Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner outdoor unit in which an operating-valve
bracket is installed on a baseplate of the outdoor unit.
{Background Art}
[0002] In an air conditioner outdoor unit, an operating-valve bracket that is provided with
operating valves to which refrigerant pipes are connected is installed inside a machine
chamber in the outdoor unit so as to be exposed to the outside from a side panel.
As disclosed in PTL 1, this operating-valve bracket is fixed to a flange portion that
is provided on the periphery of a baseplate of the outdoor unit so as to extend vertically
upward. Furthermore, in order to allow access to the operating valves from the outside,
the operating-valve bracket is installed such that the operating valves are exposed
to the outside from the side panel.
[0003] As the operating valves, two valves, specifically, a gas-side operating valve and
a liquid-side operating valve, are vertically arranged in a slanted direction, and
a gas-side refrigerant pipe and a liquid-side refrigerant pipe that are connected
to an indoor unit can be connected to these operating valves. The operating valves
and the outer surface of the operating-valve bracket are covered with a service cover
(also referred to as side cover) that is detachably attached to a side panel of the
outdoor unit.
Citation List}
Patent Literature
[0004] {PTL 1} Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No.
H10-259932
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0005] In the above-described outdoor unit, the gas-side operating valve and the liquid-side
operating valve are provided on the operating-valve bracket. When a low-pressure refrigerant
is circulated through the operating valves, the operating-valve bracket is cooled
together with the operating valves, and dew condensation water is produced on the
surfaces thereof. The dew condensation water flows downward along the surface of the
operating-valve bracket and, in some cases, splashes or leaks out from a portion where
the operating-valve bracket is installed to the outside of the baseplate beyond the
flange portion provided at the periphery of the base plate, whereas the dew condensation
water flowing downward should normally be recovered in the baseplate with the flange
portion which extends upward at the periphery thereof.
[0006] This occurs because the side surface of the operating-valve bracket is fixed by being
fastened to the inner surface of the flange portion by means of screws, and thus the
dew condensation water flowing downward on the surface of the operating-valve bracket
flows out beyond the flange portion. When a large quantity of dew condensation water
is produced, the quantity of dew condensation water splashing or leaking out is increased,
which may lead to trouble depending on how or where the outdoor unit is installed.
[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object
thereof is to provide an air conditioner outdoor unit capable of reliably recovering,
in the baseplate, dew condensation water that is produced through dew condensation
on the surfaces of the operating-valve bracket and on the operating valves and that
flows downward on the surfaces.
Solution to Problem
[0008] In order to make an improvement in the abovementined circumstances, the air conditioner
outdoor unit of the present invention employs the following solutions.
Specifically, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides an air conditioner
outdoor unit in which a flange portion is provided on a periphery of a baseplate so
as to extend vertically upward from the periphery, and an operating-valve bracket
is fixedly attached to the flange portion, the air conditioner outdoor unit comprising
a pair of dish-shaped projection portions provided on one of a side surface of the
operating-valve bracket at fastening sites which are fixed to the flange portion and
a side surface of the flange portion at fastening sites which are fixed to the operating-valve
bracket so that the dish-shaped projection portions project toward the side surface
of the other by a certain dimension, the pair of dish-shaped projection portions having
a predetermined distance therebetween, wherein the operating-valve bracket is fixed
to the flange portion such that a space is formed between the side surface of the
operating-valve bracket and the side surface of the flange portion by the dish-shaped
projection portions.
[0009] According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioner outdoor
unit in which the operating-valve bracket is fixed to the flange portion provided
on the periphery of the baseplate, the pair of dish-shaped projection portions, having
the predetermined space therebetween, are provided on one of the side surface of the
operating-valve bracket at fastening sites which are to be fixed to the flange portion
and the side surface of the flange portion at fastening sites which are to be fixed
to the operating-valve bracket, so as to project toward the side surface of the other
by a fixed dimension, and the operating-valve bracket is fixed to the flange portion
such that the certain space is formed between the side surface of the operating-valve
bracket and the side surface of the flange portion by the dish-shaped projection portions.
Thus, the operating-valve bracket can be fixed to the flange portion on the periphery
of the baseplate, such that a space corresponding to the projection dimension of the
dish-shaped projection portions is formed between the side surface of the flange portion
on the periphery of the baseplate and the side surface of the operating-valve bracket,
which is fixed to the flange portion. Then, dew condensation water that is produced
through dew condensation occurring on the surface of the operating-valve bracket when
the operating-valve bracket is cooled by the operating valves and that drips down
can be recovered in the baseplate via that space. Therefore, the dew condensation
water produced through dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve bracket
can be reliably recovered in the baseplate and discharged, thus making it possible
to prevent a situation in which the dew condensation water splashes or leaks out to
the outside from the side surface on which the operating valves are provided.
[0010] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-described
air conditioner outdoor unit, the pair of dish-shaped projection portions are provided
at lower portions on an outer surface of the operating-valve bracket so as to have
the predetermined distance therebetween.
[0011] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pair of dish-shaped
projection portions, having a predetermined distance therebetween, are provided at
lower portions on the outer surface of the operating-valve bracket. Thus, by fixing
the operating-valve bracket, which is provided with the pair of dish-shaped projection
portions projecting from the outer surface thereof toward the flange portion by the
certain dimension at the fastening sites which are to be fixed to the flange portion,
to the flange portion via the dish-shaped projection portions, the space corresponding
to the projection dimension of the dish-shaped projection portions can be formed between
the side surfaces of the flange portion and the operating-valve bracket. Therefore,
dew condensation water produced through dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve
bracket can be recovered in the baseplate via the space, thus making it possible to
reliably prevent the dew condensation water from splashing or leaking out to the outside
from the side surface on which the operating valves are provided.
[0012] Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in one of the
above-described air conditioner outdoor units, a portion of the flange portion between
the pair of fastening sites at which the operating-valve bracket is fastened bulges
outward by a certain dimension.
[0013] According to the third aspect of the present invention, a portion of the flange portion
between the pair of fastening sites at which the operating-valve bracket is fastened
bulges outward by the certain dimension. Thus, the space formed between the side surface
of the flange portion and the side surface of the operating-valve bracket can be made
to correspond to the sum of the projection dimension of the dish-shaped projection
portions and the outward-bulging dimension of the flange portion. Therefore, the space
for guiding dew condensation water produced through dew condensation on the surface
of the operating-valve bracket to the inside of the baseplate can be made even larger,
thus facilitating the recovery of the dew condensation water in the baseplate.
[0014] Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-described
air conditioner outdoor unit, the pair of dish-shaped projection portions are provided
on an inner surface of the flange portion so as to have the predetermined distance
therebetween.
[0015] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the pair of dish-shaped
projection portions, having the predetermined distance therebetween, are provided
on the inner surface of the flange portion. Thus, the pair of dish-shaped projection
portions are provided at the fastening sites on the flange portion so as to project
from the inner surface thereof toward the operating-valve bracket by the certain dimension,
and the operating-valve bracket is fixed to the flange portion via the dish-shaped
projection portions, thereby making it possible to form a space corresponding to the
projection dimension of the dish-shaped projection portions, between the side surfaces
of the flange portion and the operating-valve bracket. Therefore, dew condensation
water produced through dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve bracket
can be recovered in the baseplate via the space, and the dew condensation water can
be reliably prevented from splashing or leaking out to the outside of the side surface
on which the operating valves are provided.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to fix the operating-valve bracket
to the flange portion on the periphery of the baseplate, forming a space corresponding
to the projection dimension of the dish-shaped projection portions, between the side
surface of the flange portion on the periphery of the baseplate and the side surface
of the operating-valve bracket fixed to the flange portion. Furthermore, dew condensation
water that is produced through dew condensation occurring on the surface of the operating-valve
bracket when the operating-valve bracket is cooled by operating valves and that drips
down can be recovered in the baseplate via the space. Thus, the dew condensation water
produced through dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve bracket can
be reliably recovered in the baseplate and discharged, thus making it possible to
prevent a situation in which the dew condensation water splashes or leaks out to the
outside from the side surface on which the operating valves are provided.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0017]
{Fig. 1} Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an air conditioner outdoor unit with
a service panel removed from the outdoor unit according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
{Fig. 2} Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an operating-valve
bracket has been installed on a baseplate of the outdoor unit shown in Fig. 1.
{Fig. 3} Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the operating-valve bracket shown in Fig.
2.
{Fig. 4} Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an installation portion where
the operating-valve bracket shown in Fig. 2 is installed.
{Fig. 5} Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of an operating-valve bracket and a
flange portion on a baseplate according to another embodiment of the present invention.
{Description of Embodiments}
[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the
drawings.
[First Embodiment]
[0019] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference
to Figs. 1 to 4.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an air conditioner outdoor unit with a service
panel removed from the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an operating-valve bracket has
been installed on a baseplate. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the operating-valve
bracket. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an installation portion where
the operating-valve bracket is installed.
An air conditioner outdoor unit 1 has a chassis 2 comprising a baseplate 3 that is
provided with a plurality of mounting legs 4 on a bottom surface thereof, a front
panel 5 that is provided with an outlet grille 6 and that is installed on the baseplate
3, right and left side panels 7, 8, and a top panel 9.
[0020] The rear side of the chassis 2 is almost wholly open, and a plate-fin-tube outdoor
heat exchanger is installed in alignment with the opening. As is known, the inside
of the chassis 2 is separated into a heat exchanger chamber and a machine chamber
by a partition plate. The heat exchanger chamber includes the above-described outdoor
heat exchanger and an air-blowing fan that makes outside air circulate through the
outdoor heat exchanger and that blows it out to the front outside from the outlet
grille 6. The machine chamber includes a compressor, a four-way switching valve, a
control box, an operating-valve bracket 10, and a terminal block 11 to which a power
line and a communication line are connected.
[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, the operating-valve bracket 10 and the terminal block 11 are
installed so as to be exposed to the outside from the side panel 7, and the outer
surface side thereof is covered with a service cover (also referred to as side cover)
(not shown) that is detachably attached to the side panel 7 of the outdoor unit 1.
[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, the baseplate 3 of the chassis 2 is a horizontally elongated
rectangular steel plate, portions for installing the outdoor heat exchanger, the air-blowing
fan, and the compressor are formed thereon, and a flange portion 3A that extends vertically
upward and has a predetermined height is formed on the periphery thereof. The operating-valve
bracket 10 is fixed to a portion of the flange portion 3A located at the right side
of the baseplate 3, via fastening means, such as screws.
[0023] The operating-valve bracket 10 is a vertically elongated rectangular steel part.
Two operating valves 12 and 13, specifically, a gas-side operating valve (operating
valve) 12 and a liquid-side operating valve (operating valve) 13, to which a gas-side
refrigerant pipe and a liquid-side refrigerant pipe that are connected to an indoor
unit can be respectively connected. The valves are fixed to the operating-valve bracket
10 by means of screws 14 so that the operating valves 12 and 13 are vertically arranged
in a slanted direction. The gas-side operating valve 12 and the liquid-side operating
valve 13 are provided with refrigerant connection pipes 16 and 15 to be connected
to components of the outdoor unit 1.
[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to fasten the operating-valve bracket 10
to the flange portion 3A of the baseplate 3 by means of screws, a pair of dish-shaped
projection portions 17 that are provided with a predetermined distance therebetween
and that project toward the flange portion 3A by a certain dimension are formed integrally
with the operating-valve bracket 10, and the projection portions are provided at fastening
sites to be fixed to the flange portion 3A, which are located at right and left lower
portions on the outer surface of the operating-valve bracket 10. The pair of dish-shaped
projection portions 17 have fastening holes 18 for fastening screws.
[0025] In this way, by providing the pair of dish-shaped projection portions 17, which project
toward the flange portion 3A by the certain dimension, at the fastening sites on the
operating-valve bracket 10 which are to be fixed to the flange portion 3A, and by
fixing the operating-valve bracket 10 to an inner surface of the flange portion 3A,
as shown in Fig. 4, a space S having the certain dimension is formed between an outer
surface of the operating-valve bracket 10 and the inner surface of the flange portion
3A. Thus, dew condensation water that is produced through dew condensation occurring
on the surfaces of the operating-valve bracket 10, the gas-side operating valve 12,
and the liquid-side operating valve 13 and that flows downward along the surface of
the operating-valve bracket 10 can be recovered in the baseplate 3 via the space S.
[0026] With the above-described structure, the following advantageous effects are achieved
according to this embodiment.
When the air conditioner is operated, and thus a low-pressure refrigerant circulates
through the gas-side operating valve 12 and the liquid-side operating valve 13, the
operating valves 12, 13 and the operating-valve bracket 10 on which the operating
valves 12, 13 are provided are cooled, and water contained in the air may be changed
to dew condensation water on the surfaces thereof. Although the dew condensation water
flows downward along the surface of the operating-valve bracket 10, it is necessary
to recover it completely in the baseplate 3.
[0027] Because the outdoor unit 1 is usually located outside, even if drainage water produced
in the outdoor unit 1 is directly discharged to the outside, this causes little problem.
However, depending on how or where the outdoor unit 1 is located, for example, in
a case in which the outdoor unit 1 is suspended from a balcony, in some cases it is
necessary to avoid a situation in which drainage water splashes or leaks out to the
outside from unspecified locations. In such cases, a discharge hole is generally provided
at a specified location on the baseplate 3, and drainage water is discharged therefrom.
[0028] However, in this embodiment, the space S corresponding to the projection dimension
of the dish-shaped projection portions 17, which are provided on the operating-valve
bracket 10, can be formed between the side surface of the flange portion 3A on the
periphery of the baseplate 3 and the side surface of the operating-valve bracket 10
to be fixed to the flange portion 3A, and the operating-valve bracket 10 can be fixed
to the flange portion 3A on the periphery of the baseplate 3. Thus, dew condensation
water that is produced through dew condensation occurring on the surface of the operating-valve
bracket 10 when the operating-valve bracket 10 is cooled by the gas-side operating
valve 12 and the liquid-side operating valve 13 and that drips down can be recovered
in the baseplate 3 via the space S. Therefore, dew condensation water produced through
dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve bracket 10 can be reliably
recovered in the baseplate 3, thus making it possible to prevent a situation in which
the dew condensation water splashes or leaks out to the outside from the side surface
on which the operating valves 12, 13 are provided.
[0029] Furthermore, the pair of the dish-shaped projection portions 17, having a predetermined
distance therebetween, are provided at lower portions on the outer surface of the
operating-valve bracket 10. Thus, by fixing the operating-valve bracket 10, which
is provided with the pair of dish-shaped projection portions 17 projecting from the
outer surface thereof toward the flange portion 3A by a certain dimension at the fastening
sites which are to be fixed to the flange portion 3A, to the flange portion 3A via
the dish-shaped projection portions 17, the space S corresponding to the projection
dimension of the dish-shaped projection portions 17 can be formed between the side
surfaces of the flange portion 3A and the operating-valve bracket 10. Therefore, dew
condensation water produced through dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve
bracket 10 can be recovered in the baseplate 3 via the space S, and the dew condensation
water can be reliably prevented from splashing or leaking out to the outside from
the side surface on which the operating valves 12, 13 are provided.
Other Embodiments
[0030] Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
- (1) In the above-described first embodiment, the pair of dish-shaped projection portions
17, having a predetermined distance therebetween, are provided at the lower portions
on the outer surface of the operating-valve bracket 10; however, a pair of similar
dish-shaped projection portions that project toward the operating-valve bracket 10
by a certain dimension may be provided at the fastening sites on the flange portion
3A of the baseplate 3 which are to be fixed to the operating-valve bracket 10.
[0031] With this structure, by fixing the operating-valve bracket 10 to the flange portion
3A via these dish-shaped projection portions, the space S corresponding to the projection
dimension of the dish-shaped projection portions can be formed between the side surfaces
of the flange portion 3A and the operating-valve bracket 10. Therefore, dew condensation
water produced through dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve bracket
10 can be recovered in the baseplate 3 via the space S, and the dew condensation water
can be prevented from splashing or leaking out to the outside from the side surface
on which the operating valves 12, 13 are provided.
(2) In the above-described embodiments, although the dish-shaped projection portions
17 are provided at the fastening sites on the operating-valve bracket 10 or on the
flange portion 3A, in addition to this, as shown in Fig. 5, a bulging portion 19 that
bulges outward by a certain dimension may be provided at a place between the pair
of fastening sites on the flange portion 3A which are to be fixed to the operating-valve
bracket 10, to increase the space S.
[0032] With this structure, the space S formed between the side surface of the flange portion
3A and the side surface of the operating-valve bracket 10 can be made to correspond
to the sum of the projection dimension of the dish-shaped projection portions 17 and
the outward-bulging dimension of the flange portion 3A. Thus, the space S for guiding
dew condensation water produced through dew condensation on the surface of the operating-valve
bracket 10 to the inside of the baseplate 3 can be made even larger, thus facilitating
the recovery of the dew condensation water in the baseplate 3.
[0033] Note that the present invention is not limited to the inventions according to the
above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from
the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiments,
although a description has been given of an example in which the operating-valve bracket
10 is fixed to the flange portion 3A with screws, screws are not necessarily used
for fixing the bracket, and, another means, for example, welding, can be used.
Furthermore, the shape of the operating-valve bracket 10 and the specific structure
of the gas-side operating valve 12 and the liquid-side operating valve 13 are not
limited to those of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can
be adopted.
Reference Signs List
[0034]
- 1
- outdoor unit
- 3
- baseplate
- 3A
- flange portion
- 7
- side panel
- 10
- operating-valve bracket
- 12
- gas-side operating valve (operating valve)
- 13
- liquid-side operating valve (operating valve)
- 17
- dish-shaped projection portions
- 18
- fastening holes
- 19
- bulging portion
- S
- space