JP4701804B2 - Branch refrigerant relay unit of air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a branch refrigerant relay unit, and more particularly to a branch refrigerant relay unit of an air conditioner that adjusts the refrigerant conveyance amount of each refrigerant pipe branched into a plurality.

  In a multi-type air conditioner in which one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units are connected, a refrigerant circuit is provided between an outdoor heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit and an indoor heat exchanger provided in the plurality of indoor units. It is formed. Here, it is necessary to provide a branch pipe in the refrigerant pipe disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger in order to convey the refrigerant to each of the plurality of indoor heat exchangers.

  A branch portion provided with such a branch pipe has a thermistor for detecting the refrigerant temperature, an electric valve for adjusting the refrigerant pressure, a gas-liquid heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerants, and a refrigerant detected by the thermistors. In some cases, an electrical component or the like for controlling the motor-operated valve based on the temperature is provided. In general, a branch portion including such a branch pipe, thermistor, motor-operated valve, gas-liquid heat exchanger, electrical component, and the like is housed in a casing to constitute a branch unit.

  In such a branch unit, each electrical component such as a thermistor and a motor-operated valve provided for each of the plurality of branch pipes is connected to an electrical component mounted on the substrate. In addition, the substrate is provided with a plurality of connection portions for connecting electric wirings extending from the plurality of indoor units. In general, the electrical wiring from each indoor unit extends from each indoor unit integrally with the branch pipe to the portion immediately before the branch unit.

Here, for example, a branch unit as shown in Patent Document 1 below employs a configuration in which a plurality of branch pipes are arranged in the vertical direction and parallel to the substrate surface. In this branch unit, the wiring from the indoor unit is arranged in order from the top (for example, in ascending order of the wiring numbers) according to the position of each branch pipe arranged in the vertical direction according to a predetermined wiring connection manual or the like. Etc.). Here, the person who performs the wiring connection work knows from which indoor unit the electrical wiring extending from each indoor unit (what the wiring number is). As a result, unambiguous wiring connection is possible by connecting the electrical wiring from each indoor unit in order from the upper side of the branch pipe for wiring connection work between the electrical wiring from each indoor unit and each connection part on the board. This prevents incorrect wiring.
JP 2001-241696 A

  The above-described branch unit may have a limited installation location (for example, indoors) due to a request for shortening the refrigerant piping as much as possible. When the installation location of the branch unit is restricted in this way, it can be handled by manufacturing a plurality of types of branch units having different sizes and shapes in order to cope with various installation restrictions. However, in the case where a plurality of types of branch units having different sizes and shapes are manufactured in this way, the cost becomes higher than that in the case of manufacturing one type of branch unit. For this reason, as a branch unit, one kind of branch unit with which the structural installation freedom was ensured so that various installation restrictions may be coped with is desired. For example, the branch unit may be deformed by changing the position where the substrate is provided, thereby being able to meet installation restrictions.

  When the conventional branch unit is used when the modification for adapting to the installation place is performed in this way, each part of the branch unit must be disassembled and the connected wiring must be pulled out. Also, when assembling, it is necessary to reconnect the wiring and assemble each part. For example, when installing a branch unit with a substrate provided on one side, when installing so that one side is in close contact with the wall surface, it is desired to change the side opposite to the one side to be in close contact with the wall surface In some cases, each part must be disassembled and each wiring connected to the board must be pulled out. Then, the operation of assembling the parts must be performed by reattaching the position of the substrate to the opposite side surface, reconnecting the wiring.

  In such a branch unit that changes the position of the board and secures the degree of freedom of installation, changing the position of the board may confuse the operator who performs wiring connection with respect to the wiring order. For this reason, erroneous wiring may be caused at the time of assembly after disassembly, and it may take time to confirm the connection of the wiring.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a branch refrigerant relay unit of an air conditioner that can easily improve the degree of freedom of installation without complicated work. There is to do.

A branch refrigerant relay unit according to a first aspect of the present invention is a branch refrigerant relay unit that branches a refrigerant pipe into a plurality of branch refrigerant pipes, and includes a main body portion and a substrate portion. A main-body part accommodates the several motor operated valve for adjusting the pressure reduction degree of the refrigerant | coolant in several branch refrigerant | coolant piping. The substrate part has a substrate, attachment means, an attachment member, and a cover member. The substrate is electrically connected to the plurality of motor-operated valves by the motor-operated valve wiring, and is electrically connected to the plurality of indoor unit wirings extending from each indoor unit to which the plurality of branch refrigerant pipes are respectively connected. It is electrically connected to the outdoor unit wiring extending from the outdoor unit to which the pipe is connected. The attachment means is means for attaching the substrate to the main body. The attachment member is provided with attachment means. The cover member forms a substrate casing that surrounds the substrate together with the mounting member. The main body portion is provided at a predetermined position and corresponds to the first attachment means corresponding to the attachment means of the substrate portion, and the second attachment means provided at a position different from the first attachment means and corresponding to the attachment means of the substrate portion. And have. The substrate portion maintains the connection state with the electric valve wiring, the plurality of indoor unit wirings, and the outdoor unit wiring, and without disassembling the substrate casing. It is possible to change between a first installation state attached to the attachment means and installed and a second installation state attached to the second attached means. In addition, the case where it attaches using a hook, a screw stop, a screw stop, a nail | claw structure etc. is included as a 1st to-be-attached means of a main-body part, a 2nd to-be-attached means, and an attaching means of a board | substrate part.

  In the conventional branching refrigerant relay unit, in order to secure the degree of freedom during installation, the motor valve wiring connected to the internal motor operated valve must be pulled out from the substrate, disassembled, and then reconnected. . For this reason, the deformation | transformation operation | work for ensuring the installation freedom degree of a branch refrigerant | coolant relay unit will become complicated.

On the other hand, in the branched refrigerant relay unit of the first invention, the main body portion has two attached means, that is, a first attached means and a second attached means corresponding to the attaching means of the board portion. Thereby, the branching refrigerant relay unit can selectively adopt two installation states, ie, the first installation state and the second installation state, as the installation state of the substrate section, thereby ensuring a degree of freedom of installation.

Further, the branching refrigerant relay unit can change between the first installation state and the second installation state of the substrate section while maintaining the connection state of the motor valve wiring. For example, the wiring for the motor-operated valve may be connected to the circuit board and the motor-operated valve through a board-part-side pipe outlet hole provided in the base-board part and a main-body-part side pipe outlet hole provided in the main body part. . Thereby, the change of the installation state of a board | substrate part can be performed by a simple operation | work, without performing the removal operation | work of the motor valve wiring inside a board | substrate part. In addition, since the first installation state and the second installation state are changed while the wiring connection state is maintained, it is not necessary to reconnect the wiring, and erroneous wiring can be prevented.

  Therefore, in the branched refrigerant relay unit of the first invention, it is possible to easily improve the degree of freedom of installation while preventing miswiring without involving complicated work.

Further, here, the substrate portion, and a mounting member and the cover portion. Then, the mounting member and the cover part can be combined to form a substrate casing and surround the substrate. Thereby, a board | substrate can be protected. And it changes to the 1st installation state with respect to the 1st to-be-attached means, and the 2nd installation state with respect to the 2nd to-be-attached means, without disassembling the substrate casing which has the attaching means and surrounds the board | substrate. can do.

  Therefore, it is possible to more easily perform the operation of deforming the branch refrigerant relay unit at the time of installation by simply moving the substrate casing without disassembling it.

In addition, here, regarding the installation state of the substrate portion with respect to the main body portion, the mutual change between the first installation state and the second installation state is performed by changing the wiring of the motor valve wiring, the indoor unit wiring, and the outdoor unit wiring. This can be done while maintaining the connection state.

  Therefore, even when the wiring of the motor-operated valve, the wiring for the indoor unit, and the wiring for the outdoor unit is connected in the connection state between the substrate portion and the main body portion, it is simple without complicated work. In addition, it is possible to perform the modification work of the branch refrigerant relay unit.

A branch refrigerant relay unit according to a second invention is the branch refrigerant relay unit according to the first invention, and in the first installed state, the direction of the surface of the surface of the substrate casing from which the wiring for the motor valve extends, The relationship between the orientation of the surface of the main body portion where the wiring for the motorized valve extends, and the orientation of the surface of the surface of the substrate casing where the wiring for the motorized valve extends, in the second installation state. In addition, the first installation state and the second installation state can be changed so that the relationship between the surface of the main body portion and the surface of the motor valve wiring extending from the surface is maintained.

  A branch refrigerant relay unit according to a third aspect of the present invention is the branch refrigerant relay unit according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the main body portion is provided with a first mounted means on the first surface, and the second mounted The means is provided on the second surface which is disposed substantially opposite to the first surface.

Here, the 1st to-be-attached means and the 2nd to-be-attached means for attaching a board | substrate part are provided in the 1st surface and 2nd surface which have the relationship of the other side in a main body part. For this reason, in the 1st installation state and the 2nd installation state, it will be in the state where the attachment state of the substrate part to the main-body part was substantially reversed. In this case, the position of the motor-operated valve on the main body viewed from the board is also substantially reversed, and a mistake is likely to occur when specifying the motor-operated valve to be connected to the wiring, and miswiring is likely. However, in the branch refrigerant relay unit of the third invention, the change operation between the first installation state and the second installation state is performed while maintaining the connection state of the motor valve wiring.

  Therefore, even when the substrate portion is attached to the first surface and the second surface that are substantially opposite to each other in the main body portion, miswiring is prevented from occurring in the deformation work of the branching refrigerant relay unit. It becomes possible.

A branch refrigerant relay unit according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the branch refrigerant relay unit according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein a wiring correspondence display for connecting each indoor unit wiring to a corresponding portion of the substrate. Is further provided.

  Here, there are a plurality of indoor unit wirings from the indoor unit to which each branch refrigerant pipe is connected. The plurality of indoor unit wirings are respectively connected to corresponding portions of the substrate. The branch refrigerant relay unit according to the fifth aspect of the invention is provided with a wiring correspondence display for connecting a plurality of indoor unit wirings to appropriate locations on the substrate.

  Therefore, even when the substrate unit and the main unit are connected only for the motorized valve wiring, erroneous wiring can be prevented in the operation of connecting the indoor unit wiring from a plurality of indoor units. become.

  In addition, since the wiring connection can be performed according to the wiring correspondence display, even when there are a plurality of indoor unit wirings, appropriate wiring connection work can be easily performed.

A branch refrigerant relay unit according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the branch refrigerant relay unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, and the wiring correspondence display is provided at one place in the vicinity of the attachment means.

Here, the wiring correspondence display is provided at one place in the vicinity of the attaching means provided corresponding to the substrate in the substrate portion. For this reason, even when connecting a plurality of indoor unit wirings to corresponding locations on the board, there is one wiring correspondence display in the vicinity of the mounting means provided corresponding to the board to be connected. When connecting the indoor unit wiring, it is easy to refer to the wiring correspondence display. Further, even when the installation state of the substrate unit with respect to the main body unit is changed, the wiring target display moves while maintaining the display corresponding state with the movement of the substrate unit.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous wiring more reliably.

A branching refrigerant relay unit according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the branching refrigerant relay unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the wiring correspondence display has two locations near the first mounted means and the second mounted means in the main body. Are provided so as to correspond to the respective positions.

Here, the wiring correspondence display is provided in two places in the main body portion, in the vicinity of the first attached means to which the substrate portion is attached and in the vicinity of the second attached means. Therefore, even when a plurality of indoor unit wirings are connected to corresponding portions of the board, the vicinity of the first attached means and the second attached means so as to correspond to the state in which the board part is attached to the main body part. It is possible to refer to the wiring correspondence displays at two nearby locations as appropriate. For this reason, when performing the connection work of the indoor unit wiring, it is easy to refer to the wiring correspondence display in any installation state.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous wiring more reliably.

In the branch refrigerant relay unit according to the first invention, the branch refrigerant relay unit according to the first invention can easily improve the degree of freedom of installation while preventing miswiring without complicated work, and disassembles the substrate casing. The branch refrigerant relay unit can be easily deformed at the time of installation by simply moving it without installing the motor valve wiring and indoor unit wiring in the connected state between the substrate section and the main body section. Even when the three wirings for the outdoor unit are connected, it is possible to easily perform the deformation work of the branch refrigerant relay unit without complicated work.

  In the branch refrigerant relay unit according to the third aspect of the invention, even when the substrate portion is attached to the first surface and the second surface that are substantially opposite to each other in the main body portion, the branch refrigerant relay unit is deformed. In this case, it is possible to prevent erroneous wiring.

In the branching refrigerant relay unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the operation of connecting the wiring for indoor units from a plurality of indoor units, even when the substrate portion and the main body are wired only for the motor valve wiring It becomes possible to prevent miswiring.

In the branched refrigerant relay unit according to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous wiring more reliably.

In the branched refrigerant relay unit according to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent erroneous wiring more reliably.

<Outline of the Invention>
The present invention provides a branch refrigerant relay unit that branches a refrigerant pipe into a plurality of branch refrigerant pipes. The branched refrigerant relay unit of the present invention includes a substrate portion (electrical component box) and a main body portion, and the mounting position of the substrate portion with respect to the main body portion can be changed without removing the electrical wiring. This is characterized in that erroneous wiring can be prevented while changing the mounting position of the board portion by a simple operation to provide a degree of freedom of installation.

  Hereinafter, the branch refrigerant relay unit (branch unit 5) of the present invention applied to an air conditioner will be specifically described.

<Outline of air conditioner configuration>
An outline of the configuration of an air conditioner including a branch unit 5 as an example of the refrigerant relay branch unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The air conditioner 1 includes one outdoor unit 40 and a plurality of indoor units 10, 20, and 30.

  In the outdoor unit 40, an air flow is generated to exchange heat between a part of the refrigerant circuit such as an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an accumulator, and a four-way switching valve and the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger and the outside air. A propeller fan to be driven, a fan motor for driving the propeller fan, a thermistor for detecting the refrigerant temperature in the outdoor heat exchanger, a control circuit for controlling the apparatus, and the like are incorporated.

  The indoor units 10, 20, and 30 each include an indoor heat exchanger, a temperature sensor for detecting the indoor temperature, and a cross flow that generates an air flow for heat exchange between the indoor heat exchanger and the indoor air. A fan, a fan motor for driving the cross flow fan, a control circuit for controlling the fan motor by communicating with the outdoor unit 40, and the like are provided.

  The outdoor heat exchanger in the outdoor unit 40 and the indoor heat exchangers in the indoor units 10, 20, 30 are connected via the refrigerant pipe 41 and the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31. A branch unit 5 for branching from the refrigerant pipe 41 on the side to the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31 on the indoor unit side is installed.

<Outline of branch unit>
A schematic configuration of the branch unit 5 is shown in FIG.

  The branch unit 5 includes a main body 50 and an electric component box 70 that is attached to the main body 50 and controls electric components in the main body 50.

  The branch unit 5 is equipped with a refrigerant circuit in which a VRV control system (Variable Refrigerant Volume) is adopted. With the refrigerant circuit employing this VRV control system, a refrigerant circuit with a plurality of indoor units 10, 20, and 30 can be configured even if there is only one outdoor unit 40 (see FIG. 1).

  The branch unit 5 includes a main body 50, an electrical component box 70, a refrigerant pipe 41, branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31 and the like.

  An electrical component box 70 provided with a substrate 71 (described later) for controlling each device is screwed to the main body 50 with screws 75.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the refrigerant pipe 41 is a pipe extending from the outdoor unit 40 side among the pipes in the main body 50, and includes a gas pipe 42 and a liquid pipe 43.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, and 31 are pipes extending from the indoor units 10, 20, and 30 among the pipes that are internally housed in the main body 50, and the gas pipes 12, 22, 32 and liquid tubes 13, 23, 33. The branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, and 31 are arranged in the horizontal direction with respect to the installation of the branch unit 5. Thereby, the structure of the branch unit 5 which has the branch refrigerant | coolant piping 11, 21, and 31 built in can be made into the structure which can be divided | segmented into an up-down direction easily.

  In a building where a plurality of indoor units 10, 20, and 30 are arranged, the branch unit 5 is connected to the indoor units 10, 20, and 30 from the viewpoint of maintaining high installation efficiency and efficiency of refrigerant capacity. It is placed indoors such as behind the ceiling so that the distance (pipe length) is as short as possible. In this case, the location of the branch unit 5 may be close to the bathroom or around the water, and the branch unit 5 is required to have a high degree of airtightness. Moreover, since the installation location tends to be narrow, the ease of disassembly during maintenance is also required. For this reason, in the branch unit 5, the heat insulation structure with high airtightness and the structure which ensured the decomposition | disassembly ease are employ | adopted.

  Hereinafter, the internal structure of the branch unit 5 that employs a highly airtight heat insulating structure and ensures ease of disassembly will be described.

<Internal structure of branch unit 5>
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the branch unit 5, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a heat insulation structure of the branch unit 5.

  As described above, the branch unit 5 includes the main body 50, the electrical component box 70, the refrigerant pipe 41, the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31 and the branch portion 88.

  The branch portion 88 is a portion for branching the refrigerant pipe 41 into three branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, and 31, and includes a branch pipe 88a and a gas-liquid heat exchange unit 88b. The branch pipe 88a connects the gas pipe 42 on the outdoor unit 40 side while branching it to the plurality of gas pipes 12, 22, 32 on the indoor unit 10, 20, 30 side. The gas-liquid heat exchange unit 88b connects the liquid pipe 43 on the outdoor unit 40 side to the liquid pipes 13, 23, and 33 on the indoor unit 10, 20, 30 side while branching. The gas-liquid heat exchange unit 88b is for exchanging heat between the high-temperature refrigerant liquid and the low-temperature refrigerant gas, and a refrigerant circuit (see FIG. 5) for reintroducing refrigerant into the gas-liquid heat exchange unit 88b. Not shown). In the refrigerant circulation path, motor-operated valves 81, 82, and 83 are provided on the indoor units 10, 20, and 30 side of the gas-liquid heat exchange unit 88b for decompression during cooling and refrigerant distribution during heating. . These motorized valves 81, 82, 83 each have an expansion valve, and the degree of decompression of the refrigerant is adjusted by controlling the opening degree of each expansion valve, and the amount of refrigerant passing through the pipe is controlled. It is possible.

  Further, in the vicinity of the branch portion 88, the gas pipes 12, 22, and 32 on the indoor unit side perform isothermal control during cooling and detect the internal refrigerant temperature in order to prevent condensation on the pipes. A thermistor (not shown) is provided. Furthermore, the liquid pipes 13, 23, 33 on the indoor unit side are provided with liquid pipe thermistors (not shown) that detect the internal refrigerant temperature in order to perform isothermal control during heating.

  The gas pipe 42 and the liquid pipe 43 constituting the refrigerant pipe 41 are formed with an outdoor unit-side separation portion in which the distance from each other increases in the vertical direction as the distance from the inside of the main body 50 toward the outdoor unit 40 increases. . A rubber-like rubber bush 64 that surrounds the gas pipe 42 and the liquid pipe 43 is provided between the outdoor unit-side separation portion and the branch portion 88.

  The gas pipes 12, 22, 32 and the liquid pipes 13, 23, 33 constituting the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31 are separated from each other as they move away from the inside of the main body 50 toward the indoor units 10, 20, 30. An indoor unit side separation portion is formed in which the vertical separation is made in the vertical direction. And between this indoor unit side separation | separation part and the branch part 88, the rubber-like rubber bush 61 surrounding so that each of the gas pipes 12, 22, 32 and the liquid pipes 13, 23, 33 may be integrated, 62 and 63 are provided.

  Here, in the refrigerant pipe 41 and the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31, the liquid pipes 43, 13, 23, 33 are arranged on the lower side at a predetermined distance or more away from the gas pipes 42, 12, 22, 32. Adopted. Thereby, even when the branch unit 5 is installed in a narrow area such as the back of the ceiling, maintenance can be easily performed by making it easier to put a hand between the pipes. Further, the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31 are arranged in the horizontal direction with respect to the installation of the branch unit 5. For this reason, the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, and 31 are provided at the same height, so that even if the branch unit 5 is provided at a high place, it can be easily operated by an operator who performs maintenance. Become. Moreover, since each branch refrigerant | coolant piping 11, 21, and 31 is arrange | positioned along with the horizontal direction, in the construction process of the branch unit 5, operations, such as brazing and welding which progress work sequentially in the perpendicular direction, are performed. It can be made easier.

(Structure of the main body 50)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main body 50 includes a heat insulating material resin casing 51, a foam heat insulating material casing 54, a sheet metal casing 57, and a pipe receiving portion 59.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the heat insulating resin casing 51 includes an upper resin casing 52 located on the upper side with respect to the surface on which the branch refrigerant pipe is provided, and a lower resin casing 53 located on the lower side. Yes. The upper resin casing 52 and the lower resin casing 53 are formed of an injection molding resin having excellent fire spreadability. The upper resin casing 52 and the lower resin casing 53 are in contact with each other from above and below so that a part of the refrigerant pipe 41, a part of the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, and 31 and a branch part 88 are accommodated therein. A rectangular parallelepiped casing is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, a heat insulating space is provided between the heat insulating material resin casing 51, a part of the refrigerant pipe 41, a part of the branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, and 31 and a branch part 88. 50S is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper resin casing 52 and the lower resin casing 53 contact each other while sandwiching the rubber bushes 61, 62, 63, 64 provided integrally with the gas pipe and the liquid pipe described above. Touch.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the foam heat insulating material casing 54 is provided so as to contact the outer periphery of the heat insulating material resin casing 51. The upper heat insulating material casing 55 is provided so as to contact the upper side of the upper resin casing 52, and the lower heat insulating material casing 56 is provided so as to contact the lower side of the lower resin casing 53. The upper heat insulating material casing 55 and the lower heat insulating material casing 56 are formed of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), which is a styrenic resin excellent in heat insulating properties. Here, since a styrene resin is employed without using a urethane resin, the degree of moisture absorption when exposed to air can be suppressed. The upper heat insulating material casing 55 is in contact with the upper resin casing 52 described above, and the lower heat insulating material casing 56 is in contact with the lower resin casing 53 together with the heat insulating material resin casing 51 from above and below.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet metal casing 57 is provided so as to contact the outer periphery of the foam heat insulating material casing 54, and is provided with an upper sheet metal casing 57 a provided so as to contact the upper side of the upper heat insulating material casing 55, and a lower heat insulating material. The lower sheet metal casing 57b is provided so as to contact the lower side of the casing 56. The upper sheet metal casing 57a and the lower sheet metal casing 57b are formed of a metal casing. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the fire spread from the motor operated valves 81, 82, 83, etc. The upper sheet metal casing 57a and the lower sheet metal casing 57b are fitted to each other from above and below so as to surround the above-described heat insulating material resin casing 51 and the foamed heat insulating material casing 54, and are screwed together by screws (not shown). Thereby, force is applied so that the foam heat insulating material casing 54 and the heat insulating material resin casing 51 press each other in the vertical direction, and the airtightness of the heat insulating structure can be improved.

  The upper sheet metal casing 57a includes a first side surface portion 58a located on the left side when viewed from the outdoor unit 40 side, and a second side surface located on the right side when viewed from the outdoor unit 40 side and opposite to the first side surface portion 58a. It has a portion 58b, an outdoor unit side surface 58c, an indoor unit side surface 58d, and an upper surface 58e. The first side surface portion 58a is provided with a first attachment hole 65 for attaching the electrical component box 70 with a substrate attachment claw portion 77 (described later). Similarly, a second attachment hole 66 is provided in the second side surface portion 58b. The electrical component box 70 is detachably attached to the main body 50 through the attachment holes 65 and 66.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pipe receiving unit 59 includes an outdoor unit side pipe receiving unit 44 and indoor unit side pipe receiving units 14, 24, and 34. The outdoor unit side pipe receiving part 44 has a first receiving member 44a and a second receiving member 44b. The first receiving member 44a and the second receiving member 44b sandwich the refrigerant pipe 41 (the gas pipe 42 and the liquid pipe 43) by fitting from the left and right directions when viewed from the outdoor unit 40 side. The indoor unit side pipe receiving part 14 (14a, 14b), the indoor pipe receiving part 24 (24a, 24b), and the indoor pipe receiving part 34 (34a, 34b) are similar to the outdoor unit side pipe receiving part 44 described above. The description is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, one side of the main body 50 is arranged with the gas pipe 42 and the liquid pipe 43 on the outdoor unit 40 side exposed from the outdoor unit side pipe receiving part 44. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the other side of the main body 50 is configured such that the gas pipes 12, 22, 32 and the liquid pipes 13, 23, 33 on the indoor units 10, 20, 30 side are indoor unit side pipe receiving portions. 14, 24, and 34 are exposed.

(Structure of electrical component box 70)
As shown in FIG. 3, the electrical component box 70 includes a substrate 71, a substrate cover 72, a substrate mounting frame 73, and the like.

  The substrate 71 is connected to electrical components and the like housed in the main body 50 through electrical wiring. The substrate 71 is mounted with a CPU, ROM, RAM, power supply circuit, and the like for controlling the apparatus.

  Here, the substrate casing 74 is configured by fitting the substrate cover 72 and the substrate mounting frame 73 together. The substrate 71 is accommodated in the substrate casing 74, and the substrate 71, the substrate cover 72, and the substrate mounting frame 73 are integrally handled as the electrical component box 70.

  The electrical component box 70 can be attached to both the first side surface portion 58 a and the second side surface portion 58 b of the main body 50. Specifically, a board mounting claw portion 77 is provided on the board mounting frame 73 of the electrical component box 70 whose mounting location can be changed. In the electrical component box 70, the board attachment claw 77 is formed with respect to the first attachment hole 65 of the first side face 58a of the main body 50 or the second attachment hole of the second side face 58b of the main body 50. 66 (see FIG. 5) and attached to the main body 50 by being hooked.

  Here, in a state where the electrical component box 70 is attached to the main body 50, the substrate 71 is arranged as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 shows a detailed configuration of the substrate 71.

  The substrate 71 has a plurality of electrical components for controlling the motor operated valves 81, 82, 83, and for receiving signals from the above-described gas pipe thermistor, liquid pipe thermistor, each of the indoor units 10, 20, 30 and the outdoor unit 40. Has been implemented. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the indoor units 10, 20, and 30 are electrically connected to the substrate 71 via the indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, and 79c. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the motor operated valves 81, 82, 83 are electrically connected to the substrate 71 via motor operated valve wiring 78. As shown in FIG. 8, the outdoor unit 40 is electrically connected to the substrate 71 via the outdoor unit wiring 79d. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, power supply wiring 79e and the like are also electrically connected to the substrate 71.

  The gas pipe thermistor, the liquid pipe thermistor, and the like described above are connected to the substrate 71 via a harness (not shown), and the harness is grouped together in the electric valve wiring 78.

  The electric valve wiring 78, the outdoor unit wiring 79d, the indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c, the power supply wiring 79e, and the like are provided inside the main body 50 as shown in FIGS. , Connected to the substrate 71 in the electrical component box 70.

(Installation of electrical component box 70)
FIG. 7 shows a side view of the branch unit 5 on the indoor unit side.

  Here, the side view of the indoor unit side of the branch unit 5 in a state where the electrical component box 70 is attached to the first side surface portion 58a (first attachment state) is shown. Here, a wiring correspondence display 97 is provided on the outdoor unit side surface 58 c of the sheet metal casing 57 of the main body 50. Thereby, at the time of construction, the indoor unit wirings 79 a, 79 b, 79 c extending from the indoor units 10, 20, 30 can be easily connected to the corresponding portions of the substrate 71 without making a mistake.

  FIG. 8 shows a side view of the branch unit 5 on the outdoor unit side.

  Here, the outdoor unit side side view of the branch unit 5 in a state where the electrical component box 70 is attached to the first side surface portion 58a (first attachment state) is shown. Here, the motor-operated valve wiring 78 (including the harness) is taken out from the inside of the main body 50 through the main body side pipe outlet hole 150 provided on the indoor unit side surface 58 d of the sheet metal casing 57 of the main body 50. Then, it is connected to the substrate 71 inside the electrical component box 70 through the electrical component box side piping outlet hole 170.

  FIG. 9 shows how the mounting position of the electrical component box 70 of the branch unit 5 is changed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, here, the electrical component box 70 includes electric valve wiring 78 (including a harness) for the electric valves 81, 82, 83 inside the main body 50, the liquid pipe thermistor, the gas pipe thermistor, and the like. From the state where the electrical component box 70 is attached to the first side surface portion 58a (first attachment state) while maintaining the connection state with the substrate 71 in the electrical component box 70 via the electrical component box 70. Can be changed to a state of being attached to the second side surface portion 58b (second attachment state).

  Specifically, the electrical component box 70 is maintained from the first attachment state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 9 to the second attachment state indicated by the dotted line while maintaining the wiring connection state by the electric valve wiring 78 (including the harness). The branch unit 5 can be deformed by moving to. Thereby, the installation freedom is improved.

<Characteristics of the branch unit 5 according to this embodiment>
(1)
Generally, in the conventional branch unit, in order to secure the degree of freedom during installation, the motor valve wiring connected to the internal motor operated valve must be pulled out from the board, disassembled, and then reconnected. . For this reason, the deformation | transformation work for ensuring the installation freedom degree of a branch unit will become complicated.

  On the other hand, in the branch unit 5 in the above-described embodiment, the main body 50 has two attachment hole portions, a first attachment hole portion 65 and a second attachment hole portion 66 corresponding to the board attachment claw portion 77 of the electrical component box 70. 65, 66. Thereby, the branch unit 5 can secure the degree of freedom of installation by selectively adopting the two attachment states of the first attachment state and the second attachment state as the attachment state of the electrical component box 70.

  Moreover, the branch unit 5 can perform the change between the first attachment state and the second attachment state of the electrical component box 70 while maintaining the connection state of the electric valve wiring 78 (including the harness). For example, the motor-operated valve wiring 78 (including the harness) is electrically connected to the substrate 71 through the electrical component box side piping outlet hole 170 provided in the electrical component box 70 and the main body side piping outlet hole 150 provided in the main body 50. Wire connection with the valves 81, 82, 83 may be made. Thereby, the attachment state of the electrical component box 70 can be changed by a simple operation without performing the removal operation of the electric valve wiring 78 (including the harness) inside the electrical component box 70. In addition, since the first mounting state and the second mounting state are changed while the wiring connection state is maintained, it is not necessary to reconnect the wiring, and erroneous wiring can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to easily improve the degree of freedom of installation while preventing erroneous wiring without complicated work.

(2)
Further, in the branch unit 5 in the above embodiment, the electrical component box 70 includes the board mounting frame 73 and the board cover 72. Then, the board mounting frame 73 and the board cover 72 can be combined to form a board casing 74 and surround the board 71. Thereby, the board | substrate 71 can be protected. The first mounting state with respect to the first mounting hole 65 and the second mounting hole 66 are maintained without disassembling the substrate casing 74 having the substrate mounting claw 77 and surrounding the substrate 71. It can change to the 2nd attachment state.

  Therefore, the deformation | transformation operation | work of the branch unit 5 at the time of installation can be performed more easily only by moving the substrate casing 74 as it is, without disassembling.

(3)
Moreover, in the branch unit 5 in the said embodiment, the 1st side surface part 58a in which the 1st attachment hole part 65 and the 2nd attachment hole part 66 for attaching the electrical component box 70 are in the mutually opposite relationship in the main body 50 mutually. And the second side surface portion 58b. For this reason, in the first attachment state and the second attachment state, the attachment state of the electrical component box 70 with respect to the main body 50 is substantially reversed. In this case, the positions of the motor-operated valves 81, 82, and 83 of the main body 50 as viewed from the electrical component box 70 are also substantially reversed, and a mistake is made in identifying the motor-operated valves 81, 82, and 83 that are wiring connection targets. Is likely to occur and miswiring is likely to occur.

  However, in the branch unit 5 of the above embodiment, the change operation between the first attachment state and the second attachment state not only maintains the wiring connection state of the motor valve wiring 78 (including the harness), but also for the outdoor unit. The connection state of the wiring 79d, the indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c, the power supply wiring 79e, and the like can also be performed while maintaining the wiring connection state. Therefore, even when the electrical component box 70 is attached to the first side surface portion 58a and the second side surface portion 58b that are in a substantially opposite relationship with each other in the main body 50, incorrect wiring is caused in the deformation work of the branch unit 5. It can be prevented from occurring.

(4)
Moreover, in the branch unit 5 in the said embodiment, about the attachment state of the electrical component box 70 with respect to the main body 50, the mutual change of a 1st attachment state and a 2nd attachment state is carried out of the wiring 78 for motor-operated valves (including a harness). In addition to maintaining the wiring connection state, the connection state of the outdoor unit wiring 79d, the indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c, the power supply wiring 79e, and the like can be performed while maintaining the wiring connection state. .

  Therefore, when the electrical component box 70 and the main body 50 are connected, wiring such as the electric valve wiring 78, the indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c, the outdoor unit wiring 79d, and the power supply wiring 79e are connected. Even if it exists, the deformation | transformation operation | work of the branch unit 5 can be easily performed without accompanying a complicated operation | work.

(5)
In the branch unit 5 in the above embodiment, there are a plurality of indoor unit wires 79a, 79b, 79c from the indoor units 10, 20, 30 to which the respective branch refrigerant pipes 11, 21, 31 are connected. The plurality of indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c are connected to corresponding portions of the substrate 71, respectively. The branch unit 5 of the above embodiment is provided with a wiring correspondence display 97 for connecting the plurality of indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c to appropriate corresponding portions of the substrate 71. Therefore, even if the electrical component box 70 and the main body 50 are connected only for the motor-operated valve wiring 78 (including the harness), the indoor unit wiring 79a from the plurality of indoor units 10, 20, and 30 is used. , 79b, 79c can be prevented from being miswired. In addition, since the wiring connection can be performed according to the wiring correspondence display 97, even when there are a plurality of indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c, appropriate wiring connection work can be easily performed.

(6)
Further, in the branch unit 5 in the above embodiment, the wiring correspondence display 97 is provided at one location in the vicinity of the board mounting claw portion 77 provided in correspondence with the board 71 in the electrical component box 70. For this reason, even when connecting a plurality of indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, 79c to corresponding portions of the substrate 71, in the vicinity of the substrate attachment claw portion 77 provided corresponding to the substrate 71 to be connected. Since there is one wiring correspondence display 97, it is easy to refer to the wiring correspondence display 97 when connecting the indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, and 79c. Further, even when the mounting state of the electrical component box 70 with respect to the main body 50 is changed, the wiring target display 97 moves while maintaining the display corresponding state as the electrical component box 70 moves. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous wiring more reliably.

<Other embodiments>
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.

  In the branch unit 5 of the above embodiment, the wiring correspondence display 97 is provided as an example in the electrical component box 70 in the vicinity of the board mounting claw portion 77 provided in correspondence with the board 71. explained.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wiring correspondence display is based on the wiring correspondence display in the vicinity of the first mounting hole 65 and the wiring in the vicinity of the second mounting hole 66 in the main body 50. It may be provided at two locations on the correspondence display. Even when the plurality of indoor unit wirings 79 a, 79 b, 79 c are connected to corresponding portions of the substrate 71, the first mounting hole portion corresponds to the state in which the electrical component box 70 is attached to the main body 50. Two wiring correspondence displays in the vicinity of 65 and in the vicinity of the second mounting hole 66 can be easily referred to as appropriate. Even in this case, when performing the connection work of the indoor unit wirings 79a, 79b, and 79c, the wiring correspondence display can be referred to in any mounting state, and erroneous wiring can be prevented more reliably.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily improve the degree of freedom of installation without complicated work simply by changing the arrangement of the electrical component box. Therefore, the electrical equipment for branching the refrigerant pipe into a plurality of branch refrigerant pipes Application to a branch unit provided with a product box is particularly useful.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance schematic structure of the air conditioner by which one Embodiment of this invention was employ | adopted. The schematic block diagram of a branch unit. The disassembled perspective view of a branch unit. Sectional drawing which shows heat insulation structure. The disassembled perspective view which shows the relationship between the main body of a branch unit, and a board | substrate. The top view of a board | substrate. The indoor unit side side view of a branch unit. The outdoor unit side side view of a branch unit. The figure which shows the mode of the attachment position change of the electrical component box of a branch unit.

5 Branch unit (branch refrigerant relay unit)
10, 20, 30 Indoor unit 11, 21, 31 Branched refrigerant piping 40 Outdoor unit 41 Refrigerant piping 50 Main body (main body)
58a 1st side surface part (1st surface)
58b Second side surface (second surface)
65 First mounting hole (first mounted means)
66 Second mounting hole (second mounting means)
70 Electrical component box (board part)
71 Substrate 72 Substrate cover (cover member)
73 Board mounting frame (mounting member)
74 Substrate casing 77 Substrate attachment claw (attachment means)
78 Electric valve wiring 79a, 79b, 79c Indoor unit wiring 79d Outdoor unit wiring 81, 82, 83 Electric valve 97 Wiring indication

Claims (6)

A branch refrigerant relay unit (5) for branching the refrigerant pipe (41) into a plurality of branch refrigerant pipes (11, 21, 31),
A main body (50) that houses a plurality of motor-operated valves (81, 82, 83) for adjusting the degree of pressure reduction of the refrigerant in the plurality of branch refrigerant pipes (11, 21, 31);
Each indoor unit (10 ) electrically connected to the plurality of motor-operated valves (81, 82, 83) by the motor-operated valve wiring (78) and connected to the plurality of branch refrigerant pipes (11, 21, 31), respectively. , 20, 30) are electrically connected to the plurality of indoor unit wirings (79a, 79b, 79c), and are extended from the outdoor unit (40) to which the refrigerant pipe (41) is connected. A substrate (71) electrically connected to the wiring (79d) for use ;
Attachment means (77) for attaching the substrate (71) to the main body (50) ;
An attachment member (73) provided with the attachment means (77);
A cover member (72) that forms a substrate casing (74) surrounding the substrate (71) in one set with the mounting member (73);
A substrate portion (70) having:
With
The main body part (50) is provided at a predetermined position and is provided at a position different from the first attached means corresponding to the attaching means (77) of the substrate part (70) and the first attached means. Second mounting means (66) corresponding to the mounting means (77) of the substrate portion (70),
The substrate portion (70) maintains a connection state with the electric valve wiring (78), the plurality of indoor unit wirings (79a, 79b, 79c) and the outdoor unit wiring (79d), And the 1st installation state attached to the said 1st to-be-attached means of the said main-body part (50) and the said 2nd to-be-attached means (66) in the state as it is, without disassembling the said substrate casing (74). ) Can be changed to the second installation state installed and installed ,
Branch refrigerant relay unit (5).   In the first installation state, the direction of the surface of the substrate casing (74) from which the motor valve wiring (78) extends and the motor valve of the surface of the main body (50). The direction of the surface from which the wiring (78) extends,
  In the second installation state, the direction of the surface of the substrate casing (74) from which the motor valve wiring (78) extends and the motor valve of the surface of the main body (50). The direction of the surface from which the wiring (78) extends,
The first installation state and the second installation state can be changed so that is maintained,
The branched refrigerant relay unit (5) according to claim 1. In the main body (50), the first attached means is provided on the first surface (58a), and the second attached means (66) is disposed on the substantially opposite side to the first surface (51a). Provided on the second surface (58b),
The branched refrigerant relay unit (5) according to claim 1 or 2. A wiring correspondence display (95, 96, 97) for connecting each of the indoor unit wiring (79a, 79b, 79c) to a corresponding portion of the substrate (71);
The branching refrigerant relay unit (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The wiring correspondence display (97) is provided at one place in the vicinity of the attachment means (77).
The branched refrigerant relay unit (5) according to claim 4 . The wiring correspondence display is provided so as to correspond to each position at two locations of the main body (50) in the vicinity of the first attached means and in the vicinity of the second attached means (66).
The branched refrigerant relay unit (5) according to claim 4 .

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