NUM> and an upper end of the panel body <NUM>. The coupling guide <NUM> may have an inverted triangle shape, and a portion of the panel body <NUM> may be formed to protrude forward by a forming process.

Meanwhile, the orifice <NUM> includes a panel seating portion <NUM> in close contact with the front surface of the front panel <NUM>, a diffuser <NUM> rounded backward from the panel seating portion <NUM>, an inducer <NUM> extending roundly backward from the rear end of the diffuser <NUM>, and a vortex fence <NUM> surrounding the inner circumferential surface of the orifice <NUM> corresponding to a boundary between the diffuser <NUM> and the inducer <NUM>.

Specifically, the rear end of the inducer <NUM> may be defined as the rear end of the orifice <NUM>, and the panel seating portion <NUM> may be defined as the front surface of the orifice <NUM>. In addition, the diffuser <NUM> may be composed of a round portion rounded such that a diameter becomes smaller rearward from the rear end of the panel seating part <NUM>, and a straight portion extending rearward from the rear end of the round portion.

In addition, the inducer <NUM> may be composed of a straight portion extending rearward from the straight portion of the diffuser <NUM> and a round portion that is rounded in a direction in which the diameter increases rearward from the rear end of the straight portion.

By this structure, the orifice <NUM> may be described as including a cylindrical body portion, a front extension that is rounded forward from the front end of the body, a rear extension that is rounded rearward from the rear end of the body, and a close contact portion that extends from the front end of the front extension and comes into close contact with the front surface of the front panel <NUM>. In addition, the vortex fence <NUM> may be described as protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the body and surrounding it in a band shape.

A plurality of reinforcing ribs <NUM> may be formed to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the orifice <NUM>. The plurality of reinforcing ribs <NUM> may be arranged to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the orifice <NUM>.

In addition, fastening hooks <NUM> protrude from a back surface of the panel seating portion <NUM>. The fastening hooks <NUM> are inserted into the hook grooves <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. Accordingly, the fastening hooks <NUM> may also be formed on the left and right sides of the orifice <NUM>, respectively.

A plurality of fastening steps <NUM> may be formed in the front surface of the orifice <NUM>, and a screw hole <NUM> is formed in each fastening step <NUM>. The plurality of fastening steps <NUM> may be formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of fastening steps <NUM> formed on the front panel <NUM>, respectively. That is, the plurality of fastening steps <NUM> may be formed on the left and right sides of the front upper and lower ends of the orifice <NUM>, respectively.

A coupling guide <NUM> may be formed at the upper end of the panel seating portion <NUM>.

The coupling guide <NUM> may be formed at a position facing the coupling guide <NUM> formed on the front panel <NUM>, and may have an equilateral triangle shape, but is not limited thereto.

Specifically, when the orifice <NUM> is completely coupled to the front panel <NUM>, the coupling guides <NUM> and <NUM> are placed on the same vertical line. The combination guides <NUM> and <NUM> prevent the upper and lower surfaces of the orifice <NUM> from being reversed and combined. More specifically, since the left and right portions of the orifice <NUM> according to the present disclosure form an asymmetrical shape, there is a limitation in that the upper and lower portions are not reversed and combined. To prevent such misassembly, the coupling guides <NUM> and <NUM> are provided.

As an additional unit for preventing misassembly, misassembly prevention ribs may be formed on the back surface of the orifice <NUM>. The misassembly prevention ribs include an upper misassembly prevention rib <NUM> formed on the upper side of the back surface of the orifice <NUM> and a lower misassembly prevention rib <NUM> formed on the lower side of the back surface. The upper and lower misassembly prevention ribs <NUM> and <NUM> are respectively fitted into the upper and lower misassembly prevention grooves <NUM> and <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. Accordingly, the upper and lower misassembly prevention ribs <NUM> and <NUM> may also be formed at points spaced to the left or right from a vertical line bisecting the orifice <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are enlarged views of a portion A of <FIG>, showing a state where the fastening hook of the orifice is inserted into the hook groove of the front panel.

Referring to <FIG>, the fastening hooks <NUM> are formed on the left and right sides of the orifice <NUM>, respectively, and are formed symmetrically with respect to a horizontal line. That is, the fastening hook <NUM> on the right may extend downward clockwise in the drawing, and the fastening hook <NUM> on the left may extend upward clockwise.

Specifically, when the orifice <NUM> is in close contact with the front surface of the front panel <NUM>, the lower end of the fastening hook <NUM> is fitted into the hook groove <NUM>. In this state, when the orifice <NUM> rotates clockwise, the fastening hook <NUM> on the right side rotates from the upper end to the lower end of the hook groove <NUM> and is caught in the lower end of the hook groove <NUM>. Conversely, the fastening hook <NUM> on the left rotates from the lower end to the upper end of the hook groove <NUM> and is caught in the upper end of the hook groove <NUM>.

The structure of the fastening hook <NUM> and the hook groove <NUM> may reduce the number of fastening steps <NUM> and <NUM> for screw coupling, thereby shortening an assembly time and reducing manufacturing costs.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the orifice taken along line <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the left and right ends of the orifice <NUM> according to the present disclosure are designed to have different widths in the front-to-back direction.

Specifically, the left portion of the orifice <NUM> adjacent to the short side of the heat exchanger <NUM> and the right portion of the orifice <NUM> adjacent to the barrier <NUM> are designed to have different shapes.

More specifically, the larger the front-to-back width of the orifice <NUM> is, the larger the area for accommodating the blades of the fan <NUM> is, which has the advantage of increasing air volume. However, if the width of the left portion of the orifice <NUM> adjacent to the short side of the heat exchanger <NUM> increases, when outside air sucked through the short side of the heat exchanger <NUM> may flow into the orifice <NUM>, there is a disadvantage that flow resistance increases. In order to overcome this problem, the front-to-back width L2 of the right portion of the orifice <NUM> is designed to be larger than the front-to-back width L1 of the left portion of the orifice <NUM>.

Accordingly, the left rear end of the orifice <NUM> is formed to be tapered so that the front-to-back width increases linearly from the left end of the orifice <NUM> to the center of the orifice <NUM>, as shown. The right rear end of <NUM> of the orifice <NUM> is formed parallel to the front surface of the orifice <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion B of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the fan <NUM> is provided in a form in which some of the blades are accommodated inside the orifice <NUM>, so that all air flowing by the fan <NUM> passes through the orifice <NUM>.

Specifically, the blade of the fan <NUM> is located at the rear side of the vortex fence <NUM>, and the outer diameter R2 of the blade may be designed to be larger than or equal to the inner diameter R1 of the vortex fence <NUM>.

As the sucked air passes through a gap formed between the end of the blade and the inner circumferential surface of the orifice <NUM>, a vortex is formed. As the vortex fence <NUM> protrudes, formation of the vortex is suppressed, the air volume increases, and noise is reduced.

Claim 1:
An outdoor unit (<NUM>) of an air conditioner comprising:
a base panel (<NUM>);
a front panel (<NUM>) erected on a front end of the base panel (<NUM>) and having a through hole (<NUM>) formed therein;
an orifice (<NUM>) fitted to the through hole (<NUM>);
a fan (<NUM>) placed behind the through hole and having at least a portion accommodated inside the orifice (<NUM>); and
a heat exchanger (<NUM>) placed on an edge of a rear side of the base panel (<NUM>),
wherein a front-to-back width of one side end of the orifice (<NUM>) is less than that of the other side end of the orifice (<NUM>),
wherein the heat exchanger (<NUM>) comprises:
a short side extending along one side end of the base panel (<NUM>); and
a long side bent from a rear end of the short side and extending along a rear end of the base panel (<NUM>),
wherein one end of the orifice (<NUM>) is adjacent to the short side, and
characterized in that
the front-to-back width of the orifice (<NUM>) increases linearly from one end of the orifice (<NUM>) to a center of the orifice (<NUM>), and is formed to be parallel to the front surface of the orifice (<NUM>) from the center of the orifice (<NUM>) to the other end of the orifice (<NUM>),
wherein a fastening sleeve (<NUM>) extends at the edge of the through hole (<NUM>),
wherein at least a portion of the fastening sleeve (<NUM>) is bent to a front side of the front panel (<NUM>),
wherein the outdoor unit further comprises:
misassembly prevention ribs (<NUM>, <NUM>) formed at upper and lower ends of a back surface of the front panel (<NUM>), respectively; and
misassembly prevention grooves (<NUM>, <NUM>) formed in upper and lower ends of the fastening sleeve (<NUM>), respectively, to accommodate the misassembly prevention ribs (<NUM>, <NUM>).