Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor unit which is suitable for use in an
air conditioner and suppresses noise, and an outdoor unit provided with the compressor
unit.
Background Art
[0002] In an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a compressor which compresses a refrigerant
is provided on a bottom plate. In the compressor, a compression unit such as a scroll
part is driven by an electric motor, and a compressed refrigerant is discharged. In
this manner, the compressor becomes a vibration source and also becomes a noise source.
[0003] In order to suppress noise which is generated from the compressor, a noise insulation
cover wound around the compressor is known (refer to PTLs 1 and 2).
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004]
[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 6-18825
[PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 60-49280
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0005] However, although the noise insulation cover described in each of the above patent
documents covers the compressor, leakage of noise from a lower end of the noise insulation
cover is not taken into account. For example, in a case where protrusions and recesses
are formed on the surface of the bottom plate on which the compressor is installed,
a minute gap is generated at the lower end of the noise insulation cover due to the
difference in height between the protrusion and the recess, and thus the noise leaks.
As a result of extensive studies by the inventors of the present invention, it was
found that if the rotational frequency of the compressor is increased so as to be
able to reach, for example, a rotational frequency exceeding 130 rps and up to 200
rps, the noise which is leaked from such a minute gap also cannot be ignored.
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances and has an object
to provide a compressor unit provided with a noise insulation cover capable of suppressing
noise which is generated from a compressor, and an outdoor unit provided with the
compressor unit. Solution to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the above problem, a compressor unit and an outdoor unit provided
with the compressor unit according to the present invention adopt the following means.
[0008] That is, a compressor unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes
a compressor which is installed on a bottom plate having protrusions and recesses
on a surface thereof and compresses a refrigerant, and a noise insulation cover which
covers an entire circumference of a side portion of the compressor and is disposed
in a state where an entire circumference thereof is in contact with the bottom plate
in a bottom side shape to match the protrusions and recesses.
[0009] The noise insulation cover covers the entire circumference of the side portion of
the compressor, thereby suppressing noise which is generated from the compressor.
The bottom side of the noise insulation cover is in contact with the bottom plate
at the entire circumference thereof and is shaped to match the protrusions and recesses
of the surface of the bottom plate. In this way, a gap which is generated between
the bottom side of the noise insulation cover and the bottom plate having the protrusions
and recesses can be reduced, and therefore, it is possible to suppress the leakage
of the noise from the bottom side of the noise insulation cover.
[0010] Further, the compressor unit according to the above aspect of the present invention
further includes a noise insulation cap which covers an upper portion of the compressor,
and the noise insulation cap is mounted in a state of being fitted to an entire circumference
of an upper end of the noise insulation cover.
[0011] The noise insulation cap which covers the upper portion of the compressor is mounted
in a state of being fitted to the entire circumference of the upper end of the noise
insulation cover. In this way, a gap which is generated between the noise insulation
cap and the upper portion of the noise insulation cover can be reduced, and therefore,
the leakage of the noise can be suppressed.
[0012] Further, in the compressor unit according to the above aspect of the present invention,
the noise insulation cover is disposed in a state where an entire circumference of
an upper side of the noise insulation cover is in contact with a lower surface of
a wall portion provided above the compressor.
[0013] In a case where a wall portion such as a drain pan is provided above the compressor,
the noise insulation cover is disposed in a state where the entire circumference of
the upper side of the noise insulation cover is in contact with the lower surface
of the wall portion. In this way, a gap which is generated between the wall portion
and the upper side of the noise insulation cover can be reduced, and therefore, the
leakage of the noise can be suppressed.
[0014] Further, in the compressor unit according to the above aspect of the present invention,
a guide part for guiding the upper side of the noise insulation cover is provided
on the lower surface of the wall portion.
[0015] Due to the guide part, the upper side of the noise insulation cover is positioned
and it is possible to prevent the noise insulation cover from collapsing or wobbling
to secure the contact with the lower surface of the wall portion such as the drain
pan.
[0016] Further, an outdoor unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes
the compressor unit according to any one of the above aspects, and a housing which
accommodates the compressor unit.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0017] Since the bottom side of the noise insulation cover is shaped to match the protrusions
and recesses of the surface of the bottom plate so as to reduce a gap, a gap which
is generated between the bottom side of the noise insulation cover and the bottom
plate having the protrusions and recesses can be reduced, so that the leakage of the
noise from the bottom side of the noise insulation cover can be suppressed.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0018]
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a compressor unit (without a noise insulation cover)
according to the embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a compressor unit in which a noise insulation cover
and a noise insulation cap are provided at the compressor of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the noise insulation cover.
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the noise insulation cover in an expanded state.
Fig. 6 is a side view showing a method of mounting the noise insulation cap on the
noise insulation cover.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modification example of the noise insulation
cover.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing another modification example of the noise insulation
cover. Description of Embodiments
[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference
to the drawings.
[0020] Fig. 1 shows a refrigerant circuit diagram of a multi-type air-conditioning system
in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to a single outdoor unit. A plurality
of outdoor units may be used.
[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, the multi-type air-conditioning system 1 has a configuration
in which a plurality of indoor units 3A and 3B are connected in parallel to a single
outdoor unit 2. The plurality of indoor units 3A and 3B are connected in parallel
to each other through a branching unit 6 between a gas-side pipe 4 and a liquid-side
pipe 5 which are connected to the outdoor unit 2.
[0022] The outdoor unit 2 includes an inverter-driven compressor 10 which compresses a refrigerant,
a four-way switching valve 12 which switches a circulation direction of the refrigerant,
an outdoor heat exchanger 13 which performs heat exchange between the refrigerant
and the outside air, a supercooling coil 14 configured integrally with the outdoor
heat exchanger 13, an outdoor expansion valve (EEVH) 15, a receiver 16 which stores
a liquid refrigerant, a supercooling heat exchanger 17 which applies supercooling
to the liquid refrigerant, a supercooling expansion valve (EEVSC) 18 which controls
the amount of the refrigerant which is diverted to the supercooling heat exchanger
17, an accumulator 19 which separates a liquid component from a refrigerant gas which
is suctioned into the compressor 10, and causes only a gas component to be suctioned
to the compressor 10 side, a gas-side operation valve 20, and a liquid-side operation
valve 21.
[0023] The compressor 10 is made to be rotatable at a rotational frequency exceeding 130
rps and up to 200 rps. An oil separator 26 is connected to the discharge side of the
compressor 10 through a discharge pipe 25. In the oil separator 26, mist-like lubricating
oil (oil) in a compressed refrigerant is separated from the refrigerant. The refrigerant
from which the mist-like lubricating oil is separated in the oil separator 26 is led
to the four-way switching valve 12. The lubricating oil separated in the oil separator
26 and stored in the oil separator 26 is returned to the low-pressure side of the
compressor 10 through an oil return pipe 27.
[0024] An electromagnetic valve 28 and a capillary part 29 are provided in the oil return
pipe 27. The opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 28 is controlled by
a control unit (not shown), and thus the amount of oil flowing through the oil return
pipe 27 is adjusted. The capillary part 29 is used as a fixed throttle and reduces
the pressure of the lubricating oil passing therethrough.
[0025] The above-described respective devices on the outdoor unit 2 side are sequentially
connected through a refrigerant pipe 22 to configure a known outdoor-side refrigerant
circuit 23. Further, the outdoor unit 2 is provided with an outdoor fan 24 which blows
the outside air to the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
[0026] The gas-side pipe 4 and the liquid-side pipe 5 are refrigerant pipes which are connected
to the gas-side operation valve 20 and the liquid-side operation valve 21 of the outdoor
unit 2, and pipe lengths thereof are appropriately set according to the distance between
the outdoor unit 2 and the plurality of indoor units 3A and 3B which are connected
to the outdoor unit 2, at the time of installation construction on site. A plurality
of branching units 6 are provided in the middle of the gas-side pipe 4 and the liquid-side
pipe 5, and an appropriate number of indoor units 3A and 3B are connected through
the branching units 6. In this way, a sealed one refrigeration cycle (refrigerant
circuit) 7 is configured.
[0027] Each of the indoor units 3A and 3B has an indoor heat exchanger 30 which cools or
heats indoor air through heat exchange between the indoor air and the refrigerant
to provide it for indoor air conditioning, an indoor expansion valve (EEVC) 31, an
indoor fan 32 which circulates the indoor air through the indoor heat exchanger 30,
and an indoor controller 33, and the indoor units 3A and 3B are connected to the branching
units 6 through branch gas-side pipes 4A and 4B and branch liquid-side pipes 5A and
5B on the indoor side.
[0028] In the multi-type air-conditioning system 1 described above, a cooling operation
is performed as follows.
[0029] The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed and discharged
by the compressor 10 is circulated to the outdoor heat exchanger 13 side by the four-way
switching valve 12 and is subjected to heat exchange with the outside air which is
blown by the outdoor fan 24 in the outdoor heat exchanger 13, thereby being condensed
and liquefied. The liquid refrigerant is further cooled by the supercooling coil 14,
then passes through the outdoor expansion valve 15, and is temporarily stored in the
receiver 16.
[0030] The liquid refrigerant having a circulation amount adjusted by the receiver 16 is
partially diverted from a liquid refrigerant pipe in the course of flowing on the
liquid refrigerant pipe side via the supercooling heat exchanger 17, and is subjected
to heat exchange with the refrigerant adiabatically expanded in the supercooling expansion
valve 18, whereby the degree of supercooling is applied thereto. This liquid refrigerant
is led from the outdoor unit 2 to the liquid-side pipe 5 via the liquid-side operation
valve 21 and diverted to the branch liquid-side pipes 5A and 5B of the indoor units
3A and 3B through the branching units 6.
[0031] The liquid refrigerants diverted to the branch liquid-side pipes 5A and 5B flow into
the respective indoor units 3A and 3B, are adiabatically expanded in the indoor expansion
valves 31, and flow into the indoor heat exchangers 30 as gas-liquid two-phase flows.
In the indoor heat exchanger 30, the indoor air which is circulated by the indoor
fan 32 is subjected to heat exchange with the refrigerant to be cooled and is provided
for the cooling of the indoor. On the other hand, the refrigerant is gasified, reaches
the branching unit 6 via each of the branch gas-side pipes 4A and 4B, and joins the
refrigerant gas from another indoor unit at the gas-side pipe 4.
[0032] The refrigerant gas which has joined at the gas-side pipe 4 returns to the outdoor
unit 2 again, passes through the gas-side operation valve 20 and the four-way switching
valve 12, joins the refrigerant gas from the supercooling heat exchanger 17, and is
then introduced into the accumulator 19. In the accumulator 19, the liquid component
contained in the refrigerant gas is separated, and only the gas component is suctioned
into the compressor 10. This refrigerant is compressed again in the compressor 10,
and the cooling operation is performed by repeating the above cycle.
[0033] On the other hand, a heating operation is performed as follows.
[0034] The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed and discharged
by the compressor 10 is circulated to the gas-side operation valve 20 side through
the four-way switching valve 12. The high-pressure gas refrigerant is led out from
the outdoor unit 2 via the gas-side operation valve 20 and the gas-side pipe 4 and
is introduced into the plurality of indoor units 3A and 3B via the branching units
6 and the branch gas-side pipes 4A and 4B on the indoor side.
[0035] The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas introduced into each of the
indoor units 3A and 3B is subjected to heat exchange with the indoor air which is
circulated through the indoor fan 32 in the indoor heat exchangers 30, and the indoor
air heated in this way is blown into the room to be provided for heating. On the other
hand, the refrigerant condensed and liquefied in the indoor heat exchanger 30 reaches
the branching unit 6 via the indoor expansion valve 31 and each of the branch liquid-side
pipes 5A and 5B, joins the refrigerant from another indoor unit, and returns to the
outdoor unit 2 via the liquid-side pipe 5. During the heating, in each of the indoor
units 3A and 3B, the degree of opening of the indoor expansion valve 31 is controlled
through the indoor controller 33 such that the refrigerant outlet temperature of the
indoor heat exchanger 30 functioning as a condenser or the refrigerant supercooling
degree reaches a control target value.
[0036] The refrigerant which has returned to the outdoor unit 2 reaches the supercooling
heat exchanger 17 via the liquid-side operation valve 21, is supercooled, similar
to the case of the cooling, and then flows into the receiver 16 to be temporarily
stored therein, whereby the circulation amount is adjusted. This liquid refrigerant
is supplied to the outdoor expansion valve 15 to be adiabatically expanded, and then
flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 13 via the supercooling coil 14.
[0037] In the outdoor heat exchanger 13, the outside air which is blown from the outdoor
fan 24 and the refrigerant perform heat exchange, and thus the refrigerant absorbs
heat from the outside air to be evaporated and gasified. This refrigerant passes through
the four-way switching valve 12 from the outdoor heat exchanger 13, joins the refrigerant
gas from the supercooling heat exchanger 17, is then introduced into the accumulator
19. In the accumulator 19, the liquid component contained in the refrigerant gas is
separated, and only the gas component is suctioned into the compressor 10 and compressed
again in the compressor 10. The heating operation is performed by repeating the above
cycle.
<Structure of Compressor unit>
[0038] Fig. 2 shows the compressor 10 installed on a bottom plate 50 in a housing of the
outdoor unit 2. In this drawing, the compressor 10 is mainly shown, and other devices
are not shown.
[0039] The compressor 10 is fixed onto the bottom plate 50 of the outdoor unit 2. The compressor
10 has a substantially cylindrical shape having an axis extending in a vertical direction.
An electric motor (not shown) is accommodated in a lower portion of the compressor
10, and a compression mechanism (not shown) such as a scroll part is stored in an
upper portion. A leg portion 10a is provided at a bottom portion of the compressor
10 and is fixed to the bottom plate 50 by a stud bolt 49 through vibration-proof rubber
48.
[0040] The upstream end of the discharge pipe 25 is connected to a top portion of the compressor
10.
[0041] Fig. 3 shows a state where a noise insulation cover 51 and a noise insulation cap
52 are provided at the compressor 10. Although omitted in Fig. 2, protrusions and
recesses provided on the surface of the bottom plate 50 are shown in Fig. 3. The protrusions
and recesses are formed by press-forming a metal plate, and the shape thereof is determined
in consideration of improvement in the strength of the bottom plate 50 or the drainage
property of the bottom plate 50.
[0042] The noise insulation cover 51 is made of a material having a noise insulation function,
and for example, felt or the like is used. Further, a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plate
may be bonded thereto for shape retention or the like. The noise insulation cover
51 is provided so as to cover the entire circumference of the side portion of the
compressor 10.
[0043] As shown in Fig. 4, the noise insulation cover 51 is fixed in a state where end portions
51a in a circumferential direction are in contact with each other. In this way, the
end portions 51a of the noise insulation cover 51 are connected to each other without
any gap in an up-down direction. For the fixing of the end portions 51a of the noise
insulation cover 51, for example, a magnet is used. By using the magnet, mounting
and dismounting can be performed easily, and thus workability is improved.
[0044] Fig. 5 shows a state where the noise insulation cover 51 is expanded. A bottom side
51b of the noise insulation cover 51 is shaped to have protrusions and recesses. The
protrusions and recesses are shaped to match the protrusions and recesses (refer to
Fig. 3) of the bottom plate 50, and the shape of the bottom side 51b is determined
such that the protrusions and recesses come into in contact with the protrusions and
recesses of the bottom plate 50 without a gap. In this way, the bottom side 51b of
the noise insulation cover 51 comes into contact with the bottom plate 50 having the
protrusions and recesses, over the entire circumference.
[0045] As shown in Fig. 3, the noise insulation cap 52 is made of a material having a noise
insulation function, and for example, felt or the like is used. Further, a PVC (polyvinyl
chloride) plate may be bonded thereto for shape retention or the like. The noise insulation
cap 52 is provided so as to cover the upper portion of the compressor 10. The noise
insulation cap 52 includes a disk-shaped upper portion 52a and a tubular portion 52b
provided over the outer circumference of the upper portion 52a. The noise insulation
cap 52 is fitted such that the outer peripheral surface of the noise insulation cover
51 is in contact with the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of
the tubular portion 52b.
[0046] A cutout portion 52c cut out in an axial direction from an open end is formed in
the tubular portion 52b. The cutout portion 52c is also formed at a position on the
opposite side by 180° when the noise insulation cap 52 is viewed from above. By forming
the cutout portions 52c in this manner, as shown in Fig. 6, it is possible to bend
the noise insulation cap 52 by utilizing the cutout portions 52c when the noise insulation
cap 52 is fitted to the upper end of the noise insulation cover 51. In this way, the
workability when mounting the noise insulation cap 52 on the noise insulation cover
51 is improved.
[0047] According to this embodiment, the following operational effects are exhibited.
[0048] By covering the entire circumference of the side portion of the compressor 10 by
using the noise insulation cover 51, the noise which is generated from the compressor
10 can be suppressed. The bottom side 51b of the noise insulation cover 51 is in contact
with the bottom plate 50 at the entire circumference thereof and is shaped to match
the protrusions and recesses of the surface of the bottom plate 50. In this way, a
gap which is generated between the bottom side 51b of the noise insulation cover 51
and the bottom plate 50 having the protrusions and recesses can be reduced, and therefore,
it is possible to suppress the leakage of the noise from the bottom side 51c of the
noise insulation cover 51.
[0049] The noise insulation cap 52 which covers the upper portion of the compressor 10 is
mounted in a state of being fitted to the entire circumference of the upper end of
the noise insulation cover 51. In this way, a gap which is generated between the noise
insulation cap 52 and the upper portion of the noise insulation cover 51 can be reduced,
and therefore, the leakage of the noise can be suppressed.
[0050] Instead of bringing the end portions 51a of the noise insulation cover 51 into contact
with each other, as described using Fig. 4, a configuration may be made in which the
end portions 51a overlap each other in a thickness direction and hook-and-loop fasteners
such as the Magic tape (registered trademark) are provided over the entirety in the
up-down direction of the overlapping portions so as to fix the overlapping portions
to each other, as shown in Fig. 7. Even with this configuration, the end portions
51a of the noise insulation cover 51 can be connected to each other without a gap.
[0051] Further, as shown in Fig. 8, the noise insulation may be performed only by the noise
insulation cover 51 without using the cap 52. Specifically, the upper portion of the
noise insulation cover 51 is extended upward such that an upper side 51c of the noise
insulation cover 51 comes into contact with the lower surface of a wall portion (for
example, an intermediate drain pan) 53 above the compressor 10 over the entire circumference.
In this modification example, the shape of the upper side 51c is determined in accordance
with the inclined shape of the lower surface of the wall portion 53 which is a drain
pan. In this way, a gap which is generated between the wall portion 53 and the upper
side 51c of the noise insulation cover 51 can be reduced, and therefore, the leakage
of the noise can be suppressed.
[0052] Further, a plurality of guide pieces (guide parts) 55 which are made of sheet metal
and extend downward are provided on the lower surface of the drain pan 53. Each of
the guide pieces 55 is provided so as to guide the inner peripheral surface of the
upper side of the noise insulation cover 51, and a plurality of (for example, three)
guide pieces 55 are provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential
direction. In this way, the noise insulation cover 51 is positioned, and it is possible
to prevent the noise insulation cover 51 from collapsing or wobbling and to secure
the contact with the lower surface of the drain pan 53.
[0053] Instead of the guide piece 55 made of sheet metal, the lower surface of the drain
pan 53 may be press-formed so as to protrude downward such that the protruding portion
is used as the guide part of the noise insulation cover 51.
[0054] Further, in the embodiment described above, the compressor 10 rotatable at a rotational
frequency exceeding 130 rps and up to 200 rps has been described. However, the present
invention is not limited thereto, and the rotational frequency of the compressor may
be 130 rps or less, or may exceed 200 rps.
Reference Signs List
[0055]
- 1:
- multi-type air-conditioning system
- 2:
- outdoor unit
- 3A, 3B:
- indoor unit
- 10:
- compressor
- 10a:
- leg portion
- 13:
- outdoor heat exchanger
- 25:
- discharge pipe
- 48:
- vibration-proof rubber
- 49:
- stud bolt
- 50:
- bottom plate
- 51:
- noise insulation cover
- 51a:
- end portion
- 51b:
- bottom side
- 52:
- noise insulation cap
- 52a:
- upper portion
- 52b:
- tubular portion
- 52c:
- cutout portion
- 55:
- guide piece (guide part)
Amended claims under Art. 19.1 PCT
1. A compressor unit comprising:
a compressor which is installed on a bottom plate having protrusions and recesses
on a surface thereof and compresses a refrigerant; and
a noise insulation cover which covers an entire circumference of a side portion of
the compressor and is disposed in a state where an entire circumference thereof is
in contact with the bottom plate in a bottom side shape to match the protrusions and
recesses.
2. (Amended) The compressor unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a noise insulation cap which covers an upper portion of the compressor,
wherein the noise insulation cap includes an upper portion and a tubular portion provided
over an outer circumference of the upper portion, and is mounted in a state where
the tubular portion is fitted to an entire circumference of an upper end of the noise
insulation cover, and
a cutout portion cut out from an open end in an axial direction is formed in the tubular
portion.
3. (Amended) A compressor unit comprising:
a compressor which compresses a refrigerant;
a noise insulation cover which covers an entire circumference of a side portion of
the compressor; and
a noise insulation cap which covers an upper portion of the compressor,
wherein the noise insulation cap includes an upper portion and a tubular portion provided
over an outer circumference of the upper portion, and is mounted in a state where
the tubular portion is fitted to an entire circumference of an upper end of the noise
insulation cover, and
a cutout portion cut out from an open end in an axial direction is formed in the tubular
portion.
4. The compressor unit according to claim 1, wherein the noise insulation cover is disposed
in a state where an entire circumference of an upper side of the noise insulation
cover is in contact with a lower surface of a wall portion provided above the compressor.
5. A compressor unit comprising:
a compressor which compresses a refrigerant; and
a noise insulation cover which covers an entire circumference of a side portion of
the compressor,
wherein the noise insulation cover is disposed in a state where an entire circumference
of an upper side of the noise insulation cover is in contact with a lower surface
of a wall portion provided above the compressor.
6. The compressor unit according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a guide part for guiding the
upper side of the noise insulation cover is provided on the lower surface of the wall
portion.
7. An outdoor unit comprising:
the compressor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and
a housing which accommodates the compressor unit.