U.S. patent application number 14/361557 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for outdoor unit of air conditioning device.
The applicant listed for this patent is DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.. Invention is credited to Mikio Kagawa, Shigeki Kamitani, Fumiaki Koike, Tadashi Sao.
Application Number | 20140338384 14/361557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48535239 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140338384 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koike; Fumiaki ; et
al. |
November 20, 2014 |
OUTDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE
Abstract
An outdoor unit of an air conditioning device in which a heat
exchanger is arranged in a bottom plate in a substantially
rectangular parallelepiped shape casing including a top plate, side
plates, and the bottom plate is provided. The heat exchanger is
mounted on a plurality of expanded portions formed in the bottom
plate. A first drainage hole through which a drainage fluid from
the heat exchanger is discharged to an exterior is formed in each
of the expanded portions, and a second drainage hole smaller than
the first drainage hole is formed in the bottom plate under the
heat exchanger excluding the expanded portions.
Inventors: |
Koike; Fumiaki; (Sakai-shi,
JP) ; Kagawa; Mikio; (Sakai-shi, JP) ; Sao;
Tadashi; (Sakai-shi, JP) ; Kamitani; Shigeki;
(Sakai-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD. |
Osaka-shi, Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
48535239 |
Appl. No.: |
14/361557 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
November 9, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2012/079085 |
371 Date: |
May 29, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/285 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/36 20130101; F24F
13/222 20130101; F25D 23/003 20130101; F25D 21/14 20130101; F24F
1/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/285 |
International
Class: |
F25D 21/14 20060101
F25D021/14; F25D 23/00 20060101 F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2011 |
JP |
2011-261105 |
Claims
1.-5. (canceled)
6. An outdoor unit of an air conditioning device in which a heat
exchanger is arranged in a bottom plate in a substantially
rectangular parallelepiped shape casing including a top plate, side
plates, and the bottom plate, wherein the heat exchanger is mounted
on a plurality of expanded portions formed in the bottom plate, a
first drainage hole through which a drainage fluid from the heat
exchanger is discharged to an exterior is formed in each of the
expanded portions, a second drainage hole smaller than the first
drainage hole is formed in the bottom plate under the heat
exchanger excluding the expanded portions, and the first drainage
hole is formed at a position close to the windward side of an
airflow passing through the heat exchanger in the expanded
portion.
7. The outdoor unit of the air conditioning device according to
claim 6, wherein the second drainage hole is formed between the
adjacent expanded portions.
8. The outdoor unit of the air conditioning device according to
claim 6, wherein the expanded portions are formed in a long circle
shape and arranged at predetermined intervals along a planar shape
of the heat exchanger.
9. The outdoor unit of the air conditioning device according to
claim 8, wherein the first drainage hole is a long hole, and is
formed in each of the expanded portions in such a manner that a
long axis of the long hole is along the longitudinal direction of
the expanded portion.
10. The outdoor unit of the air conditioning device according to
claim 7, wherein the expanded portions are formed in a long circle
shape and arranged at predetermined intervals along a planar shape
of the heat exchanger.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air
conditioning device. In further detail, the present invention
relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioning device in which a
structure of a bottom plate of a casing of the outdoor unit is
improved.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An outdoor unit of an air conditioning device is generally
formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, in which a
compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and the like are
accommodated in a casing including a top plate, side plates, and a
bottom plate manufactured by a steel plate.
[0003] In such an outdoor unit of a type in which an outdoor heat
exchanger is mounted on a bottom plate, it is known that in order
to efficiently discharge a drainage fluid dropped after frost
attached to fins of the outdoor heat exchanger is melted at the
time of defrosting to an exterior, drainage holes are formed in the
bottom plate under the outdoor heat exchanger (for example, refer
to Patent Literatures 1 and 2). In the outdoor unit described in
Patent Literatures 1 and 2, supplementary drainage holes for
discharging a drainage fluid incapable of being discharged through
the discharge holes under the outdoor heat exchanger are formed in
a bottom plate part not under the outdoor heat exchanger.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literatures
[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 10-300131
[0005] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
No. 2010-071531
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0006] When the drainage holes of the drainage fluid are provided
at positions away from a point where the drainage fluid generated
at the time of defrosting is dropped (positions under fins of the
outdoor heat exchanger), there is a fear that the drainage fluid is
frozen again while the drainage fluid dropped from the fins of the
outdoor heat exchanger is reaching the drainage holes. Thus, the
drainage holes are desirably concentrated under the outdoor heat
exchanger.
[0007] As a method of concentrating the drainage holes under the
outdoor heat exchanger, it is thought to increase an area of the
drainage holes as far as possible. However, with this method, there
is a problem that strength of the bottom plate is lowered.
[0008] The present invention is achieved in consideration with the
situation described above, and an objective thereof is to provide
an outdoor unit of an air conditioning device capable of increasing
an opening area for discharging a drainage fluid under a heat
exchanger while ensuring strength of a bottom plate.
Solution to Problem
[0009] (1) An outdoor unit of an air conditioning device
(hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "outdoor unit") of the
present invention is an outdoor unit of an air conditioning device
in which a heat exchanger is arranged in a bottom plate in a
substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape casing including a
top plate, side plates, and the bottom plate, wherein the heat
exchanger is mounted on a plurality of expanded portions formed in
the bottom plate,
[0010] a first drainage hole through which a drainage fluid from
the heat exchanger is discharged to an exterior is formed in each
of the expanded portions, and
[0011] a second drainage hole smaller than the first drainage hole
is formed in the bottom plate under the heat exchanger excluding
the expanded portions.
[0012] In the outdoor unit of the present invention, the heat
exchanger is mounted on the plurality of expanded portions formed
in the bottom plate forming the casing. The first drainage hole
through which the drainage fluid is discharged to the exterior is
formed in each of the expanded portions on which the heat exchanger
is mounted, and the second drainage hole smaller than the first
drainage hole is formed in the bottom plate under the heat
exchanger excluding the expanded portions. Thus, the drainage fluid
dropped from fins of the heat exchanger at the time of defrosting
can be efficiently discharged from the drainage hole to the
exterior. The first drainage hole is formed in the expanded portion
whose strength is increased. Thus, an opening area thereof can be
larger, so that discharge efficiency of the drainage fluid can be
improved.
[0013] The first drainage hole and the second drainage hole are
formed under the heat exchanger. Thus, the drainage fluid from the
heat exchanger can be promptly discharged to the exterior, so as to
avoid a problem that "the drainage fluid is frozen again" as in a
case where a drainage fluid is discharged from a drainage hole
formed at a point away from a position under a heat exchanger.
[0014] (2) In the above outdoor unit of (1), the second drainage
hole may be formed between the adjacent expanded portions. In this
case, the drainage fluid not discharged from the first drainage
hole which is formed in the expanded portion can be promptly
discharged from the second drainage hole to the exterior.
[0015] (3) In the above outdoor unit of (1) or (2), preferably, the
first drainage hole is formed at a position close to the windward
side of an airflow passing through the heat exchanger. Frost is
often attached to the fins on the windward side of the heat
exchanger. By forming the first drainage hole at the position close
to the windward side of the airflow passing through the heat
exchanger in the expanded portion, the drainage fluid can be
efficiently discharged to the exterior.
[0016] (4) In the above outdoor unit of (1) to (3), the expanded
portions may be formed in a long circle shape and arranged at
predetermined intervals along a planar shape of the heat
exchanger.
[0017] (5) In the above outdoor unit of (4), the first drainage
hole may be a long hole, and may be formed in each of the expanded
portions in such a manner that a long axis of the long hole is
along the longitudinal direction of the expanded portion.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0018] According to the outdoor unit of the air conditioning device
of the present invention, the opening area for discharging the
drainage fluid under the heat exchanger can be increased while
ensuring strength of the bottom plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of
an air conditioning device having an outdoor unit according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
outdoor unit of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a top
plate and side plates of the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 2 are
removed.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an illustrative plan view showing the upper part
side inside the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 2.
[0023] FIG. 5 is an illustrative plan view showing the lower part
side inside the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 2.
[0024] FIG. 6 is an illustrative plan view of a bottom plate in the
outdoor unit shown in FIG. 2.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.
6.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an outdoor unit of the present
invention will be described in detail with reference to the
attached drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a pattern diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of
an air conditioning device 1 having an outdoor unit 2 according to
one embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioning
device 1 is for example a multiple type air conditioning device for
a building in which a refrigerant circuit 10 is formed in such a
manner that a plurality of indoor units 3 are connected in parallel
to one or a plurality of outdoor units 2 so as to circulate a
refrigerant.
[0028] In the outdoor unit 2, compressors 11, a four way valve 12,
an outdoor heat exchanger 13, an outdoor expansion valve 14, fans
23, and the like are provided. In the indoor unit 3, an indoor
expansion valve 15, an indoor heat exchanger 16, and the like are
provided. The four way valve 12 and the indoor heat exchanger 16
are connected by a gas side refrigerant communication pipe 17a, and
the outdoor expansion valve 14 and the indoor expansion valve 15
are connected by a liquid side refrigerant communication pipe 17b.
A gas side stop valve 18 and a liquid side stop valve 19 are
provided in terminal portions of the inside refrigerant circuit of
the outdoor unit 2. The gas side stop valve 18 is arranged on the
side of the four way valve 12, and the liquid side stop valve 19 is
arranged on the side of the outdoor expansion valve 14. The gas
side refrigerant communication pipe 17a is connected to the gas
side stop valve 18, and the liquid side refrigerant communication
pipe 17b is connected to the liquid side stop valve 19.
[0029] In the outdoor unit 2 of the present embodiment, the two
compressors 11 are provided in parallel. The two compressors 11 may
be combination of a variable-capacity inverter compressor for
performing speed control by an inverter and a constant-capacity
compressor of constant capacity for performing on-off control, or
may be combination of two inverter compressors having the same
capacity or different capacities or combination of two
constant-capacity compressors.
[0030] In a case where a cooling operation is performed in the air
conditioning device 1 with the above configuration, the four way
valve 12 is retained in a state shown by solid lines in FIG. 1. A
high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from
the compressors 11 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 13 via the
four way valve 12, and performs heat exchange with the outdoor air
by actuation of the fans 23 so as to be condensed and liquefied.
The liquefied refrigerant passes through the outdoor expansion
valve 14 in a fully open state, and flows into the indoor units 3
through the liquid side refrigerant communication pipe 17b. In the
indoor unit 3, pressure of the refrigerant is reduced to
predetermined low pressure by the indoor expansion valve 15, and
further, the refrigerant performs the heat exchange with the indoor
air in the indoor heat exchanger 16 so as to be evaporated. The
indoor air cooled by evaporation of the refrigerant is blown out to
an interior by an indoor fan (not shown) so as to cool the
interior. The refrigerant evaporated and gasified in the indoor
heat exchanger 16 is returned to the outdoor unit 2 through the gas
side refrigerant communication pipe 17a, and suctioned into the
compressors 11.
[0031] Meanwhile, in a case where a heating operation is performed,
the four way valve 12 is retained in a state shown by broken lines
in FIG. 1. A high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant
discharged from the compressors 11 flows into the indoor heat
exchanger 16 of the indoor unit 3 via the four way valve 12, and
performs the heat exchange with the indoor air so as to be
condensed and liquefied. The indoor air heated by condensation of
the refrigerant is blown out to the interior by the indoor fan so
as to heat the interior. The refrigerant liquefied in the indoor
heat exchanger 16 is returned to the outdoor unit 2 from the indoor
expansion valve 15 in a fully open state through the liquid side
refrigerant communication pipe 17b. The pressure of the refrigerant
returned to the outdoor unit 2 is reduced to predetermined low
pressure by the outdoor expansion valve 14, and further, the
refrigerant performs the heat exchange with the outdoor air in the
outdoor heat exchanger 13 so as to be evaporated. The refrigerant
evaporated and gasified in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is
suctioned into the compressors 11 via the four way valve 12.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
outdoor unit of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view
showing a state where a top plate and side plates of the outdoor
unit shown in FIG. 2 are removed, and FIG. 4 is an illustrative
plan view showing the upper part side inside the outdoor unit shown
in FIG. 2.
[0033] The outdoor unit 2 has a casing 22, and the outdoor heat
exchanger 13 arranged along side surfaces of this casing 22. The
casing 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped
shape by a steel plate or the like, and includes a bottom plate 30,
a top plate 31, support pillars 32, lateral members 33a to 33d,
side plates 44, 54, and 55, and the like.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom plate 30 is formed in
a square shape in a plan view and in particular, an oblong shape
elongated in the left and right direction. Lower parts of the
support pillars 32 are respectively coupled to four corners of the
bottom plate 30 by coupling tools such as bolts. The support pillar
32 is formed by for example a substantially L shape angle bar to be
fitted to a shape of a corner part of the bottom plate 30.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the top plate 31 is formed in a square
shape in a plan view which is the substantially same as the bottom
plate 30, and arranged so as to have a gap above the bottom plate
30. Upper ends of the support pillars 32 are coupled to four
corners of the top plate 31 by coupling tools such as bolts. Two
square ventilating holes 35 are formed side by side in the left and
right direction in the top plate 31, and grilles 36 for preventing
invasion of foreign substances are provided in the ventilating
holes 35.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the lateral members 33a to 33d are
arranged on the upper part side of the support pillars 32 at
positions having a predetermined gap downward from the top plate
31, and bridged between the support pillars 32 adjacent to each
other in the front and rear direction and the left and right
direction. A framework of the casing 22 is formed by structural
members including the support pillars 32 and the lateral members
33a to 33d. The bottom plate 30, the top plate 31, and the side
plates 44, 54, and 55 are attached to this framework by screws and
bolts. A cover member 21 to be described later (refer to FIG. 3)
also serves as a structural member (strength member) forming the
framework of the casing 22.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the lateral members 33a and 33b arranged
on both the left and right sides of the casing 22, and the lateral
member 33d arranged on the rear part side of the casing 22 are
formed by a thin and long member having a rectangular or L shape
section. Meanwhile, the lateral member (front lateral member) 33c
arranged on the front part side of the casing 22 is formed by a
plate material whose width w in the front and rear direction is
formed to be slightly wide. An electric component unit 24 is
arranged on this front lateral member 33c. That is, the front
lateral member 33c is used as a support base of the electric
component unit 24. The electric component unit 24 accommodates a
control board for controlling the entire outdoor unit 2, an
inverter board for controlling the compressors, and other electric
parts inside a box shape casing. The electric component unit 24 is
provided in a wide range occupying all or almost all the width in
the left and right direction of the outdoor unit 2.
[0038] Two support bases 41 are bridged side by side in the left
and right direction between the front lateral member 33c and the
rear lateral member 33d. Motors 23a of the fans 23 are supported on
the support bases 41. As shown in FIG. 3, bell mouths 42
surrounding outer circumferences of the fans 23 and forming
ventilating routes are attached to the lateral members 33a to 33d.
The electric component unit 24 has a protruding portion 24a
protruding into a dead space between the two left and right fans 23
(between the bell mouths 42) in a center part in the left and right
direction thereof. By this protruding portion 24a, inside capacity
of the electric component unit 24 is increased.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part side plates 44 are
provided on the four side surfaces of the casing 22 positioned
between the lateral members 33a to 33d and the top plate 31. The
fans 23, the bell mouths 42, and the electric component unit 24
(refer to FIG. 3) are covered by the upper part side plates 44 and
the top plate 31 so as not to be exposed to an exterior. The upper
part side plate 44 on a front surface may form a lid member for
openably closing a front surface part of the electric component
unit 24.
[0040] FIG. 5 is an illustrative plan view showing the lower part
side inside the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 2. The devices such as
the outdoor heat exchanger 13, the compressors 11, an accumulator
45, and oil separators 46 are mounted on an upper surface of the
bottom plate 30 of the casing 22. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is
a fin and tube type heat exchanger of a so-called cross fin type,
including a large number of aluminum fins 47 and copper heat
transfer tubes 48. The heat transfer tubes 48 form a refrigerant
flow passage for circulating the refrigerant while performing the
heat exchange with the air, and the plurality of heat transfer
tubes 48 are provided in line in the up and down direction. The
heat transfer tubes 48 pass through the plurality of fins 47 in an
orthogonal manner, and are bent by 180 degrees in a U shape in side
end portions on both sides of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 so as
to extend in a zigzag manner. Only the U shape bent heat transfer
tubes 48 (U shape pipes 48a) protrude in a one side end portion 13a
of the outdoor heat exchanger 13, and ends of the heat transfer
tubes 48 connected to a pipe group 49 including a capillary tube
and a header tube in addition to the U shape bent heat transfer
tubes 48 protrude in the other side end portion 13b.
[0041] The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is bent in a substantially
square shape along the four side surfaces of the casing 22.
Specifically, the outdoor heat exchanger 13 has a front heat
exchange portion 50 along the side surface on the front side of the
casing 22 (front surface), a right heat exchange portion 51 along
the side surface on the right side, a rear heat exchange portion 52
along the side surface on the rear side (rear surface), and a left
heat exchange portion 53 along the side surface on the left side. A
part between the front heat exchange portion 50 and the right heat
exchange portion 51, a part between the right heat exchange portion
51 and the rear heat exchange portion 52, and a part between the
rear heat exchange portion 52 and the left heat exchange portion 53
are bent at 90 degrees or at an angle close to 90 degrees. In the
present embodiment, a left end of the front heat exchange portion
50 forms the one side end portion 13a of the outdoor heat exchanger
13, and a front end of the left heat exchange portion 53 forms the
other side end portion 13b.
[0042] The front heat exchange portion 50 is provided along a
substantially right half range in the front surface of the casing
22. The left heat exchange portion 53 is provided along a
substantially rear half range in the left side surface of the
casing 22. Therefore, between the one side end portion 13a of the
outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the other side end portion 13b, that
is, in a left half of the front surface of the casing 22 and a
front half of the left side surface, an opening portion 20 where
the outdoor heat exchanger 13 does not exist is formed.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the opening portion 20 is divided
into two by the support pillar 32. An opening portion 20a on the
front surface of the casing 22 is closed by front side plates 54a
and 54b, and an opening portion 20b on the left side surface of the
casing 22 is closed by the left side plate 55. By removing the
front side plates 54a and 54b and the left side plate 55, the
opening portions 20a and 20b are opened, so that an interior and an
exterior of the outdoor unit main body 22 can communicate with each
other. It should be noted that in FIG. 2, a side surface part of
the outdoor unit main body 22 other than the upper part side plates
44, the front side plates 54a and 54b, and the left side plate 55
is not provided with a side plate, and the outdoor heat exchanger
13 is exposed as it is. However, a side plate in which a
ventilating hole for allowing circulation of the air is formed, or
a grid shape member in which a plurality of wire rods are assembled
in a grid shape may be provided in the side surface part of the
outdoor unit main body 22 facing the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, the stop valves 18 and 19 are supported
via a bracket 57 so as to face the opening portion 20a on the front
surface of the casing 22. The pipe group 49 is arranged in the
vicinity of the opening portion 20b on the left side surface. The
compressor 11a arranged on the left side of the two compressors 11
is arranged at such a position that the substantially entire
compressor can be visually recognized from the front side via the
opening portion 20a on the front surface. The compressor 11b
arranged on the right side is arranged at such a position that the
compressor comes in to the slightly right side of the opening
portion 20a. The accumulator 45 and the oil separators 46 are
arranged on the rear part side in the casing 22.
[0045] The devices such as the compressors 11 and the valves
arranged inside the casing 22 are subjected to regular inspection
and maintenance, and these tasks can be performed via the opening
portion 20. A replacement task of the devices arranged in the
casing 22 can also be performed via the opening portion 20. At the
time of performing these tasks, when a tool to be used for the
maintenance or the like and the devices and the like to be replaced
are brought into contact with the U shape tubes 48a protruding from
the side end portion 13a of the outdoor heat exchanger 13, there is
a fear that the U shape tubes 48a are damaged. Thus, the cover
member 21 for covering the U shape tubes 48a is provided in the
outdoor unit 2 of the present embodiment, and the U shape tubes 48a
are protected by this cover member 21.
[0046] The outdoor unit 2 of the present invention is characterized
by a structure of the bottom plate 30 forming the above casing 22.
FIG. 6 is an illustrative plan view of the bottom plate 30 in the
outdoor unit 2 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view
taken along the line A-A of FIG. 6.
[0047] As described above, the bottom plate 30 is formed in a
square shape in a plan view and in particular, an oblong shape
elongated in the left and right direction, and can be manufactured
by pressing a steel plate. A plurality of expanded portions 60,
specifically fourteen expanded portions 60 are formed in a
peripheral edge portion of the bottom plate 30 to match a planar
shape of the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The expanded portions 60
are not formed over the entire side length of all the four sides of
the bottom plate 30. However, the expanded portions are arranged
along at least a part of each of the sides. In the example shown in
FIG. 6, the expanded portions 60 are arranged over the entire side
length of the top side and the right side, and the expanded
portions 60 are arranged only along a part of the side length of
the bottom side and the left side. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is
mounted on the expanded portions 60 arranged in a substantially C
form in such a way.
[0048] Meanwhile, in a center part of the bottom plate 30, convex
portions 61 for mounting the devices such as the compressors 11 and
the accumulator 45 to be arranged in the space surrounded by the
outdoor heat exchanger 13, and band shape recessed portions 62 for
reinforcement are formed by pressing as well as the expanded
portions 60. Positions and shapes of the convex portions 61 and the
band shape recessed portions 62 can be appropriately selected in
accordance with arrangement points of the devices such as the
compressors 1, strength required in the bottom plate 30, or the
like.
[0049] The expanded portions 60 in the present embodiment have
small expanded portions 60a having a small mount area, and large
expanded portions 60b having a larger mount area than that of the
small expanded portions 60a. Both the small expanded portions 60a
and the large expanded portions 60b are formed in a long circle
shape. One long hole 63 is formed in each of the small expanded
portions 60a, and two long holes 63 are formed in each of the large
expanded portions 60b. The long holes 63 function as drainage holes
(first drainage holes) through which a drainage fluid dropped after
frost attached to the fins of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is
melted at the time of defrosting is directly discharged to an
exterior. Any of the long holes 63 is formed in such a manner that
a long axis thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the
small expanded portion 60a and the large expanded portion 60b. The
two long holes 63 formed in the large expanded portion 60b are
continuously formed while having a predetermined gap between the
long holes along the longitudinal direction of the large expanded
portion 60b.
[0050] The long holes 63 serving as drainage fluid discharge holes
are formed in the expanded portions 60 on which the outdoor heat
exchanger 13 is mounted, that is, formed under the outdoor heat
exchanger 13. Thus, the drainage fluid can be efficiently
discharged from the long holes 63 to the exterior. Furthermore,
through the long holes 63, the drainage fluid is not discharged to
the exterior via a drainage tube or the like but the drainage fluid
can be "directly" discharged to the exterior. Thus, the drainage
fluid dropped from the fins of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is not
frozen again on an inner surface of the bottom plate 30 or in the
drainage tube before being discharged to the exterior.
[0051] In the present embodiment, one pair of large expanded
portions 60b is arranged closely to each other in each of three
corner portions among four corner portions of the bottom plate 30
(in the example shown in FIG. 6, the left upper corner portion, the
right upper corner portion, and the right lower corner portion).
Thereby, strength of the three corner portions can be improved.
[0052] The expanded portions 60 can increase strength against a
load in comparison to a case where no expanded portions are formed.
Thus, an area of the long holes 63 formed in the expanded portions
60 can be increased. Thereby, the drainage fluid from the outdoor
heat exchanger 13 can be efficiently discharged to the
exterior.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 6, the long holes 63 in the present
embodiment are formed on flat upper surfaces 64 of the expanded
portions 60 at positions close to the outer side of the bottom
plate 30. In the outdoor unit 2 according to the present
embodiment, the external air suctioned from the outer side of the
outdoor heat exchanger 13 toward the interior is discharged from
the grilles 36 arranged in the top plate 31 to the exterior by the
fans 23 arranged in an upper part of the device. Therefore, frost
is more often attached to outside parts of the fins of the outdoor
heat exchanger 13, the outside parts being placed on the windward
side of the external air than inside parts. Thus, by forming the
long holes 63 at the positions close to the outer side (positions
close to the windward side), the drainage fluid generated at the
time of defrosting can be efficiently collected and discharged to
the exterior.
[0054] In the present embodiment, circular holes 65 (second
drainage holes) serving as supplementary discharge holes are formed
between the expanded portion 60 and the expanded portion 60
adjacent to each other, and before the first expanded portion 60-f
and after the last expanded portion 60-e among the series of
expanded portions 60 arranged in a line form. In other words, the
circular holes 65 are formed on both sides of the expanded portion
60 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the expanded
portion 60.
[0055] The circular holes 65 are formed in a bottom portion 66a of
a groove 66 formed in the peripheral edge portion of the bottom
plate 30 so as to be along an outer shape of the bottom plate 30
and under the outdoor heat exchanger 13. As shown in FIG. 7, the
groove 66 has inclined surfaces 66b on both sides of the bottom
portion 66a. An inclination angle of the inclined surfaces 66b can
be appropriately selected in consideration with a drainage property
or the like. The circular holes 65 are also open to the external
air. Thus, the drainage fluid dropped from the outdoor heat
exchanger 13 and arrived at the circular holes 65 via the inclined
surfaces 66b is directly discharged from the circular holes 65 to
the exterior. The bottom portion 66a of the groove 66 in which the
circular holes 65 are formed has smaller strength than that of the
expanded portions 60. Thus, an opening area of the circular holes
cannot be large unlike the long holes 63, and the area is about one
third to one fifth of the area of the long holes 63.
[0056] Through the circular holes 65, a drainage fluid not
discharged from the long holes 63 to the exterior but flowing into
the groove 66 of the drainage fluid dropped from the fins of the
outdoor heat exchanger 13 is discharged to the exterior. At the
time, as shown in FIG. 7, burring processing is performed to each
of the circular holes 65 in the present embodiment in such a manner
that a flange portion 67 protrudes on the exterior side. Therefore,
the drainage fluid does not remain in a peripheral edge on the
inner side (interior side) of the circular hole 65 by surface
tension but the drainage fluid can smoothly flow to the
exterior.
OTHER MODIFIED EXAMPLES
[0057] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited
to the above embodiment but can be variously changed within the
scope described in the claims. For example, the first drainage
holes are long holes and the second drainage holes are circular
holes in the above embodiment. However, as long as the drainage
fluid can be discharged, a shape of the drainage holes is not
particularly limited. For example, the first drainage holes can be
circular holes and the second drainage holes can be long holes.
Further the holes can also be formed, for example in a polygonal
shape other than the long holes and the circular holes.
[0058] Although a shape of the expanded portions on which the
outdoor heat exchanger is mounted is a long circle shape in the
above embodiment, the shape may be other shapes such as a
rectangular shape.
[0059] The outdoor heat exchanger is arranged so as to
substantially face the four side plates of the casing in the above
embodiment. The present invention is not limited to this but the
present invention can also be applied to an outdoor unit of a type
in which an outdoor heat exchanger is arranged so as to face only
one side plate, two side plates, or three side plates of a casing.
In these cases, an effect of increasing the opening area for
discharging the drainage fluid under the heat exchanger while
ensuring strength of the bottom plate can be exerted.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0060] 1: AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE
[0061] 2: OUTDOOR UNIT
[0062] 3: INDOOR UNIT
[0063] 10: REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT
[0064] 11: COMPRESSOR
[0065] 13: OUTDOOR HEAT EXCHANGER
[0066] 22: CASING
[0067] 30: BOTTOM PLATE
[0068] 31: TOP PLATE
[0069] 32: SUPPORT PILLAR
[0070] 33a to 33d: LATERAL MEMBER
[0071] 35: VENTILATING HOLE
[0072] 36: GRILLE
[0073] 60: EXPANDED PORTION
[0074] 61: CONVEX PORTION
[0075] 62: BAND SHAPE RECESSED PORTION
[0076] 63: LONG HOLE (FIRST DRAINAGE HOLE)
[0077] 65: CIRCULAR HOLE (SECOND DRAINAGE HOLE)
[0078] 66: GROOVE
[0079] 66a: BOTTOM PORTION
[0080] 67: FLANGE PORTION
* * * * *