U.S. patent application number 16/572774 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-09 for outdoor unit and refrigeration cycle device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc.. Invention is credited to Takeshi ENDO, Nagatoshi OKI, Shuuhei TADA.
Application Number | 20200011618 16/572774 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63792549 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-09 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200011618 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OKI; Nagatoshi ; et
al. |
January 9, 2020 |
OUTDOOR UNIT AND REFRIGERATION CYCLE DEVICE
Abstract
Provided is an outdoor unit providing: a housing; multiple heat
transfer pipes; multiple fins arranged in a heat transfer pipe
direction and provided at the multiple heat transfer pipes; header
pipe assemblies each connected to both ends of each heat transfer
pipe; a support bracket provided between an outermost one of the
fins in the heat transfer pipe direction and each header pipe
assembly to block air passage in a space provided with no fins and
fixed to the housing to support the heat transfer pipes and the
fins; and a fixing member attached to the support bracket and
serving as a fixing position for fixing the support bracket to the
housing, wherein the fixing member has an insulating portion for
insulating the support bracket and the housing from each other.
Inventors: |
OKI; Nagatoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; TADA; Shuuhei; (Tokyo, JP) ; ENDO;
Takeshi; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
63792549 |
Appl. No.: |
16/572774 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2018/014701 |
Apr 6, 2018 |
|
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16572774 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 9/002 20130101;
F24F 1/16 20130101; F28D 1/05316 20130101; F28F 9/10 20130101; F28F
2270/00 20130101; F28D 1/04 20130101; F25B 39/00 20130101; F24F
1/14 20130101; F28F 9/013 20130101; F28F 2009/0292 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/10 20060101
F28F009/10; F28D 1/04 20060101 F28D001/04; F24F 1/14 20060101
F24F001/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 12, 2017 |
JP |
2017-078901 |
Claims
1. An outdoor unit comprising: a housing; multiple heat transfer
pipes; multiple fins arranged in a heat transfer pipe direction and
provided at the multiple heat transfer pipes; header pipe
assemblies each connected to both ends of each heat transfer pipe;
a support bracket provided between an outermost one of the fins in
the heat transfer pipe direction and each header pipe assembly to
block air passage in a space provided with no fins and fixed to the
housing to support the heat transfer pipes and the fins; and a
fixing member attached to the support bracket and serving as a
fixing position for fixing the support bracket to the housing,
wherein the fixing member has an insulating portion for insulating
the support bracket and the housing from each other.
2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member
includes a first fixing portion functioning as the insulating
portion made of a material for insulating the support bracket and
the housing from each other, and a second fixing portion provided
as a metal member provided at the first fixing portion and provided
with a screw hole corresponding to the first fixing portion, and a
screw is inserted into the screw hole to screw the fixing member
and the housing to each other such that the second fixing portion
does not contact the support bracket, and in such a state, the
support bracket is fixed to the housing.
3. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein a cutout is
formed at the support bracket, the fixing member is provided at the
cutout, and the screw is inserted into the cutout.
4. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein a tip end of the
screwed screw remains in a middle of the fixing member, and does
not penetrate the fixing member.
5. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein a lower end
portion of the support bracket contacts the housing through the
fixing member.
6. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein the support
bracket has multiple support target portions, and the single fixing
member is attached to a lower end portion of each support target
portion.
7. The outdoor unit according to claim 6, wherein the fixing member
covers an entirety of a bottom surface of the support bracket.
8. The outdoor unit according to claim 6, wherein an inclined
surface inclined downward to an outside of the support bracket is
provided at an upper surface of the fixing member between the
support target portions.
9. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member
includes multiple fixing members provided at multiple spots in a
height direction of the support bracket, and an auxiliary member
projecting in a direction identical to that of the fixing member
extending to an outside of the support bracket is provided between
adjacent ones of the fixing members in an upper-to-lower
direction.
10. A refrigeration cycle device comprising: an indoor unit; and
the outdoor unit according to claim 1, the outdoor unit being
connected to the indoor unit through a refrigerant pipe.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of
International Application No. PCT/JP2018/014701, filed Apr. 6,
2018, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.
2017-078901, filed Apr. 12, 2017. The contents of these
applications are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit and a
refrigeration cycle device.
2. Related Art
[0003] A background art in the present technical field includes
Japanese Patent No. 5403085. This publication describes a
refrigeration device outdoor unit (see claim 1). The outdoor unit
includes a heat exchanger (13) having multiple header pipe
assemblies (34, 35), multiple fins (32) arranged at predetermined
fin pitches between the multiple header pipe assemblies, and
multiple heat transfer pipes (33) inserted into the multiple fins
and connected to the multiple header pipe assemblies and having a
greater clearance (IS1, IS2) than the fin pitch between the header
pipe assembly and the fin (32p, 32q) adjacent to each other; a
casing component arranged facing at least one of the multiple
header pipe assemblies and surrounding part of the heat exchanger;
and a seal member (51, 52, 53, 54) attached to the casing component
and configured deformable by pressing against the header pipe
assembly and the fin around the clearance facing the casing
component to close the clearance. The casing component includes a
first casing component (25, 24) arranged on a windward side of the
heat exchanger. The seal member includes a first seal member (51,
53) attached to the first casing component and arranged on a
windward side of the clearance.
SUMMARY
[0004] An outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure includes a housing; multiple heat transfer pipes;
multiple fins arranged in a heat transfer pipe direction and
provided at the multiple heat transfer pipes; header pipe
assemblies each connected to both ends of each heat transfer pipe;
a support bracket provided between an outermost one of the fins in
the heat transfer pipe direction and each header pipe assembly to
block air passage in a space provided with no fins and fixed to the
housing to support the heat transfer pipes and the fins; and a
fixing member attached to the support bracket and serving as a
fixing position for fixing the support bracket to the housing,
wherein the fixing member has an insulating portion for insulating
the support bracket and the housing from each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle system diagram of a
refrigeration cycle device according to a first embodiment as the
present embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an internal state in which a top
plate of an outdoor unit according to the first embodiment as the
present embodiment is detached;
[0007] FIGS. 3A and 3B are a front view A and a side view B of an
outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit according to the first
embodiment as the present embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a header
pipe assembly on a machine chamber side of the outdoor unit
according to the first embodiment as the present embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a front view of a support bracket of the outdoor
unit according to the first embodiment as the present
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main portion of a fixing portion
between the support bracket and a housing in the outdoor unit
according to the first embodiment as the present embodiment;
[0011] FIGS. 7A and 7B are a partial front view A and a partial
side view B of fixing members 70 provided at the support bracket of
the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment as the present
embodiment;
[0012] FIGS. 8A to 8D are a front view A of the fixing member of
the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment as the present
embodiment, a left side view B of A, a right side view C of A, and
an upper view D of A;
[0013] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the structure of attachment of
the fixing member to a support target portion according to the
first embodiment as the present embodiment;
[0014] FIGS. 10A to 10D are a front view A of a fixing member of an
outdoor unit according to a variation of the first embodiment as
the present embodiment, a left side view B of A, a right side view
C of A, and an upper view D of A;
[0015] FIGS. 11A to 11D are a front view A of a fixing member of an
outdoor unit according to a second embodiment as the present
embodiment, a left side view B of A, a right side view C of A, and
an upper view D of A;
[0016] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the structure of attachment
of the fixing member to a support target portion according to the
second embodiment as the present embodiment;
[0017] FIGS. 13A and 13B are a plan view A of a lower end portion
of a support bracket when the fixing members are attached to the
support target portions in the outdoor unit according to the second
embodiment as the present embodiment and a right side view B of
A;
[0018] FIGS. 14A and 14B are a plan view A of a lower end portion
of a support bracket when a fixing member is attached to support
target portions in an outdoor unit according to a third embodiment
as the present embodiment and a right side view B of A;
[0019] FIGS. 15A to 15C are a front view A of a first fixing
portion of the fixing member of the outdoor unit according to the
third embodiment as the present embodiment, a left side view B of
A, and an upper view C of A; and
[0020] FIGS. 16A to 16C are a front view A of a first fixing
portion 91 of a fixing member of an outdoor unit according to a
variation of the third embodiment as the present embodiment, a left
side view B of A, and an upper view C of A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] In the following detailed description, for purpose of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It
will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be
practiced without these specific details. In other instances,
well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order
to simplify the drawing.
[0022] Japanese Patent No. 5403085 describes the first seal member.
The first seal member functions to reduce air not passing through
the fins. However, Japanese Patent No. 5403085 fails to consider
that the heat exchanger is supported on and fixed to the housing of
the outdoor unit by the first seal member.
[0023] For this reason, in the present embodiment, an object
thereof is to provide an outdoor unit fixable to a housing without
corrosion of a support bracket supporting a heat transfer pipe and
a fin and blocking air not passing through the fin.
[0024] For solving the above-described problem, one embodiment of
the present disclosure is an outdoor unit including a housing,
multiple heat transfer pipes, multiple fins arranged in a heat
transfer pipe direction and provided at the multiple heat transfer
pipes, header pipe assemblies each connected to both ends of each
heat transfer pipe, a support bracket provided between the
outermost one of the fins in the heat transfer pipe direction and
each header pipe assembly to block air passage in a space provided
with no fins and fixed to the housing to support the heat transfer
pipes and the fins, and a fixing member attached to the support
bracket and serving as a fixing position for fixing the support
bracket to the housing. The fixing member has an insulating portion
for insulating the support bracket and the housing from each
other.
[0025] According to the present embodiment, the outdoor unit
fixable to the housing without corrosion of the support bracket can
be provided.
[0026] Other problems, configurations, and advantageous effects
than those described above will be more apparent from description
of embodiments below.
[0027] Hereinafter, the present embodiments will be described with
reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
[0028] FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle system diagram of a
refrigeration cycle device 100 of the present embodiment. The
refrigeration cycle device 100 includes an outdoor unit 1 and an
indoor unit 2, and the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 are
connected to each other by refrigerant pipes (a liquid-side
connection pipe 3 and a gas-side connection pipe 4).
[0029] The outdoor unit 1 includes, for example, an accumulator 5,
a compressor 6, a four-way valve 7, an outdoor heat exchanger 8,
and a first expansion valve 9. Moreover, a liquid stop valve 10
connected to the liquid-side connection pipe 3 and a gas stop valve
11 connected to the gas-side connection pipe 4 are provided.
[0030] The indoor unit 2 includes, for example, an indoor heat
exchanger 12 and a second expansion valve 13.
[0031] The refrigeration cycle device 100 is operated as follows in
the case of performing air-cooling operation. High-temperature
high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 6 is
discharged from the compressor 6 together with refrigerator oil.
Thereafter, the refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 8
through the four-way valve 7, and is condensed and liquified by
heat exchange with, e.g., outdoor air. The condensed liquified
refrigerant passes through the first expansion valve 9 in a
fully-open state, and is sent to the indoor unit 2 through the
liquid stop valve 10 and the liquid-side connection pipe 3. The
liquid refrigerant having flowed into the indoor unit 2 is
depressurized and expanded by the second expansion valve 13, and
accordingly, turns into a low-temperature low-pressure gas-liquid
two-phase flow. Such a flow enters the indoor heat exchanger 12. In
the indoor heat exchanger 12, the flow cools a utilization-side
medium such as indoor air by heat exchange with the
utilization-side medium, and the flow itself is evaporated and
vaporized. Thereafter, the gas refrigerant passes through the
gas-side connection pipe 4, and returns to the compressor 6 through
the gas stop valve 11, the four-way valve 7, and the accumulator 5.
Such a refrigeration cycle is configured as described above. It is
configured such that extra refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle
is stored in the accumulator 5 and the operation pressure and
temperature of the refrigeration cycle are held in a normal
state.
[0032] The refrigeration cycle device 100 is operated as follows in
the case of performing air-heating operation. High-temperature
high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 6 is
discharged from the compressor 6 together with refrigerator oil.
Thereafter, the refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 12
of the indoor unit 2 through the four-way valve 7, the gas stop
valve 11, and the gas-side connection pipe 4. In the indoor heat
exchanger 12, the refrigerant heats a utilization-side medium such
as indoor air by heat exchange with the utilization-side medium,
and the refrigerant itself is condensed and liquified. The
condensed liquified refrigerant is depressurized by the first
expansion valve 9 through the liquid-side connection pipe 3 and the
liquid stop valve 10, and is evaporated and vaporized by heat
exchange with a heat source medium such as outdoor air in the
outdoor heat exchanger 8. The evaporated vaporized refrigerant
returns to the compressor 6 through the four-way valve 7 and the
accumulator 5. Such a refrigeration cycle is configured as
described above.
[0033] For example, the outdoor heat exchanger 8 forming the
outdoor unit 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is normally placed inside a
housing. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inside of the outdoor unit 1
in a state in which a top plate is detached. The housing 20 of the
outdoor unit 1 includes the top plate (not shown), a bottom plate
21, and side plates 22 to 25. An internal space of the housing 20
is divided into a heat exchange chamber 31 and a machine chamber 32
by a partition plate 26. The outdoor heat exchanger 8 and an air
blower 30 are arranged in the heat exchange chamber 31, and the
accumulator 5, the compressor 6, etc. are arranged in the machine
chamber 32. The side plates 22 to 25 are a machine-chamber-side
front plate 22, a machine-chamber-side back plate 23, a
heat-exchange-chamber-side front plate 24, and a
heat-exchange-chamber-side back plate 25. The machine chamber 32 is
formed by the machine-chamber-side front plate 22, the
machine-chamber-side back plate 23, and the partition plate 26. On
the other hand, the heat exchange chamber 31 includes the
heat-exchange-chamber-side front plate 24 and the
heat-exchange-chamber-side back plate 25, and further includes
suction ports 27, 28 each provided between the machine-chamber-side
back plate 23 and the heat-exchange-chamber-side back plate 25 and
between the heat-exchange-chamber-side front plate 24 and the
heat-exchange-chamber-side back plate 25. The suction ports 27, 28
are air suction ports. Further, an exhaust port 29 for discharging
air heat-exchanged by the outdoor heat exchanger 8 through a front
surface of the outdoor unit 1 is provided at the
heat-exchange-chamber-side front plate 24. With such a structure,
air sucked through the suction ports 27, 28 provided at back and
side surfaces of the outdoor unit 1 can be, by the air blower 30,
discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit 1 through the exhaust
port 29 provided at the outdoor unit front surface after the air
has been heat-exchanged by the outdoor heat exchanger 8.
[0034] The outdoor heat exchanger 8 in the refrigeration cycle
device (an air-conditioner) 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2
includes, in the present embodiment, multiple aluminum flat heat
transfer pipes 43 arranged in an upper-to-lower direction between
two header pipe assemblies 41, 42 made of aluminum (hereinafter
including aluminum alloy) such that one ends thereof are coupled to
one header pipe assembly 41 and the other ends thereof are coupled
to the other header pipe assembly 42, and multiple aluminum fins 44
joined to the heat transfer pipes 43.
[0035] A configuration of the outdoor heat exchanger 8 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A is a front
view of the outdoor heat exchanger 8.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the outdoor heat exchanger 8
includes the header pipe assembly 41, the header pipe assembly 42,
the multiple heat transfer pipes 43, and the multiple fins 44. Any
of these components is an aluminum member, and these components are
joined to each other by brazing (bending of the outdoor heat
exchanger 8 of FIG. 2 is ignored in the figure).
[0037] The header pipe assembly 41 and the header pipe assembly 42
are formed in an elongated cylindrical shape closed at both ends,
and are arranged at a predetermined interval such that a
longitudinal direction thereof is the vertical direction. An
aluminum gas pipe 45 as an inlet/outlet of gas refrigerant and an
aluminum liquid pipe 46 as an inlet/outlet of liquid refrigerant
are connected to the header pipe assembly 41.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the heat transfer pipes 43 are in
an oval shape having a flat section in a transverse direction, and
multiple refrigerant flow paths 47 are formed inside each heat
transfer pipe 43. The multiple heat transfer pipes 43 are arranged
in parallel in the upper-to-lower direction at certain intervals
with long-side surfaces facing each other. One ends of the multiple
heat transfer pipes 43 are connected to the header pipe assembly
41, and the other ends of the multiple heat transfer pipes 43 are
connected to the header pipe assembly 42. The refrigerant flow
paths inside the heat transfer pipes 43 are connected to the header
pipe assembly 41 and the header pipe assembly 42.
[0039] The fin 44 is in such a vertically-elongated plate shape
that cutouts are formed by pressing, and the outdoor heat exchanger
8 has such a structure that the heat transfer pipes 43 are inserted
into the fins 44. An interval between adjacent ones of the fins 44,
i.e., a so-called fin pitch, is about 1.5 mm, for example. On the
other hand, an interval between the header pipe assembly 41, 42 and
the outermost fin 44 adjacent to the header pipe assembly 41, 42
is, for example, about 20 mm, and is equal to or greater than ten
times as great as the fin pitch. Thus, air is more likely to flow
toward the peripheries of the header pipe assemblies 41, 42 and a
portion between each header pipe assembly 41, 42 and the outermost
fin 44 as compared to a portion between adjacent ones of the fins
44.
[0040] A support bracket 51 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) configured to block
an air flow is provided between the header pipe assembly 41 and the
outer fin 44 closest to the header pipe assembly 41. Similarly, a
support bracket 52 (see FIG. 2) configured to block an air flow is
provided between the header pipe assembly 42 and the outer fin 44
closest to the header pipe assembly 42. Hereinafter, the support
brackets 51, 52 configured to block the air flow at the peripheries
of the header pipe assemblies 41, 42 and the portion between each
header pipe assembly 41, 42 and the outermost fin 44 will be
described (an example of the support bracket 51 will be mainly
described). The support bracket 51 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) and the
support bracket 52 (see FIG. 2) have the same structure. FIG. 4 is
a perspective view of the vicinity of the header pipe assembly 41
on a machine chamber 32 side, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the
support bracket 51. The support bracket 51 is provided with holes
63 for insertion of the heat transfer pipes 43 (see FIG. 5), and
are arranged closer to a fin 44 side between the header pipe
assembly 41 and the fin 44. Moreover, the support bracket 51
includes support target portions 61, 62, and the transverse
sectional shape of the support bracket 51 including the support
target portions 61, 62 is in a backwards C-shape to sandwich the
heat transfer pipes 43. Needless to say, such a sectional shape may
be various shapes such as a U-shape and a V-shape as long as the
air flow can be blocked. The support bracket 51 is made of
aluminum, and is joined to the heat transfer pipes 43 or the header
pipe assembly 41 at the same time as joining of each member of the
outdoor heat exchanger 8 by brazing. At each of the support target
portions 61, 62, multiple fixing members 70 (described later) for
fixing to the machine-chamber-side back plate 23 (FIG. 2) and the
partition plate 26 (FIG. 2) are provided according to the height of
the support bracket 51. Further, an auxiliary member 39 is provided
between adjacent ones of the fixing members 70 arranged in the
upper-to-lower direction.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 2, on the machine chamber 32 side,
the support target portion 61 of the support bracket 51 positioned
upstream of air flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger 8 is fixed to
and supported on the machine-chamber-side back plate 23 of the
housing 20, and the support target portion 62 of the support
bracket 51 positioned downstream is fixed to and supported on the
partition plate 26.
[0042] Further, on a heat exchange chamber 31 side, a support
target portion 64 of the support bracket 52 (having a configuration
similar to that of the support bracket 51) positioned upstream of
the air flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger 8 is fixed to the
heat-exchange-chamber-side front plate 24 of the housing 20, and a
downstream support target portion 65 is fixed to a wind shield
35.
[0043] As described above, the support bracket 51, 52 has, as a
single component, both of the function of blocking air passage
through a portion of the outdoor heat exchanger 8 not attached to
the fin 44 (accordingly improving the heat exchange efficiency of
the outdoor heat exchanger 8) and the function of fixing the
outdoor heat exchanger 8 to the housing 20 of the outdoor unit 1.
Thus, the number of components can be reduced.
[0044] However, the support brackets 51, 52 are made of aluminum.
Thus, when the support brackets 51, 52 are not insulated from the
housing 20, which is for example made of steel, of the outdoor unit
1, there is a disadvantage that corrosion is easily
accelerated.
[0045] For this reason, the technique of reducing corrosion of the
support brackets 51, 52 will be described below.
[0046] Note that the support bracket 52 (including the support
target portions 64, 65 and having a configuration similar to that
of the support bracket 51) on the heat exchange chamber 31 side
also preferably includes a corrosion reduction technique similar to
that of the support bracket 51, but the support bracket 51 will be
mainly described below.
[0047] The fixing member 70 realizes the technique of reducing
corrosion, and will be described in detail below. As illustrated in
FIG. 5, the fixing members 70 are provided at leg portions, top
portions, and middle portions of the support target portions 61,
62, for example. The fixing member 70 includes an insulating
portion made of an insulating material (e.g., a resin material),
and serves as a fixing position for fixing the support bracket 51
to the housing 20.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main portion of a fixing portion
between the support bracket 51 and the housing 20. As illustrated
in this figure, the support target portion 61 on an upstream side
of air and the machine-chamber-side back plate 23 of the housing 20
are fixed to each other by a screw 38 through the fixing member 70.
Moreover, the support target portion 62 on a downstream side and
the partition plate 26 are fixed to each other by a screw 38
through the fixing member 70.
[0049] FIG. 7A is a partial front view of the fixing members 70
provided at the support bracket 51, and FIG. 7B is a side view of
such a fixing member 70. FIG. 8(A) is a front view of the fixing
member 70, FIG. 8B is a left side view of FIG. 8A, FIG. 8C is a
right side view of FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8D is an upper view of FIG.
8A. FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the structure of attachment of
the fixing member 70 to the support target portion 61.
[0050] As illustrated mainly in FIG. 8A, the fixing member 70 is,
for example, a rectangular plate-shaped member as viewed from the
front, and includes a first fixing portion 71 functioning as an
insulating portion made of an insulating material such as resin.
Thick recessed grooves 75 having a recessed shape at center
portions are formed at upper, right, and lower surfaces of the
first fixing portion 71. Moreover, a rectangular pocket-shaped
recessed portion 74 is formed further inside the recessed groove 75
with an opening 74a being formed at a left surface. Further, screw
holes 72 penetrate, corresponding to the position of the recessed
portion 74, the first fixing portion 71 from a front surface to a
back surface thereof.
[0051] A second fixing portion 36 having a rectangular plate shape
corresponding to the rectangular pocket shape of the recessed
portion 74 and made of metal such as steel is housed in the
recessed portion 74 through the opening 74a. A screw hole 37
penetrates, e.g., a center portion of the second fixing portion 36,
and when the second fixing portion 36 is housed in the recessed
portion 74, the positions of the screw holes 72 and the screw hole
37 are coincident with each other.
[0052] When the fixing member 70 is attached to the support target
portion 61 (the same applies to the support target portion 62), the
second fixing portion 36 is housed in the recessed portion 74 of
the first fixing portion 71, and the fixing member 70 is completed
(prepared in a complete state in advance).
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 9, a rectangular cutout 66 is formed
on a tip end side of the support target portion 61, and the shape
of an edge portion of the inner periphery of the cutout 66 fits the
shape of the recessed groove 75. The recessed groove 75 engages
with the edge portion of the inner periphery of the cutout 66, so
that the fixing member 70 can be attached to the support target
portion 61. Upon screwing with the screw 38 (see FIG. 6) as
described above, the screw 38 is inserted into the cutout 66. The
position of attachment of the fixing member 70 to the support
target portion 61 is the position of screwing to each of the
machine-chamber-side back plate 23 and the partition plate 26 (the
position of the screw hole at each of the machine-chamber-side back
plate 23 and the partition plate 26). When the housing 20 and the
support target portions 61, 62 are screwed to each other as
described above, the second fixing portion 36 and the support
bracket 51 are insulated from each other by the first fixing
portion 71. Note that the shape of the fixing member 70 is not
limited to the rectangular shape, and may be various shapes. The
same applies to the shape of the recessed groove 75 of the fixing
member 70 and the shape of the second fixing portion 36 (the
recessed portion 74).
[0054] As described above, the fixing members 70 are provided at
multiple spots in a height direction of the support target portions
61, 62. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7D and FIG. 5, the
auxiliary member 39 projecting in the same outward direction as
that of the fixing member 70 laterally extending from the support
target portion 61, 62 is provided between adjacent ones of the
fixing members 70 in the upper-to-lower direction. The auxiliary
member 39 is made of resin or other insulating materials, and is
provided by bonding or other methods. The auxiliary member 39
preferably projects laterally from the support target portion 61,
62 to an extent similar to that of the fixing member 70.
Alternatively, the auxiliary member 39 may form part of the support
target portion 61, 62.
[0055] According to the above-described embodiment, the fixing
member 70 includes the insulating portion (the first fixing portion
71) configured to insulate the support bracket 51 and the housing
20 of the outdoor unit 1 from each other, and the fixing member 70
is the position of fixing to the housing 20. Thus, corrosion of the
support bracket 51 can be prevented.
[0056] The fixing member 70 includes the second fixing portion 36,
and the second fixing portion 36 allows screwing of the support
bracket 51 to the housing 20. Since the second fixing portion 36
does not contact the support bracket 51 even upon screwing,
corrosion of the support bracket 51 due to the second fixing
portion 36 can be prevented.
[0057] Since the fixing member 70 is attached to the cutout 66 of
the support target portion 61, 62, projection of the fixing member
70 from the support target portion 61, 62 can be reduced, and the
structure of attachment of the support bracket 51 to the housing 20
can be compactly formed.
[0058] Since the auxiliary members 39 are provided at the support
target portions 61, 62, a clearance is less formed between adjacent
ones of the fixing members 70. Thus, entrance of air into the
support bracket 51 can be reduced, and the heat exchange efficiency
of the outdoor heat exchanger 8 can be improved.
[0059] [Variation of First Embodiment]
[0060] In the present variation, the same reference numerals are
used to represent, e.g., members common to those of the
above-described first embodiment, and detailed description thereof
will be omitted. FIG. 10A is a front view of the fixing member 70,
FIG. 10B is a left side view of FIG. 10A, FIG. 10C is a right side
view of FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10D is an upper view of FIG. 10A. A
difference of the present variation from the first embodiment is
that the screw hole 72 formed at the first fixing portion 71 does
not penetrate the fixing member 70 and a tip end of the screw 38
(FIG. 6) remains in the middle of the fixing member 70. In an
example of FIGS. 10A to 10D, a tip end portion 72a of the screw
hole 72 remains in the middle of the first fixing portion 71. Note
that the screw hole 72 may remain in the second fixing portion 36
(FIG. 9).
[0061] As described above, the screw hole 72 does not penetrate the
fixing member 70, and the tip end of the screw 38 (FIG. 6) remains
in the fixing member 70. Thus, when the fixing member 70 is screwed
to the housing 20, no iron powder generated from the second fixing
portion 36 (FIG. 9) or the screw 38 (FIG. 6) does not come out of
the fixing member 70. Such iron powder drops onto the support
bracket 51, and causes corrosion of the support bracket 51. Thus,
corrosion of the support bracket 51 can be prevented.
Second Embodiment
[0062] A second embodiment will be described. In the present
embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to represent,
e.g., members common to those of the first embodiment, and detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0063] In an example of FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, portions
61a, 62a of the support target portions 61, 62 are exposed at the
lowermost portions of the fixing members 70. Thus, these portions
61a, 62a contact a bottom portion (the bottom plate 21) of the
housing 20 of the outdoor unit 1, leading to corrosion of the
support bracket 51. For preventing such corrosion, an extra member
configured to prevent corrosion is necessary.
[0064] For this reason, a fixing member 80 illustrated in FIGS. 11A
to 11D is used for a bottom portion of a support bracket 51 instead
of the fixing member 70. FIG. 11A is a front view of the fixing
member 80, FIG. 11B is a left side view of FIG. 11A, FIG. 11C is a
right side view of FIG. 11A, and FIG. 11D is an upper view of FIG.
11A.
[0065] The fixing member 80 is a rectangular plate-shaped member as
viewed from the front, and includes a first fixing portion 81
functioning as an insulating portion made of an insulating material
such as resin. Thick recessed grooves 85 having a recessed shape at
center portions are formed at upper and right surfaces of the first
fixing portion 81. Moreover, a rectangular pocket-shaped recessed
portion 84 is formed further inside the recessed groove 85 with an
opening 84a being formed at a left surface. Further, screw holes 82
penetrate, corresponding to the position of the recessed portion
84, the first fixing portion 81 from a front surface to a back
surface thereof (does not necessarily penetrate as in the variation
of the first embodiment).
[0066] A second fixing portion 36 (FIG. 9) having a rectangular
plate shape corresponding to the rectangular pocket shape of the
recessed portion 84 and made of metal such as steel is housed in
the recessed portion 84 through the opening 84a. A screw hole 37
(FIG. 9) penetrates, e.g., a center portion of the second fixing
portion 36, and when the second fixing portion 36 is housed in the
recessed portion 84, the positions of the screw holes 82 and the
screw hole 37 (FIG. 9) are coincident with each other.
[0067] A difference of the fixing member 80 from the fixing member
70 is that no recessed groove 85 is formed at a lower portion of
the first fixing portion 81 and the entirety of a bottom portion of
the fixing member 80 forms a bottom portion 83 forming part of the
first fixing portion 81.
[0068] When the fixing member 80 is attached to a support target
portion 61 (the same applies to a support target portion 62), the
second fixing portion 36 is housed in the recessed portion 84 of
the first fixing portion 81, and the fixing member 80 is completed
(prepared in a complete state in advance).
[0069] A rectangular cutout 67 is formed at the lowermost end
portion of the support target portion 61, 62 as illustrated in FIG.
12, and the shape of an edge portion of the inner periphery of the
cutout 67 fits the shape of the recessed groove 85. Thus, the
recessed groove 85 engages with the edge portion of the inner
periphery of the cutout 67, so that the fixing member 80 can be
attached to the support target portion 61, 62. Upon screwing with a
screw 38 (FIG. 6) as in the case of the above-described fixing
member 70, the screw 38 is inserted into the cutout 67.
[0070] FIG. 13A is a plan view of a lower end portion of the
support bracket 51 when the fixing member 80 is attached to the
support target portion 61, 62, and FIG. 13B is a right side view of
FIG. 13A.
[0071] As clearly seen from FIGS. 13A and 13B, the lower end
portion of the support bracket contacts a housing 20 of an outdoor
unit 1 through the bottom portion 83 of the fixing member 80, and
therefore, corrosion of the support bracket 51 is less caused.
[0072] In this state, the height of the support bracket 51 is
increased by the bottom portion 83, and as illustrated in FIG. 13A,
a space 89 is formed below the support bracket 51 to form an air
passage. Thus, e.g., a spacer is preferably provided in the space
89 to close the space 89, thereby enhancing the heat exchange
efficiency of an outdoor heat exchanger 8.
Third Embodiment
[0073] A third embodiment will be described. In the present
embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to represent,
e.g., members common to those of the first embodiment, and detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0074] The present embodiment is different from the first and
second embodiments in that a single fixing member 90 used instead
of the fixing member 70 is attached to lower end portions of both
of a support target portion 61 and a support target portion 62.
[0075] FIG. 14A is a plan view of a lower end portion of a support
bracket 51 when the fixing member 90 is attached to the support
target portions 61, 62, and FIG. 14B is a right side view of FIG.
14A.
[0076] FIG. 15A is a front view of a first fixing portion 91 of the
fixing member 90, FIG. 15B is a left side view of FIG. 15A, and
FIG. 15C is an upper view of FIG. 15A. The fixing member 90 has the
first fixing portion 91 functioning as an insulating portion. The
first fixing portion 91 has a bottom plate 96 having a width from
the support target portion 61 to the support target portion 62, the
width including later-described housing portions 94. Side plates 97
each stand from both side portions of the bottom plate 96. The
housing portion 94 configured to house a second fixing portion 36
(FIG. 12) is formed on an inner surface of the side plate 97. The
outer upper shape of a L-shaped raised member 95 (protruding inward
of the first fixing portion 91) forming the housing portion 94 and
protruding inward of the fixing member 90 from the side plate 97
fits an edge portion of a cutout 67 (FIG. 12). The housing portion
94 is not in a pocket shape, and no wall is present inside the
fixing member 90. An inlet 94a serves as an inlet for housing the
second fixing portion 36 (FIG. 12). The second fixing portion 36
(FIG. 12) is supported at the inner periphery of the raised member
95. A screw hole 92 is formed at each side plate 97. The position
of the screw hole 92 is coincident with the position of a screw
hole 37 when the second fixing portion 36 (FIG. 12) is housed in
the housing portion 94 (a state in which the second fixing portion
36 is housed in the housing portion 94 is not shown in the figure).
Note that the screw hole 92 may be present to the middle of the
second fixing portion 36 and does not necessarily penetrate the
first fixing portion 91 and the second fixing portion 36. Note that
a screw 38 (FIG. 6) passes through the cutout 67, and does not
contact the support target portion 61, 62.
[0077] The second fixing portion 36 (FIG. 12) is attached to the
first fixing portion 91 as described above, a lower end side of the
support bracket 51 is inserted into the first fixing portion 91,
and the cutout 67(Fig. 12) of the support target portion 61, 62 is
supported by the outer upper shape of the raised member 95. Thus,
the fixing member 90 can be attached to the support bracket 51.
Accordingly, the fixing member 90 covers the entirety of a bottom
surface of the support bracket 51.
[0078] Note that unlike the first and second embodiments, the
fixing member 90 is not configured to sandwich each of the support
target portion 61 and the support target portion 62 from both sides
thereof by the first fixing portion 91, but is configured such that
the side plate 97 projects on the outside of each of the support
target portion 61 and the support target portion 62.
[0079] As described above, the single fixing member 90 is attached
to the lower end portions of both of the support target portion 61
and the support target portion 62, and therefore, an attachment
process can be facilitated.
[0080] Moreover, the bottom plate 96 forming part of the first
fixing portion 91 can contact the housing 20 of the outdoor unit 1,
and therefore, corrosion of the support bracket 51 can be
prevented.
[0081] Further, as compared to the cases of the first and second
embodiments, the area of contact between the bottom surface of the
support bracket 51 and the fixing member 90 is increased, and
therefore, stability upon placement of an outdoor heat exchanger 8
is increased.
[0082] In addition, with the structure of covering the entirety of
the bottom surface of the support bracket 51, a clearance between
the support bracket 51 and the fixing member 90 is eliminated, and
entrance of air into the support bracket 51 can be prevented.
[0083] [Variation of Third Embodiment]
[0084] In the present variation, the same reference numerals are
used to represent, e.g., members common to those of the
above-described third embodiment, and detailed description thereof
will be omitted.
[0085] FIG. 16A is a front view of the first fixing portion 91 of
the fixing member 90, FIG. 16B is a left side view of FIG. 16A, and
FIG. 16C is an upper view of FIG. 16A.
[0086] A difference of the present variation from the third
embodiment is that a planar portion 93 for supporting the entirety
of the bottom surface of the support bracket 51 at an upper surface
of the bottom plate 96 is in the same backwards C-shape as that of
the bottom surface of the support bracket 51 as illustrated in FIG.
16A, and the inside of the planar portion 93 forms an inclined
surface 98 inclined downward to an opening portion (the outside of
the support bracket 51) of the backwards C-shape.
[0087] As described above, the inclined surface 98 inclined
downward to the outside of the support bracket 51 is provided at
the upper surface of the bottom plate 96. Thus, accumulation of
rainwater etc. on the bottom plate 96 can be reduced, and corrosion
of the support bracket 51 can be reduced.
[0088] Note that the present embodiments are not limited to the
above-described embodiments, and include various modifications. For
example, the above-described embodiments are detailed description
for the sake of clear description of the present embodiments, and
are not limited to those including all configurations described
above. Moreover, part of a configuration of a certain embodiment
may be replaced with a configuration of another embodiment, or a
configuration of another embodiment may be added to a configuration
of a certain embodiment. Further, addition/omission/replacement of
other configurations may be made to part of the configuration of
each embodiment.
[0089] For example, two support target portions 61, 62 are provided
at the support bracket 51, but three or more support target
portions or a single support target portion may be provided.
[0090] Screwing is used for attachment of the support bracket 51 to
the housing 20 of the outdoor unit 1, but other attachment methods
may be used.
[0091] Moreover, the auxiliary members 39 may be provided on both
sides of the support target portion 61, 62.
[0092] The foregoing detailed description has been presented for
the purposes of illustration and description. Many modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject matter
described herein to the precise form disclosed. Although the
subject matter has been described in language specific to
structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be
understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts
described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described
above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *