FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
OUTDOOR UNIT OF AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS;
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

DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning
apparatus, and particularly relates to a fixation structure for an electronic 5 circuit board
provided in a housing of the outdoor unit.
Background Art
[0002]
In an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, an electronic circuit board is
provided in a housing of the outdoor unit. On the electronic circuit board, electronic
components, a wiring pattern, a heat sink, etc., are mounted. The electronic circuit
board controls operations of a fan, a compressor and other components of the
outdoor unit, and processes electrical signals. The electronic circuit board is
supported by a board supporting member, and is fastened and fixed to the board
supporting member by, for example, bolts (see Patent Literature 1).
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2007-132606
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004]
In an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus disclosed in Patent
Literature 1, an electronic circuit board is fixed to a board supporting member by
fastening bolts. However, when the electronic circuit board is fixed to the board
supporting member by fastening bolts, thermal expansion and thermal contraction of
the electronic circuit board and the board supporting member occur because of a
temperature change, and a stress acts on the electronic circuit board due to the
difference between the amounts of displacement of the electronic circuit board and

the board supporting member.
[0005]
Furthermore, when being transported or installed, the outdoor unit of the airconditioning
apparatus may be vibrated, dropped or collide with something, and as a
result may be subject to an impact. In recent years, there has been a tendency to
produce air-conditioning apparatuses having additional functions, and mount larger
electronic circuit boards on the air-conditioning apparatuses. If an electronic circuit
board is made larger, the weight of the electronic circuit board increases, and when
the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus is subject to impact, the inertial force
of the electronic circuit board increases, and a force that acts on a fixed portion of the
electronic circuit board also increases. In the case where the electronic circuit board
is fastened by bolts, when the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus is subject
to impact, though the fixed portion does not detach, a stress acts on the electronic
circuit board itself due to the impact.
[0006]
Also, the electronic circuit board can be fixed by not only fastening bolts as
disclosed in Patent Literature 1, but engaging a claw with the board supporting
member. In the case of adopting the above engagement using the claw, when the
outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus is subject to impact, the claw is
disengaged from the board supporting member, and as a result the electronic circuit
board is detached from the board supporting member by the inertial force of the
electronic circuit board that is produced by the impact.
[0007]
The present disclosure is applied to solve the above problems, and relates to
an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, in which an electronic circuit board
does not fall from a predetermined position even when the outdoor unit is subject
impact, and a stress that acts on the electronic circuit board due to thermal
deformation is reduced.
Solution to Problem
[0008]
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure includes a heat exchanger, a compressor, and an electronic
circuit board provided in a housing of the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit also
includes a heat exchange fan chamber in which the heat exchanger is provided; and
a machine chamber in which the compressor and the electronic circuit board are
provided. In an upper region in the machine chamber, a board supporting member
is provided. The board supporting member has a mounting surface on which the
electronic circuit board is mounted. The board supporting member also includes an
engagement claw and a restricting projection at one end of an area where the
electronic circuit board is placed. The engagement claw being configured to restrict
movement of the electronic circuit board in a direction perpendicular to the mounting
surface, and the restricting projection restricts movement of the electronic circuit
board in a direction along the mounting surface. The board supporting member
includes a boss portion into which a screw is screwed, at the other end of the area
where the electronic circuit board is placed. The restricting projection is provided to
protrude at a distal end of an arm portion, and is inserted into a first positioning hole
provided in the electronic circuit board. The arm portion has flexibility and protrude
from part of the board supporting member in the direction along the mounting surface.
The boss portion has, at a distal end of the boss portion, a protruding portion that
protrudes from the mounting surface. The protruding portion is inserted into a
second positioning hole provided in the electronic circuit board.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0009]
In the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of the embodiment of the
present disclosure, because of provision of the above configuration, even when the
outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus is subject to impact, the first projection
and the distal end of the boss portion restrict movement of the electronic circuit board
in the horizontal direction. The above configuration thus works to prevent
disengagement of the hook engaged with the electronic circuit board and also prevent
the electronic circuit board from falling from the board supporting member. The
amount of protrusion of the distal end of the boss portion is greater than the thickness
of the electronic circuit board, and the electronic circuit board provided between the
head of a screw screwed into the boss portion and the board supporting member is
positioned, with a space provided the electronic circuit board and the board
supporting member. Thus even when the electronic circuit board and the board
supporting member expand or contract by receiving heat, relative displacement of the
electronic circuit board and the board supporting member due to the expansion or
contraction can be absorbed by the space, thereby reducing a stress that acts on the
electronic circuit board.

Brief Description of Drawings
[0010]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an internal
configuration of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus as illustrated in Fig.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a front view for explaining the internal configuration of the
outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical component box
according to Embodiment 1.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a fixation structure
of an electronic circuit board and a board supporting member as illustrated in Fig. 4.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 illustrates a state in which the electronic circuit board is fixed to
the board supporting member as illustrated in Fig. 4, as viewed from below.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 illustrates the board supporting member as viewed from below.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating a tap drill hole on the board
supporting member as illustrated Fig. 4 and a region located in the vicinity of the tap
drill hole.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating a protruding portion of the board
supporting member and a region located in the vicinity of the protruding portion.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the electronic
circuit board is mounted on a mounting surface in the region located in the vicinity of
the protruding portion as illustrated in Fig. 9.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an engagement claw of the
board supporting member and a region located in the vicinity of the engagement claw.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating a sectional configuration of
the engagement claw as illustrated in Fig. 11.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating a restricting projection of the
board supporting member as illustrated in Fig. 11 and a region located in the vicinity
of the restricting projection.
[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which the
restricting projection as illustrated in Fig. 11 is inserted in a first positioning hole of the
electronic circuit board.
[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is an explanatory view of explaining attachment of the
electronic circuit board to the board supporting member according to Embodiment 1.
Description of Embodiment
[0011]
Embodiment 1
An embodiment of an outdoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus will be
described. The configurations of components as illustrated in the drawings are each
merely an example, and the configurations of the components according to the
embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated configurations.
In each of the following figures, components that are the same as or equivalent to
those in a previous figure are denoted by the same reference signs. The same is
true of the entire text of the specification. Furthermore, in each of the following
figures, the relationship in size between components may be different from the actual
one. In the following description, up, down, left, and right directions are directions as
viewed head-on in a direction toward a front panel 1 of the outdoor unit 100 of the airconditioning
apparatus.
[0012]
Entire Configuration of Outdoor Unit 100
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning
apparatus according to Embodiment 1. A housing 10 of the outdoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus includes the front panel 1, a side panel 2, a top panel 3, a
fan and a fan guard 6. The front panel 1 has an opening portion, 5 and the fan 5 is
provided in an internal space located behind the opening portion. The opening
portion is covered with the fan guard 6 such that the fan in the housing cannot
be easily touched from the outside.
[0013]
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining an internal configuration
of the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig.
3 is a front view for explaining the internal configuration of the outdoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the internal
configuration, with the front panel 1, the side panel 2, and the top panel 3 removed
from the housing The inside of the housing 10 is partitioned into a heat
exchange fan chamber 8 and a machine chamber 9. The fan 5 and a heat
exchanger 60 are provided in the heat exchange fan chamber 8. In the machine
chamber 9, a compressor 11 and a refrigerant pipe 12 are provided, and an electrical
component box 13 is provided above the compressor 11 and the refrigerant pipe 12.
The heat exchange fan chamber 8 and the machine chamber 9 are isolated from
each other by a partition plate 7 that is provided upright on a base 4 to extend
upwards from the base 4. The base 4 forms a bottom of the housing 10. The
electrical component box 13 is located immediately above an upper end of the
partition plate 7.
[0014]
The outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus includes an inverter
drive circuit and an electronic circuit board 14 on which an electronic circuit is
mounted. The electronic circuit includes electronic components such as transistors
and diodes that control the fan the compressor 11 and other components. The
electronic circuit board 14 is provided in the electrical component box 13. When the
outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is in operation, the electronic
components such as transistors and diodes generate heat, and the temperature of
the electronic circuit board 14 rises. Therefore, the electronic circuit board 14 is
connected to a heat sink in order to the electronic circuit board 14 to radiate heat
and to be cooled. The electrical component box 13 is provided such 5 that air from the
heat exchange fan chamber 8 flows on part of the electrical component box 13 where
the heat sink is located. In other words, the electrical component box 13 is
provided such that the above part where the heat sink is located protrudes from
the machine chamber 9 toward the heat exchange fan chamber 8.
[0015]
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical component box 13
according to Embodiment 1. The electronic circuit board 14 is attached to a lower
surface of a board supporting member 16 made of a resin such as ABS. The heat
sink is mounted on the electronic circuit board 14 from below the electronic circuit
board 14. The heat sink is supported by a heat sink support 17 made of sheet
metal, and is located in contact with a surface of the electronic circuit board 14 or the
electronic components on the electronic circuit board 14. The heat sink support 17
is fixed to the board supporting member 16. When the electrical component box 13
is provided on the upper end of the partition plate 7, the heat sink support 17 is fixed to the upper end of the partition plate 7, and the entire electrical component box 13 is
fixed.
[0016]
The heat sink support 17 has an opening portion 17a, and the heat sink 15 is
fitted in the opening portion 17a and is thereby fixed. Thus, the heat sink 15
protrudes from the electrical component box 13 and is thus exposed, whereby wind in the heat exchange fan chamber 8 flows onto the heat sink 15. A heat sink holder 19
made of an insulating resin such as ABS is provided between the heat sink and
the heat sink support 17. Since the heat sink support 17 is made of metal, the heat
sink holder 19 electrically insulates the heat sink from the heat sink support 17.
Furthermore, an air guide 18 is fixed to the heat sink support 17. The air guide 18
guides air that flows in the heat exchange fan chamber 8 to cause the air to efficiently
contact the heat sink In Embodiment 1, the air guide 18 is a component made of
resin, but the material of the air guide 18 is not limited to resin.
[0017]
An electrical component box cover made of a sheet metal 5 is provided above
the electrical component box 13. The electrical component box cover is attached
to an upper surface of the board supporting member 16. The electrical component
box cover prevents the electronic circuit board 14 from getting wet and being
electrically short-circuited due to moisture generated in the housing 10, such as dew
condensation. Also, if fire occurs, the electrical component box cover reduces the
spread of flame from the electronic circuit board 14 to other components.
[0018]
A terminal block supporting member 21 is attached to an end portion of the
board supporting member 16. The terminal block supporting member 21 is fixed to a
side end portion of the housing 10 at the board supporting member 16. A terminal
block 22 is mounted on the terminal block supporting member 21. The terminal
block 22 supplies power to the electronic circuit board 14. The terminal block
supporting member 21 and the board supporting member 16 are fixed together, for
example, by fastening screws. However, this method is an example; that is, the
method for fixing the terminal block supporting member 21 and the board supporting
member 16 is not limited to the above method.
[0019]
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a fixation structure that is
a structure for fixation between the electronic circuit board 14 and the board
supporting member 16 as illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 illustrates a state in which the
electronic circuit board 14 is fixed to the board supporting member 16 as illustrated in
Fig. 4, as viewed from below. Fig. 7 illustrates the board supporting member 16 as
viewed from below. The board supporting member 16 has a support structure that
holds end portions of the electronic circuit board 14. The board supporting member
16 is configured such that two corner portions 35 and 36 of one end portion 31 of the
electronic circuit board 14 that is formed rectangular as viewed from below are fixed
by screwed, the above one end portion 31 being one of end portions of the electronic
circuit board 14 that are located on opposite sides in a direction perpendicular to a
longitudinal direction of the electronic circuit board 14. To be more specific, a screw
is inserted into a screw hole 41 formed in the corner portion 35 5 located at an end
of the one end portion 31 of the electronic circuit board 14, and is then screwed into a
tap drill hole 61 formed in the board supporting member 16, thereby fastening and
fixing the electronic circuit board 14. Furthermore, a protruding portion 16c formed
at the board supporting member 16 is inserted into a second positioning hole 40
formed in the second corner portion 36 located at another end of the one end portion
31, and a screw 23 is then screwed into a tap drill hole 62 formed in the protruding
portion 16c, thereby supporting the electronic circuit board 14.
[0020]
The board supporting member 16 is provided with engagement claws 16d that
support the other end portion 32 of the electronic circuit board 14 that is the other of
the end portions of the electronic circuit board 14 that are located on the opposite
sides in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the electronic circuit
board 14, in such a manner as to prevent the above other end portion 32 from being
separated from the board supporting member 16. The engagement claws 16d support the electronic circuit board 14 from below.
[0021]
Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the tap drill hole 61 in the board
supporting member 16 as illustrated in Fig. 4 and a region located in the vicinity of the
tap drill hole 61. The board supporting member 16 has a mounting surface 50 that
faces the electronic circuit board 14, and the tap drill hole 61 is provided in the
mounting surface 50. At part of the board supporting member 16 where the tap drill
hole 61 is provided, a screw boss 16a into which the screw 23 is screwed is provided.
The electronic circuit board 14 is mounted on the mounting surface 50, and the screw
23 is screwed into the tap drill hole 61, whereby the electronic circuit board 14 is
fastened and fixed on the mounting surface 50.
[0022]
Fig. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating the protruding portion 16c of the board
supporting member. 16 and a region located in the vicinity of the protruding portion
16c. In part of the board supporting member 16 that collides with the second corner
portion 36 of the electronic circuit board 14, a boss portion 16b is 5 formed in such a
manner as to enable the screw 23 to be screwed into the boss portion 16b. The
protruding portion 16c is formed at a distal end of the boss portion 16b. The
protruding portion 16c protrudes from the mounting surface 50 and has a cylindrical
shape.
[0023]
Fig. 10 is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the electronic circuit
board 14 is mounted on the mounting surface 50 in the region located in the vicinity of
the protruding portion 16c as illustrated in Fig. 9. The protruding portion 16c of the
board supporting member 16 is inserted into the second positioning hole 40 formed in
the second corner portion 36 of the electronic circuit board 14. In the second
positioning hole 40 of the electronic circuit board 14, the protruding portion 16c of the
board supporting member 16 is fitted, with a gap provided in a radial direction of the
second positioning hole 40 between the second positioning hole 40 and the
protruding portion 16c. The amount h of protrusion of the protruding portion 16c of
the board supporting member 16 that is a distance by which the protruding portion
16c protrudes from the mounting surface 50 is greater a thickness t of the electronic
circuit board 14. In the state illustrated in Fig. 10, the screw 23 is screwed into the
tap drill hole 62 of the boss portion 16b. When the screw 23 is screwed, a gap h is
provided between a head of the screw 23 and the mounting surface 50. In contrast,
the electronic circuit board 14 has the thickness t. In Embodiment 1, since a
relationship of h>t is satisfied, the electronic circuit board 14 is provided between the
mounting surface 50 and the head of the screw 23, with a gap provided to having a
length of h-t. Therefore, even if the electronic circuit board 14 and the board
supporting member 16 thermally expand or contract due to the temperature in the
surrounding environment and are relatively displaced, since the electronic circuit
board 14 has a margin, in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 50,
between the mounting surface 50 and the head of the screw 23, a stress which would
be caused by the thermal deformation is not generated. In Embodiment 1, the
direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 50 means a height direction of the
outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus that is a direction 5 along the height
of the outdoor unit 100.
[0024]
Also, the protruding portion 16c of the board supporting member 16 is fitted in
the second positioning hole 40 of the electronic circuit board 14, with a gap between
the protruding portion 16c and the second positioning hole 40. Therefore, the
electronic circuit board 14 is positioned on the board supporting member 16 in a
direction along the mounting surface 50, and no stress is generated even if the
electronic circuit board 14 and the board supporting member 16 are thermally
deformed.
[0025]
Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the engagement claws 16d of the
board supporting member 16 and a region located in the vicinity of the engagement
claws 16d. Fig. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating a sectional configuration of the
engagement claws 16d as illustrated in Fig. 11. The other end portion 32 of the
electronic circuit board 14 is interposed and supported between the engagement
claws 16d and projections 16h that are projected and formed on an inner surface of a
wall portion 16i that is located at a peripheral portion of the board supporting member
16. The engagement claws 16d formed on the board supporting member 16 are
provided at a plurality of locations along the other end portion 32 of the electronic
circuit board 14 to support the other end portion 32 of the electronic circuit board 14 in almost an entire range of the other end portion 32 in the longitudinal direction. When
the electronic circuit board 14 is provided in the housing of the outdoor unit 100 of
the air-conditioning apparatus, the upper surface of the board supporting member 16
as illustrated in Fig. 11 is located to face downwards, and the engagement claws 16d
thus support the lower side of the electronic circuit board 14. It should be noted that
referring to Fig. 11, the engagement claws 16d are arranged at seven locations, but
the arrangement of the engagement claws 16d is not limited to this. The locations of
the engagement claws 16d can be changed as appropriate based on the
arrangement of lines formed on the electronic circuit board 14, the arrangement of
electronic components mounted on the electronic circuit 5 board 14 and other
conditions.
[0026]
As illustrated in Fig. 12, the electronic circuit board 14 is provided between the
engagement claws 16d and projections 16h. The projections 16h support the electronic circuit board 14 from a lower side of Fig. 12 when the electronic circuit
board 14 is attached to the board supporting member 16. Therefore, the electronic
circuit board 14 can be stably supported by the board supporting member 16 during
an assembly work. Thus, for example, even when a load acts on the electronic
circuit board 14 at the time of fastening the screws, an excessive stress is not
generated. Referring to Fig. 12, a space h2 between the lower surface of the
engagement claws 16d and the upper surface of the projections 16h in an up/down
direction is larger than the thickness t of the electronic circuit board 14. Accordingly,
a stress does not act on the electronic circuit board 14 even when thermal
deformation of the electronic circuit board 14 and the board supporting member 16
occurs.
[0027]
Fig. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating a restricting projection 16g of the board
supporting member 16 as illustrated in Fig. 11 and a region located in the vicinity of
the restricting projection 16g. As illustrated in Fig. 13, in the board supporting
member 16, the restricting projection 16g is provided at a position that coincides with
the position of a first corner portion 38 located at an end of the other end portion 32 of
the electronic circuit board 14. The restricting projection 16g is formed to protrude
toward an upper side of Fig. 13 at a distal end of an arm portion 16f that is formed to
protrude from the wall portion 16i. The restricting projection 16g and the arm portion16f are collectively referred to as a restricting projection portion 16e. The restricting
projection portion 16e is formed at part of the board supporting member 16 that
coincides in position with the first corner portion 38 of the electronic circuit board 14.
The restricting projection 16g is inserted into a first positioning hole 42 formed in the
first corner portion 38 of the electronic circuit board 14.
[0028]
Fig. 14 is an explanatory view for a state in which the restricting projection 16g
as illustrated in Fig. 11 is inserted in the first positioning hole 42 of the electronic
circuit board 14. The restricting projection 16g is formed such that an outer
peripheral surface of the restricting projection 16g is tapered from the arm portion 16f
toward a distal end of the restricting projection 16g. In Embodiment 1, the restricting
projection 16g is formed in the shape of a truncated cone; however, the shape of the
restricting projection 16g is not limited to this shape. For example, the restricting
projection 16g may have a hemispherical shape or a shape in which the ridge line of
the upper end of a cylinder is rounded. The restricting projection portion 16e is
configured such that the arm portion 16f is elastically deformed in an up/down
direction in Fig. 14. In Embodiment 1, although the length of the arm portion 16f is
set to mm and the height of the restricting projection 16g is set to mm, the length
of the arm portion 16f and the height of the restricting projection 16g can be changed
as appropriate based on the material of the board supporting member 16, the
thickness of the electronic circuit board 14, etc.
[0029]
As illustrated in Fig. 14, by fitting the restricting projection 16g into the first
positioning hole 42 of the electronic circuit board 14, the position of the electronic
circuit board 14 for the board supporting member 16 in the direction along the
mounting surface 50 is determined. Thus, when the outdoor unit 100 of the airconditioning
apparatus is subject to impact, at least one of the electronic circuit board
14 and the board supporting member 16 is elastically deformed, and displacement of
the other end portion 32 of the electronic circuit board 14 in a direction away from the
engagement claws 16d of the board supporting member 16 is reduced. Therefore,
the above configuration is provided to prevent the other end portion 32 of the
electronic circuit board 14 from falling from the engagement claws 16d of the board
supporting member 16 when the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is
subject to impact
[0030]
(Way of Attaching Electronic Circuit Board 14 to Board Supporting 5 Member 16)
Fig. 15 is an explanatory view of attachment of the electronic circuit board 14 to
the board supporting member 16 according to Embodiment 1. Fig. 15 is a schematic
explanatory view illustrating the first positioning hole 42 and the second positioning
hole 40 that are both provided in the electronic circuit board 14, and the restricting
projection portion 16e, the protruding portion 16c, the engagement claws 16d and theprojections 16h that are all provided at the board supporting member 16. Fig. 15
also illustrates the engagement claws 16d and the projections 16h provided on the
rear side with respect to the restricting projection portion 16e provided on the wall
portion 16i of the board supporting member 16.
[0031]
When the electronic circuit board 14 is attached to the board supporting
member 16, first, the other end portion 32 of the electronic circuit board 14 is inserted
into the space that is provided between the engagement claws 16d and the
projections 16h of the board supporting member 16 in the up/down direction. In
order to insert the other end portion 32 of the electronic circuit board 14 into the
space that is provided between the engagement claws 16d and the projections 16h in
the up/down direction, it is necessary to move the electronic circuit board 14 in a
direction parallel to the mounting surface 50 before inserting the other end portion 32.
At this time, since the board supporting member 16 has the protruding portion 16c and the restricting projection 16g that protrude in the direction perpendicular to the
mounting surface 50, the electronic circuit board 14 cannot be made parallel to the
mounting surface 50 when the other end portion 32 is inserted into the space that is
provided between the engagement claws 16d and the projections 16h in the up/down
direction. That is, the electronic circuit board 14 is obliquely inserted as illustrated in
Fig. 15, (a). In Embodiment 1, since the engagement claws 16d each have a
chamfer 16k at a distal end of each engagement claw 16d, the electronic circuit board
14 can be easily obliquely inserted as illustrated in Fig. 15, (a). Since the
engagement claws 16d each have a flat portion on a proximal end side of each
engagement claw 16d, the electronic circuit board 14 is held at a predetermined
position after the other end portion 32 of the electronic circuit board 5 14 is all the way
inserted into the space.
[0032]
As illustrated in Fig. 15, (a), even when the electronic circuit board 14 is
obliquely inserted, the restricting projection 16g is located at a position where the
restricting projection 16g cannot be inserted into the first positioning hole 42.
However, since the restricting projection 16g is provided at the distal end of the arm
portion 16f that has flexibility and protrudes from the wall portion 16i in the direction
along the mounting surface 50, the restricting projection 16g can be moved in the
up/down direction. Therefore, in the electronic circuit board 14, the other end portion
32 can be inserted the space that is provided between the engagement claws 16d
and the projections 16h in the up/down direction, while the restricting projection 16g is
being moved toward a lower side of Fig. 15, (a). Although the arm portion 16f
protrudes from the wall portion 16i in the direction along the mounting surface 50, the
formation of the arm portion 16f is not limited to this. That is, the arm portion 16f
may be formed in any manner as long as it is formed such that the restricting
projection 16g is moved in the above manner when the electronic circuit board 14 is
inserted into the space that is provided between the engagement claws 16d and the
projections 16h in the up/down direction. As illustrated in Fig. 15, (b), when the
electronic circuit board 14 is located in its regular position on the board supporting
member 16, the restricting projection 16g is inserted in the first positioning hole 42,
and functions to position the electronic circuit board 14 in the direction parallel to the
mounting surface 50. The corner portion 35 and the second corner portion 36 of the
electronic circuit board 14 are fixed by the screws 23 in the state as illustrated in Fig.(b).
[0033]
(Advantages of Embodiment 1)
In the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment 1, the
board supporting member 16 includes, at one end 16m of a placement area 16p for
the electronic circuit board 14, the engagement claws 16d configured to restrict the
downward movement of the electronic circuit board. The board 5 supporting member
also includes the restricting projections 16g configured to restrict the movement of
the electronic circuit board 14 in the horizontal direction, and the boss portion 16b into
which the screw 23 is screwed, at the other end 16m of the placement area 16p for
the electronic circuit board 14. The restricting projection 16g is provided to protrude
in the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 50, from the distal end of the
arm portion 16f that has flexibility and protrudes from part of the board supporting
member 16 in the direction along the mounting surface 50, and is inserted into the
first positioning hole 42 provided in the electronic circuit board 14. The boss portion
16b includes the protruding portion 16c that protrudes downwards at the distal end,
and that is inserted into the second positioning hole 40 formed in the electronic circuit
board 14. The amount h1 of protrusion of the protruding portion 16c from the
mounting surface 50 is greater than the thickness t of the electronic circuit board 14.
[0034]
Because of the above configuration, the electronic circuit board 14 is supported
in the up/down direction in the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus by
the engagement claws 16d and the head of the screw 23 screwed into the boss
portion 16b. The movement of the electronic circuit board 14 in the direction along
the mounting surface 50 of the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is
restricted by the restricting projection 16g and the protruding portion 16c. That is,
the restricting projection 16g and the protruding portion 16c provided at the distal end
of the boss portion 16b are provided to prevent the electronic circuit board 14 from
moving in the direction along the mounting surface 50 even when the outdoor unit
100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is subject to impact. Therefore, the above
configuration is provided to prevent detachment of the engagement claws 16d
engaged with the electronic circuit board 14 from the electronic circuit board 14.
[0035]
Furthermore, the amount h1 of protrusion of the protruding portion 16c at the
distal end of the boss portion 16b is greater than the thickness of the electronic circuit
board 14. The electronic circuit board 14 provided between the head of the screw
screwed into the boss portion 16b and the mounting surface 5 50 of the board
supporting member 16 is positioned in the direction perpendicular to the mounting
surface 50, with a space provided between the electronic circuit board 14 and the
board supporting member 16. Therefore, even when the electronic circuit board 14
and the board supporting member 16 expand or contract by receiving heat, the
relative displacement of the electronic circuit board 14 and the board supporting
member 16 that is caused by the expansion or contraction can be absorbed by the
space, whereby a stress does not act on the electronic circuit board 14.
[0036]
Predetermined spaces are respectively provided between the first positioning
hole 42 provided in the electronic circuit board 14 and the restricting projection 16g
provided at the board supporting member 16 and between the second positioning
hole 40 provided in the electronic circuit board 14 and the outer peripheral surface of
the protruding portion 16c. Thus, when the electronic circuit board 14 and the board
supporting member 16 expand or contract by receiving heat, the displacement of the
electronic circuit board 14 in the direction along the mounting surface 50 can be
absorbed by the spaces, whereby a stress does not act on the electronic circuit board
[0037]
The electronic circuit board 14 is fastened and fixed by the screw 23 at the
corner portion 35. In the electronic circuit board 14, only the corner portion 35 is
fixed in the direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 50 and in the direction
along the mounting surface 50, and other portions are positioned in the direction
perpendicular to the mounting surface 50 and in the direction along the mounting
surface 50 with predetermined spaces. Thus, the electronic circuit board 14 does
not wobble on the board supporting member 16, and is not vibrated on the board
supporting member 16 by vibration or impact that acts on the outdoor unit 100 of the
air-conditioning apparatus.
[0038]
In Embodiment 1, the restricting projection 16g and the protruding portion 16c
of the board supporting member 16 are located at positions that 5 coincide with the
positions of the diagonal corners of the electronic circuit board 14. Therefore, the
electronic circuit board 14 does not wobble in the direction along the mounting
surface 50. However, the positional relationship between the restricting projection
16g and the protruding portion 16c is not limited to that described regarding
Embodiment 1, and can be changed as appropriate based on the wiring on the
electronic circuit board 14 and the arrangement of the electronic components.
However, the restricting projection 16g needs to be provided on the same side as the
engagement claws 16d. The restricting projection 16g can be displaced in the
direction perpendicular to the mounting surface 50, thereby facilitating attachment of
the electronic circuit board 14, and preventing the electronic circuit board 14 from
being damaged or broken.
Reference Signs List
[0039]
1 front panel 2 side panel 3 top panel 4 base 5 fan
6 fan guard 7 partition plate 8 heat exchange fan chamber 9
machine chamber 10 housing 11 compressor 12 refrigerant pipe 13
electrical component box 14 electronic circuit board heat sink 16
board supporting member 16a screw boss 16b boss portion 16c
protruding portion 16d engagement claw 16e restriction projecting portion
16f arm portion 16g restricting projections 16h projection 16i
wall portion 16k chamfer 16m end portion 16p placement area 17
heat sink support 17a opening portion 18 air guide 19 heat sink holder
electrical component box cover 21 terminal block supporting
member 22 terminal block 23 screw 31 end portion 32 end
portion 35 corner portion 36 (second) corner portion 38 first corner
portion 40 second positioning hole 41 screw hole 42 first positioning
hole 50 mounting surface 60 heat exchanger 61 tap drill hole 62 tap
drill hole 100 outdoor unit h1 amount of protrusion h2 gap

We Claim:
[Claim 1]
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, comprising a heat exchanger,
a compressor, and an electronic circuit board provided in a housing of the outdoor
unit, the outdoor unit 5 also comprising:
a heat exchange fan chamber in which the heat exchanger is provided; and
a machine chamber in which the compressor and the electronic circuit board
are provided, wherein in an upper region in the machine chamber, a board supporting member is provided, the board supporting member having a mounting surface on which the electronic circuit board is mounted,
the board supporting member includes an engagement claw and a restricting
projection at one end of an area where the electronic circuit board is placed, the
engagement claw being configured to restrict movement of the electronic circuit board in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface, the restricting projection being configured to restrict movement of the electronic circuit board in a direction along the mounting surface, the board supporting member includes a boss portion into which a screw is screwed, at an other end of the area where the electronic circuit board is placed, the restricting projection is provided to protrude at a distal end of an arm
portion, and is inserted into a first positioning hole provided in the electronic circuit
board, the arm portion having flexibility and protruding from part of the board
supporting member in the direction along the mounting surface, the boss portion has, at a distal end of the boss portion, a protruding portion that protrudes from the mounting surface, and the protruding portion is inserted into a second positioning hole provided in the electronic circuit board.
[Claim 2]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein an
amount of protrusion of the protruding portion from the mounting surface is greater
than a thickness of the electronic circuit board.
[Claim 3]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein
the board supporting member further has a tap drill hole 5 provided in the
mounting surface, and the electronic circuit board is fastened and fixed to the mounting surface by a screw screwed into the tap drill hole.
[Claim 4]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tap
drill hole is formed at a position that coincides with a position of the other end of the
electronic circuit board.
[Claim 5]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the engagement claw is formed to protrude from the one end of the area
where the electronic circuit board is placed, toward the other end of the area in the
direction along the mounting surface, and to protrude from a wall portion that is
provided upright on the board supporting member.
[Claim 6]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5,
Wherein the first positioning hole is formed in a first corner portion of the electronic
circuit board, and the second positioning hole is formed in a second corner portion of the
electronic circuit board that is diagonally opposite to the first corner portion.