EP4644793A1

EP4644793A1 - Outdoor unit of an air conditioner

Info

Publication number: EP4644793A1
Application number: EP25172749.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jun Yoshida; Sayaka OBATA; Yukiko Matsumoto
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2024-04-30
Filing date: 2025-04-25
Publication date: 2025-11-05
Also published as: JP2025168884A

Abstract

A heat source unit (outdoor unit (1)) according to a first exemplary embodiment is provided in a refrigeration cycle device using a flammable refrigerant, and includes housing (10) and electric box (30) housed in housing (10). Electric box (30) forms a housing space partitioned from inner space (S) of housing (10), and an electronic component is disposed in the housing space. Electric box (30) includes a first opening through which the housing space communicates with the outside of housing (10).

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a heat source unit, and more particularly to a heat source unit of a refrigeration cycle device using a flammable refrigerant.

2. Description of the Related Art

PTL 1 discloses a refrigeration cycle device capable of reducing an ignition risk using an electrical component as an ignition source even when a flammable refrigerant leaks from a refrigerant pipe. The refrigeration cycle device includes a body casing that is internally partitioned into a machine chamber and an air blower chamber by a partition member. In the machine chamber, a compressor and a refrigerant pipe through which a flammable refrigerant flows are disposed. In the air blower chamber, an outdoor fan and an electrical component are disposed. The electrical component includes a substrate equipped with a heat generating component and a sealing member that seals the substrate.

Citation List

Patent Literature

PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-88895

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a heat source unit capable of easily connecting external wiring to an electronic component while isolating the electronic component.
A heat source unit according to an aspect of the present disclosure is provided in a refrigeration cycle device using a flammable refrigerant, and includes a housing and an electric box housed in the housing. The electric box forms a housing space partitioned from an inner space of the housing, and an electronic component is disposed in the housing space. The electric box includes a first opening through which the housing space communicates with the outside of the housing.
The heat source unit according to the aspect of the present disclosure can easily connect external wiring to an electronic component while isolating the electronic component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air conditioning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating an internal structure of the outdoor unit;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an electric box;
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the electric box;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along plane V in Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of wiring integrally molded with a sealing member;
Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective view of an electric box according to a modification; and
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an electric box according to another modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

(Underlying knowledge and the like of present disclosure)

At the time when the present inventors have conceived the present disclosure, there has been a technique for a heat source unit of a refrigeration cycle device using a flammable refrigerant and including a housing divided into an air blowing chamber and a machine chamber, in which an electronic component is housed in an electric box, and the electric box is disposed in the air blowing chamber in which an air blower is disposed. Consequently, even when the refrigerant leaks, the heat source unit as described above prevents the refrigerant from entering the electric box.
The heat source unit as described above allows various kinds of device, such as a compressor, and component disposed in the machine chamber to be connected to the electronic component with wiring drawn out from the electric box.
Unfortunately, the heat source unit as described above requires a wiring connector to be disposed in the machine chamber, the wiring connector being configured to connect the wiring extending from the electric box to the various kinds of device, such as the compressor, and component disposed in the machine chamber, and the wiring connector needs to isolate from an inner space of the housing. Thus, the inventors have found a problem in the heat source unit as described above, in which the number of parts is increased and routing of wiring and a connection structure may be complicated, and then have constructed the subject matter of the present disclosure to solve the problem.
The present disclosure provides a heat source unit capable of easily connecting external wiring to an electronic component while isolating the electronic component.
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, unnecessarily detailed description may not be described. For example, a detailed description of well-known matters or a duplicated description of a substantially identical configuration may not be described. This is to prevent the following description from becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art.
The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the scope of claims.

(First exemplary embodiment)

A first exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. In the drawings, reference numeral FR denotes a front side of outdoor unit 1 in a state where outdoor unit 1 is installed on an installation surface and is normally used, reference numeral UP denotes an upper side of outdoor unit 1, and reference numeral LH denotes a left side of outdoor unit 1. In the following description, each direction is along corresponding one of directions of outdoor unit 1 described above.

[1-1. Configuration]

[1-1-1. Configuration of outdoor unit]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of outdoor unit 1 of an air conditioner according to the present exemplary embodiment. Fig. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating an internal structure of outdoor unit 1. Fig. 2 illustrates housing 10 without front panel 16 for convenience of description.
The air conditioner of the present exemplary embodiment includes an indoor unit housing an indoor heat exchanger (not illustrated), and outdoor unit 1 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 housing compressor 2 and a refrigeration circuit composed of outdoor heat exchanger 8, an expansion valve (not illustrated), and the like. The air conditioner circulates a refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit to air-condition a space to be conditioned in which the indoor unit is provided.
The present exemplary embodiment allows a flammable refrigerant to be used as the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit. The flammable refrigerant is R32, propane, or a mixed refrigerant containing these, for example.
Outdoor unit 1 of the present exemplary embodiment is a so-called lateral blow type heat source unit that sucks air into the inside through outdoor heat exchanger 8 disposed along a left side surface and a back surface of the outdoor unit. The air is then subjected to heat exchange with the refrigerant, and blown out from a front surface of the outdoor unit.
Outdoor unit 1 corresponds to an example of a "heat source unit" of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, outdoor unit 1 includes housing 10 in the shape of a box. Housing 10 constitutes an exterior of outdoor unit 1.
Housing 10 is internally provided with partition plate 24 being a sheet metal member. Partition plate 24 partitions inner space S of housing 10 into air blowing chamber S1 and machine chamber S2.
Housing 10 includes bottom panel 12 constituting a bottom surface, top panel 14 constituting a top surface, front panel 16 constituting a front surface, left side panel 18 constituting a left side surface, and right side panel 20 constituting a right side surface, and is formed with a back surface serving as an opening.
Front panel 16 is provided with exhaust port 19. Exhaust port 19 is an opening through which the outside of housing 10 communicates with air blowing chamber S1. In the present exemplary embodiment, exhaust port 19 is covered with protective member 26 in a lattice shape.
Left side panel 18 is positioned opposite to partition plate 24 across air blowing chamber S1, and constitutes the left side surface of housing 10. Left side panel 18 is provided with an intake port serving as an opening through which the outside of housing 10 communicates with air blowing chamber S1.
Right side panel 20 is positioned opposite to partition plate 24 across machine chamber S2, and constitutes the right side surface of housing 10. Right side panel 20 includes a lower part provided with service valve 6 to which a predetermined external pipe can be connected. Right side panel 20 includes an upper part provided with side surface opening 21 being a through-hole through which machine chamber S2 communicates with the outside of housing 10. Electric box 30 housed in housing 10 is partially inserted into side surface opening 21.
Cover member 22 is attached to right side panel 20.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, outdoor heat exchanger 8 is provided in air blowing chamber S1.
Outdoor heat exchanger 8 of the present exemplary embodiment is a heat exchanger of a so-called fin-tube type. Outdoor heat exchanger 8 includes refrigerant pipes made of copper to which a plurality of metal fins is joined. Outdoor heat exchanger 8 is disposed with a width direction along a height direction of housing 10 while being bent into a substantially L shape in plan view of housing 10 to face the back surface and the left side surface of housing 10 in a longitudinal direction, and is housed in air blowing chamber S1.
Outdoor heat exchanger 8 may be a heat exchanger of another form such as a heat exchanger including a flat pipe and a header pipe.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, air blower 7 and air-blowing fan 9 are provided in air blowing chamber S1 of the present exemplary embodiment. Air-blowing fan 9 is an axial fan that includes an impeller in the shape of a propeller and that is disposed with an axial flow direction toward exhaust port 19.
Machine chamber S2 houses compressor 2, various kinds of device constituting a refrigeration circuit, such as an expansion valve and an opening-closing device (not illustrated), refrigerant pipes connecting these devices, various kinds of electronic component, and the like.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, partition plate 24 is a plate-shaped member extending in a longitudinal direction along a vertical direction of housing 10 and extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction along a front-rear direction of housing 10. Partition plate 24 includes a lower end coupled to bottom panel 12, an upper end in contact with top panel 14, and a front end coupled to front panel 16.
Partition plate 24 is provided at the upper end with a cutout. Electric box 30 is inserted into the cutout. That is, electric box 30 is disposed in an upper part of partition plate 24, and at least a part of electric box 30 is located in air blowing chamber S1. Electric box 30 is a box-shaped member that internally houses a control device that controls each part of outdoor unit 1 or the entire air conditioner including the indoor unit.
In the present exemplary embodiment, electric box 30 is supported by partition plate 24 and an upper end part of outdoor heat exchanger 8.

[1-1-2. Configuration of electric box]

Next, electric box 30 will be described.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of electric box 30, Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of electric box 30, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on plane V of Fig. 3. Plane V is orthogonal to the front-rear direction and a plane of sealing member 49.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, electric box 30 includes electric box body 32 in the shape of a box in which housing space R is provided.
Electric box body 32 includes board housing 34 with a longitudinal direction extending in a left-right direction, and wiring housing 36 provided at a right end part of board housing 34. Electric box body 32 of the present exemplary embodiment is entirely made of a resin material, and board housing 34 and wiring housing 36 are integrally formed. Board housing 34 corresponds to an example of a "component housing" of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in Fig. 5, opening 31 is provided at a position overlapping an upper surface of board housing 34, i.e., at least a part of control board 40, to allow the inside and the outside of electric box 30 to communicate with each other, the opening including an outer periphery provided with packing attachment part 31A. Opening 31 corresponds to an example of a "second opening" of the present disclosure. Packing 38 made of a flexible material, such as a rubber material, is attached to packing attachment part 31A, and opening 31 is closed by lid body 33 in the shape of a flat plate with packing 38 interposed therebetween. Lid body 33 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity, such as a metal material.
This configuration facilitates dissipation of heat of electric box 30, the heat being generated by driving of the control device and various kinds of electronic component housed in electric box 30.
As illustrated in Fig. 3, board housing 34 includes air blower side part 34A located in air blowing chamber S1 and machine chamber side part 34B located in machine chamber S2.
Air blower side part 34A is formed with a height dimension from an upper end to a bottom surface of board housing 34, the height dimension being shorter than a height dimension of machine chamber side part 34B. That is, air blower side part 34A has a bottom surface positioned above bottom surfaces of other parts of board housing 34.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, the bottom surface of air blower side part 34A is provided with heat dissipation opening 35 being a through-hole through which the inside and the outside of air blower side part 34A communicate with each other.
Board housing 34 is internally provided with board space R1, and houses control board 40 that is a printed wiring board functioning as a control device and other electronic components electrically connected to control board 40. Control board 40 corresponds to an example of an "electronic component" of the present disclosure.
Control board 40 is equipped with electronic components such as a transistor, a capacitor, and a resistor to form an electronic circuit. As described above, electric box 30 forms housing space R partitioned from inner space S of housing 10, and control board 40 is disposed in housing space R.
Control board 40 has a lower surface to which radiator plate 42 with a plurality of fins is attached. Control board 40 is housed in board housing 34 while radiator plate 42 protrudes downward from heat dissipation opening 35, and heat dissipation plate 42 is disposed in air blowing chamber S1 while being exposed to the outside of electric box 30.
Heat dissipation opening 35 has a peripheral edge provided with sealing material 48. Control board 40 is fixed to board housing 34 with heat dissipation opening 35 closed with sealing material 48.
As described above, radiator plate 42 is disposed in air blowing chamber S1 and exposed to air blower side part 34A from electric box body 32 while maintaining airtightness of electric box 30. Consequently, electric box 30 is cooled by an air blow in a part located in air blowing chamber S1, and thus the electronic components housed in electric box 30 can be cooled.
Machine chamber side part 34B has a bottom surface provided with a plurality of through-holes 37 passing through the bottom surface in the vertical direction. That is, electric box 30 is provided with through-holes 37 through which housing space R and inner space S communicate with each other. In the present exemplary embodiment, through-holes 37 are each formed in a circular shape in plan view. At least a part of wiring 90 is inserted into through-holes 37. Wiring 90 is a power supply line or a signal line that connects control board 40 to compressor 2 and various kinds of device such as an expansion valve forming a refrigeration circuit housed in machine chamber S2.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating wiring 90 integrally molded with sealing member 49. Fig. 6 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of sealing member 49 taken along plane V in Fig. 3.
Sealing member 49 is integrally provided on at least a part of wiring 90. Sealing member 49 is formed in a cylindrical columnar shape (cylindrical shape) using a resin material with flexibility, such as a rubber material. As illustrated in Fig. 6, sealing member 49 is formed integrally with the at least a part of wiring 90 by injection molding in which wiring 90 is inserted into a mold.
As illustrated in Fig. 5, sealing member 49 ensuring airtightness with wiring 90 is fitted into each of the through-holes 37. As described above, sealing member 49 is elastically deformable and is formed in a circular shape in plan view. Consequently, when sealing member 49 is fitted into each of through-holes 37, pressure is uniformly applied to a peripheral surface entirely. Thus, each of through-holes 37 is sealed by sealing member 49, so that electric box 30 can maintain airtightness.
As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, board housing 34 is provided with sheet metal covers 44, 46 covering predetermined parts of side surfaces and bottom surfaces of air blower side part 34A and machine chamber side part 34B, respectively.
Sheet metal cover 44 is configured to cover air blower side part 34A while including cover opening 45 being a through-hole substantially identical in shape to heat dissipation opening 35 at a position overlapping heat dissipation opening 35. Sheet metal cover 44 is provided with fixing part 41 fixed to partition plate 24.
Sheet metal cover 46 is configured to cover machine chamber side part 34B while including cover opening 47 at a position overlapping with a virtual rounded rectangular shape circumscribing the plurality of through-holes 37 in plan view, cover opening 47 being a through-hole in a shape substantially identical to the rounded rectangular shape.
When sheet metal covers 44, 46 are provided as described above, i.e., electric box 30 includes at least a part made of a metal material, fire resistance can be improved.
Wiring housing 36 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which wiring space R2 is provided. Wiring housing 36 is coupled to a corner part defined by a side surface located on the right side and the lower surface of board housing 34. As illustrated in Fig. 5, board space R1 and wiring space R2 communicate with each other through communication path P.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, wiring housing 36 is formed to be able to store a plurality of terminal blocks 50. Terminal blocks 50 each correspond to an example of a "wiring connector" of the present disclosure.
Wiring 92 extending from control board 40 and inserted into communication path P is connected to each of terminal blocks 50. Wiring 92 is a power line.
Wiring housing 36 may house not only terminal blocks 50 but also various kinds of wiring connector.
As illustrated in Fig. 5, wiring housing 36 has a lower surface provided with wiring drawing hole 51 being a through-hole through which the inside and the outside of wiring housing 36 communicate with each other. Wiring drawing hole 51 corresponds to an example of a "wiring drawing part" of the present disclosure.
Wiring drawing hole 51 is provided with a plurality of cable glands 52. Cable glands 52 each correspond to an example of a "seal member" of the present disclosure.
Cable glands 52 are each a draw-in port through which wiring 94 extending from the outside of housing 10 is drawn in while waterproofness and dust proofness are secured inside wiring housing 36, i.e., while electric box 30 is sealed. That is, wiring drawing hole 51 allows wiring 94 outside housing 10 to be drawn into housing space R.
Wiring 94 is a power line connected to the outside of housing 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, wiring 94 is inserted into each of cable glands 52.
Wiring 94 is connected to each of terminal blocks 50 and is connected to control board 40 through wiring 92. That is, terminal blocks 50 each connect wiring 92 connected to control board 40 to wiring 94 outside housing 10.
Outdoor unit 1 formed in this manner enables the air conditioning device to supply power to control board 40 while waterproof and dust proofness are secured.
The air conditioning device including outdoor unit 1 can form an air conditioning system including a plurality of indoor units when electric box 30 includes the plurality of terminal blocks 50 and the plurality of cable glands 52 to connect the plurality of indoor units. That is, a plurality of pieces of wiring outside housing 10 may be connected to terminal blocks 50.
To terminal blocks 50, not only wiring 92 extending from the indoor unit, but also a power cable connected to a commercial power source may be connected.
Opening 39 is formed in wiring housing 36 by opening the entire side surface located on the right side. That is, electric box 30 is provided with opening 39 through which housing space R and the outside of housing 10 communicate with each other. Opening 39 corresponds to an example of a "first opening" of the present disclosure.
Opening 39 is closed by lid body 54 in a flat plate shape with packing 56 made of a flexible material such as a rubber material and interposed therebetween. Lid body 54 is made of a material having high strength and durability, such as a metal material.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, wiring housing 36 is inserted into side surface opening 21 such that the side surface located on the right side and each of cable glands 52 can be accessed by a worker such as a person in charge of construction or maintenance from the outside of housing 10. This configuration allows opening 39, wiring drawing hole 51, and lid body 54 to be disposed outside housing 10 in outdoor unit 1 when cover member 22 is removed. Then, removing lid body 54 allows terminal blocks 50 to be exposed to the outside of housing 10 through side surface opening 21. Consequently, the worker can easily perform wiring work and connection work on terminal blocks 50 in outdoor unit 1.
As described above, not only opening 39, wiring drawing hole 51, and lid body 54, but also service valve 6 are covered with cover member 22 in outdoor unit 1.

[1-2. Operation]

Operation of outdoor unit 1 configured as described above will be described.
When outdoor unit 1 starts to operate, compressor 2, air blower 7, various kinds of expansion valve, the opening-closing device, and the like start to be driven according to control of control board 40. When air blower 7 is rotationally driven, air outside housing 10 flows into air blowing chamber S1 through the opening in the back surface or the opening in left side panel 18. Radiator plate 42 is disposed in air blowing chamber S1, so that control board 40 is cooled by the air flowing into air blowing chamber S1 through radiator plate 42. The air having flowed into air blowing chamber S1 is exhausted from exhaust port 19 to the outside of housing 10.
Control board 40 is housed in sealed electric box 30 in the present exemplary embodiment, and thus is isolated from inner space S of housing 10. Consequently, even when the flammable refrigerant leaks inside housing 10 in outdoor unit 1, the refrigerant is prevented from reaching control board 40.
When performing wiring connection work of wiring 94 in outdoor unit 1, the worker detaches lid body 54 after detaching cover member 22. Consequently, terminal blocks 50 are exposed, so that the worker can connect wiring 94 inserted into each of cable glands 52 to corresponding one of terminal blocks 50.
As described above, terminal blocks 50 are disposed in wiring space R2 allowed to communicate with the outside of housing 10 in outdoor unit 1 while control board 40 is isolated from inner space S of housing 10, so that wiring 94 outside housing 10 can be easily connected to control board 40.

[1-3. Effects and the like]

As described above, outdoor unit 1 is a heat source unit of a refrigeration cycle device using a flammable refrigerant, and includes housing 10 and electric box 30 housed in housing 10, in the present exemplary embodiment. Electric box 30 forms housing space R partitioned from inner space S of housing 10, and control board 40 is disposed in housing space R. Electric box 30 is provided with opening 39 through which housing space R and the outside of housing 10 communicate with each other.
Consequently, wiring 94 outside housing 10 can be easily connected to control board 40 in outdoor unit 1 while control board 10 is isolated from inner space S of housing 40 by electric box 30.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, electric box 30 houses terminal blocks 50 to which at least a part (wiring 92) of the wiring connected to control board 40 and wiring 94 outside housing 10 are connected, and terminal blocks 50 are exposed to the outside of housing 10 through opening 39.
Consequently, wiring 94 outside housing 10 can be easily connected to control board 40 in outdoor unit 1.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, wiring outside housing 10 is connected to terminal blocks 50.
Consequently, electric box 30 includes terminal blocks 50 and cable glands 52, so that outdoor unit 1 can be connected to the indoor unit. Thus, outdoor unit 1 can form an air conditioning system.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, electric box 30 is provided with through-hole 37 through which housing space R and inner space S communicate with each other. At least a part of wiring 90 connected to control board 40 passes through through-hole 37, and through-hole 37 is sealed by sealing member 49 formed integrally with the at least a part of wiring 90 connected to control board 40.
Consequently, electric box 30 enables wiring 90 to be routed from the inside to the outside of electric box 30 while ensuring airtightness.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, sealing member 49 has flexibility and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
Consequently, when sealing member 49 is fitted into through-hole 37, pressure is applied to a peripheral surface entirely in a distributed manner. Thus, electric box 30 enables improvement in degree of sealing.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, electric box 30 is provided with wiring drawing hole 51 for drawing wiring 94 outside housing 10 into housing space R. Wiring drawing hole 51 is provided with cable gland 52 for drawing wiring 94 outside housing 10 into housing space R while electric box 30 is sealed.
Consequently, electric box 30 enables wiring 94 to be routed from the outside to the inside of electric box 30 while ensuring airtightness.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, electric box 30 is provided with board housing 34 that houses control board 40, and wiring housing 36 that houses terminal block 50 to which at least a part (wiring 92) of wiring connected to control board 40 and wiring 94 outside housing 10 are connected. Wiring housing 36 is provided with opening 39 and wiring drawing hole 51 for drawing wiring 94 outside housing 10 into housing space R. Opening 39 and wiring drawing hole 51 are exposed to the outside of housing 10.
Consequently, the worker can easily connect wiring 94 outside housing 10 to control board 40 in terminal block 50 in outdoor unit 1.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, electric box 30 is provided with opening 31 through which the inside and the outside of electric box 30 communicate with each other, at a position overlapping at least a part of control board 40, and opening 31 and opening 39 are respectively covered with lid bodies 33, 54 each made of a metal material.
Consequently, electric box 30 enables improvement in heat dissipation in board housing 34 and wiring housing 36.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, lid body 54 covering opening 39 is covered with cover member 22 provided in housing 10.
Consequently, wiring housing 36, opening 39, and lid body 54 can be protected by cover member 22 in outdoor unit 1.
As in the present exemplary embodiment electric box 30 includes at least a part made of a metal material.
Consequently, electric box 30 can be improved in fire resistance.
As in the present exemplary embodiment, housing 10 is provided with partition plate 24 that partitions inner space S into air blowing chamber S1 in which air blower 7 is housed and machine chamber S2 in which compressor 2 is housed. Electric box 30 is disposed in an upper part of partition plate 24, and at least a part of radiator plate 42 is located in air blowing chamber S1.
Consequently, control board 40 can be cooled by air flowing into air blowing chamber S1 through radiator plate 42 in outdoor unit 1.

(Other exemplary embodiments)

As described above, the first exemplary embodiment has been described to exemplify the techniques in the present disclosure. However, the techniques of the present disclosure are not limited to the above exemplary embodiments, and may also be applied to exemplary embodiments in which change, substitution, addition, omission, and the like are made. Additionally, a new exemplary embodiment can be made by combining components described in the first exemplary embodiment.
Then, other exemplary embodiments will be exemplified below.
Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective view of electric box 30 according to a modification taken along plane V illustrated in Fig. 3.
In the present exemplary embodiment, electric box 30 is provided with sheet metal covers 44, 46. Besides this, electric box 30 may be configured as illustrated in Fig. 7 in which board housing 34 is partially made of a metal material by integrally forming metal member 80 in a plate shape on the bottom surface or the like of board housing 34 by injection molding or the like. Consequently, electric box 30 can be improved in fire resistance.
For example, one or both of board housing 34 and wiring housing 36 may be made of a metal material in electric box 30. Alternatively, only air blower side part 34A may be made of a metal material.
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of electric box 30 according to another modification.
In the exemplary embodiment described above, the plurality of through-holes 37 and the plurality of sealing members 49 are provided and are each formed in a circular shape in plan view. Besides this, through-hole 37 and sealing member 49 may be each formed in another shape such as a rectangular shape in plan view, and may be each provided singly. The rectangular shape includes a shape of a rectangle with rounded corners other than a shape of a rectangle.
As illustrated in Fig. 8, electric box 30 may include through-hole 137 instead of through-hole 37, and sealing member 149 that closes through-hole 137. Through-hole 137 and sealing member 149 are each formed in a rectangular shape in plan view. Sealing member 149 is provided with a plurality of pieces of wiring 90 integrally with sealing member 149.
Sealing member 149 may be fixed to electric box body 32 by pressing member 150 in a frame shape.
In the exemplary embodiment described above, sealing member 49 is formed integrally with wiring 90 by injection molding. Besides this, sealing member 49 may be integrally formed with wiring 90 by another method. For example, sealing member 49 may be formed integrally with wiring 90 by being covered with a heat shrinkable tube or the like while including a through-hole with wiring 90 inserted into the through-hole.
In the exemplary embodiment described above, cable gland 52 is provided as a seal member in wiring drawing hole 51 serving as a wiring drawing part that draws wiring 94 into wiring housing 36. Besides this, wiring housing 36 may be provided with a grommet, a PF pipe connector, a waterproof connector, and the like as the wiring drawing part.
In the exemplary embodiment described above, outdoor unit 1 is the heat source unit of the air conditioning device. Besides this, outdoor unit 1 is applicable to various kinds of device including a refrigerant circuit, such as a chiller system, a water heater, a heat pump hot-water heater, and an air conditioning device.
For example, electric box 30 may be used in a device using a flammable refrigerant, such as a refrigerator or an indoor unit of an air conditioning device.
The exemplary embodiments described above are to exemplify the techniques in the present disclosure, and thus, various modifications, replacements, additions, omissions, and the like can be made in the scope of claims or in an equivalent scope of the claims.

(Supplementary note)

The above description of the exemplary embodiments discloses following techniques.
(Technique 1) A heat source unit of Technique 1 is provided in a refrigeration cycle device using a flammable refrigerant, and includes a housing and an electric box housed in the housing. The electric box forms a housing space partitioned from an inner space of the housing, and an electronic component is disposed in the housing space. The electric box includes a first opening through which the housing space communicates with the outside of the housing.
Consequently, the electronic component serving as a heat generation member is disposed in the housing space isolated from the inner space of the housing, and a worker can access the inside of the electric box from the outside of the housing through the first opening, in the heat source unit of Technique 1. Thus, the heat source unit of Technique 1 enables wiring outside the housing to be easily connected to the electronic component while isolating the electronic component serving as the heat generating member from the inner space of the housing.
(Technique 2) A heat source unit of Technique 2 is configured in the heat source unit described in Technique 1 such that the electric box houses a wiring connector to which at least a part of wiring connected to the electronic component and wiring outside the housing are connected, and the wiring connector is exposed to the outside of the housing through the first opening.
Consequently, the electronic component serving as the heat generation member can be disposed in the housing space isolated from the inner space of the housing, and the wiring connector can be disposed to communicate with the outside of the housing, in the heat source unit of Technique 2. Thus, the heat source unit of Technique 2 enables the wiring outside the housing to be easily connected to the electronic component while isolating the electronic component from the inner space of the housing by using the electric box.
(Technique 3) A heat source unit of Technique 3 is configured in the heat source unit described in Technique 2 such that the wiring connector is connected to a plurality of pieces of wiring outside the housing.
Consequently, when the electric box includes a plurality of wiring connectors, a plurality of indoor units can be connected by using the heat source unit of Technique 3. Thus, the heat source unit of Technique 3 enables forming a system including a plurality of indoor units.
(Technique 4) A heat source unit of Technique 4 is configured in the heat source unit described in any one of Techniques 1 to 3 such that the electric box includes a through-hole through which the housing space communicates with the inner space, and at least a part of the wiring connected to the electronic component passes through the through-hole. The through-hole is sealed by a sealing member formed integrally with the at least the part of the wiring connected to the electronic component.
Consequently, the electric box enables the wiring to be routed from the inside to the outside of electric box while the through-hole is sealed.
(Technique 5) A heat source unit of Technique 5 is configured in the heat source unit described in Technique 4 such that the sealing member has flexibility and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
Consequently, when the sealing member is fitted into the through-hole, pressure is applied to a peripheral surface entirely in a distributed manner. Thus, the electric box enables improvement in degree of sealing.
(Technique 6) A heat source unit of Technique 6 is configured in the heat source unit described in any one of Techniques 1 to 5 such that the electric box includes a wiring drawing part that draws the wiring outside the housing into the housing space. The wiring drawing part includes a seal member for drawing the wiring outside the housing into the housing space while the electric box is sealed.
Consequently, the electric box enables supplying electric power from the outside to the electronic component inside while ensuring airtightness.
(Technique 7) A heat source unit of Technique 7 is configured in the heat source unit described in any one of Techniques 1 to 6 such that the electric box includes a component housing that houses the electronic component, and a wiring housing that houses a wiring connector to which at least a part of wiring connected to the electronic component and wiring outside the housing are connected. The wiring housing includes the first opening and a wiring drawing part for drawing the wiring outside the housing into the housing space. The first opening and the wiring drawing part are exposed to the outside of the housing.
Consequently, the heat source unit of Technique 7 enables the wiring outside the housing to be easily connected to the electronic component while isolating the electronic component from the inner space of the housing by using the electric box.
(Technique 8) A heat source unit of Technique 8 is configured in the heat source unit described in any one of Techniques 1 to 7 such that the electric box includes a second opening through which an inside and an outside of the electric box communicate with each other, at a position overlapping at least a part of the electronic component. The first opening and the second opening are each covered with a lid body made of a metal material.
Consequently, the electric box can be improved in heat dissipation.
(Technique 9) A heat source unit of Technique 9 is configured in the heat source unit described in Technique 8 such that the lid body covering the first opening is covered with a cover member provided in the housing.
Consequently, the heat source unit of Technique 9 enables the first opening and the lid body covering the first opening to be protected by the cover member.
(Technique 10) A heat source unit of Technique 10 is configured in the heat source unit described in any one of Techniques 1 to 9 such that the electric box includes at least a part made of a metal material.
Consequently, the electric box can be improved in fire resistance.
(Technique 11) A heat source unit of Technique 11 is configured in the heat source unit described in any one of Techniques 1 to 10 such that the housing includes a partition plate that partitions the inner space into an air blowing chamber in which an air blower is housed and a machine chamber in which a compressor is housed. The electric box is disposed in an upper part of the partition plate, and is at least partially located in the air blowing chamber.
Consequently, the heat source unit of Technique 11 enables the electronic component to be cooled by air flowing into the air blowing chamber.
The present disclosure is applicable to a heat source unit of a refrigeration cycle device including a refrigeration circuit using a flammable refrigerant. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicable to outdoor units of an air conditioning device, a humidity control device, and a heat pump device, for example.

Claims

A heat source unit of a refrigeration cycle device using a flammable refrigerant, the heat source unit comprising:
a housing; and

an electric box housed in the housing,

wherein the electric box forms a housing space partitioned from an inner space of the housing,

the housing space allows an electronic component to be disposed, and

the electric box includes a first opening through which the housing space communicates with an outside of the housing.
The heat source unit according to Claim 1, wherein
the electric box houses a wiring connector to which at least a part of wiring connected to the electronic component and wiring outside the housing are connected, and

the wiring connector is exposed to the outside of the housing through the first opening.
The heat source unit according to Claim 2, wherein the wiring connector is connected to a plurality of pieces of wiring outside the housing.
The heat source unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein
the electric box includes a through-hole through which the housing space communicates with the inner space,

the wiring connected to the electronic component includes at least a part that passes through the through-hole, and

the through-hole is sealed by a sealing member formed integrally with the at least the part of the wiring connected to the electronic component.
The heat source unit according to Claim 4, wherein the sealing member has flexibility and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
The heat source unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein
the electric box includes a wiring drawing part that draws the wiring outside the housing into the housing space, and

the wiring drawing part includes a seal member for drawing the wiring outside the housing into the housing space while the electric box is sealed.
The heat source unit according to Claim 1, wherein
the electric box includes:
a component housing that houses the electronic component; and

a wiring housing that houses a wiring connector to which at least a part of wiring connected to the electronic component and wiring outside the housing are connected,

the wiring housing includes:
the first opening; and

a wiring drawing part for drawing the wiring outside the housing into the housing space, and

the first opening and the wiring drawing part are exposed to the outside of the housing.
The heat source unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein
the electric box includes a second opening through which an inside and the outside of an electric box communicate with each other, at a position overlapping at least a part of the electronic component, and

the first opening and the second opening are each covered with a lid body made of a metal material.
The heat source unit according to Claim 8, wherein the lid body covering the first opening is covered with a cover member provided in the housing.
The heat source unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the electric box includes at least a part made of a metal material.
The heat source unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein
the housing includes a partition plate that partitions the inner space into:
an air blowing chamber in which an air blower is housed; and

a machine chamber in which a compressor is housed, and

the electric box is disposed in an upper part of the partition plate, and is at least partially located in the air blowing chamber.