U.S. patent application number 12/382302 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for indoor unit of air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Seung Yup Kim, Dong Soo Lee.
Application Number | 20090229290 12/382302 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40762444 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090229290 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Seung Yup ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Indoor unit of air conditioner
Abstract
Provided is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. In the
outdoor unit, when an anti-vibration member is placed on the top
surface of a base pan forming the bottom surface of the outdoor
unit, the anti-vibration member is guided by a guide member
disposed on the top surface of the base pan. In a state where a
portion of the anti-vibration member is inserted through a base
plate of a compressor, the base pan, the anti-vibration member, and
the compressor are fixed using a coupling member. Therefore, the
compressor can be fixed more easily and simply.
Inventors: |
Kim; Seung Yup; (Seoul,
KR) ; Lee; Dong Soo; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP
1900 K STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
40762444 |
Appl. No.: |
12/382302 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/259.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/24 20130101;
F24F 1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/259.1 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 13, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0023461 |
Claims
1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising: a base pan
provided with a guide part; a grommet configured to be placed at a
top surface of the base pan while being guided by the guide part; a
compressor configured to be supported by the grommet; a fixing part
configured to be inserted through the compressor, the grommet, and
the guide part; and a coupling part configured to couple the fixing
part inserted through the base pan, the grommet, and the
compressor.
2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide part is
formed by an upwardly protruded portion of the base pan.
3. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide part is
configured to be inserted in the grommet.
4. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide part is
configured to make contact with an outer surface of the
grommet.
5. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the grommet
comprises: a support part configured to be placed on the top
surface of the base pan; and an insertion part extending from the
support part to be inserted through a side of the compressor.
6. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein in a state where
a portion of the grommet is inserted through a side of the
compressor, the fixing part is inserted through a hole of the
grommet and a hole of the base pan formed at an inside of the guide
part.
7. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein in a state where
a portion of the grommet is inserted through a side of the
compressor, the fixing part is inserted through the grommet and the
guide part and is protruded downward from the base pan, and the
coupling part is coupled to an end of the fixing part protruded
downward from the base pan.
8. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the coupling part
is fixed to a bottom surface of the base pan, and in a state where
a portion of the grommet is inserted through a side of the
compressor, the fixing part is sequentially inserted through the
grommet and the guide part and protruded downward from the base
pan, so that the coupling part is coupled to an end of the fixing
part protruded downward from the base pan.
9. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising: a base pan
forming a bottom surface of the outdoor unit; a guide protrusion
disposed on a top surface of the base pan; a guide boss disposed on
the top surface of the base pan; an anti-vibration member
configured to be placed on the top surface of the base pan while
being guided by the guide protrusion and the guide boss; a
compressor provided with a base plate at a side thereof, the base
plate being supported by the anti-vibration member in a state where
a side of the anti-vibration member is inserted through the base
plate; and a fixing member configured to fix the base plate to the
top surface of the base pan.
10. The outdoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the guide
protrusion is protruded upward from the top surface of the base pan
at a position located inside the guide boss.
11. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, wherein the guide boss
is disposed around the guide protrusion and has a circular
cross-section.
12. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, wherein the guide
protrusion is configured to be inserted into the anti-vibration
member, and the guide boss is configured to make contact with an
outer surface of the anti-vibration member.
13. The outdoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the guide
protrusion guides the anti-vibration member as the guide protrusion
is inserted into the anti-vibration member.
14. The outdoor unit according to claim 13, wherein in a state
where the guide protrusion is inserted in the anti-vibration member
and the anti-vibration member is inserted through the base plate, a
hole of the guide protrusion and a hole of the anti-vibration
member are vertically arranged in communication with each
other.
15. The outdoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the guide boss
guides the anti-vibration member as the guide boss makes contact
with the anti-vibration member.
16. The outdoor unit according to claim 9, wherein the fixing
member comprises: a fixing part inserted sequentially through the
anti-vibration member and the base pan in a state where the
anti-vibration member is inserted through the base plate; and a
coupling part coupled to the fixing part inserted sequentially
through the anti-vibration member and the base pan.
17. The outdoor unit according to claim 16, wherein the fixing part
penetrates the guide protrusion inserted through the anti-vibration
member.
18. The outdoor unit according to claim 16, wherein in a state
where the coupling part is fixed to the bottom surface of the
outdoor unit, the fixing part and the coupling part are coupled to
each other.
19. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising: a base pan
forming a bottom surface of the outdoor unit; a first guide member
disposed on a top surface of the base pan and comprising a hole; a
second guide member disposed on the top surface of the base pan; an
anti-vibration member configured to be placed on the top surface of
the base pan while being guided by the first and second guide
members, the anti-vibration member comprising a hole communicating
with the hole of the first guide member; a compressor comprising a
base plate, the base plate comprising a hole through which a
portion of the anti-vibration member is inserted; a bolt configured
to be inserted through the hole of the anti-vibration member and
the hole of the first guide member in a state where the
anti-vibration member is placed on the top surface of the base pan
and is inserted through the hole of the base plate so that a
portion of the bolt protrudes downward from the base pan; and a nut
configured to be coupled to the bolt protruding downward from the
base pan.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119
and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0023461
(filed on Mar. 14, 2008), which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner, and
more particularly, to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in
which a compressor can be easily fixed.
[0003] Air conditioners are used to cool and/or heat an indoor area
through heat exchange between refrigerant and indoor/outdoor air. A
split type air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor
unit. The indoor unit is used to cool or heat indoor air through
heat exchange between refrigerator and the indoor air, and the
outdoor unit is used to cool or heat outdoor air through heat
exchange between the refrigerator and the outdoor air.
[0004] In the outdoor unit, a compressor is disposed to compress
the refrigerator to a high-temperature and high-pressure state. In
a state where a fixing bolt welded to a base pan forming the bottom
surface of the outdoor unit is inserted through a penetration hole
formed through a base plate of the compressor, a fixing nut is
coupled to the fixing bolt to fixing the compressor. However, the
outdoor unit of an air conditioner of the related art has the
following limitations.
[0005] As described above, in a state where the fixing bolt is
previously fixed to the base pan, the fixing bolt is inserted
through the penetration hole of the base plate to fix the
compressor. Therefore, it is difficult to place the compressor
having a weight of about 30 kg to 40 kg in a manner such that the
fixing bolt is aligned with the penetration hole and inserted into
the penetration hole.
[0006] In addition, if the compressor is not exactly placed, the
compressor should be repositioned to a proper position.
Furthermore, while the compressor is repositioned, the fixing bolt
or other parts such as an anti-vibration member can be damaged.
SUMMARY
[0007] Embodiments provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner
that can be fixed in a simple manner.
[0008] Embodiments also provide an outdoor unit of an air
conditioner that is configured to be exactly fixed.
[0009] In one embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner,
comprises: a base pan provided with a guide part; a grommet
configured to be placed at a top surface of the base pan while
being guided by the guide part; a compressor configured to be
supported by the grommet; a fixing part configured to be inserted
through the compressor, the grommet, and the guide part; and a
coupling part configured to couple the fixing part inserted through
the base pan, the grommet, and the compressor.
[0010] In another embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air
conditioner, comprises: a base pan forming a bottom surface of the
outdoor unit; a guide protrusion disposed on a top surface of the
base pan; a guide boss disposed on the top surface of the base pan;
an anti-vibration member configured to be placed on the top surface
of the base pan while being guided by the guide protrusion and the
guide boss; a compressor provided with a base plate at a side
thereof, the base plate being supported by the anti-vibration
member in a state where a side of the anti-vibration member is
inserted through the base plate; and a fixing member configured to
fix the base plate to the top surface of the base pan.
[0011] In further another embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air
conditioner, comprises: a base pan forming a bottom surface of the
outdoor unit; a first guide member disposed on a top surface of the
base pan and comprising a hole; a second guide member disposed on
the top surface of the base pan; an anti-vibration member
configured to be placed on the top surface of the base pan while
being guided by the first and second guide members, the
anti-vibration member comprising a hole communicating with the hole
of the first guide member; a compressor comprising a base plate,
the base plate comprising a hole through which a portion of the
anti-vibration member is inserted; a bolt configured to be inserted
through the hole of the anti-vibration member and the hole of the
first guide member in a state where the anti-vibration member is
placed on the top surface of the base pan and is inserted through
the hole of the base plate so that a portion of the bolt protrudes
downward from the base pan; and a nut configured to be coupled to
the bolt protruding downward from the base pan.
[0012] According to embodiments, a compressor can be fixed more
simply and exactly.
[0013] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features
will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of
an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating
characteristic parts according to the first embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the
characteristic parts according to the first embodiment.
[0017] FIGS. 4 to 7 are longitudinal sectional views for explaining
how a compressor is fixed in the outdoor unit of the air
conditioner according to the first embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating
characteristic parts of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner
according to a second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] An outdoor unit of an air conditioner will now be described
in detail according to a first embodiment with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit 1
of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is an
exploded perspective view illustrating characteristic parts
according to the first embodiment; and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal
sectional view illustrating the characteristic parts according to
the first embodiment.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a base pan 10 forms the bottom
surface of the outdoor unit 1. Various parts such as a compressor
30, an accumulator 40, an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown), and a
blower fan (not shown) are disposed in the outdoor unit 1. The
compressor 30 is fixed in a state where the compressor 30 is placed
on the top surface of the base pan 10, that is, the bottom surface
of the outdoor unit 1.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base pan 10 includes a
plurality of guide protrusions 11 (one shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). The
guide protrusion 11 is formed by an upwardly protruded portion of
the base pan 10. The guide protrusion 11 is used to temporarily fix
the compressor 30, substantially, a grommet 20 (described
later).
[0023] A penetration hole 13 is vertically formed through the guide
protrusion 11. Practically, the penetration hole 13 may be formed
by cutting a portion of the base pan 10 corresponding to the guide
protrusion 11.
[0024] A plurality of grommets 20 are placed on the top surface of
the base pan 10. The grommets 20 may function as anti-vibration
members for supporting the compressor 30 and absorbing vibrations
generating when the compressor 30 operates. For example, the
grommets 20 may be formed of a material having predetermined
elasticity. In detail, each of the grommets 20 includes a support
part 21 and an insertion part 23.
[0025] The support part 21 makes contact with the top surface of
the base pan 10 when the grommet 20 is placed on the base pan 10. A
receiving groove 25 is formed on the bottom surface of the support
part 21 to receive the guide protrusion 11. The receiving groove 25
is formed by upwardly recessing a portion of the bottom surface of
the support part 21.
[0026] The insertion part 23 is disposed at the top surface of the
support part 21. The insertion part 23 is inserted through a
penetration opening 33 of a base plate 31 (described later). When
the insertion part 23 is inserted through the penetration opening
33 of the base plate 31, an upper portion of the insertion part 23
protrudes upward from the base plate 31. After the insertion part
23 is inserted through the penetration opening 33 of the base plate
31, the insertion part 23 may not be freely released from the
penetration opening 33. For this, the insertion part 23 may be
tightly fitted into the penetration opening 33. In addition, the
upper portion of the insertion part 23 protruded upwardly from the
base plate 31 may be wider than the penetration opening 33 of the
base plate 31.
[0027] The support part 21 and the insertion part 23 may be
substantially formed in one piece, or the support part 21 and the
insertion part 23 may be formed separately and fixed to each other.
A penetration hole 27 is formed through the grommet 20.
Substantially, the penetration hole 27 is vertically formed through
the support part 21 and the insertion part 23. When the grommet 20
is placed on the top surface of the base pan 10, the penetration
hole 27 of the grommet 20 communicates with the penetration hole 13
of the guide protrusion 11.
[0028] The base plate 31 is fixed to the bottom surface of the
compressor 30. The base plate 31 is used to fix the compressor 30
to the base pan 10, and the shape of the base plate 31 is
approximately rectangular. However, the shape of the base plate 31
is not limited to the rectangular shape.
[0029] A plurality of penetration openings 33 are formed through
the base plate 31. Each of the penetration openings 33 may be
formed by cutting a portion of the base plate 31. The insertion
part 23 of the grommet 20 is inserted through the penetration
opening 33 of the base plate 31 to support the compressor 30 using
the grommet 20. As described above, after the insertion part 23 of
the grommet 20 is inserted through the penetration opening 33 of
the base plate 31, the insertion part 23 is not freely released
from the penetration opening 33 because the insertion part 23 is
tightly fitted into the penetration opening 33 or the upper portion
of the insertion part 23 protruded upward from the base plate 31
when the insertion part 23 is inserted through the penetration
opening 33 is relatively wider than the penetration opening 33.
[0030] A plurality of fixing bolts (B) and a plurality of fixing
nuts (N) are used to fix the compressor 30 to the base pan 10. In a
state where the grommets 20 are placed on the base pan 10 and the
compressor 30 is supported on the grommets 20, in a state where the
insertion parts 23 of the grommets 20 are inserted in the
penetration openings 33 of the base plate 31, the fixing bolts (B)
are inserted sequentially through the penetration holes 27 of the
grommets 20 and the penetration holes 13 of the guide protrusions
11. The fixing nuts (N) are coupled to leading ends of the fixing
bolts (B) inserted through the penetration holes 27 of the grommets
20 and the penetration holes 13 of the guide protrusions 11. The
fixing nuts (N) may be previously fixed to the bottom surface of
the base pan 10 by, for example, welding. In this case, the fixing
bolts (B) may be coupled to the fixing nuts (N) while the fixing
bolts (B) are inserted through the penetration holes 27 of the
grommets 20 and the penetration holes 13 of the guide protrusions
11.
[0031] Hereinafter, an detailed explanation will be given on
procedures for fixing the compressor 30 of the outdoor unit 1 of
the air conditioner according to the first embodiment with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] FIGS. 4 to 7 are longitudinal sectional views for explaining
how the compressor 30 is fixed in the outdoor unit 1 of the air
conditioner according to the first embodiment.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, the grommet 20 is placed on the top
surface of the base pan 10. At this time, the guide protrusion 11
is inserted in the receiving groove 25, and the penetration hole 13
of the guide protrusion 11 is aligned with the penetration hole 27
of the grommet 20.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 5, the compressor 30 is placed in a manner
such that the grommet 20 (that is, the insertion part 23 of the
grommet 20) is inserted in the penetration opening 33. Therefore,
the compressor 30 (substantially, the base plate 31) can be
supported on the grommet 20.
[0035] Alternatively, the grommet 20 may be placed on the top
surface of the base pan 10 after the compressor 30 is supported on
the compressor 30. That is, after the grommet 20 is brought into
contact with the bottom surface of the base plate 31 by inserting
the insertion part 23 of the grommet 20 through the penetration
opening 33, both the grommet 20 and the compressor 30 supported on
the grommet 20 may be placed on the top surface of the base pan
10.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, in a state where the grommet 20 is
placed on the top surface of the base pan 10 and the compressor 30
is supported on the grommet 20, a fixing bolt (B) is inserted
sequentially through the penetration hole 27 of the grommet 20 and
the penetration hole 13 of the guide protrusion 11.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 7, a fixing nut (N) is coupled to a
leading end of the fixing bolt (B) which is protruded downward from
the base pan 10 after the fixing bolt (B) is inserted through the
penetration hole 27 of the grommet 20 and the penetration hole 13
of the guide protrusion 11. Therefore, the grommet 20 and the base
pan 10 are compressed, and thus the compressor 30 can be securely
fixed to the base pan 10.
[0038] The fixing bolt (B) and the fixing nut (N) may be coupled to
each other as follows. In the case where the fixing bolt (B) and
the fixing bolt (B) are coupled to each other in a state where the
fixing nut (N) is previously fixed to the bottom surface of the
base pan 10, the fixing bolt (B) may be coupled to the fixing nut
(N) as the fixing bolt (B) is inserted through the penetration hole
27 of the grommet 20 and the penetration hole 13 of the guide
protrusion 11.
[0039] Next, a detailed explanation will be given on an outdoor
unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
[0040] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating
characteristic parts of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner
according to a second embodiment. In the following explanation of
the second embodiment, the same elements as those of the first
embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and
detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 8, in the current embodiment, a guide
protrusion 11 and a guide boss 15 are disposed at the top surface
of a base pan 10. The guide boss 15 is spaced a predetermined
distance from the outer side of the guide protrusion 11 and is
formed by making a portion of the base pan 10 protuberant upwardly
in a manner such that the guide boss 15 form a surface
corresponding to the cross-section of a grommet 20 that will be
placed on the top surface of the base pan 10. In the current
embodiment, at least the lower end portion of the grommet 20 has a
cylindrical shape, and the guide boss 15 forms a circular surface
corresponding to the grommet 20. Furthermore, the inner diameter of
the guide boss 15 may be equal to or greater than the outer
diameter of the grommet 20.
[0042] While the grommet 20 is placed on the top surface of the
base pan 10, the guide boss 15 guides the grommet 20. In detail,
when the grommet 20 is placed on the top surface of the base pan
10, the guide protrusion 11 is inserted in a receiving groove (not
shown) formed in the bottom surface of the grommet 20. At this
time, the outer surface of the lower end portion of the grommet 20
makes contact with the inner surface of the guide boss 15 or is
guided by the inner surface of the guide boss 15, so that the
grommet 20 can be guided to a proper position of the top surface of
the base pan 10.
[0043] In the current embodiment, other elements or structures such
as a compressor 30, a base plate 31, a penetration opening 33, a
fixing bolt (B), and a fixing nut (N) are the same as those of the
first embodiment.
[0044] In the current embodiment, when the grommet 20 is placed on
the top surface of the base pan 10, the grommet 20 can be exactly
guided to a proper position of the top surface of the base pan 10
owing to the guide boss 15. Therefore, since the grommet 20 can be
exactly placed on the top surface of the base pan 10, the
compressor 30 can be fixed more exactly.
[0045] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure.
[0046] In the above-described embodiments, a fixing bolt and a
fixing nut are used as fixing members for fixing the compressor.
However, the fixing members are not limited to the fixing bolt and
fixing nut. That is, any fixing part that can be inserted through
the bottom surface of the outdoor unit, the compressor, and the
grommet, and any coupling part that can be coupled to the fixing
part can be used as the fixing members.
[0047] As described above, in the outdoor unit of the air
conditioner, the compressor can be fixed in a state where the
compressor is placed at a proper position. Therefore, the
compressor can be fixed more simply and exactly.
* * * * *