JP2014077576A - Outdoor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outdoor unit capable of preventing breakage of a connection valve due to burning of a resin cover, generation of corrosion in a metal cover, and heating by direct sunlight.SOLUTION: The connection valve for connecting a pipe in an outdoor unit to an outside transfer pipe is arranged in one side of an outdoor unit body. The outdoor unit includes the metal cover having an opening for passing the transfer pipe connected to the connection valve, and the resin cover covering the metal cover from the outside of the outdoor unit. These connection valve covers prevent breakage of the connection valve, generation of corrosion in the covers, and heating by direct sunlight.

Description

  The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of a separate type air conditioner or a heat pump type hot water heater, and particularly relates to an improvement of a cover that covers a connection valve for connecting a refrigerant pipe.

  The background art will be described using a separate air conditioner as an example of an outdoor unit. FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle diagram during cooling / dehumidifying operation of a separate type air conditioner, and FIG. 2 is a refrigeration cycle diagram during heating operation. The flow direction of the refrigerant is indicated by arrows.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a separate type air conditioner capable of performing cooling operation and heating operation includes an indoor unit 2 having an indoor heat exchanger 1, a compressor 3, a four-way valve 4, and an outdoor heat exchanger 5. And an outdoor unit 9 having an expansion valve 6, a two-way valve 7, and a three-way valve 8.

  The outdoor unit 9 and the indoor unit 2 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 10 so that the compressor 3, the four-way valve 4, the outdoor heat exchanger 5, the expansion valve 6, the two-way valve 7, the indoor heat exchanger 1, and the three-way valve. A refrigeration cycle including 8 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, during cooling operation or dehumidifying operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 is a four-way valve 4, an outdoor heat exchanger 5 (acting as a condenser), an expansion valve 6, two-way It returns to the compressor 3 through the valve 7, the indoor heat exchanger 1 (acting as an evaporator), the three-way valve 8, and the four-way valve 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, during the heating operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 is a four-way valve 4, a three-way valve 8, an indoor heat exchanger 1 (acting as a condenser), a two-way valve 7, and an expansion. It returns to the compressor 3 through the valve 6, the outdoor heat exchanger 5 (acting as an evaporator), and the four-way valve 4. The diameter of the refrigerant pipe (thin tube) connecting the two-way valve 7 and the indoor unit 2 is smaller than the diameter of the refrigerant pipe (thick tube) connecting the indoor unit 2 and the three-way valve 8.

  By the way, as an example of such an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, in Patent Document 1, in an outdoor unit provided with an electrical component that drives and controls a heat source for air conditioning in an outdoor unit body, a terminal portion from the electrical component is used. A wiring outlet portion of the external electric wiring to which the air-conditioner is connected and a connection valve means for connecting the pipe from the heat source for air conditioning to the external transition pipe are respectively provided on one side upper and lower parts in the outdoor unit main body, An outdoor unit is disclosed in which the outlet portion and the connecting valve means are covered with metal cover means from the outside.

  As an example of such an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, in Patent Document 2, a connection valve portion of a resin upper surface cover is reinforced with a reinforcing metal fitting so that a person or an object can be put on the piping work or the like. In such a case, an outdoor unit having a structure capable of preventing deformation and breakage of the upper surface cover is disclosed.

  In addition, also in the heat pump type hot water supply apparatus, what connects external piping to the connection valve of an outdoor unit is marketed.

JP 2005-180725 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-318562

  By the way, when the cover that covers the connection valve (two-way valve or three-way valve) of the outdoor unit is made of resin, when a fire occurs in the vicinity of the installation location of the outdoor unit, Connection valves are directly exposed to heat from flames and fires. If it does so, the refrigerant | coolant in a connection valve will directly evaporate with the heat | fever by a flame or a fire, and will become gas, and the refrigerant | coolant pressure in a refrigerating cycle will become high. As a result, components (for example, a two-way valve or a three-way valve) that form a refrigeration cycle cannot withstand the rise in refrigerant pressure and may be damaged, resulting in poor reliability.

  Since the connection valve cover like patent document 1 is metal, it does not burn out and can reduce that a connection valve part is directly exposed to the heat | fever by a flame or a fire.

  However, since the connection valve cover is made of metal, even if it is rust-proof, it will be directly exposed to wind and rain as long as the outdoor unit is installed outdoors. There is sex. Also, if the outdoor unit is installed in a place where it is exposed to direct sunlight when the outdoor temperature is high, such as in summer, the metal connection valve cover will be heated and become hot. there is a possibility.

  On the other hand, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, the connection valve portion of the resin upper surface cover is reinforced with a reinforcing metal fitting to prevent deformation or breakage of the upper surface cover when a person gets on or puts an object during piping work. The purpose of this is not to assume the case where a fire occurs near the location of the outdoor unit, so both sides of the reinforcing bracket are open. Therefore, flames and heat can pass through the openings on both sides, and in that case, there is a high possibility that the connection valve is directly exposed to heat from flames and fire.

  In view of the situation where the outdoor unit is installed outdoors, an object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit that can more reliably reduce the connection valve from being directly exposed to heat from a flame or fire. Is.

  In order to achieve the above object, an outdoor unit of the present invention has an outdoor unit internal pipe constituting a part of a refrigeration cycle in an outdoor unit main body, and the connection valve for connecting the outdoor unit internal pipe to an external transition pipe is A connection valve cover that is provided on one side of the outdoor unit body and covers the connection valve is provided, and the connection valve cover has an opening for passing the connecting pipe and covers the connection valve from the outside of the outdoor unit. It is characterized by comprising a cover made of resin and a resin cover that has an opening for passing the connecting pipe and further covers the metal cover from the outside of the outdoor unit rather than the metal cover.

  According to the present invention, the metal cover can reduce the connection valve from being directly exposed to heat from a flame or fire, and the refrigerant in the connection valve can be directly evaporated by the heat from the flame or fire. Thus, the phenomenon that the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration cycle becomes high can be reduced. Moreover, because the outermost shell is a resin cover, the metal cover can be directly exposed to wind and rain to reduce the occurrence of rust and corrosion, and even if it is exposed to direct sunlight in summer Since the temperature rise is smaller than that of a metal cover, it is difficult to occur because it is hot and cannot be touched.

It is a refrigerating cycle figure at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation and dehumidification operation. It is a refrigerating cycle figure at the time of heating operation of an air conditioner. It is a perspective view of the outdoor unit which is embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner side of the connection valve cover from the left front. It is the perspective view which looked at the inner side of the connection valve cover from the right front.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A refrigeration cycle diagram of the separate type air conditioner of the present embodiment is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle diagram during cooling operation and dehumidifying operation of the air conditioner, and FIG. 2 is a refrigeration cycle diagram during heating operation of the air conditioner. Since these are the same as those described in the background art, a detailed description is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit of the present embodiment. The outdoor unit 9 includes a compressor 3, a four-way valve 4, an outdoor heat exchanger 5, an expansion valve 6, a two-way valve 7, and a three-way valve 8 inside a box-shaped outdoor unit body 11. A blower (not shown) is provided opposite to. A fan guard 11 a is provided on the front surface of the outdoor unit body 11.

  Inside the outdoor unit main body 11, the compressor 3, the four-way valve 4, the outdoor heat exchanger 5, the expansion valve 6, the two-way valve 7, the three-way valve 8, etc. are connected, and the inside of the outdoor unit constituting a part of the refrigeration cycle Piping (not shown) is provided. Then, connection valves 7 and 8 for connecting the outdoor unit internal pipe to the external transition pipe (refrigerant pipe 10) are arranged on one side (lower part in the present embodiment) of the side surface of the outdoor unit main body 11. These connection valves 7 and 8 are covered with a connection valve cover 12 from the outside of the outdoor unit.

  4 is a perspective view of the inside of the connection valve cover as seen from the left front, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inside of the connection valve cover as seen from the right front. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the connection valve cover 12 has an opening 13 for passing through the transition pipe (refrigerant pipe 10) and a metal cover 14 that covers the connection valves 7 and 8 from the outside of the outdoor unit. And a resin cover 16 that has an opening 15 through which the transition pipe (refrigerant pipe 10) passes and further covers the metal cover 14 from the outside of the outdoor unit rather than the metal cover 14.

  The metal cover 14 is formed at the center in the vertical direction of the side surface of the outdoor unit main body 11 and is formed so as to cover the opening for drawing out electrical wiring and the like from the outdoor unit main body to the outdoor, and the outdoor unit 11. A wiring cover portion 14a that covers the electrical wiring drawn from the gap (wiring lead portion), and a valve cover portion 14b that is connected to the lower portion of the wiring cover portion 14a and accommodates the connection valves 7 and 8 so as to wrap. ing. The metal cover 14 is provided with a flat wiring cover part 14a and a valve cover part 14b bulging and formed in a box shape by bending a steel plate.

  The resin cover 16 is connected to the terminal cover portion 16a formed so as to cover the lower portion of the terminal block cover 18 provided at the upper portion on the side surface of the outdoor unit body 11, and to the lower portion of the terminal cover portion 16a. , 8 and a valve cover portion 16b for housing the metal cover 14 so as to wrap them. The resin cover 16 is molded from a resin (for example, PP resin, AES resin, etc.), and a terminal cover portion 16a capable of accommodating wiring and the like and a box-shaped valve cover portion 16b are bulged and formed from metal. The cover 14 is formed in such a size as to be hidden so that it cannot be seen from the outside.

  The metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16 both have a portion (valve cover portion) covering the connection valves 7 and 8 formed in a substantially box shape, and store the connection valves 7 and 8 so as to be wrapped from the outside. Be able to.

  And the opening parts 13 and 15 for letting crossover piping (refrigerant piping 10) pass are provided in the box-shaped wall surface of the valve cover parts 14b and 16b. The openings 13 and 15 are formed in a semicircular cutout shape. A metal cover 14 is attached to the inner surface of the resin cover 16 by welding or the like, and the metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16 are integrated. For example, the welding is integrated by forming locking holes into which resin can enter at a plurality of locations of the metal cover 14 and allowing the molten resin to enter the locking holes of the metal cover and solidify. Alternatively, the inner surface of the resin cover 16 and the outer surface of the metal cover 14 may be bonded and integrated with an adhesive.

  At this time, the metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16 are welded so that the screw holes 19 overlap. The cover integrated in this way is referred to as a connection valve cover 12. The connection valve cover 12 is fastened together with screws on the side surface of the outdoor unit main body.

  With such a configuration, even when a fire occurs near the place where the outdoor unit 9 is installed, even if the resin cover 16 is burned out, the metal cover 14 is also screwed to the outdoor unit body 11. Since it remains without being burned out in the state, it is possible to reduce that the connection valves 7 and 8 are directly exposed to heat from a flame or a fire. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a phenomenon in which the refrigerant in the connection valves 7 and 8 evaporates directly into gas due to heat from a flame or fire and the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration cycle increases.

  Therefore, components that form the refrigeration cycle (for example, the two-way valve 7 and the three-way valve 8) cannot withstand the rise in refrigerant pressure, and the possibility of breakage can be reduced, thereby improving the reliability of the outdoor unit. Further, since the outermost shell is the resin cover 16, the metal cover 14 is less likely to be directly exposed to wind and rain, and rust and corrosion of the metal cover 14 can be reduced. Even if it is exposed to direct sunlight in summer, the temperature rise is less than that of the metal cover 14, so that it is difficult to be touched by heat.

  In addition, by integrating the metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16, the connection bubble cover 12 is attached to the outdoor unit main body by fastening, so that the connection bubble cover 12 is easily attached to the outdoor unit main body.

  The metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16 may not be integrated, and may be separately attached to the outdoor unit main body by screws or the like. Even in this case, the separate metal cover 14 and the resin cover are collectively referred to as a connection valve cover.

  Moreover, the opening parts 13 and 15 of the metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16 do not have to be notched but may be holes. Furthermore, the shapes of the metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16 are not limited to the shapes shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and various shapes can be employed. Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the terminal cover part is provided in the metal cover 14 and the resin cover 16, it is not restricted to this, The thing of an aspect without a terminal cover part may be sufficient.

  As is apparent from the above description of the embodiment, the outdoor unit of the present invention has an outdoor unit internal pipe constituting a part of the refrigeration cycle in the outdoor unit main body, and connects the outdoor unit internal pipe to an external transition pipe. A connection valve is provided on one side of the outdoor unit main body, and a connection valve cover is provided to cover the connection valve. The connection valve cover has an opening for passing the connecting pipe, and the connection valve is disposed outside the outdoor unit. A metal cover that covers from the side, and a resin cover that has an opening for passing the transition pipe and further covers the metal cover from the outside of the outdoor unit than the metal cover. .

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the connection valve from being directly exposed to heat from a flame or a fire. In addition, since the outermost shell is a resin cover, the metal cover is less likely to be directly exposed to wind and rain, and rust and corrosion of the metal cover can be reduced. Even when exposed to direct sunlight in summer, etc., the temperature rise is less than that of a metal cover, so that it is difficult to occur because it is hot.

  In the outdoor unit of the present invention, the portion of the metal cover that covers the connection valve and the portion of the resin cover that covers the connection valve are substantially box-shaped, and wraps the connection valve from the outside. The opening may be provided in the box-shaped wall surface.

  By setting it as such a structure, since a wall surface is also provided around the opening part through which refrigerant piping passes, it can reduce that a connection valve is directly exposed to the heat | fever by a flame or a fire.

  Furthermore, in the outdoor unit of the present invention, the metal cover and the resin cover may be fastened to the outdoor unit body with screws.

  With this configuration, even if the resin cover is burned out, the metal cover can cover the connection valve without burning out, so the connection valve is directly exposed to heat from flames and fire. Can be reduced.

  Therefore, components that form the refrigeration cycle (for example, a two-way valve or a three-way valve) cannot withstand an increase in refrigerant pressure, and the possibility of breakage can be reduced, improving reliability. Further, since the outermost shell is a resin cover, the metal cover is not directly exposed to wind and rain, and rust and corrosion of the metal cover can be reduced. Even when exposed to direct sunlight in summer, etc., the temperature rise is less than that of a metal cover, so that it is difficult to occur because it is hot.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and can be obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor heat exchanger 2 Indoor unit 3 Compressor 4 Four-way valve 5 Outdoor heat exchanger 6 Expansion valve 7 Two-way valve 8 Three-way valve 9 Outdoor unit 10 Refrigerant piping 11 Outdoor unit body 12 Connection valve cover 13 Opening part 14 Metal cover 14a Wiring cover part 14b Valve cover part 15 Opening part 16 Resin cover 16a Terminal cover part 16b Valve cover part 18 Terminal block cover

Claims (3)

  The outdoor unit has piping in the outdoor unit that constitutes a part of the refrigeration cycle, a connection valve that connects the outdoor unit piping to an external crossover pipe is provided on one side of the outdoor unit body, and covers the connection valve A connection valve cover is provided, and the connection valve cover has an opening for passing the connecting pipe and has a metal cover for covering the connecting valve from the outside of the outdoor unit, and an opening for passing the connecting pipe. An outdoor unit comprising: a resin cover that further covers the metal cover from outside the outdoor unit than the metal cover. The portion of the metal cover that covers the connection valve and the portion of the resin cover that covers the connection valve are formed in a box shape so as to wrap the connection valve from the outside, and the box-shaped wall surface The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening for passing the connecting pipe is provided in the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal cover and the resin cover are fastened to the outdoor unit main body with screws.

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