JP7635521B2 - Air conditioner outdoor unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and more specifically, to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having two blower fans.

In many cases, the interior of the housing of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is divided into a blower chamber in which the blower fan is housed, and a machine chamber in which the heat exchanger and compressor are housed. In an up-blowing type outdoor unit, an air outlet is provided on the top surface (upper face) of the housing, the blower chamber is located at the top of the housing, and the machine chamber is located at the bottom of the housing. An electrical equipment box that houses the electrical components of the control system is also provided in the machine chamber.

Large models that require high air conditioning capacity may be equipped with multiple blower fans (for example, two, a first blower fan and a second blower fan) and multiple compressors (for example, two, a first compressor and a second compressor). In this case, for example, the inside of the housing is further divided into left and right. Looking at the housing from the front, the machine room is divided into a left machine room on the left side and a right machine room on the right side, and the blower room is also divided into a left blower room on the left side and a right blower room on the right side.

The first compressor is placed in the left machine room and the second compressor in the right machine room, while the first blower fan is placed in the left blower room and the second blower fan is placed in the right blower room. The heat exchanger may be placed as an integrated unit across the left and right machine rooms, or it may be divided into two and placed separately in the left and right machine rooms.

In addition, an electrical equipment box (referred to as the first electrical equipment box) is placed in the left machine room, and an electrical equipment box (referred to as the second electrical equipment box) is placed in the right machine room.

Each electrical equipment box is equipped with various control circuit boards, including an inverter board for the compressor and an inverter board for the fan motor. Typically, these inverter boards are equipped with an IPM (Intelligent Power Module), which is a power semiconductor element.

For example, IPMs and electrolytic capacitors generate heat when the inverter board on which they are mounted is in operation, and therefore need to be cooled. Normally, heat sinks are attached to heat-generating components such as IPMs, but in order to cool them further by exposing them to airflow, the first electrical equipment box is placed in a position in the left machine room where airflow passes as the first blower fan in the left blower room rotates. Similarly, the second electrical equipment box is placed in a position in the right machine room where airflow passes as the second blower fan in the right blower room rotates. Each electrical equipment box has an air inlet at the bottom and an air outlet at the top.

In order to solve the above problems, a housing is provided which is partitioned into a blower chamber in an upper part in which at least two blower fans, a first blower fan and a second blower fan, are arranged side by side, and a machine chamber in a lower part in which a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger and an electrical equipment box accommodating a control unit for controlling the operation of at least the compressor and the blower fans are arranged,
the electrical equipment box is disposed on the windward side of the first blower fan and on the windward side of the second blower fan,
heat generating components including an IPM that needs to be cooled in the control unit are collectively arranged on the upwind side of the second blower fan of the electrical equipment box , and heat generating components including the IPM are not arranged on the upwind side of the first blower fan of the electrical equipment box, and heat generating components not including the IPM are arranged,
The second blower fan is operated during single fan operation in which only one of the two blower fans is operated.

However, the first and second blower fans are not always in operation (two-fan operation mode). For example, when the indoor unit temperature reaches near the set temperature or when the capacity requirements from the indoor units decrease due to a decrease in the number of indoor units in operation, the system may enter a one-fan operation mode in which either the first or second blower fan is in operation.

Conventionally, when entering single fan operation mode, there is no particular decision as to which blower fan to operate, and the control unit randomly selects which blower fan to operate. Also, with regard to the compressors, in single fan operation mode, taking into consideration the prevention of uneven distribution of refrigeration oil, there are cases where both the first compressor and the second compressor are operated continuously, and cases where one of the compressors is operated alternately.

For example, if the first blower fan on the left side is selected as the operating side, air will not flow easily to the second electrical equipment box, which is located downwind of the second blower fan on the right side. This causes a problem of insufficient cooling even if the IPM on the inverter board for the compressor in the second electrical equipment box is heating up due to the operation of the second compressor.

JP 2018-4230 A (see FIG. 5)

The object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit for an air conditioner having at least two blower fans, which, in a one-fan operation mode in which only one of the blower fans is in operation, can cool the heat-generating components that should be cooled by the other blower fan using the airflow from that one blower fan.

In order to solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a housing partitioned into a blower chamber in an upper portion in which at least two blower fans, a first blower fan and a second blower fan, are arranged side by side, and a machine chamber in a lower portion in which a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger and an electrical equipment box accommodating a control unit that controls operation of at least the compressor and the blower fans are arranged;
Heat generating components that require cooling, including the IPM, are concentrated and arranged in the control unit on the upwind side of the blower fan that is operated during single fan operation, when only one of the two blower fans is operated, and heat generating components not including the IPM are arranged on the upwind side of the other blower fan that is not operated during single fan operation .

The second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the electrical equipment box is composed of a first electrical equipment box on the windward side of the first blower fan and a second electrical equipment box on the windward side of the second blower fan, and the second electrical equipment box containing the heat-generating components is disposed on the windward side of the second blower fan that is operated during single fan operation.

The third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a support pillar for supporting the blower chamber is erected in the machine chamber, and the support pillar is disposed between the first electrical equipment box and the second electrical equipment box.

Furthermore, the second electrical equipment box is characterized in that an air flow path is formed through which air in the machine room flows from the bottom to the top, and air flows from the bottom to the top along the circuit board surface in the second electrical equipment box as the second blower fan operates.

According to the present invention, in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner having at least two blower fans, even in a one-fan operation mode in which only one of the blower fans is in operation, it is possible to reliably cool (air-cool) heat-generating components.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a service panel separated from a housing of the outdoor unit. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the entire front surface of a machine chamber of the outdoor unit is exposed. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a two-part electrical equipment box of the outdoor unit. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the inside of the electrical equipment box with the electrical equipment box cover removed. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an air flow path inside the electrical equipment box. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which both of the two divided electrical equipment boxes are open. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a part of the center pillar and an electrical equipment box adjacent to both sides of the center pillar. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a hinge portion attached to the center pillar. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main portion for explaining a hinge structure of the electrical component box. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main portion showing a drawer portion formed in an electrical equipment box divided into two parts. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a wiring portion of the electrical equipment box divided into two parts; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing a state in which the wiring portion of the connection wiring is covered with a wiring cover. 3A is a front perspective view of the wiring cover, and FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of the wiring cover. FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the wiring cover. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion showing a state in which electrical component box covers are placed on both sides of the wiring cover. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 16.

Next, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 17, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Overall Configuration (Basic Configuration)
1 to 4, an outdoor unit 1 of an air conditioner according to this embodiment (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the outdoor unit) is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped housing 10. Since the outdoor unit 1 is of an upward blowing type, a blower chamber 20 is disposed in the upper part of the housing 10, and a machine chamber 30 is disposed below the blower chamber 20.

The blower chamber 20 is surrounded by a front panel 231, a left side panel 232, a right side panel 233, a rear panel 234, and a top panel 235, and inside it, two propeller-type blower fans 210a, 210b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In addition, fan guards 220a, 220b for the blower fans 210a, 210b are provided on the top panel 235 of the blower chamber 20. In FIG. 4, when the housing 10 is viewed from the front, the space in the blower chamber 20 where the left blower fan 210a (first blower fan) is arranged is referred to as the left blower chamber 20L, and the space where the right blower fan 210b (second blower fan) is arranged is referred to as the right blower chamber 20R.

The machine room 30 is a space surrounded by a front, left side, right side and back (rear), of which the front 30a, right side 30b and left side 30c are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A bottom plate 301 is disposed on the bottom of the machine room 30, and the top of the machine room 30 is connected to the blower room 20.

Four service panels 311, 312, 313, and 314 are provided on the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 and can be removed for maintenance. When there is no need to distinguish between these service panels 311 to 314, they are collectively referred to as the service panel 310.

The machine room 30 contains a compressor, a heat exchanger 36, and the like. Although not shown in detail, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 36 is arranged in a generally U-shape in plan view from the left side surface 30c of the machine room 30 to the back surface and the center of the housing 10 in accordance with the arrangement of the first blower fan 210a and the second blower fan 210b. This heat exchanger 36 is divided into two units with a symmetrical shape.

An electrical equipment box 320 is located at the top of the front 30a side of the machinery room 30, but Figure 3 shows the state in which the electrical equipment box 320 has been removed, exposing the entire front 30a of the machinery room 30.

This outdoor unit 1 is a large outdoor unit used in multi-air conditioners for buildings (commercial multi-air conditioners) and the like, and is equipped with two compressors, a first compressor 351 and a second compressor 352, as the heat source section 350 on the heat source side of the refrigeration cycle. In this embodiment, the compressors are not shown because they are stored in a compressor storage box (compressor box) 353.

The electrical equipment box 320 is also large, spanning the entire width of the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 from the left end 30L to the right end 30R. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the electrical equipment box 320 consists of two boxes: a first electrical equipment box 321 on the left side and a second electrical equipment box 322 on the right side.

A center pillar (a support pillar arranged in the center) 40 having a predetermined width is erected in the center of the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 to increase the rigidity of the housing 10. The center pillar 40 divides the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 into left and right sides, with the first electrical equipment box 321 arranged on the left side of the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 (between the left end portion 30L and the center pillar 40) and the second electrical equipment box 322 arranged on the right side of the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 (between the right end portion 30R and the center pillar 40). The first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 are arranged apart from each other with the center pillar 40 having a predetermined width therebetween, so that the thermal influence they have on each other is reduced.

The first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 both have a box body with an open front including a rectangular side frame and a bottom plate, and an electrical equipment box cover 321a is attached to the front of the first electrical equipment box 321, and an electrical equipment box cover 322a is attached to the front of the second electrical equipment box 322.

The electrical equipment box cover 321a and the electrical equipment box cover 322a are removable. When the electrical equipment box covers 321a and 322a are removed, the inside of the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 are exposed as shown in FIG. 5. The electrical equipment box cover 321a of the first electrical equipment box 321 has a small window 321b for inspecting the internal control unit 50.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front 30a of the machine room 30 is virtually divided into four planes of two rows and two columns, and a service panel 310 is attached to each of them. The service panels 310 are a first service panel 311, a second service panel 312, a third service panel 313, and a fourth service panel 314, and of these, the first service panel 311 and the second service panel 312 are the service panels that cover the front 30a side of the electrical equipment box.

The first service panel 311 and the second service panel 312 have the same external shape and size, and are arranged side by side so as to cover the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 from the front 30a side of the machine room 30.

The third service panel 313 and the fourth service panel 314 are service panels that cover the front 30a side of the compressor 350 (first compressor 351, second compressor 352), etc. The third service panel 313 and the fourth service panel 314 also have the same external shape and size, and are arranged side by side on the left and right so as to cover the first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352 from the front 30a side of the machine room 30. By removing the third service panel 313 and the fourth service panel 314, the compressor 350 (first compressor 351, first compressor 352), etc. can be touched.

That is, the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 is covered with four service panels: a first service panel 311 for the electrical equipment box, a second service panel 312, and a third service panel 313 and a fourth service panel 314 for the machine room. Each service panel 310 is screwed to the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 at four points, two on the left side and two on the right side.

Figure 3 shows the state in which the first through fourth service panels 310 and the electrical equipment box 320 (first electrical equipment box 321, second electrical equipment box 322) have been removed to expose the interior of the machinery room 30. Within the machinery room 30, the windward side of the left blower room 20L is called the left machinery room 300L, and the windward side of the right blower room 20R is called the right machinery room 300R. Note that the windward side is the upstream side from which air flows as viewed from the blower room (blower fan), and the leeward side is the downstream side from which air is sent out from the blower room (blower fan).

Cooling of Heat-Generating Components (First Embodiment)
The configuration of the electrical component box 320 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. As described above, the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment includes two compressors (the first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352) and two blower fans (the first blower fan 210a and the second blower fan 210b). The first compressor 351 and the second compressor 352 are both variable speed compressors controlled by inverters.

Therefore, the electrical equipment includes two inverter boards for driving the compressor (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and two fan driver boards for driving the blower fans (first fan drive board 521, second fan drive board 522). These fan drive boards are inverter boards for the fan motors.

The first inverter board 511 is for the first compressor 351, the second inverter board 512 is for the second compressor 352, the first fan driver board 521 is for the first blower fan 210a, and the second fan driver board 522 is for the second blower fan 210b.

Each of these boards 511, 512, 521, and 522 is equipped with an IPM (Intelligent Power Module), which is a power semiconductor element, as an example. The IPM generates heat when it operates. In addition, two smoothing circuit boards (a first smoothing circuit board 531 and a second smoothing circuit board 532) each including an electrolytic capacitor are provided. The first smoothing circuit board 531 is for the first inverter board 511, and the second smoothing circuit board 532 is for the second inverter board 512. The electrolytic capacitors included in these smoothing circuit boards 531 and 532 also generate heat when the IPM operates.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, a heat sink 54 is attached to the back surface of each of the substrates 511, 512, 521, and 522 to dissipate heat from the heat-generating components.

In this embodiment, the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) having heat-generating components, the fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) and the smoothing circuit boards (first smoothing circuit board 531, second smoothing circuit board 532) are concentrated in the second electrical equipment box 322 (corresponding to the second electrical equipment box in claim 1) on the windward side of the second blower fan 210b.

As shown in FIG. 6, at least the second electrical equipment box 322 has an air inlet 320a at the bottom and an air outlet 320b at the top. When the second blower fan 210b is operated, air flows from the air inlet 320a to the air outlet 320b inside the second electrical equipment box 322 (see the arrows in FIG. 6). The first electrical equipment box 321 may also have an air inlet 320a at the bottom and an air outlet 320b at the top.

In this embodiment, a control unit 50 for controlling the operation of the first blower fan 210a, the second blower fan 210b, the first compressor 351, the second compressor 352, etc. is provided on the first electrical equipment box 321 side. A microcomputer, a CPU (central processing unit), etc. may be used as the control unit 50. The control unit 50 may be provided on the second electrical equipment box 322 side.

For example, when the temperature of the space in which the indoor unit is installed reaches near the set temperature or when the number of indoor units in operation decreases, the control unit 50 enters a one-fan operation mode in which only one of the first blower fan 210a and the second blower fan 210b is operated. In this one-fan operation mode, the control unit 50 always selects the blower fan 210b that is on the upwind side of the second electrical equipment box 322.

This ensures that air flows to the heat sink 54 on the backside of the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) arranged together in the second electrical equipment box 322, effectively cooling each of them. In this case, the fan driver board 521 of the first blower fan 210a, which is inactive in the one-fan operation mode, does not generate heat, so it may be provided on the first electrical equipment box 321 side instead of the second electrical equipment box 322 side.

When the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) having the heat-generating components are arranged together on the first electrical equipment box 321 side, in the one-fan operation mode, the blower fan 210a on the windward side of the first electrical equipment box 321 will be selected.

In addition, the compressors must be operated alternately to prevent uneven distribution of refrigeration oil. Therefore, the board that mounts the inverter board for driving the compressor must be placed directly below the blower fan that is operating during single fan operation.

Regarding the arrangement of each board within the electrical equipment box 320, it is preferable that the smoothing circuit board (first smoothing circuit board 531, second smoothing circuit board 532) be arranged at the top of the electrical equipment box, and the inverter board (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver board (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) be arranged below that.

By arranging in this way, the distance between the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and the compressors (first compressor 351, second compressor 352) is shorter, making wiring easier. In addition, the heat sinks 54 of the inverter boards (first inverter board 511, second inverter board 512) and fan driver boards (first fan driver board 521, second fan driver board 522) are not exposed to air that has been heated by cooling the smoothing circuit boards (first smoothing circuit board 531, second smoothing circuit board 532). Therefore, the inverter boards and fan driver boards, which generate more heat than the smoothing circuit boards, can be cooled effectively.

Providing a partition between the high-temperature area caused by the heat-generating components and the other low-temperature areas is also effective in preventing the propagation of heat. As explained above, the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 are separated by the center pillar 40, which reduces the thermal influence between them. The distance is also increased by the right side plate 321R of the first electrical component box 321 and the left side plate 322L of the second electrical component box 322. This also makes it easier for the wind flowing through the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322 to flow up and down.

Opening and closing mechanism for electrical component box (second embodiment)
Next, an opening/closing mechanism for the electrical component box 320 (the first electrical component box 321 and the second electrical component box 322) will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment, the electrical component box 320 is divided into a first electrical component box 321 and a second electrical component box 322 in response to the increase in size of the electrical component box 320, but the following configuration is adopted to improve ease of assembly (attachment/detachment) to the housing 10 and ease of maintenance.

As explained above, the front 30a of the machinery room 30 is divided into left and right sides by the center pillar 40, and the first electrical equipment box 321 on the left side is disposed on the left side of the front 30a of the machinery room 30, and the second electrical equipment box 322 on the right side is disposed on the right side of the front 30a of the machinery room 30. However, the right side frame (right side) 321R of the first electrical equipment box 321 and the left side frame (left side) 322L of the second electrical equipment box 322 are each connected to the center pillar 40 via hinges so as to be openable, closable, and removable.

8 and 9, the center pillar 40 is a U-shaped pillar including a front portion (front surface) 40F, a left side surface portion 40L, and a right side surface portion 40R. Referring to FIG. 3, the front surface portion 40F is disposed inside the housing 10 at a predetermined distance from the front surface 30a of the machine room 30. In other words, the center pillar 40 is disposed one step further back than the front surface 30a of the machine room 30.

As described below, this is to allow the connection wiring 329 (see FIG. 12) that electrically connects the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 to pass through the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 without protruding from the front surface 30a of the machinery compartment 30.

Of the hinges shown in FIG. 10, the first hinge 6 on the right frame 321R side of the first electrical equipment box 321 has its rotation axis (bosses 612, 632) located to the side of the left side surface portion 40L of the center pillar 40 (left side in FIG. 8), and at a specified left fulcrum position 60a closer to the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 than the front surface portion 40F of the center pillar 40.

The other second hinge 7, which is arranged on the left frame 322 side of the second electrical equipment box 322, has its rotation axis (boss 712, 732) arranged to the side of the right side surface portion 40R of the center pillar 40 (right side in FIG. 8), and at a specified right fulcrum position 70a closer to the front surface 30a of the machine room 30 than the front surface portion 40F of the center pillar 40.

The left fulcrum position 60a of the first hinge 6 and the right fulcrum position 70a of the second hinge 7 are symmetrical on both sides of the center pillar 40, inside the front face 30a of the machine room 30.

In this way, by setting the left fulcrum position 60a of the first hinge 6 and the right fulcrum position 70a of the second hinge 7 to specific positions, the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 can be opened and closed smoothly at a position closer to the center pillar 40.

Next, the specific configuration of the first hinge 6 on the right side frame 321R of the first electrical component box 321 will be described. The first hinge 6 includes a first upper hinge 6U that is disposed between the right side frame 321R of the first electrical component box 321 and the left side portion 40L of the center pillar 40, and at the upper portion between them, and a first lower hinge 6L that is disposed between the right side frame 321R of the first electrical component box 321 and the left side portion 40L of the center pillar 40, and at the lower portion between them.

The first upper hinge 6U is composed of a male hinge portion 61 and a female hinge portion 62. The male hinge portion 61 has a tongue portion 611 that protrudes horizontally (parallel to the bottom plate 301 of the housing 10) from the left side surface portion 40L of the center pillar 40 in the lateral direction (leftward in Figs. 8 and 9), and a cylindrical or columnar boss 612 that is erected vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 611.

The female hinge portion 62 has a hinge piece 621 that extends horizontally from the right frame 321R of the first electrical component box 321 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 611, and the hinge piece 621 has a bearing hole 622 that fits into the boss 612.

The first lower hinge 6L is composed of a male hinge portion 63 and a female hinge portion 64. The male hinge portion 63 has a tongue portion 631 that extends horizontally from the left side portion 40L of the center pillar 40 in the lateral direction (to the left in Figs. 8 and 9), and a cylindrical or columnar boss 632 that is erected vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 631.

The boss 612 of the first upper hinge 6U and the boss 632 of the first lower hinge 6L are both coaxially arranged at the left fulcrum position 60a.

The female hinge portion 64 has a hinge piece 641 that extends horizontally from the right frame 321R of the first electrical component box 321 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 631, and the hinge piece 641 has a bearing hole 642 that fits into the boss 632.

Next, the second hinge 7 on the left side frame 322L side of the second electrical equipment box 322 will be described. The second hinge 7 includes a second upper hinge 7U that is disposed at the upper part near the blower chamber 20 between the left side frame 322L of the second electrical equipment box 322 and the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40, and a second lower hinge 7L that is disposed at the lower part near the bottom plate 301 between the left side frame 322L of the second electrical equipment box 322 and the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40.

The second upper hinge 7U is composed of a male hinge portion 71 and a female hinge portion 72. The male hinge portion 71 has a tongue portion 711 that extends horizontally from the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40 in the lateral direction (to the right in Figs. 8 and 9), and a cylindrical or columnar boss 712 that is erected vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 711.

The female hinge portion 72 has a hinge piece 721 that extends horizontally from the left side frame 322L of the second electrical equipment box 322 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 711, and the hinge piece 721 has a bearing hole 722 that fits into the boss 712.

The second lower hinge 7L is composed of a male hinge portion 73 and a female hinge portion 74. The male hinge portion 73 has a tongue portion 731 that extends horizontally from the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40 in the lateral direction (to the right in Figs. 8 and 9), and a cylindrical or columnar boss 732 that is erected vertically on the upper surface of the tongue portion 731.

The boss 712 of the second upper hinge 7U and the boss 732 of the second lower hinge 7L are both coaxially arranged at the right fulcrum position 70a.

The female hinge portion 74 has a hinge piece 741 that extends horizontally from the left side frame 322L of the second electrical component box 322 so as to overlap with the tongue piece portion 731, and the hinge piece 741 has a bearing hole 742 that fits into the boss 732.

In this embodiment, the male hinge portion 61 of the first upper hinge 6U and the male hinge portion 71 of the second upper hinge 7U are integrally formed with the attachment fitting 410 and are fixed to the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 via a bracket 411.

The male hinge portion 63 of the first lower hinge 6L and the male hinge portion 73 of the second lower hinge 7L are integrally formed with the attachment fitting 420 and are fixed to the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40 via the attachment fitting 420. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 421 denotes a receiving fitting for engaging a portion of the service panels 311, 312 for the electrical equipment box.

By using such hinges (first hinge 6, second hinge 7), the first electrical equipment box 321 and the second electrical equipment box 322 can be opened appropriately with the center pillar 40 side as a fulcrum during maintenance, as shown in FIG. 7.

The first electrical component box 321 can be removed by lifting the first electrical component box 321 and disengaging the bearing holes 622, 642 from the bosses 612, 632. Similarly, to remove the second electrical component box 321, the second electrical component box 322 can be lifted and disengaged from the bearing holes 722, 742 from the bosses 712, 732.

To explain the installation method using the first electrical equipment box 321 as an example, the bearing holes 622, 642 are fitted into the bosses 612, 632, so that the first electrical equipment box 321 can be attached to the center pillar 40 so that it can be rotated (opened and closed), but it is preferable to make the axial length of the lower boss 632 longer than the axial length of the upper boss 612.

This allows the lower bearing hole 642 to first be fitted into its corresponding boss 632, and then the upper bearing hole 622 to be fitted into its corresponding boss 612, making the fitting process easier than when the upper and lower bearing holes 622, 642 are fitted into the bosses 612, 632 at the same time.

<<Routing of connection wiring between electrical component boxes (third embodiment)>>
As described above, as the electric component box 320 is divided into the first electric component box 321 and the second electric component box 322, the connection wiring is laid between the first electric component box 321 and the second electric component box 322, but for convenience of the wiring work and maintenance, it is preferable to secure a wiring path on the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40. Therefore, the configuration will be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 17.

First, as shown in FIG. 11, in a preferred embodiment, a fascia panel 430 is attached to the front portion 40F of the center pillar 40. The fascia panel 430 also serves as a decorative panel, and has a width that covers and conceals the gap G (see FIG. 8) between the right frame 321R of the first electric component box 321 on the left side and the left side portion 40L of the center pillar 40, and the gap G (see FIG. 8) between the left frame 322L of the second electric component box 322 on the right side and the right side portion 40R of the center pillar 40, when viewed from the front portion 30a of the machine room 30.

Next, when pulling out the connection wiring from the electrical equipment box, providing an opening in the electrical equipment box cover of the electrical equipment box may allow rainwater to enter, so it is not preferable to provide an opening in the electrical equipment box cover facing the service panels 311, 312 (310).

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, a pull-out portion 330 for the connection wiring 329 is formed on the right frame 321R of the first electrical equipment box 321. Also, a pull-out portion 330 for the connection wiring 329 is formed on the left frame 322L of the second electrical equipment box 322.

In this embodiment, the pull-out portion 330 of the first electrical equipment box 321 is a notched groove 331 formed in a portion of the front end side of its right frame 321R, and similarly, the pull-out portion 330 of the second electrical equipment box 322 is a notched groove 332 formed in a portion of the front end side of its left frame 322L.

In this embodiment, each of the cutout grooves 331 and 332 is a single large cutout, but as shown in FIG. 7, two cutout grooves 331 and 332 may be formed. The number of cutout grooves 331 and 332 to be provided is arbitrary.

The area between the cutout grooves 331, 332 on the front side of the fascia 430 is used as the wiring 440 for the connection wiring 329. As explained above, the front part 40F of the center pillar 40 is recessed further inside the housing 10 than the front face 30a of the machine room 30. Therefore, even if the fascia 430 is provided, the connection wiring 329 can be passed in front of the front part 40F of the center pillar 40 without protruding from the front face 30a of the machine room 30.

Referring to both Figures 13 and 14, the wiring cover 450 is placed over the wiring routing section 440. The wiring cover 450 is large enough to cover the cutout groove 331 on the first electrical component box 321 side and the cutout groove 332 on the second electrical component box 322 side (spanning the gap between the cutout grooves 331, 332).

In this embodiment, since the wiring cover 450 is made of sheet metal, both ends 451, 451 of the wiring cover 450 are folded back to the front side to prevent the cut edges from touching the connection wiring 329, so that the cut edges do not damage the connection wiring 329.

According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a wire pressing member 411 for the connection wire 329 is provided on the wire routing section 440. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, a wire pressing member 453 for the connection wire 329 is provided on the back surface 542 side of the wire cover 450. The wire pressing members 411, 453 are preferably made of an elastic material such as sponge, and the connection wire 329 is sandwiched between the wire pressing members 411, 453 as the wire cover 450 is attached to the wire routing section 440. Note that one of the wire pressing members 411, 453 may be omitted. As a further preferred embodiment, a heat insulating material 454 is provided on the back surface 452 side of the wire cover 450 as a measure against condensation.

Referring also to FIG. 16, in the wiring routing section 440, both ends 451 of the wiring cover 450 are held down by the electrical component box cover 321a of the first electrical component box 321 and the electrical component box cover 322a of the second electrical component box 322, thereby improving the sealing performance.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, in an outdoor unit for an air conditioner in which the electrical equipment box is divided into two, a first electrical equipment box and a second electrical equipment box, by a center pillar, the connection wiring that spans between each electrical equipment box can be passed through the front side of the center pillar, and by forming an outlet for the connection wiring on the side frame of each electrical equipment box that faces the center pillar, a highly sealed electrical equipment box that can prevent the intrusion of rainwater, etc. and the spread of fire to the outside of the unit can be obtained.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Outdoor unit 10 Housing 20 Blower room 210 Blower 220 Fan guard 30 Machine room 30a Front of machine room 310 (311 to 314) Service panel 320 Electrical component box 321 First electrical component box 321a First electrical component box cover 322 Second electrical component box 322a Second electrical component box cover 329 Connection wiring 330 Pull-out section 331, 332 Cutout groove 350 Heat source section (compressor)
351 First heat source unit (first compressor)
352 Second heat source unit (second compressor)
Description of the Reference Signs 40: Center pillar 40F: Front portion 40L: Left side portion 40R: Right side portion 411, 453: Wire pressing member 440: Wire routing portion 450: Wire cover 50: Control portion 511, 512: Inverter board 521, 522: Fan driver board 531, 532: Smoothing circuit board 54: Heat sink 6, 7: Hinges 6U, 7U: Upper hinges 6L, 7L: Lower hinges 60a, 70a: Support positions 61, 63, 71, 73: Male hinge portions 62, 64, 72, 74: Female hinge portions 612, 632, 712, 732: Boss (rotation axis)
622, 642, 722, 742 Bearing hole

Claims (3)

The air conditioner includes a housing partitioned into a blower chamber in an upper portion in which at least two blower fans, a first blower fan and a second blower fan, are arranged side by side, and a machine chamber in a lower portion in which a refrigerant circuit including a compressor and a heat exchanger and an electrical equipment box accommodating a control unit that controls operation of at least the compressor and the blower fans are arranged,
the electrical equipment box is disposed on the windward side of the first blower fan and on the windward side of the second blower fan,
heat generating components including an IPM that needs to be cooled in the control unit are collectively arranged on the upwind side of the second blower fan of the electrical equipment box, and heat generating components including the IPM are not arranged on the upwind side of the first blower fan of the electrical equipment box, and heat generating components not including the IPM are arranged,
The outdoor unit of an air conditioner, wherein the second blower fan is operated during single fan operation in which only one of the two blower fans is operated. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner as described in claim 1, characterized in that the electrical equipment box is composed of a first electrical equipment box on the windward side of the first blower fan and a second electrical equipment box on the windward side of the second blower fan, and a support pillar supporting the blower chamber is erected in the machine chamber, and the support pillar is arranged between the first electrical equipment box and the second electrical equipment box. 3. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner as described in claim 2, characterized in that an air flow path is formed in the second electrical equipment box through which air in the machine room flows from below to above, and air flows from below to above along the substrate surface in the second electrical equipment box as the second blower fan operates.

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