FORM 2 THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of& 1970) THE PATENTS RULES, 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [See section 10, Rule 13]
OUTDOOR MACHINE AND AIR CONDITIONER;
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED
AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor
5 machine and an air conditioner.
Background
[0002] An outdoor machine to be used for a conventional
air conditioner or the like includes therein a control
10 board and a heat radiation part. The control board
controls the operation of a compressor, a blower, and the
like. The heat radiation part is for radiating heat
generated by an electric component mounted on the control
board. The heat radiation part includes a base connected
15 to the control board and a plurality of fins extending from
the base. Furthermore, there are cases where a heat
radiation part includes an air guide that is provided on
the end side of the plurality of fins to form a ventilation
flue surrounded by the base, the plurality of fins, and the
20 air guide such that air flows through the ventilation flue
to efficiently cool the entire heat radiation part (for
example, Patent Literature 1).
Citation List
25 Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2009-299907
Summary
30 Technical Problem
[0004] In an outdoor machine including a bell mouth
provided at an outlet formed in a front panel, a heat
radiation part is disposed adjacent to the front panel and
3
the bell mouth in a space in which a blower is disposed.
Accordingly, a closed space is formed by the leeward end of
the heat radiation part, a partition plate, the front panel,
and the bell mouth. The partition plate divides a space
5 inside the outdoor machine into a space in which a
compressor is disposed and the space in which the blower is
disposed. Thus, air stagnation (high-pressure portion)
occurs on the leeward side of the heat radiation part. As
a result, there has been a problem in that even if the air
10 guide is provided, sufficient air does not flow through the
ventilation flue, so that the cooling capacity of the heat
radiation part cannot be obtained sufficiently.
[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the
above-described problem, and an object of the present
15 invention is to provide an outdoor machine that improves
the cooling capacity of a heat radiation part.
Solution to Problem
[0006] An outdoor machine according to the present
20 invention includes: a housing that includes a front panel
in which an outlet is formed, a blower disposed in the
housing, a bell mouth disposed in an outer periphery of the
blower and connected to the outlet; a control board on
which an electric component is mounted, the control board
25 being provided in the housing, a heat radiation part that
radiates heat generated by the electric component; and vent
deflector that covers the heat radiation part, and forms a
ventilation flue through which air generated by the blower
flows in the heat radiation part. The vent deflector is not
30 provided in a region between a virtual plane and the front
panel, and the virtual plane covers an entire periphery of
an edge of the bell mouth and extends in parallel with the
front panel.
4
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007] In an outdoor machine according to the present
invention, the outlet of a ventilation flue formed by a
5 heat radiation part and a vent deflector is located on the
windward side with respect to a bell mouth. Therefore, the
ventilation flue is opened in a space where air stagnation
is less likely to occur and pressure loss is low. Thus,
air can easily flow through the ventilation flue. As a
10 result, the flow velocity of air flowing through the
ventilation flue is increased, so that the cooling capacity
of the heat radiation part can be improved.
Brief Description of Drawings
15 [0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an
outdoor machine according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the outdoor
machine according to the first embodiment of the present
20 invention, taken along line A-A in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outdoor
machine according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, taken along line B-B in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a heat radiation part
25 of the outdoor machine according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of the
outdoor machine according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
30 FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the main part of the
outdoor machine according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of an
5
outdoor machine according to a comparative example.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of a first
modified example of the outdoor machine according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
5 FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part of the
first modified example of the outdoor machine according to
the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a main part of an
outdoor machine according to a second embodiment of the
10 present invention.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the main part of the
outdoor machine according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a main part of a first
15 modified example of the outdoor machine according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part of a second
modified example of the outdoor machine according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
20 FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a main part of an
outdoor machine according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
Description of Embodiments
25 [0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the drawings. In the
following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are
denoted by the same reference numerals, and description
thereof will not be repeated. Note that arrows in the
30 drawings indicate directions of air flow. Furthermore, in
the following drawings including FIG. 1, there are cases
where the relationship of size between each constituent
member is different from the actual one. In addition, the
6
forms of constituent elements set forth in the entire
specification are merely examples, and the present
invention is not limited to these descriptions.
[0010] First Embodiment.
5 A schematic configuration of an outdoor machine
according to a first embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1
illustrates a perspective view of the outdoor machine. FIG.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1,
10 and illustrates an outdoor machine 1 from which a front
panel 3 has been removed. FIG. 3 is a B-B cross-sectional
view of the outdoor machine 1 illustrated in FIG. 2, and
illustrates the outdoor machine 1 to which the front panel
3 has been attached for convenience of description.
15 [0011] The outdoor machine 1 is applied to, for example,
an air conditioner, and includes a housing 2, a heat
exchanger 22, a compressor 14, a blower 13, and an electric
component box 15. The housing 2 forms an outer shell. The
heat exchanger 22, the compressor 14, the blower 13, and
20 the electric component box 15 are provided in the housing 2.
[0012] The housing 2 includes the front panel 3, a rear
panel 8, a left side panel 4, a right side panel 5, a
bottom panel 6, and a top panel 7. The front panel 3 forms
the front surface of the housing 2. The rear panel 8 faces
25 the front panel 3, and forms the back surface of the
housing 2. The left side panel 4 forms the left side
surface of the housing 2 when the housing 2 is viewed from
the front. The right side panel 5 faces the left side
panel 4, and forms the right side surface of the housing 2
30 when the housing 2 is viewed from the front. The bottom
panel 6 forms the bottom surface of the housing 2. The top
panel 7 faces the bottom panel 6, and forms the top surface
of the housing 2. Note that the front panel 3 and the left
7
side panel 4 may be integrally formed with a single part.
[0013] A circular opening 3a is formed in the front
panel 3. An opening 4a is formed in the left side panel 4.
An opening 8a is formed in the rear panel 8. The openings
5 4a and 8a are for taking in air from the outside to the
inside of the housing 2. The opening 3a is for discharging
air from the inside of the housing 2 to the outside, and is
an air outlet.
[0014] A bell mouth 9 is provided at the opening 3a of
10 the front panel 3. The bell mouth 9 has an annular shape,
and protrudes from the peripheral edge of the opening 3a
into the housing 2. An edge 9a of the bell mouth 9
protruding into the housing 2 protrudes in parallel with
the front panel 3 when viewed from above. The blower 13 is
15 provided inside the bell mouth 9. The bell mouth 9 has an
annular shape along the rotation direction of the blower 13
in such a way as to surround the outer periphery of the
blower 13, and aligns the flow of air generated by the
blower 13. Note that the front panel 3 corresponds to a
20 panel in the present invention.
[0015] The heat exchanger 22 includes a plurality of
stacked fins and a heat transfer tube that penetrates the
fins. The heat exchanger 22 performs heat exchange between
a refrigerant passing through the heat transfer tube and
25 the air. The heat exchanger 2 is bent in an L-shape when
viewed from above, and is disposed along the rear panel 8
and the left side panel 4. The compressor 14 is a device
that compresses and discharges the refrigerant, and is
disposed in a machine chamber 12 to be described below.
30 [0016] The blower 13 is disposed between the front panel
3 and the rear panel 8. The blower 13 faces the opening 3a.
The blower 13 is a blowing means that includes, for example,
a propeller fan and a fan motor. The blower 13 generates
8
an airflow from the opening 8a of the rear panel 8 and the
opening 4a of the left side panel 4 to the opening 3a of
the front panel 3, so that air circulation is generated for
efficient heat exchange in the heat exchanger 22.
5 Furthermore, the compressor 14 and a refrigerant pipe (not
illustrated) connected to the compressor 14 are provided in
the machine chamber 12.
[0017] A partition plate 10 divides the inside of the
housing 2 of the outdoor machine 1 into a blower chamber 11
10 and the machine chamber 12. The blower chamber 11 is a
space formed by the front panel 3, the left side panel 4,
the bottom panel 6, the top panel 7, the rear panel 8, and
the partition plate 10. The machine chamber 12 is a space
formed by the front panel 3, the right side panel 5, the
15 bottom panel 6, the top panel 7, the rear panel 8, and the
partition plate 10. The opening 3a, the opening 4a, and
the opening 8a are formed in positions where the opening 3a,
the opening 4a, and the opening 8a face the blower chamber
11.
20 [0018] The electric component box 15 is for controlling
the components of the air conditioner, and is disposed
above the partition plate 10 in such a way as to straddle
the blower chamber 11 and the machine chamber 12. The
electric component box 15 accommodates a control board 16
25 with an electric component 17 attached thereto. A heat
radiation part 18 that radiates heat generated by an
electric component is attached to the electric component 17.
In addition, a part of the heat radiation part 18 is
covered with a vent deflector 20.
30 [0019] The electric component 17 is for controlling the
components of the air conditioner, and includes, for
example, a semiconductor element. In the case where AC
power is input, the control board 16 includes a converter
9
unit and an inverter unit that operate as follows. The
converter unit converts AC power into DC power. The
inverter unit converts DC power into AC power to drive a
compressor motor of the compressor 14 or the fan motor of
5 the blower 13.
[0020] The converter unit includes, for example, a diode
bridge module for rectification, a switching element for
causing DC voltage to be variable when AC power is
converted into DC power, or a backflow prevention element
10 for preventing current backflow to a power source side due
to the boosting of the DC voltage. The inverter unit
includes, for example, an inverter module including six
switching elements. Note that the types of semiconductor
element are not limited thereto, and may be determined
15 according to a circuit configuration.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the heat radiation part
18 is disposed below the control board 16. In the blower
chamber 11, the heat radiation part 18 is disposed on the
blower chamber 11 side of the control board 16. When
20 viewed from the front, the heat radiation part 18 is
located outside the edge 9a of the bell mouth 9 such that
there is no overlap between the heat radiation part 18 and
the bell mouth 9. The heat radiation part 18 is provided
in contact with the electric component 17. The heat
25 radiation part 18 is for cooling the electric component 17
attached to the control board 16.
[0022] The lower part of the heat radiation part 18 is
covered with the vent deflector 20, so that a space
surrounded by the heat radiation part 18 and the vent
30 deflector 20 is formed as a ventilation flue 23. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, wind generated by the blower 13
flows from the rear panel 8 toward the front panel 3. Thus,
the wind also flows through the ventilation flues 23 of the
10
heat radiation part 18 from the rear panel 8 side toward
the front panel 3 side.
[0023] When viewed from above, the heat radiation part
18 is disposed closer to the front panel 3 than to the rear
5 panel 8 such that a leeward end portion 18d facing the
front panel 3 side is located adjacent to the front panel 3
and the bell mouth 9. Specifically, assume that a virtual
plane S is defined as a virtual plane that extends in
parallel with an inner surface 3b of the front panel 3 and
10 covers the entire periphery of the edge 9a of the bell
mouth 9 in such a way as to close the bell mouth 9, and
that a region R is defined as a region between the virtual
plane S and the front panel 3. Then, the leeward end
portion 18d of the heat radiation part 18 is located in the
15 region R.
[0024] Next, the configuration of the heat radiation
part 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.
Hereinafter, an X direction is defined as a direction from
the right side panel 5 to the left side panel 4, a Y
20 direction is defined as a direction from the rear panel 8
to the front panel 3, and a Z direction is defined as a
direction from the top panel 7 to the bottom panel 6. In
addition, the rear panel 8 side is referred to as a
windward side, and the front panel 3 side is referred to as
25 a leeward side.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the heat
radiation part 18 and the vent deflector 20 viewed from the
rear panel 8 side of the outdoor machine 1. FIG. 5
illustrates a side view of the heat radiation part 18
30 viewed from the left side panel 4 side of the outdoor
machine 1, and also illustrates the front panel 3, the bell
mouth 9, and the rear panel 8 together therewith for
convenience of description. FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom
11
view of the heat radiation part 18 viewed from the bottom
panel 6 side of the outdoor machine 1.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the heat radiation part
18 includes a base 19 and a plurality of fins 21 extending
5 from the base 19 perpendicularly thereto. The ends of the
plurality of fins 21 are partially covered with the vent
deflector 20. A space surrounded by the base 19 of the
heat radiation part 18, two adjacent fins 21, and the vent
deflector 20 is formed as a ventilation flue 23.
10 [0027] The base 19 is a rectangular plate-like member
attached to the electric component 17 and extending in the
Y direction. The fin 21 has a rectangular shape with a
longitudinal length equal to the longitudinal length of the
base 19. A plurality of the fins 21 is formed in the
15 lateral direction (Z direction) of the base 19.
[0028] Each of the plurality of fins 21 has a windward
end portion 21c and a leeward end portion 21d. The
windward end portion 21c is an end located on the windward
side in the longitudinal direction. The leeward end
20 portion 21d is an end located on the leeward side in the
longitudinal direction. The windward end portions 21c of
the plurality of fins 21 correspond to a windward end
portion 18c of the heat radiation part 18. The leeward end
portions 21d of the plurality of fins 21 correspond to the
25 leeward end portion 18d of the heat radiation part 18.
[0029] The vent deflector 20 includes a flat surface
portion 20a and an inclined portion 20b. The flat surface
portion 20a is a rectangular plate-like member facing the
base 19 and extending in the Y direction, and covers the
30 ends of the plurality of fins 21 except portions thereof
located on the leeward side of the heat radiation part 18.
The inclined portion 20b is a plate-like member connected
to the windward side of the flat surface portion 20a, and
12
is inclined in the gravity direction (Z direction) with
respect to the flat surface portion 20a.
[0030] The windward end portion of the inclined portion
20b corresponds to a windward end portion 20c of the vent
5 deflector 20. The leeward end portion of the flat surface
portion 20a corresponds to a leeward end portion 20d of the
vent deflector 20. The ventilation flue 23 is formed such
that the ventilation flue 23 extends from the rear panel 8
toward the front panel 6. The blower 13 blows air through
10 the ventilation flue 23 in the Y direction. The inclined
portion 20b of the vent deflector 20 can increase the flow
velocity of air with respect to the ventilation flue 23.
[0031] The windward end portion 20c of the vent
deflector 20 is located on the windward side with respect
15 to the windward end portions 21c of the plurality of fins
21. A part of the leeward side of the plurality of fins 21
of the heat radiation part 18 is not covered with the vent
deflector and is left open.
[0032] The windward end portion 18c of the heat
20 radiation part 18 (the windward end portion 21c of the fin
21) is an inlet 24 for allowing air to flow into the
ventilation flue 23. The leeward end portion 18d of the
heat radiation part 18 (the leeward end portion 21d of the
fin 21) is an outlet 25a for the air to flow out from the
25 ventilation flue 23. The part of the leeward side of the
plurality of fins 21, not covered with the vent deflector
20, also forms an outlet 25b for the air to flow out from
the ventilation flue 23. An outlet 25 includes the outlet
25a and the outlet 25b. The outlet 25a is the leeward end
30 portion of the heat radiation part 18. The outlet 25b is
formed with the end portions of the plurality of fins 21
not covered with the vent deflector 20.
[0033] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inlet 24 is
13
located on the windward side with respect to the virtual
plane S. Furthermore, the outlet 25a is located on the
leeward side with respect to the virtual plane S, and the
outlet 25b is formed such that the outlet 25b extends from
5 the windward side to the leeward side with respect to the
virtual plane S. The opening area of the inlet 24 is equal
to the opening area of the outlet 25a. Furthermore, the
outlet 25 includes the outlet 25b in addition to the outlet
25a that is equal in opening area to the inlet 24. That is,
10 the opening area of the outlet 25 is larger than the
opening area of the inlet 24. Note that hereinafter, the
“opening area” may be simply referred to as “area”.
[0034] In addition, the windward end portion 20c of the
vent deflector 20 is located on the windward side with
15 respect to the windward end portion 18c of the heat
radiation part 18. The leeward end portion 20d of the vent
deflector 20 is located on the windward side with respect
to the virtual plane S in the Y direction, and is not
located in the region R.
20 [0035] Next, the flow of air in the heat radiation part
18 will be described. Note that in order to facilitate
understanding of the effect of the heat radiation part 18,
the configuration of a heat radiation part of a comparative
example will be described first below. After that, the
25 flow of air in the heat radiation part 18 according to the
present embodiment, that is, the first embodiment will be
described. Note that when illustrating the comparative
example, a constituent element of the comparative example
is denoted by a reference numeral obtained as a result of
30 adding “1000” to a reference numeral of a constituent
element of the present embodiment, that is, the first
embodiment, corresponding to the constituent element of the
comparative example.
14
[0036] [Comparative Example]
The configuration of a heat radiation part 1018 of the
comparative example will be described with reference to FIG.
7. The heat radiation part 1018 of the comparative example
5 is different from the heat radiation part 18 according to
the present embodiment, that is, the first embodiment in
that a vent deflector 1020 fully covers a plurality of fins
1021.
[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the heat radiation
10 part 1018 of the comparative example, a leeward end portion
1020d of the vent deflector 1020 is located at the same
position as leeward end portions 1021d of the plurality of
fins 1021 in the Y direction. Furthermore, in the heat
radiation part 1018, the end side of the plurality of fins
15 1021 is fully covered with the vent deflector 1020. That
is, the heat radiation part 1018 of the comparative example
does not have an opening corresponding to the outlet 25b
formed in the heat radiation part 18 according to the
present embodiment, that is, the first embodiment. That is,
20 an outlet 1025 of a ventilation flue 1023 includes only an
outlet 1025a facing an inlet 1024. Therefore, the area of
the outlet 1025 is equal to the area of the inlet 1024.
[0038] Next, the flow of air in the heat radiation part
1018 of the comparative example will be described. Air
25 supplied to the heat radiation part 1018 by the blower 13
flows into the ventilation flue 1023 from the inlet 1024.
At this time, a part of the air supplied to the heat
radiation part 1018 is guided to the inlet 1024 by an
inclined portion 1020b of the vent deflector 1020. The air
30 that has passed through the ventilation flue 1023 flows out
of the ventilation flue 1023 from the outlet 1025 (outlet
1025a).
[0039] Air that has flowed in from the inlet 1024 of the
15
heat radiation part 1018 flows out from the outlet 1025
toward the front panel 3 of the housing 2. Meanwhile, a
space from which the air has flowed out is a closed space
surrounded by the front panel 10, the top panel 7, the bell
5 mouth 9 protruding into the housing 2, the partition plate
10 dividing the inside of the housing 2 into the blower
chamber 11 and the machine chamber 12, and the outlet 1025
of the heat radiation part 1018. Therefore, the pressure
of the closed space is high. Meanwhile, pressure in the
10 heat radiation part 1018, on the outlet 1025 side, is lower
than that in the space located on the leeward side with
respect to the virtual plane S, in which air flows from the
rear panel 8 toward the opening 3a provided in the front
panel 3. Thus, it becomes difficult for air to flow
15 through the ventilation flue 1023.
[0040] Meanwhile, in the heat radiation part 18
according to the present embodiment, that is, the first
embodiment, the leeward end portion 20d of the vent
deflector 20 is located on the windward side with respect
20 to the virtual plane S. As a result, the outlet 25b that
is exposed without being covered with the vent deflector 20
is formed on the windward side with respect to the virtual
plane S and below the ventilation flue 23 in the Z
direction, and functions as a part of the outlet 25. The
25 outlet 25b communicates with a space that is not blocked by
the bell mouth 9 and has a low pressure.
[0041] Therefore, air that has passed through the
ventilation flue 23 flows out from the outlet 25 (outlet
25b) into the space that is not blocked by the bell mouth 9
30 and has a low pressure. Therefore, the air does not
stagnate at the outlet 25, and sufficient air flows through
the ventilation flue 23, so that the cooling capacity of
the heat radiation part 18 can be improved.
16
[0042] As a result of improving the cooling capacity of
the heat radiation part 18, the electric component 17
mounted on the control board 16 can be efficiently cooled
to secure the life of the control board 16 and the electric
5 component 17. The electric component 17 is, for example,
an electrolytic capacitor. An electrolytic capacitor
contains an electrolytic solution, and is thus easily
affected by ambient temperature. The life of an
electrolytic capacitor is determined by ambient temperature.
10 When the ambient temperature drops by 10 degrees, the life
thereof doubles.
[0043] Note that it is also conceivable that as a method
for improving the flow of air in the ventilation flue,
there is adopted a method for eliminating the closed space
15 by making a hole in the front panel to provide an exhaust
path through which air flows and is let out of the front
panel. However, when a wide-gap semiconductor of GaN, SiC,
or the like is mounted on the control board, there is a
possibility that radiation noise leaks out of the hole made
20 in the front panel to cause a malfunction of an electrical
device adjacent to the outdoor machine. This is because
the radiation noise of wide-gap semiconductors is higher
than that of conventional semiconductors. Therefore,
especially when the wide-gap semiconductor is mounted on
25 the control board, it is not possible to adopt the method
for making a hole in the front panel to eliminate the
closed space, and it is preferable to adopt the method
according to the present invention, for improving the
airflow in the ventilation flue without making a hole in
30 the front panel.
[0044] Next, a first modified example of the first
embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and
9. In the first embodiment described above, the heat
17
radiation part 18 has been described in which the leeward
end portion 20d of the vent deflector 20 is located on the
windward side with respect to the virtual plane S. However,
as illustrated in FIG. 8, the heat radiation part 18 may be
5 configured such that the vent deflector 20 fully covers the
plurality of fins 21, and that an outlet 25c as an opening
through which the ventilation flue 23 communicates with the
outside of the heat radiation part 18 is formed in the flat
surface portion 20a of the vent deflector 20 in such a way
10 as to be located on the windward side with respect to the
virtual plane S.
[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the heat
radiation part 18 in the first modified example, viewed
from the left side panel 4 side of the outdoor machine 1.
15 FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom view of the heat radiation part
18 in the first modified example, viewed from the bottom
panel 6 side of the outdoor machine 1.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the outlet 25c having,
for example, a circular shape is formed in the vent
20 deflector 20 of the first modified example. The outlet 25c
is formed such that the outlet 25c extends from the
windward side to the leeward side with respect to the
virtual plane S. Even in the heat radiation part 18
configured in this manner, the outlet 25 is formed such
25 that the outlet 25 extends toward a space in which pressure
loss is smaller than that on the inlet 1024 side, the space
being located on the windward side with respect to the
virtual plane S. Therefore, air can easily flow through
the ventilation flue 23, so that the cooling capacity of
30 the heat radiation part 18 can be improved.
[0047] Note that the shape of the outlet 25c is not
limited to a circle, and may be another shape such as a
quadrangle or a triangle. Furthermore, the number of the
18
outlets 25c may be one or more, and the outlet 25c may be
opened only on the windward side with respect to the
virtual plane S. Moreover, the vent deflector 20 may cover
only a part of the heat radiation part 18 while leaving the
5 leeward side of the heat radiation part 18 open.
[0048] Second Embodiment.
Next, the outdoor machine 1 according to a second
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The heat radiation part 18
10 according to the first embodiment includes the vent
deflector 20 including the leeward end portion parallel to
the front panel 3 and the leeward end portions of the
plurality of fins 21. Meanwhile, the heat radiation part
18 according to the second embodiment includes a vent
15 deflector 30 including a leeward end portion that is not
parallel to the front panel 3 or the leeward end portions
of the plurality of fins 21. The heat radiation part 18
according to the second embodiment is different from the
heat radiation part 18 according to the first embodiment in
20 this respect.
[0049] FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the heat
radiation part 18 according to the second embodiment,
viewed from the left side panel 4 side of the outdoor
machine 1. FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom view of the heat
25 radiation part 18 according to the second embodiment,
viewed from the bottom panel 6 side of the outdoor machine
1. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the same
constituent elements as those in the first embodiment are
denoted by the same reference numerals, and description
30 thereof will not be repeated.
[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the heat radiation
part 18 of the outdoor machine 1 according to the second
embodiment includes the vent deflector 30 including a flat
19
surface portion 30a with a rectangular shape and an
inclined portion 30b provided at the longitudinal end of
the flat surface portion 30a. The inclined portion 30b is
connected to the windward side of the flat surface portion
5 30a. The flat surface portion 30a and the inclined portion
30b are integrally formed. The inclined portion 30a is
inclined with respect to the flat surface portion 30a in
the gravity direction (Z direction). The flat surface
portion 30a faces the base 19 in the Z direction. The flat
10 surface portion 30a is in contact with the vent deflector
side end portions 21d of the plurality of fins 21.
[0051] Furthermore, the vent deflector 30 includes a
windward end portion 30c and a leeward end portion 30d.
The windward end portion 30c is the end of the inclined
15 portion 30b. The windward end portion 30c is located on
the windward side with respect to the windward end portions
21c of the plurality of fins 21. The leeward end portion
30d is the end of the flat surface portion 30a.
[0052] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the
20 leeward end portion 30d of the vent deflector 30 is formed
in a linear shape obliquely to the leeward end portions 21d
of the plurality of fins 21. The leeward end portion 30d
includes a first windward side surface end portion 30e and
a second windward side surface end portion 30f in the X
25 direction. The leeward end portion 30d of the vent
deflector 30 includes a first leeward side surface end
portion 30g and a second leeward side surface end portion
30h in the X direction. The first windward side surface
end portion 30e and the first leeward side surface end
30 portion 30g are ends facing the partition plate 10. The
second windward side surface end portion 30f and the second
leeward side surface end portion 30h are ends facing the
bell mouth 9.
20
[0053] The distance from the windward end portion 30c to
the leeward end portion 30d of the vent deflector 30 is
shortest when measured between the second windward side
surface end portion 30f and the second leeward side surface
5 end portion 30h, and is longest when measured between the
first windward side surface end portion 30e and the first
leeward side surface end portion 30g. Thus, the distance
from the windward end portion 30c to the leeward end
portion 30d of the vent deflector 30 gets longer as a
10 measuring point on the leeward end portion 30d moves from
the second leeward side surface end portion 30h to the
first leeward side surface end portion 30g.
[0054] Broken lines illustrated in FIG. 11 indicate the
positions of the electric components 17 mounted on the
15 control board 16. The electric components 17 are connected
to the base 19. The electric components 17 are disposed at
an end portion facing the bell mouth 9 in the X direction.
Furthermore, the distance between each of the electric
components 17 and the second leeward side surface end
20 portion 30h is shorter than the distance between each of
the electric components 17 and the first leeward side
surface end portion 30g, in the Y direction. In addition,
the distance between the second leeward side surface end
portion 30h and the inner surface 3b of the front panel 3
25 is longer than the distance between the first leeward side
surface end portion 30g and the inner surface 3b of the
front panel 3, in the Y direction.
[0055] Moreover, the first leeward side surface end
portion 30g is located on the leeward side with respect to
30 the virtual plane S, and the second leeward side surface
end portion 30h is located on the windward side with
respect to the virtual plane S. Furthermore, the first
leeward side surface end portion 30g and the second leeward
21
side surface end portion 30h are connected in a straight
line. The flat surface portion 30a of the vent deflector
30 is formed such that the leeward end portion 30d
intersects the virtual plane S when viewed from above.
5 That is, a part of the outlet 25 (outlet 25b) of the heat
radiation part 18 is formed on the windward side with
respect to the virtual plane S.
[0056] The second leeward side surface end portion 30h
is located on the windward side with respect to the virtual
10 plane S. Therefore, the outlet of a ventilation flue is
located on the windward side with respect to the bell mouth,
and is opened in a space where air stagnation is less
likely to occur and pressure loss is low. Thus, air can
easily flow through the ventilation flue. As a result, the
15 flow velocity of air flowing through the ventilation flue
is increased, so that the cooling capacity of the heat
radiation part can be improved.
[0057] Furthermore, the leeward end portion 30d of the
vent deflector 30, formed obliquely to the leeward end
20 portions 21d of the plurality of fins 21 includes a
plurality of the ventilation flues 23 with different
lengths. Among the plurality of ventilation flues 23, a
long ventilation flue located on the first leeward side
surface end portion 30g side is referred to as a first
25 ventilation flue 23a, and a short ventilation flue located
on the second leeward side surface end portion 30h side is
referred to as a second ventilation flue 23b. Then, the
electric components 17 are disposed at positions where the
electric components 17 face the second ventilation flue 23b.
30 [0058] The flow velocity of air flowing through the
ventilation flue 23 decreases as the position of the outlet
25 gets closer to the front panel 3. Therefore, the flow
velocity of air in the second ventilation flue 23b is
22
higher than the flow velocity thereof in the first
ventilation flue 23a. The electric components 17 are
disposed at the positions where the electric components 17
face the second ventilation flue 23b. Therefore, the flow
5 velocity of air flowing through the ventilation flue 23
increases at positions corresponding to the electric
components 17. As a result, the electric components 17 can
be efficiently cooled.
[0059] Therefore, it is possible to efficiently cool the
10 electric components 17 by disposing all the electric
components 17 connected to the base 19 on the second
leeward side surface end portion 30h side. Note that, of
the electric components 17, those with higher heat loss may
be disposed on the second leeward side surface end portion
15 30h side, and those with lower heat loss may be disposed on
the first leeward side surface end portion 30g side. As a
result of arranging the electric components 17 in this way,
the electric components 17 with higher heat loss can be
efficiently cooled.
20 [0060] Furthermore, the electric components 17 may be
arranged in descending order of heat loss from the windward
side toward the leeward side on the second leeward side
surface end portion 30h. As a result of arranging the
electric components 17 in this way, the electric components
25 17 with higher heat loss can be efficiently cooled.
[0061] Next, a first modified example of the second
embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment
described above, an example has been described in which the
leeward end portion 30d of the vent deflector 30 has a
30 linear shape and the vent deflector 30 has a trapezoidal
shape when viewed from above. However, as illustrated in
FIG. 12, the leeward end portion 30d of the vent deflector
30 may have an arc shape. FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom
23
view of the heat radiation part 18 according to the first
modified example of the second embodiment as viewed from
the bottom panel 6 side of the outdoor machine 1.
[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the first leeward side
5 surface end portions 30g of the vent deflector 30 are
located at both ends of the leeward end portion 30d in the
X direction. Furthermore, the second leeward side surface
end portion 30h of the vent deflector 30 is located at the
center of the leeward end portion 30d in the X direction.
10 Moreover, the first leeward side surface end portions 30g
and the second leeward side surface end portion 30h are
connected in an arc shape. The electric components 17 are
disposed on the second leeward side surface end portion 30h
side in the X direction. Furthermore, the electric
15 components 17 are arranged on a straight line that passes
through the second leeward side surface end portion 30h and
is parallel to the Y direction when viewed from above.
[0063] Next, a second modified example of the second
embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment
20 described above, an example has been described in which the
leeward end portion 30d of the vent deflector 30 has a
linear shape and the vent deflector 30 has a trapezoidal
shape when viewed from above. However, as illustrated in
FIG. 13, the leeward end portion 30d of the vent deflector
25 30 may be L-shaped.
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the first leeward side
surface end portions 30g of the vent deflector 30 are
located at both ends of the leeward end portion 30d in the
X direction. Furthermore, the second leeward side surface
30 end portion 30h of the vent deflector 30 is located at the
center of the leeward end portion 30d in the X direction.
Furthermore, the first leeward side surface end portion 30g
and the second leeward side surface end portion 30h are
24
connected in a straight line. The electric components 17
are disposed on the second leeward side surface end portion
30h side in the X direction. In addition, the electric
components 17 are arranged on a straight line that passes
5 through the second leeward side surface end portion 30h and
is parallel to the Y direction when viewed from above.
[0065] Also in the heat radiation part 18 of each of the
first and second modified examples of the second embodiment,
the flow velocity of air flowing through the ventilation
10 flue 23 corresponding to the second leeward side surface
end portion 30h increases. Thus, the electric components
17 disposed on the second leeward side surface end portion
30h side can be efficiently cooled. Furthermore, as a
result of disposing the electric components 17 in the
15 center of the heat radiation part 18 in the X direction,
heat generated in the electric components 17 is easily
transferred to the entire heat radiation part 18, so that
the electric components 17 can be efficiently cooled.
[0066] Note that in the second embodiment described
20 above, an example has been described in which the first
leeward side surface end portion 30g of the vent deflector
30 is located on the leeward side with respect to the
virtual plane S, but the first leeward side surface end
portion 30g may be located on the windward side with
25 respect to the virtual plane S. With such a configuration,
the area of the outlet 25b further increases, so that air
easily flows into a space where pressure loss is smaller.
Thus, air easily flows through the ventilation flue 23.
[0067] Third Embodiment.
30 Next, the outdoor machine 1 according to a third
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIG. 14 In the heat radiation part 18
according to the first embodiment, the leeward end portion
25
18d is located on the leeward side with respect to the
virtual plane S. Meanwhile, a heat radiation part 180
according to the third embodiment includes a leeward end
portion 180d located on the windward side with respect to
5 the virtual plane S. The heat radiation part 180 according
to the third embodiment is different from the heat
radiation part 18 according to the first embodiment in this
respect.
[0068] FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the heat
10 radiation part 180 according to the third embodiment,
viewed from the left side panel 4 side of the outdoor
machine 1. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the
same constituent elements as those in the first embodiment
are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description
15 thereof will not be repeated.
[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the heat radiation
part 180 of the outdoor machine 1 according to the third
embodiment includes a base 190 and a plurality of fins 210
extending from the base 190 perpendicularly thereto. The
20 ends of the plurality of fins 210 are partially covered
with a vent deflector 200. A space surrounded by the base
190 of the heat radiation part 180, two adjacent fins 210,
and the vent deflector 200 is formed as a ventilation flue
230.
25 [0070] The base 190 is a rectangular plate-like member
attached to the electric component 17 and extending in the
Y direction. The fin 210 has a rectangular shape with a
longitudinal length equal to the longitudinal length of the
base 190. A plurality of the fins 210 is formed in the
30 lateral direction (Z direction) of the base 190.
[0071] Each of the plurality of fins 210 has a windward
end portion 210c and a leeward end portion 210d. The
windward end portion 210c is an end located on the windward
26
side in the longitudinal direction. The leeward end
portion 210d is an end located on the leeward side in the
longitudinal direction. The windward end portions 210c of
the plurality of fins 210 correspond to a windward end
5 portion 180c of the heat radiation part 180. The leeward
end portions 210d of the plurality of fins 210 correspond
to the leeward end portion 180d of the heat radiation part
180.
[0072] The vent deflector 200 includes a flat surface
10 portion 200a and an inclined portion 200b provided at the
longitudinal end of the flat surface portion 200a. The
inclined portion 200b is connected to the windward side of
the flat surface portion 200a. The flat surface portion
200a and the inclined portion 30b are integrally formed.
15 The inclined portion 200a is inclined with respect to the
flat surface portion 30a in the gravity direction (Z
direction). The flat surface portion 200a faces the base
190 in the Z direction.
[0073] The vent deflector 200 includes a windward end
20 portion 200c and a leeward end portion 200d. The windward
end portion 200c is the end of the inclined portion 200b.
The windward end portion 200c is located on the windward
side with respect to the windward end portions 21c of the
plurality of fins 21. The leeward end portion 200d is the
25 end of the flat surface portion 200a.
[0074] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the leeward end
portion 180d of the heat radiation part 180 and the vent
deflector 200 are located on the windward side with respect
to the virtual plane S. Thus, the heat radiation part 18
30 and the vent deflector 200 are not disposed in the region R
that is a region between the virtual plane S and the front
panel 3.
[0075] Therefore, air that has passed through the
27
ventilation flue 230 flows out at a position on the
windward side with respect to the virtual plane S. Thus,
sufficient air flows through the ventilation flue 23
without stagnating at the outlet, so that the cooling
5 capacity of the heat radiation part 180 can be improved.
[0076] Furthermore, it is possible to cause air to more
easily flow through the ventilation flue 230 and further
improve the cooling capacity of the heat radiation part 180
by configuring the windward end portion of the heat
10 radiation part such that a part of the windward end portion
is not covered with the vent deflector and providing a
second outlet, as set forth in the first and second
embodiments.
[0077] Note that FIG. 14 illustrates a configuration in
15 which the length of the heat radiation part 180 in the Yaxis
direction is equal to the length of the vent deflector
200 in the Y-axis direction. However, it is possible to
further increase flow velocity and improve cooling capacity
by causing the vent deflector 200 to be smaller in length
20 than the heat radiation part 180 in the Y-axis direction
and forming an outlet with, for example, a circular shape
in the vent deflector 200, as set forth in the first
embodiment.
[0078] Furthermore, similarly, it is possible to cause
25 flow velocity to increase as the distance from the windward
end portion 200c to the leeward end portion 200d of the
vent deflector 200 decreases and to improve cooling
capacity by forming the leeward end portion 200d of the
vent deflector 200 obliquely to the leeward end portion
30 210d or forming the leeward end portion 200d in an arc
shape or an L shape as set forth in the second embodiment.
That is, it is also possible to implement a configuration
in which the above-described embodiments are appropriately
28
combined.
[0079] In the first to third embodiments described above,
examples have been described in which the plurality of fins
21 and 210 includes plate-like members. However, the shape
5 of the plurality of fins 21 and 210 is not limited thereto.
For example, another shape such as a rod-like shape may be
adopted.
[0080] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments
described above, examples of horizontal placement in which
10 the control board 16 is horizontally placed have been
described. However, the control board 16 may be vertically
placed in the gravity direction (Z direction). In that
case, the plurality of fins 21 extends in the horizontal
direction, and the flat surface portions 20a, 30a, and 200a
15 of the vent deflectors 20, 30, and 200 are disposed in such
a way as to extend along the Z direction.
[0081] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments
described above, examples have been described in which the
flat surface portions 20a, 30a, and 200a of the vent
20 deflectors 20, 30, and 200 are connected to the vent
deflector side end portions 21d and 210d of the plurality
of fins 21 and 210. However, there may be a gap between
the flat surface portions 20a, 30a, and 200a and the vent
deflector side end portions 21d and 210d.
25 [0082] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments
described above, examples in which the vent deflectors 20,
30, and 200 respectively include the inclined portions 20b,
30b, and 200b have been described. However, the vent
deflectors 20, 30, and 200 may be configured such that the
30 vent deflectors 20, 30, and 200 do not include the inclined
portion 20b, 30b, or 200b and that the entire vent
deflectors 20, 30, and 200 are formed in a planar shape.
In this case, the windward end portions of the flat surface
29
portions 20a, 30a, and 200a serve as the windward end
portions 20c, 30c, and 200c of the vent deflectors 20, 30,
and 200, respectively. At this time, the windward end
portions 20c, 30c, and 200c of the vent deflectors 20, 30,
5 and 200 may be disposed at the same positions in the Y
direction as the windward end portions 21c and 210c of the
plurality of fins 21 and 210.
[0083] Furthermore, in the first to third embodiments
described above, examples have been provided in which the
10 bases 19 and 190 are respectively equal in longitudinal
length to the fins 21 and 210. However, the plurality of
fins 21 and 210 may be configured such that the plurality
of fins 21 and 210 is smaller in longitudinal length than
the bases 19 and 190, and is provided on the upstream ends
15 or downstream ends of the bases 19 and 190, respectively,
so that only the leeward side or windward side is opened.
[0084] Note that the outdoor machine according to any of
the first to third embodiments described above may be
applied to an outdoor machine of a heat pump water heater.
20
Reference Signs List
[0085] 1 outdoor machine; 2 housing; 3 front panel; 3a
opening; 3b inner surface; 4 left side panel; 4a opening;
5 right side panel; 6 bottom panel; 7 top panel; 8 rear
25 panel; 8a opening; 9 bell mouth; 9a windward end portion;
10 partition plate; 11 blower chamber; 12 machine
chamber; 13 blower; 14 compressor; 15 electric component
box; 16 control board; 17 electric component; 18 heat
radiation part; 18c windward end portion; 18d leeward end
30 portion; 19 base; 19a flat surface portion; 19b leeward
end portion; 20 vent deflector; 20a flat surface portion;
20b inclined portion; 20c windward end portion; 20d
leeward end portion; 21 fin; 21c windward end portion;
30
21d leeward end portion; 22 heat exchanger; 23
ventilation flue; 23a first ventilation flue; 23b second
ventilation flue; 24 inlet; 25 outlet; 25a outlet; 25b
outlet; 25c outlet; 30 vent deflector; 30a flat surface
5 portion; 30b inclined portion; 30c windward end portion;
30d leeward end portion; 30e first windward side surface
end portion; 30f second windward side surface end portion;
30g first leeward side surface end portion; 30h second
leeward side surface end portion; 200 vent deflector; 200a
10 flat surface portion; 200b inclined portion; 200c
windward end portion; 200d leeward end portion; 210 fin;
210c windward end portion; 210d leeward end portion; 230
ventilation flue; 1003 front panel; 1009 bell mouth; 1018
heat radiation part; 1020 vent deflector; 1020b inclined
15 portion; 1020c windward end portion; 1020d leeward end
portion; 1020 fin; 1020d vent deflector side end portion;
1020e leeward end portion; 1023 ventilation flue; 1024
inlet; 1025 outlet; 1025a outlet; S virtual plane; R
region.
20
31
We Claim:
1. An outdoor machine comprising:
5 a housing that includes a front panel in which an
outlet is formed;
a blower disposed in the housing;
a bell mouth disposed in an outer periphery of the
blower and connected to the outlet;
10 a control board on which an electric component is
mounted, the control board being provided in the housing;
a heat radiation part that radiates heat generated by
the electric component; and
a vent deflector that covers the heat radiation part,
15 and forms a ventilation flue through which air generated by
the blower flows in the heat radiation part, wherein
the vent deflector is not provided in a region between
a virtual plane and the front panel, the virtual plane
covering an entire periphery of an edge of the bell mouth
20 and extending in parallel with the front panel.
2. The outdoor machine according to claim 1, wherein
the housing includes a rear panel facing the panel,
the ventilation flue of the heat radiation part is
25 formed such that the ventilation flue extends from the rear
panel toward the front panel,
an inlet of the ventilation flue is provided on a rear
panel side with respect to the virtual plane, and
an outlet of the ventilation flue is provided on a
30 front panel side with respect to the virtual plane.
3. The outdoor machine according to claim 1, wherein
the housing includes a rear panel facing the panel,
32
the ventilation flue of the heat radiation part is
formed such that the ventilation flue extends from the rear
panel toward the front panel, and
an inlet and an outlet of the ventilation flue are
5 provided on a rear panel side with respect to the virtual
plane.
4. The outdoor machine according to any one of claims 1
to 3, wherein
10 the ventilation flue includes a first ventilation flue
and a second ventilation flue, and
a distance from an inlet to an outlet of the first
ventilation flue is longer than a distance from an inlet to
an outlet of the second ventilation flue.
15
5. The outdoor machine according to claim 4, wherein
the electric component is disposed at a position where
the electric component faces the second ventilation flue.
20 6. The outdoor machine according to any one of claims 4
and 5, wherein
a length of the first ventilation flue and a length of
the second ventilation flue differ according to a length of
the vent deflector, and a leeward end portion of the vent
25 deflector is formed obliquely to the front panel.
7. The outdoor machine according to any one of claims 4
to 6, wherein
a length of the first ventilation flue and a length of
30 the second ventilation flue differ according to a length of
the vent deflector, and a leeward end portion of the vent
deflector is formed in an arc shape.
33
8. The outdoor machine according to claim 6, wherein
the second ventilation flue is provided closer to the
bell mouth than the first ventilation flue when viewed from
above.
5
9. The outdoor machine according to any one of claims 1
to 8, wherein
a wide-gap semiconductor is mounted on the control
board.
10
10. An air conditioner comprising:
the outdoor machine according to any one of claims 1
to 9.