GB2330403A

GB2330403A - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: GB2330403A
Application number: GB9822936A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mitsuo Murano; Mitsunobu Maezawa; Toshihiko Kawamura; Kazuhito Wakatsuki; Takehiko Watanabe; Shigenori Hori
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 1997-10-20
Filing date: 1998-10-20
Publication date: 1999-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-20
Also published as: JP3566515B2; CN1215825A; GB2330403B; GB9822936D0; CN1168940C; JPH11118197A

Abstract

An air conditioner capable of selectively carrying out cooling and heating, comprises: an outdoor unit (50) installed outdoors; an indoor unit (40) installed indoors, the indoor unit being separated from the outdoor unit; a compressor 2, a four-bay valve, an indoor heat exchanger (5), a pressure reducing device and an outdoor heat exchanger 9, which are communicated with each other to form a refrigerating cycle for circulating a refrigerant and each of which is housed in the outdoor unit or the indoor unit; and a heat accumulating container (14), provided within insulation 13 in an upper body (60) of the outdoor unit, for housing therein a heat accumulating material and for heating the refrigerant when the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerating cycle passes through the heat accumulating material. Thus, the air conditioner facilitates the maintenance of the heat accumulating container and enhances the heat reserve characteristic of the heat accumulating container.

Description

AIR CONDITIONER B.ACKGROUND OF THE IIWENT1OIN Field of The Invention The present inventionrelates generally to a heat pump tqrpe air conditioner. More specifically, the invention relates to an air conditioner with a heat accumulating container.

Related Blackground Art Usually, the heating operation of a heat pump type air conditioner takes a lot of tirne until a hot-air begins to blow into a room after a compressor starts to operate in response to a command for the air conditioner to cars, out the heating operation. Sometimes it takes, e.g., 30 minutes or more, until the temperature in the room reaches a comfort temperature.

Moreover, although the heating capacity must be highest immediate after the operation of the air conditioner is started, the hotair blowout temperature does not provide a sufficient warmth.

Particularly in a cold or quasi cold region wherein outside air temperature is lol, it is often required to use the heat pump type air conditioner together with another heating apparatus, so that it is difficult to acknowledge the heat pump t3pe air conditioner as a standard heater.

For that reason, some of conventional heat pump type air conditioners have a heat accumulating container so as to shorten the time for a hot-air of a hot-air blowout temperature, which provides a sufficient warmth, to begin to blow after the heating operation is started.

In the conventional heat pump type air conditioner having the heat accumulating container, the heat accumulating container is housed in the lower body of an outdoor unit, and arranged below refrigerating cycle apparatuses, such as a compressor, a four-waz valve, an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan.

Therefore, in the maintenance of the heat accumulating container, checking and repair are carried out after the refrigerating cycle apparatuses, such as the compressor and the four-way valve, which are mounted on the top of the heat accumulating container, are detached from the outdoor unit to expose the heat accumulating container to outside.

However, the refrigerating cycle apparatuses, such as the compressor and the four-Nvay valve, are rigidly connected by means of the heat accumulating container and a refrigerant line, so that it is substantially difficult to detach the refrigerating cycle apparatuses, such as the compressor and the four-way valve, from the outdoor unit.

Therefore, there is a problem in that it is very difficult to cany out the maintenance of the heat accumulating container.

In addition, since the heat accumulating container is housed in the lower body of the outdoor unit, the heat accumulating container is arranged in the vicinity of the installed ground. Therefore, the heat accumulating container may contact snow or rainwater, so that there is a problem in that the heat accumulating container can not suffiaently give the heat reserve characteristic.

Moreover, since the heat accumulating container is housed in the lower body of the outdoor unit in the conventional heat pump type air conditioner, a heat insulating material surrounding the heat accumulating container is easil & r compressed by the refrigerating cycle apparatuses, which are mounted on the top of the heat accumulating container, on various conditions, such as the transportation of a product from the factor) shipments to the installation ofthe product, so that there is a problem in that the heat insulating characteristic of the heat insulating material deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate the aforementioned problems and to provide an air conditioner which can easily carry out the maintenance of a heat accumulating container and which can sufficiently give the heat reserve characteristic of the heat accumulating container.

In order to accomplish the aforementioned and other objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner capable of selectively carrying out cooling and heating, the air conditioner comprising: an outdoor unit installed outdoors; an indoor unit installed indoors, the indoor unit being separated from the outdoor unit; a compressor, a four-Rva valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device and an outdoor heat exchanger, which are communicated nith each other to form a refrigerating cycle for cfrculating a refrigerant and each of which is housed in the outdoor unit or the indoor unit; and a heat accumulating container, provided in an upper body of the outdoor unit, for housing therein a heat accumulating material and for heating the refrigerant when the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerating cycle passes through the heat accumulating material.

The outdoor unit may comprise: a heat accumulating base for dividing the interior of the outdoor unit into the upper body and a lower body arranged below the upper body; and a partition plate for dividing the lower body into a blower chamber for housing therein a blower for the outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine room for housing therein the compressor.

The load of the heat accumulating container fixed and supported on the heat accumulating base may be distributed to a motor base for mounting thereon a motor for driving the blower and to the partition wall or another part.

The air conditioner may further comprise an electrical equipment box for housing therein an electric apparatus, the electrical equipment box being provided in the outdoor unit so as to be adjacent to the heat accumulating container, the heat accumulating container being apart from the electric equipment box.

Alternatively, the air conditioner may further comprise an electrical equipment box for housing therein an electric apparatus below the heat accumulating container, the electrical equipment box being capable of being provided in the outdoor unit, the electrical equipment box being detachable from a front side or a side of the outdoor unit.

The heat accumulating container may have an upper surface which is arranged so as to be adjacent to a lower surface of an upper cabinet forming an upper outer wall of the outdoor unit.

The air conditioner may further comprise a heat insulating portion surrounding the whole outer peripheral surface of the heat accumulating container, the heat accumulating container being capable of being surrounded by the heat insulating portion to be fixed to the heat accumulating base.

The air conditioner may further comprise an inner spacer of a lower heat conductive material contacting an inner wall of the heat insulating portion so as to receive a load of the heat accumulating container.

Alternatively, the air conditioner may further comprise a spacer contacting an outer wall portion of the heat insulating portion capable of being compressed when receiving an external force during transportation.

The air conditioner may further comprise a drain pan which is provided below the heat accumulating container and which is capable of receiving the heat accumulating material leaking from the heat accumulating container.

The drain pan may have a discharge port for discharging the heat accumulating material, which has been received by the drain pan, to the outside, the discharge port being arranged above the outdoor heat exchanger.

Altematively, the drain pan may have a discharge port for discharging the heat accumulating material, which has been received by the drain pan, to the outside, and the air conditioner may further comprise a recovery tank provided below the discharge port, and a hose for guiding the heat accumulating material, which has been discharged from the discharge port, to the recovery tank.

Alternatively, the drain pan maq- have a discharge port for discharging the heat accumulating material, which has been received bv the drain pan, to the outside, and the air conditioner may further comprise a hose for guiding the heat accumulating material, which has been discharged from the discharge port, directly to the outside.

The drain pan may be arranged below a part of a bottom of the heat accumulating container.

The air conditioner may further comprise a heat insulating portion surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the heat accumulating container, the drain pan being integral with the heat insulating material.

According to the present invention, since the heat accumulating container is provided in the upper bod- of the outdoor unit, the heat accumulating container can be suitably arranged so as to be adjacent other parts, such as the compressor, the outdoor blower and the outdoor heat exchanger, without influencing the arrangement of the electrical equipment box and the other parts. In addition, the heat accumulating container can be easily exposed to the outside, so that the maintenance of the heat accumulating container can be easily carried out.

In addition, since the heat accumulating container is provided in the upper body of the outdoor unit, the heat accumulating container is arranged so as to be apart from the installed ground, so that it is possible to prevent the heat accumulating container from contacting snow and rainwater and it is possible to efficiently give the heat reserve characteristic of the heat accumulating container.

In addition, since the heat accumulating container is provided in the upper body of the outdoor unit, it is possible to prevent the heat insulating material surrounding the heat accumulating container from being compressed by the refrigerating cycle apparatuses on various conditions, such as the transportation of the product from the factory shipments to the installation of the product, so that it is possible to effectivelw hold the heat insulating characteristic of the heat insulating material.

Moreover, since the drain pan is provided below the heat accumulating container to discharge the heat accumulating material, which leaks from the heat accumulating container for some reason or other, to the outside, it is possible to prevent other parts from breaking dol7i n.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention ill be understood more frills from the detailed description given herebelow and from the accompanying dralsings of the preferred embodiments of the invention. However, the drawings are not intended to imply limitation of the invention to a specific embodiment, but are for explanation and understanding only.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of a preferred embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional vie. taken along line A-A of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the outdoor unit of FIG.

1; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a heat reserve source 13; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of a heat insulating material, which shows an enlarged spacer; FIG. 7(a) is a perspective view of a spacer of another example of a heat insulating material, and FIG. 7(b) is an exploded perspective view of the insulating material; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an outdoor unit using the heat insulating material of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled outdoor unit of FIG.

8; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit wherein a heat reserve source is mounted on the top of the body thereof; FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is a sectional view of another preferred embodiment in placeofFIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a further preferred embodiment in place of FIG. 11; and FIG. 14 is arefrigerating cycle diagram of a preferred embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring not to the accompanying dratings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention aill be described below.

FIG. 14 is a refrigerating cycle diagram of a preferred embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention. This air conditioner comprises an indoor unit 40 and an outdoor unit 50. In the air conditioner, a rotary compressor 2 for compressing a refrigerant is sequentially connected to a four-wat valve 3, an indoor heat exchanger 5 having an indoor blower 4, an electronic expansion valve 6 serving as a pressure reducing device, and an outdoor heat exchanger 9 having an outdoor blower 8, by means of a refrigerant line 10. In the heating operation, the refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant line 10 in the direction of arrow A.

The outdoor unit 50 has a heat reserve source 13. The heat reserve source 13 comprises a closed heat accumulating container 14, a heating means 17 of a heater or the like for heating a heat accumulating material 16 of a non-freezing solution contained in the heat accumulating container 14, and a pressure release means 18 for releasing the pressure in the heat accumulating container 14 when the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure.

BetR-een a portion of the refrigerant line 10 for connecting the indoor heat exchanger 5 to the four-way valve 3 and a portion of the refrigerant line 10 for connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 9 to the electronic expansion valve 6, a heating refrigerant supply line 12 is provided for alloying a part of the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant line 10 to flow therethrough. The heating refrigerant supplv line 12 passes through the heat accumulating container 14.

In a portion of the heating refrigerant supply line 12 near the indoor heat exchanger 5, a two-way valve 20 for establishing and blocking the flow of the refrigerant through the heating refrigerant supply line 12 is provided. The refrigerant branching from the refrigerant line 10 flows through the heating refrigerant supply line 12 in the direction of yarrow B when the two-wQv valve 20 is open.

On the outer wall of the heat accumulating container 14, a temperature sensor 22 is provided for determining whether the heating operation can start. On the outdoor heat exchanger 9, a frost sensor 23 for detecting the condition of frost adhered to the outdoor heat exchanger 9 is provided. The results detected by the sensors 22 and 23 are transmitted to a control part 24. The control part 24 controls the whole of the air conditioner, and opens and closes the two-way valve 20 in accordance with the results detected by the sensors 22 and 23.

When a heating operation mode or a defrosting operation mode is selected by a remote controller (not shorll), the four-way valve 3 is turned on (energized) by the control part 24. In addition, when it is determined that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 22 is not less than a predetermined value and that the heat accumulating container 14 has a sufficient heat capacity and when it is determined by the frost sensor 23 that there is a large amount of frost, the two-lva) valve 20 is open by the control part 24, so that the indoor fan 4 and the outdoor fan 8 are operated to cause the refrigerant to circulate through the refrigerant cycle in the direction of arrow A in the drawing.

A high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 is guided by the four-way valve 3 to be introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the heating refrigerant supply line 12. The refrigerant introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 5 radiates heat therein to exchange heat with outside air, so that the indoor fan 4 causes a hot-air to Now into a room to carry out the heating. The refrigerant, which has radiated heat and which has been condensed to be liquefied, flows s into the outdoor heat exchanger 9 after the pressure of the refrigerant is reduced by the electronic expansion valve 6. Then, the refrigerant is vaporized therein to absorb heat from outside air by the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid refrigerant to be gasified, and the heat exchanger is promoted by the air blosn by the outdoor fan 8.

On the other hand, the refrigerant introduced into the heating refrigerant supply line 12 is heated to be vaporized by the heat accumulating material 16 when it passes through the heat accumulating container 14 via the two-way valve 20 which is open, and then, the heated and vaporized refrigerant is transmitted to the outdoor heat exchanger 9 as a high-temperature gaseous refrigerant. Thus, when a large amount of frost is adhered to the outdoor heat exchanger 9, the frost can be removed, and the operation mode can rapidly proceed to the heating operation mode immediately after the heating operation mode is started.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13, the heat accumulating material 13 provided in the outdoor unit 50 mill be described in detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the outdoor unit 50 has: an upper cabinet 51 fonning an upper outer wall; a front cabinet 52, which forms a front outer wall and a part of which forrns a fin guard 52a; a rear cabinet 53 forming a rear outer wall; and a side cabinet 54 forming a side outer wall. These cabinets are associated with each other to form a substantially rectangular parallelepipedic box.

The interior of the outdoor unit 50 is divided by a heat accumulating base 55 into a upper body, which defines therein a heat accumulating chamber 60 for housing therein the heat reserve source 13, and a lower body arranged below the upper body. The lower body is divided by a partition plate 56, which extends vertically from the bottom of the lower body, into a blower chamber 61 for housing therein the blower 8 for the outdoor heat exchanger 9, and a machine room 62 for housing therein the compressor 2 and so forth.

As shown in FIG. 2 or 4, a motor base 65 extending vertically from the bottom of the body is provided in the blower chamber 61 for mounting thereon a motor 64 for drying the blower s. The motor base 65 has a perpendicularly bent upper portion so as to form a flat surface at the top thereof.

In the upper portion of the lower boQv,. an electrical equipment box 66 for housing therein electric apparatuses, such as an inverter electric apparatus, is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical equipment box 66 can be easily detached from the front side by removing the front cabinet 52 on the front side of the outdoor unit 50, or from the side by removing the side cabinet 54 on the side of the outdoor unit 50, so that it is possible to easily repair electric apparatuses being out of order.

The heat accumulating container 14 of the heat reserve source 13 provided in the heat accumulating chamber 60 is surrounded by a heat insulating material 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, both sides of the heat reserve source 13 are fixed to the heat accumulating base 55 by means of fixing bands 57. The heat reserve source 13 fixed to the heat accumulating base 55 is mounted on the outdoor unit 50 as a unit by means of the heat accumulating base 55.

The lower surface of the heat accumulating base 55 is fixed to the upper flat portion of the motor base 65. The heat accumulating base 55 is also supported on the upper end portion of the partition plate 56 and the upper surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 9. Thus, the load of the heat reserve source 13 fixed and supported on the heat accumulating base 55 is distributed to the motor base 65 and to the partition plate 56 or other parts, such as the outdoor heat exchanger 9, by means of the heat accumulating base 55.

As shown in FIG. 3, a space 59 is formed between the upper surface of the electrical equipment box 66 and the lower surface of the heat accumulating base 55 to prevent the heat of the heat reserve source 13 from being transmitted to the electrical equipment box 66.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the upper surface of the heat reserve source 13 is adjacent to the upper cabinet 51 so as to substantially contact the lower surface of the upper cabinet 51. Thus, when a load is applied to the upper surface of the upper cabinet 51, the load is transmitted to the motor base 65 and so forth in the lower body via the fixing band 57, the heat accumulating base 55 and so forth uithout being applied only to the upper cabinet 51, so that it is possible to prevent the upper cabinet 51 from being deformed by the applied load.

Referring to PIGS. 5 through 9, the heat insulating material 15 in this preferred embodiment will be described in detail belon-.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the heat reserve source 13 which is to be mounted on the heat accumulating base 55. The heat insulating material 15 surrounding the heat accumulating container 14 comprises a box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a for housing therein the heat accumulating container 14, and a heating insulating lid portion 15b for covering the upper portion of the box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a which houses therein the heat accumulating container 14.

As shossn in FIG. 8, the heat insulating lid portion 15b has a hole for allowing the pressure release means 18 to project to the outside.

The heat accumulating container 14, the whole outer peripheral of which is surrounded by the box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a and the heat insulating lid portion 15b, is fixed to the heat accumulating base 55 by means of the fixing band 57 from the outside of the boxshaped heat insulating portion 15a and the heat insulating lid portion 15b.

Thus, it is possible to maintain the heat retaining property of the heat accumulating material in the heat accumulating container 14 by surrounding the whole outer peripher) of the heat accumulating container 14 by the box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a and the heat insulating lid portion 15b.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a, the inner surface of the bottom of which has tu-o cBlindlical inner spacers lSc of a low thermal conductive, heat insulating material for receiving the load of the heat accumulating container 14. If the inner spacers 15c are not provided, the bottom portion of the box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a for receiving the load of the heat accumulating container 14 may be compressed to deteriorate the heat insulating characteristic of the box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a. When the inner spacers 15e are provided, the box-shaped heat insulating portion 15a can retain a predetermined heat insulating characteristic.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the heat accumulating base 55 hating four corner spacers 1Se of a lox thermal conductive, heat insulating material on the four comer portions thereof. Each of the corner spacers 1Se has a prismatic recessed portion. The corner spacers 15e are mounted on the four corner portions of the heat accumulating base 55 by means of adhesive or the like. The four comer portions of the box-shaped heat insulating material 15d, in which the heat accumulating container 14 is to be housed are fitted into the prismatic recessed portions of the comer spacers lve. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit 50 u-hich has the four corner spacers 15e of FIG. 7 and on the top of the upper body of which the heat reserve source 13 is mounted.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the outdoor unit 50 of FIG. 9.

Since the heat reserve source 13 can be tightly fitted into the prismatic recessed portions of the comer spacers 15e, it is possible to prevent the heat reserve source 13 from being displaced vertically and horizontally during the transportation of the outdoor unit 50 from the factor) to the consumer. Thus, it is possible to prevent the box-shaped heat insulating material lSd and so forth from being compressed by the vertical and horizontal displacements of the heat reserve source 13, so that the box-shaped heat insulating material 15d and so forth can have a predetermined heat insulating characteristic.

Referring to FIGS. 10 through 13, a drain pan 70 in this preferred embodiment R be described in detain blow.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit 50, on the upper body of which the heat reserve source 13 is mounted. FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 11, the bottom of the heat insulating material 1o, in which the heat accumulating container 14 is housed, is mounted and fixed to the drain pan 70. The drain pan 70 is fixed to a heat accumulating base (not shown). Thus, the drain pan 70 is integral with the heat insulating material 15, so that the heat accumulating container 14, the heat insulating material 15 and the drain pan 70 are mounted on the heat accumulating base (not shosen) as a single unit.

In the example of FIG. 11, the drain pan 70 is provided so as to cover the whole bottom portion of the heat insulating material 15 to protect all the parts, such as the electrical equipment box 66 and the outdoor heat exchanger 9, which are arranged below the drain pan 70.

A discharge port 71 for discharging the leaking heat accumulating material is formed in the bottom portion of the heat insulating material 15. In addition, a discharge port 72 for dis 72 is connected to the recovery tank 76 by means of a hose 74. The heat accumulating material received by the drain pan 70 is recovered by the recovery tank 76 via the hose 74. The recovered heat accumulating material can be recycled.

Thus, if the drain pan 70 is provided, the heat accumulating material, which leaks from the heat accumulating container 14 for some reason or other, can be received by the drain pan 70 to be surdy discharged to the outside, so that it is possible to prevent the leaking heat accumulating material from entering the interior of the electrical equipment box 66.

Furthermore, as shorn in FIG. 12, the leaking heat accumulating material may be discharged directly to the outside of the outdoor unit by means of the hose 74 without the need of the recovery tank 76.

Alternatively, the heat accumulating material received by the drain pan 70 may be discharged to the outside from the discharge port 72, which is arranged above the outdoor heat exchanger 9, along the outer wall of the outdoor heat exchanger 9 without the need of the hose 74.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, the drain pan 70 mav be provided on the bottom portion of the heat insulating material 15 so as to be arranged only above the electrical equipment box 66. In this case, the leaking heat accumulating material is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 71 or the left end of the drain pan 70 via the wall of the outdoor heat exchanger 9. Thus, it is possible to reduce the size of the drain pan 70, and it is possible to surely protect the electrical equipment box 66 from the leaking heat accumulating material to prevent the leaking heat accumulating material from penetrating into the electrical equipment box 66.

As described above, according to the present invention, the heat reserve source 13 including the heat accumulating container 14 is provided in the upper body of the outdoor unit 50. Therefore, the heat reserve source 13 can be suitably arranged so as to be adjacent other parts, such as the compressor 2, the outdoor blower 8 and the outdoor heat exchanger 9, without influencing; the arrangement of the electrical equipment box 66 and the other parts. In addition, it is possible to reduce the size of the outdoor unit 50. Moreover, it is possible to easily expose the heat accumulating container 14 to the outside, so that it is possible to easily carn out the maintenance ofthe heat reserve source 13, such as the heat accumulating container 14.

In addition, since the heat reserve source 13 is provided in the upper body of the outdoor unit 50, the heat reserve source 13 can be arranged so as to be apart from the installed ground to prevent the heat reserve source 13 from contacting snow and rainwater, so that it is possible to effiåently give the heat reserve characteristic of the heat reserve source 13.

In addition, since the heat reserve source 3 is provided in the upper body of the outdoor unit 50, it is possible to prevent the heat insulating material 15 surrounding the heat accumulating container 14 from being compressed by the refrigerating cycle apparatuses, such as the compressor 2, on various conditions, such as the transportation of the product from the factory shipments to the installation of the product, so that it is possible to eflectively hold the heat insulating characteristic of the heat insulating material 15.

Moreover, since the heat accumulating container 14 is surrounded by the heat insulating material 15 it is possible to effectively hold the heat reserve characteristic of the heat accumulating container 14. In addition, the spacers 15c or 15e of a heat insulating material, together Wth the heat insulating materials 15a and 15b, can be provided to prevent the heat insulating material 15 from being compressed to deteriorate the heat insulating characteristic on various conditions, such as the transportation of the product from the factor) shipments to the installation of the product.

In addition, since the drain pan 70 is provided below the heat reserve source 13 to discharge the heat accumulating material, which leaks from the heat accumulating container 14 for some reason or other, to the outside, it is possible to prevent other parts, such as the electrical equipment box 66, from breaking dosnn. Thus, it is possible to safely and surely operate the heat reserve source 13, so that it is possible to safes and surely operate the air conditioner.

Thus, since it is possible to safely and surely operate the air conditioner including the heat reserve source 13, it is possible to use a heat pump t"pe air conditioner as a standard heater without using another heating apparatus even in a cold or quasi cold region wherein outside air temperature is lox.

Furthermore, while the shown air conditioner has had the refrigerating cycle showy in FIG. 14, the present invention should not be limited thereto, but the air conditioner may have another refrigerating cycle as long as it has a heat accumulating container.

As described above, according to the present invention the heat accumulating container for housing therein the heat accumulating material to heat the refrigerant, which circulates the refrigerant cycle to pass through the heat accumulating material, is provided in the upper body of the outdoor unit. Therefore, the heat accumulating container can be suitably arranged so as to be adjacent to other parts without influencint, the other parts, and it is possible to easily carry out the maintenance of the heat accumulating container. In addition, it is possible to prevent the heat accumulating container from contacting snow or rainwater, and it is possible to sufficiently give the heat reserve characteristic of the heat accumulating container.

While the present invention has been disclosed in terms of the preferred embodiment in order to facilitate better understanding thereof, it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in various wavs without departing from the principle of the invention. Therefore the invention should be understood to include all possible embodiments and modification to the shown embodiments which can be embodied without departing from the principle of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

WK4T IS CLAIMED IS: 1 An air conditioner capable of selectively carrying out cooling and heating, said air conditioner comprising: an outdoor unit installed outdoors; an indoor unit installed indoors, said indoor unit being separated from the outdoor unit; a compressor, a four-Nsay valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device and an outdoor heat exchanger, which are communicated with each other to form a refrigerating cycle for circulating a refrigerant and each of which is housed in said outdoor unit or said indoor unit; and a heat accumulating container, provided in an upper body of said outdoor unit, for housing therein a heat accumulating material and for heating said refrigerant when said refrigerant circulating through said refrigerating ce cycle passes through said heat accumulating material.
2. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outdoor unit comprises: a heat accumulating base for dividing the interior of said outdoor unit into said upper body and a lower body arranged below said upper body; and a partition plate for dividing said lower body into a blou-er chamber for housing therein a blower for said outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine room for housing therein said compressor.
3. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein a load of said heat accumulating container fixed and supported on said heat accumulating base is distnbuted to a motor base for mounting thereon a motor for driving said Mower and to said partition wall or another part.
4. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 1 or 2, which further comprises an electrical equipment box for housing therein an electric apparatus, said electrical equipment box being provided in said outdoor unit so as to be adjacent to said heat accumulating container, said heat accumulating container being apart from said electric equipment box.
5. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 1 or 2, which further comprises an electrical equipment box housing therein an electric apparatus unit below said heat accumulating container, said electrical equipment box being capable of being provided in said outdoor, said electrical equipment box being detachable from a front side or a side of said outdoor unit.
6. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said heat accumulating container has an upper surface which is arranged so as to be adjacent to a lower surface of an upper cabinet forming an upper outer wall of said outdoor unit.
7. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 1 or 2, which further comprises a heat insulating portion surrounding the whole outer peripheral surface of said heat accumulating container, said heat accumulating container being capable of being surrounded by said heat insulating portion to be fixed to said heat accumulating base.
8. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 7, which further comprises an inner spacer of a lower heat conductive material contacting an inner wall of said heat insulating portion so as to receive a load of said heat accumulating container.
9. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 7, which further comprises a spacer contacting an outer wall portion of said heat insulating portion capable of being compressed when receiving an extemal force during transportation.
10. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 1 or 2, which further comprises a drain pan which is provided below said heat accumulating container and which is capable of receiving said heat accumulating material leaking from said heat accumulating container.
11. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 10, wherein said drain pan has a discharge port for discharging said heat accumulating material, which has been received by said drain pan, to the outside, said discharge port being arranged above said outdoor heat exchanger.
12. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 10, wherein said drain pan has a discharge port for discharging said heat accumulating material, which has been received by said drain pan, to the outside, and which further comprises a recovery tank provided below said discharge port, and a hose for guiding said heat accumulating material, which has been discharged from said discharge port, to said recover) tank.
13. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 10, wherein said drain pan has a discharge port for discharging said heat accumulating material, which has been received by said drain pan, to the outside, and which further comprises a hose for guiding said heat accumulating material, which has been discharged from said discharge port, directly to the outside.
14. An air conditioner as set forth in claim 10, wherein said drain pan is arranged below a part of a bottom of said heat accumulating container.

15 An air conditioner as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises a heat insulating portion surrounding an outer peripheral surface of said heat accumulating container, said drain pan being integral with said heat insulating material.