U.S. patent application number 14/376109 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for outdoor unit of refrigeration apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.. Invention is credited to Keitarou Hoshika, Takuya Kazusa, Tomohiro Masui, Takashi Ono, Junichi Shimoda.
Application Number | 20140374062 14/376109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48947350 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140374062 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ono; Takashi ; et
al. |
December 25, 2014 |
OUTDOOR UNIT OF REFRIGERATION APPARATUS
Abstract
An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus includes a heat
exchanger constructed of aluminum or aluminum alloy, a floor frame,
and a cap. The heat exchanger has a plurality of flat pipes
arranged in rows so as to face a side face, a header manifold
connected to each of the flat pipes, and a plurality of fins joined
to the flat so that an exchange of heat occurs between a fluid
flowing inside the flat pipes and air flowing outside the fiat
pipes. The heat exchanger is mounted on the floor frame. The cap
covers a lower end part of the header manifold from below the
header manifold. The cap has a first drainage structure arranged so
that if there is a gap between the header manifold and the cap
water that has entered the cap via the gap drains out.
Inventors: |
Ono; Takashi; (Sakai-shi,
JP) ; Hoshika; Keitarou; (Sakai-shi, JP) ;
Masui; Tomohiro; (Sakai-shi, JP) ; Kazusa;
Takuya; (Sakai-shi, JP) ; Shimoda; Junichi;
(Sakai-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD. |
Osaka-shi, Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
48947350 |
Appl. No.: |
14/376109 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
January 24, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/051394 |
371 Date: |
July 31, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 7/00 20130101; F28F
21/084 20130101; F28F 17/005 20130101; F24F 1/14 20130101; F28F
9/00 20130101; F28F 1/12 20130101; F28F 2265/06 20130101; F28D
1/05366 20130101; F24F 1/36 20130101; F28F 9/0202 20130101; F28D
2021/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/71 |
International
Class: |
F28D 7/00 20060101
F28D007/00; F28F 1/12 20060101 F28F001/12; F28F 21/08 20060101
F28F021/08; F28F 9/00 20060101 F28F009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 6, 2012 |
JP |
2012-022708 |
Claims
1. An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus, comprising: a heat
exchanger constructed of aluminum or aluminum alloy, the heat
exchanger having a plurality of flat pipes arranged in rows so as
to face a side face, a header manifold, each of the flat pipes
being connected to the header manifold, and a plurality of fins
joined to the flat so that an exchange of heat occurs between a
fluid flowing inside the flat pipes and air flowing outside the
flat pipes; a floor frame, the heat exchanger being mounted on the
floor frame; and a cap covering a lower end part of the header
manifold from below the header manifold, the cap having a first
drainage structure arranged so that if there is a gap between the
header manifold and the cap water that has entered the cap via the
gap drains out.
2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein p1 the cap has a
bottom face part and a side face part, and the first side face part
has the first drainage structure.
3. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein: the first
drainage structure is an opening, a bottom face of the opening is
disposed lower than a lower end of the header manifold, and the
bottom face is arranged at a downward incline as the bottom face
extends from inside of the cap toward outside of the cap.
4. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein the bottom face
part has a projection on a surface thereof that faces the floor
frame.
5. The outdoor unit according to claim 4, wherein the projection
has a second drainage structure.
6. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the cap is
arranged and configured so that there is no gap between the cap and
the header manifold through which water can enter.
7. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein the first
drainage structure is an opening, a bottom face of the opening is
disposed lower than a lower end of the header manifold, and the
bottom face is arranged at a downward incline as the bottom face
extends from inside of the cap toward outside of the cap.
8. The outdoor unit according to claim 7, wherein the bottom face
part has a projection on a surface thereof that faces the floor
frame.
9. The outdoor unit according to claim 8, wherein the projection
has a second drainage structure.
10. The outdoor unit according to claim 3, wherein a bottom face
part of the cap has a projection on a surface thereof that faces
the floor frame.
11. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, wherein the projection
has a second drainage structure.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Outdoor units of a refrigeration apparatus have been
reported to have a polypropylene cap or a cage-shaped
electrical-corrosion-preventing body provided to the lower end of a
header manifold; e.g., as in patent document 1 (Japanese Laid-open
Patent Application No. 2011-145029).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0003] However, in cases where water traveling along the header
manifold enters the cap or accumulates in a floor frame (a drain
pan) in such a configuration, there is a risk of the water
infiltrating from a reticulated portion of the cage, contacting the
header manifold, and inducing electrical corrosion of the header
manifold.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor
unit of a refrigeration apparatus in which a heat exchanger made of
aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used, wherein the outdoor unit of
a refrigeration apparatus is not susceptible to metal
corrosion.
Solution to Problem
[0005] An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to a
first aspect of the present invention comprises a heat exchanger, a
floor frame, and a cap. The heat exchanger is made of aluminum or
an aluminum alloy. The heat exchanger has a plurality of flat pipes
arranged in a row facing a side face, a header manifold to which
each of the flat pipes is connected, and a plurality of fins joined
to the flat pipes. In the heat exchanger, exchange of heat occurs
between a fluid flowing inside the flat pipes and flowing outside
the flat pipes. The heat exchanger is mounted on the floor frame,
The cap covers the lower end part of the header manifold from
below. The cap has a first drainage structure allowing water that
has entered via a gap between the header manifold and the cap to
drain out.
[0006] By having the cap placed on the lower end of the header
manifold and an opening part for draining water provided to the
cap, it is possible for dew from the heat exchanger that has
entered via a gap between the header manifold and the cap to drain
out, and heat exchanger corrosion and refrigerant leakage to be
prevented.
[0007] Examples of the drainage structure include an opening, a
cutout, and a gutter.
[0008] Dew from the heat exchanger includes condensation water and
rainwater.
[0009] The material of the cap is preferably rubber in terms of
enabling sate mounting of the header manifold as well as providing
waterproofness and vibration resistance; examples including natural
rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrite rubber, butyl rubber,
ethylene-propylene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, silicone
rubber, fluorine rubber, AFLAS, hydrogenated nitrite rubber, and
urethane rubber. The rubber is preferably a hard rubber (hardness:
50).
[0010] An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to a
second aspect of the present invention is the outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to the first aspect of the
present invention, wherein the cap is configured from a bottom face
part and a side face part, and the first drainage structure is
provided to the side face part,
[0011] According to the present aspect, having the drainage
structure provided to the side face of the cap allows a larger
drainage structure to be used, dew from the heat exchanger that has
entered via a gap between the header manifold and the cap to be
more efficiently drained to the outside, and heat exchanger
corrosion and refrigerant leakage to be more effectively
prevented.
[0012] An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to a
third aspect of the present invention is the outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to the first or second aspect,
wherein the first drainage structure is an opening. The bottom face
of the opening is provided below the lower end of the header
manifold. Furthermore, the bottom face of the opening is set to
incline downward from the inside toward the outside.
[0013] According to the present aspect, having the opening provided
to the side face of the cap, the bottom face of the opening below
the lower end of the header manifold, and the bottom face of the
opening set at an incline allows condensation that has entered into
the cap to be more efficiently routed outside the cap and guided to
the floor frame, and heat exchanger corrosion and refrigerant
leakage to be more effectively prevented.
[0014] An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to a
fourth aspect of the present invention is the outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to the second or third aspect,
wherein a projection is provided to the surface facing opposite the
bottom face part of the floor frame.
[0015] According to the. present aspect, the lower end of the
header manifold is raised by the cap, which allows infiltration of
water into the header manifold to be prevented even when
condensation accumulates in the floor frame, and heat exchanger
corrosion and refrigerant leakage to be further prevented.
Furthermore, condensation that has accumulated in the floor frame
can be prevented from flowing into the cap and coming into contact
with the header manifold.
[0016] An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to a
fifth aspect of t le present invention is the outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein a
second drainage structure is provided to the projection.
[0017] According to the present aspect, condensation that has
entered into the cap can be guided from the drainage structure of
the lower part of the cap to the floor frame, which allows heat
exchanger corrosion and refrigerant leakage to be prevented.
[0018] Examples of the drainage structure include an opening, a
cutout, and a gutter or the like.
[0019] An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to a
sixth aspect of the present invention is the outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to any of the first through fifth
aspects, wherein the cap is designed so that there is no gap
through which water can enter between the cap and the header
manifold.
[0020] According to the present aspect, the lower end of the header
manifold does not come into contact with water even when
condensation accumulates in the floor frame, which allows heat
exchanger corrosion and refrigerant leakage to be more effectively
prevented.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0021] In the outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according
to the first aspect of the present invention, having the cap placed
on the lower end of the header manifold and the opening part for
draining water provided to the cap makes it possible for dew from
the heat exchanger that has entered via a gap between the header
manifold and the cap to drain out, and heat exchanger corrosion and
refrigerant leakage to be prevented.
[0022] In the outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according
to the second aspect of the present invention, having the drainage
structure provided to the side face of the cap allows a larger
drainage structure to be used, dew from the heat exchanger that has
entered via a gap between the header manifold and the cap to be
more efficiently drained out, and heat exchanger corrosion and
refrigerant leakage to be further prevented.
[0023] In the outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according
to the third aspect of the present invention, having the opening
provided to the side face of the cap, the bottom face of the
opening below the lower end of the header manifold, and the bottom
face of the opening set at an incline allows condensation that has
entered into the cap to be more efficiently routed outside the cap
and guided to the floor frame, and heat exchanger corrosion and
refrigerant leakage to be further prevented.
[0024] In the outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according
to the fourth aspect of the present invention, because the lower
end of the header manifold is raised by the cap, infiltration of
water into the header manifold can be prevented even when
condensation accumulates in the floor frame, and heat exchanger
corrosion and refrigerant leakage can be further prevented.
Furthermore, the condensation accumulated in the floor frame can be
prevented from flowing into the cap and coming into contact with
the header manifold. In the outdoor unit of a refrigeration
apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
because condensation that has entered into the cap can be guided
from the drainage structure of the lower part of the cap to the
floor frame, heat exchanger corrosion and refrigerant leakage can
be prevented.
[0025] In the outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according
to the sixth aspect of the present invention, because the lower end
of the header manifold does not come into contact with water even
when condensation accumulates in the floor frame, heat exchanger
corrosion and refrigerant leakage can be further prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of an outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a general perspective view of an outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
invention in a condition having removed a ceiling plate, a left
side plate, a right front plate, and a right rear plate.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a general perspective view of an outdoor heat
exchanger.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a front view of a cap according to one embodiment
of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cap according to one embodiment
of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along VI-VI in FIG. 4.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a sectional view along in FIG. 5 showing a header
manifold mounted on the cap.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a front view of a cap in Modified example B.
[0034] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a cap in Modified example C.
[0035] FIG. 10 is a front view of a cap in Modified example C.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0036] An embodiment of the present invention is described below
while referring to the drawings.
[0037] The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus of the present
embodiment is used as an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning
apparatus,
[0038] (1) General Configuration of the Outdoor Unit
[0039] The outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according
to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.
1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the outdoor unit 20 of
an air-conditioning apparatus. The outdoor unit 20 is placed
outside a space to be air-conditioned (indoors) where air
conditioning is to be performed, and an interior of a roughly
rectangular box-form casing 50 is divided into a ventilation
compartment and a machine compartment by a partitioning plate (not
illustrated) extending vertically. The outdoor unit 20 is connected
via. refrigerant-communicating piping (not illustrated) to an
indoor unit (not illustrated) disposed inside the space to be air
conditioned.
[0040] The outdoor unit 20 mainly comprises a roughly box-form
casing 50, an outdoor fan (not illustrated), refrigerant
circuit-configuring parts (not illustrated) including a heat
exchanger, a compressor, valves, pipes, and the like, to configure
a refrigerant circuit, and an electrical unit (not illustrated) for
performing operation and control.
[0041] A blow-out opening positioned at the center and to the left
of a front face 51 is formed on the casing 50, and air sent out by
the outdoor fan is blown out forward from the blow-out opening.
[0042] The casing 50 has a ceiling plate 57, a right rear plate 56,
and a right front plate 55, and additionally has a left side plate
54 and a floor frame 8. "60" indicates a fan grill attached on the
outside of the casing 50.
FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of an outdoor unit of a
refrigeration apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
invention in a condition having removed a top plate, a left side
plate, a right front plate, and a right rear plate. A heat
exchanger 25 is mounted on a floor frame 8, and an outdoor fan 35
is disposed in front of the heat exchanger 25. The interior is
divided by a partitioning plate 58, and as viewed facing the front,
the left side is a ventilation compartment and the right side is a
machine compartment.
[0043] The outdoor heat exchanger 25 allows refrigerant flowing
inside to be condensed or evaporated by heat exchange with outside
air. The outdoor heat exchanger 25 is made entirely of aluminum or
aluminum alloy, The outdoor heat exchanger 25 is disposed inside
the casing 50 with a proper space from the casing 50, or a resin
member, or the like, is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger
25 and the casing 50, so as not to be in direct contact with the
casing 50 (see FIG. 1).
[0044] The outdoor heat exchange 25, as illustrated in FIG. 2,
extends along the back face of the casing 50 toward the left from
near an end part of the partitioning plate 58, changes in direction
at near a left rear corner part of the casing 50, and extends
toward the front along the left side plate 54 (see FIG. 1).
FIG. 3 is a general perspective view of an outdoor heat exchanger
25. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the outdoor heat exchanger 25 has a
flat pipe 2, fins 4, and header manifolds 61 and 62. The fins 4 are
omitted in the illustration in FIG. 3. Some of the reference
numerals of the flat pipes 2 also are omitted. The header manifolds
61, 62 are connected to the both end of the flat pipes 2 which are
arranged in multiple rows towards up and down. The header manifolds
61, 62 have functions of supporting the flat pipes 2, guiding
refrigerant to an inner channel in the flat pipes 2 (not
illustrated), and letting refrigerant coming out of the inner
channel collect. Each of a lower end 6a, 6a of header manifolds 61,
62 is covered from below by a cap 14 to be described later (see
FIG. 7).
[0045] (2) Cap
[0046] FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate a front view, a plan view, and
a sectional view of a cap 14. FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional view
showing a header manifold 6 mounted on the cap 14.
[0047] The cap 14 is made of a rubber material, and has a bottom
face part 15 and a side face part 16. The bottom face part 15 is of
a cylindrical configuration. The side face part 16 of the
cylindrical configuration stands vertically upright from an edge
portion on the circumference of the circle of the bottom face part
15 viewed from above, whereby a hole 19 into which the lower end
part 6a of the header manifold 6 is inserted is formed. A lower end
ob of the header manifold 6 is inserted so as to contact an upper
face 15b of the bottom face part 15, and the heat exchanger 25 is
mounted on the cap 14. The cap 14 is formed from hard rubber
(hardness: 50) so that the cap 14 will not come free even if the
heat exchanger 25 mounted thereon vibrates.
[0048] The cap 14 has a drainage opening 17 in the side face part
16. Condensation from the heat exchanger 25 that has traveled along
the header manifold 6 and entered the gap between the header
manifold 6 and the cap 14 is drained out from the drainage opening
17. A bottom face 17a of the drainage opening 17 is provided below
the upper face 15b of the bottom face part 15. Therefore,
condensation from the heat exchanger 25 that has traveled along the
header manifold 6 and entered the gap between the header manifold 6
and the cap 14 can be more effectively drained. Furthermore, the
bottom face 17a is set at a downward incline from the inside toward
the outside, and drainage of condensation is further promoted.
[0049] A boss 15a. is provided to a surface of the bottom face part
15 facing the floor frame 8. Accordingly, even when water
accumulates in the floor frame 8, there is minimal likelihood that
the lower face part 6a of the header manifold 6 will be immersed in
the water.
[0050] (3) Features of the Outdoor Unit
[0051] (3-1) The outdoor unit 20 of the air-conditioning apparatus
1 according to the present embodiment comprises a heat exchanger
25, a floor frame 8, and a cap 14. The heat exchanger 25 is made of
aluminum or aluminum alloy. The heat exchanger 25 has a plurality
of flat pipes 2 arranged facing a side face, a header manifold 6 to
which each of the flat pipes 2 are connected, and a plurality of
fins 4 joined to the flat pipes 2. In the heat exchanger 25,
exchange of heat occurs between a fluid flowing inside the flat
pipes 2 and air flowing outside the flat pipes 2. The heat
exchanger 25 is mounted on the floor frame 8. The cap 14 covers the
lower end part 6a of the header manifold 6 from below. The cap 14
has a drainage opening 17 through which water that has entered via
a gap between the header manifold 6 and the cap 14 drains out.
[0052] By having the cap placed on the lower end of the header
manifold and an opening part for draining water provided to the
cap, it is possible for condensation from the heat exchanger that
has entered via a gap between the header manifold and the cap to
drain out, and heat exchanger corrosion and refrigerant leakage to
be prevented.
[0053] (3-2) In the outdoor unit 20 of the air-conditioning
apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the cap 14 is
configured from a bottom face part 15 and a side face part 16, and
the drainage opening 17 is provided to the side face 16.
[0054] According to this embodiment, having the drainage opening
provided to the side face of the cap allows a larger drainage
opening to be used, condensation from the heat exchanger that has
entered via a gap between the header manifold and the cap to be
more efficiently drained out, and heat exchanger corrosion and
refrigerant leakage to be more effectively prevented.
[0055] (3-3) In the outdoor unit 20 of the air-conditioning
apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the bottom face
17a of the drainage opening 17 is provided below the lower end 6b
of the header manifold 6. Furthermore, the bottom face 17a is set
at a downward incline from the inside toward the outside.
[0056] According to this embodiment, having the opening provided to
the side face of the cap, the bottom face of the opening below the
lower end of the header manifold, and the bottom face of the
opening set at an incline allows condensation that has entered into
the cap to be more efficiently routed outside the cap and guided to
the floor frame, and heat exchanger corrosion and refrigerant
leakage to be more effectively prevented.
[0057] (3-4) In the outdoor unit 20 of the air-conditioning
apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a boss 15a is
provided to a surface of the bottom face part 15 facing the floor
frame 8.
[0058] According to this embodiment, the lower end of the header
manifold is raised by the cap, which allows the header manifold to
be prevented from being immersed in water even when condensation
accumulates in the floor frame, and heat exchanger corrosion and
refrigerant leakage to be further prevented. Furthermore,
condensation that has accumulated in the floor frame can be
prevented from flowing into the cap and coming into contact with
the header manifold.
[0059] (3-5) in the outdoor unit 20 of the air-conditioning
apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the cap 14 is
designed to leave substantially no gap through which water can
enter between the cap 14 and the header manifold 6.
[0060] According to this embodiment, the lower end of the header
manifold does not come into contact with water even when
condensation accumulates in the floor frame, which allows heat
exchanger corrosion and refrigerant leakage to be more effectively
prevented.
[0061] (4) Modified Examples
[0062] A modified example of the present embodiment is presented
below. A plurality of modified examples may be appropriately
combined.
[0063] (4-1) Modified example A
[0064] Although the outdoor unit 20 illustrated in the above
embodiment is used in an air-conditioning apparatus it, the outdoor
unit is not limited to this and may be used in another
refrigeration apparatus.
[0065] (4-2) Modified Example B
[0066] In the outdoor unit 20 indicated by the embodiments, a
drainage opening 18 (see FIG. 8) may be provided to the boss
15a.
[0067] (4-3) Modified Example C
[0068] In the cap 141 of the outdoor unit 20 indicated by the
embodiments, a drainage opening 18 may be provided to the bottom
face part 15 (see FIGS. 9 and 10). In FIG. 10, "71" indicates a
pressure-sensitive adhesive, and "72" indicates release paper. In
the resulting structure, water more readily drains from the lower
part.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0069] According to the present invention as above, susceptibility
to an effect of metal corrosion can be suppressed, and this is
useful for an outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0070] 2 Flat pipe
[0071] 4 Fin
[0072] 6, 61, 62 Header manifold
[0073] 8 Floor frame
[0074] 14 Cap
[0075] 17 Drainage opening
[0076] 20 Outdoor unit
[0077] 25 Outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger)
[0078] 35 Outdoor fan
[0079] 50 Casing
[0080] 51 Front plate
[0081] 54 Left side plate
[0082] 55 Right front plate
[0083] 56 Right rear plate
[0084] 57 plate
[0085] 58 Partitioning plate
[0086] 60 Fan grill
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0087] Patent document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No.
2011-145029
* * * * *