FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
OUTDOOR UNIT OF REFRIGERATION CYCLE 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 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION
AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
5 Technical Field
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle
apparatus that includes a heat exchanger provided with header pipes.
Background Art
10 [0002]
Patent Literature 1 discloses an air-conditioning apparatus that is as a
refrigeration cycle apparatus and that includes a plurality of gas header pipes through
which refrigerant in a high-temperature, high-pressure gas phase that is discharged
from a compressor is distributed over a heat exchanger.
15 Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003]
Patent Literature 1: International Publication No. 2016/208042
Summary of Invention
20 Technical Problem
[0004]
A main pipe in each of the gas header pipes, which is disclosed by Patent
Literature 1, is fixed to the heat exchanger with a plurality of branch pipes that are
arranged apart from one another being interposed in between. When the high25 temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant discharged from the compressor
flows into the main pipe of the gas header pipe, the main pipe undergoes thermal
expansion and is distorted. Therefore, a thermal stress occurs at the connections
between the main pipe and the branch pipes. In particular, if the refrigerant flows into
the main pipe along the longitudinal direction of the main pipe, the distribution of the
30 refrigerant in the main pipe tends to become uneven, producing a temperature variation
3
between the longitudinal ends of the main pipe. Such a temperature variation between
the longitudinal ends of the main pipe cause thermal stresses at the connections
between the main pipe and the branch pipes and may deform the branch pipes.
Therefore, gas header pipes as disclosed by Patent Literature 1 are desired to be
5 configured such that refrigerant in a high-temperature, high-pressure gas phase is
evenly distributed inside the main pipes thereof.
[0005]
The present disclosure is to solve the above problems and provides an outdoor
unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus in which refrigerant in a high-temperature, high10 pressure gas phase is evenly distributed inside main pipes.
Solution to Problem
[0006]
An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure includes a compressor. The compressor is configured to
15 compress and discharge refrigerant. The outdoor unit further includes a heat-sourceside heat exchanger. The heat-source-side heat exchanger includes a first heatexchanger unit and a second heat-exchanger unit. The second heat-exchanger unit is
provided below the first heat-exchanger unit. The outdoor unit further includes a first
header pipe. The first header pipe includes a first main pipe and a plurality of first
20 branch pipes. The first main pipe includes a first upper end portion, a first lower end
portion, and a first body portion. The first body portion is provided between the first
upper end portion and the first lower end portion. The plurality of first branch pipes are
connected to the first main pipe and to the first heat-exchanger unit and arranged apart
from one another. The outdoor unit further includes a second header pipe. The first
25 header pipe includes a second main pipe and a plurality of second branch pipes. The
second main pipe including a second upper end portion, a second lower end portion,
and a second body portion. The second body portion is provided between the second
upper end portion and the second lower end portion. The plurality of second branch
pipes are connected to the second main pipe and to the second heat-exchanger unit
30 and arranged apart from one another. The outdoor unit further includes a refrigerant
4
distributor pipe. The refrigerant distributor pipe includes an inflow pipe. The
refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows into the inflow pipe. The refrigerant
distributor pipe further includes a splitter pipe. The splitter pipe is connected to the
inflow pipe. The refrigerant distributor pipe further includes a first feed pipe. The first
5 feed pipe is connected to the splitter pipe and to the first body portion. The refrigerant
distributor pipe further includes a second feed pipe. The second feed pipe is
connected to the splitter pipe and to the second body portion.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007]
10 The refrigerant discharged from the compressor and flowing into the first body
portion of the first main pipe or into the second body portion of the second main pipe
collides with the inner wall of the first body portion or the second body portion and is
thus dispersed over the entirety of the first main pipe or the second main pipe. Inside
the first main pipe or the second main pipe, since the refrigerant collides with the inner
15 wall of the first body portion or the second body portion, the kinetic energy of the
refrigerant that is caused in correspondence with the flow velocity at the time of inflow is
reduced and the refrigerant is dispersed in dependence on gravity and pressure.
Hence, the evenness in the dispersion is increased. Thus, the unevenness in the
dispersion of the refrigerant inside the first main pipe or the second main pipe is
20 reduced.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0008]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration cycle
apparatus according to Embodiment 1.
25 [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1,
illustrating an exemplary exterior configuration thereof.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a front view of the outdoor unit illustrated in Fig. 2, schematically
illustrating a part of the interior configuration thereof.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an enlargement of a part of Fig. 3, illustrating a first header pipe,
30 a second header pipe, and a refrigerant distributor pipe.
5
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an enlargement of a part of Fig. 4 where the first header pipe and
the refrigerant distributor pipe are connected to each other.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a top view of the first header pipe, the second header pipe, and
the refrigerant distributor pipe illustrated in Fig. 4, seen from above a first upper end
5 portion of a first main pipe.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an enlargement of a part of refrigerant pipes connected to a heatsource-side heat exchanger according to Embodiment 2, schematically illustrating an
exemplary arrangement thereof.
Description of Embodiments
10 [0009]
Embodiment 1
A refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 will now be
described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary refrigerant circuit of
the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1. In the drawings
15 including Fig. 1 to be referred to below, the sizes and shapes of individual elements may
be different from the actual sizes and shapes thereof. In the drawings including Fig. 1
to be referred to below, elements or portions that have the same configurations or
functions are denoted by the same reference signs, respectively, or the reference signs
of such elements or portions may be omitted.
20 [0010]
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes an outdoor
unit 1 and an indoor unit 20. The indoor unit 20 is connected to the outdoor unit 1 by
refrigerant pipes such as extension pipes. The outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 20,
which are illustrated one each in Fig. 1, may each be provided in plural number. The
25 refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 may include a relay device between the outdoor unit 1
and the indoor unit 20. The refrigerant pipes connecting the outdoor unit 1 and the
indoor unit 20 to each other may be existing refrigerant pipes originally provided in an
installation site of interest or may be refrigerant pipes newly provided to the installation
site.
30 [0011]
6
In the following description, the term "cooling operation" refers to a mode of
operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 in which refrigerant in a lowtemperature, low-pressure two-phase state is caused to flow from the outdoor unit 1 into
the indoor unit 20. Furthermore, the term "heating operation" refers to a mode of
5 operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 in which refrigerant in a hightemperature, high-pressure gas phase is caused to flow from the outdoor unit 1 into the
indoor unit 20.
[0012]
The outdoor unit 1 includes a heat-source-side heat exchanger 7, a compressor
10 11, a refrigerant passage switcher 16, and an accumulator 18. The indoor unit 20
includes a load-side heat exchanger 21 and a decompressor 23.
[0013]
The heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 is configured to cause two fluids having
different levels of heat energy to transfer and exchange the heat energy therebetween.
15 The heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 serves as a condenser in the cooling operation
and as an evaporator in the heating operation. The condenser of the refrigeration
cycle apparatus 100 may also be referred to as a radiator.
[0014]
The heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 is, for example, a fin-and-tube heat
20 exchanger, which includes a plurality of fins arranged apart from one another, and a
plurality of heat exchanger tubes arranged apart from one another and each extending
through the plurality of fins. In the fin-and-tube heat exchanger, refrigerant flowing in
the plurality of heat exchanger tubes and air flowing between the plurality of fins are
caused to exchange heat with each other. Such heat exchanger tubes of the heat25 source-side heat exchanger 7 are not illustrated in Fig. 1.
[0015]
The heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 includes a first heat-exchanger unit 7a
and a second heat-exchanger unit 7b. The first heat-exchanger unit 7a is provided
with a first header pipe 12, which is connected to one end of each of the heat exchanger
30 tubes of the first heat-exchanger unit 7a. The first header pipe 12 includes a first main
7
pipe 12a and a plurality of first branch pipes 12b. The first branch pipes 12b are
connected to the first main pipe 12a and to the heat exchanger tubes of the first heatexchanger unit 7a and are arranged apart from one another. The second heatexchanger unit 7b is provided with a second header pipe 13, which is connected to one
5 end of each of the heat exchanger tubes of the second heat-exchanger unit 7b. The
second header pipe 13 includes a second main pipe 13a and a plurality of second
branch pipes 13b. The second branch pipes 13b are connected to the second main
pipe 13a and to the heat exchanger tubes of the second heat-exchanger unit 7b and are
arranged apart from one another.
10 [0016]
The first main pipe 12a and the second main pipe 13a are connected to a
refrigerant distributor pipe 30. A first refrigerant pipe 50a is provided between the
refrigerant passage switcher 16 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 and is
connected to the refrigerant distributor pipe 30 and to the refrigerant passage switcher
15 16. The refrigerant distributor pipe 30 includes an inflow pipe 31, a first feed pipe 33, a
second feed pipe 35, and a splitter pipe 37. One end of the inflow pipe 31 is
connected to the first refrigerant pipe 50a. The other end of the inflow pipe 31 is
connected to the splitter pipe 37. One end of the second feed pipe 35 is connected to
the second main pipe 13a. The other end of the second feed pipe 35 is connected to
20 the splitter pipe 37.
[0017]
Details of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7, the first header pipe 12, the
second header pipe 13, and the refrigerant distributor pipe 30 will be described
separately below.
25 [0018]
The first heat-exchanger unit 7a is provided with a first distributor 14, which is
connected to the other end of each of the heat exchanger tubes of the first heatexchanger unit 7a. The first distributor 14 includes a third main pipe 14a and a plurality
of third branch pipes 14b. The third branch pipes 14b are connected to the third main
30 pipe 14a and to the heat exchanger tubes of the first heat-exchanger unit 7a and are
8
arranged apart from one another. The second heat-exchanger unit 7b is provided with
a second distributor 15, which is connected to the other end of each of the heat
exchanger tubes of the second heat-exchanger unit 7b. The second distributor 15
includes a fourth main pipe 15a and a plurality of fourth branch pipes 15b. The fourth
5 branch pipes 15b are connected to the fourth main pipe 15a and to the heat exchanger
tubes of the second heat-exchanger unit 7b and are arranged apart from one another.
[0019]
The third main pipe 14a of the first distributor 14 receives a second refrigerant
pipe 50b. The fourth main pipe 15a of the second distributor 15 receives a third
10 refrigerant pipe 50c. Portions of the refrigerant having undergone heat exchange in
the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 and respectively flowed into the second
refrigerant pipe 50b and the third refrigerant pipe 50c are joined together in a combining
unit 52, such as a combiner. The joined refrigerant flows from the outdoor unit 1 into
the indoor unit 20.
15 [0020]
The first distributor 14 may be of the same configuration and the same shape as
the first header pipe 12 or of a different configuration and a different shape from the first
header pipe 12. The second distributor 15 may be of the same configuration and the
same shape as the second header pipe 13 or of a different configuration and a different
20 shape from the second header pipe 13. For example, the third branch pipes 14b of the
first distributor 14 and the fourth branch pipes 15b of the second distributor 15 may be
capillary tubes.
[0021]
The compressor 11 is configured to compress the refrigerant, which is at a low
25 pressure when suctioned, and discharge the refrigerant as high-pressure refrigerant.
The compressor 11 is, for example, a displacement compressor such as a reciprocating
compressor, a rotary compressor, or a scroll compressor. The compressor 11 receives
on the discharge side thereof one end of a fourth refrigerant pipe 50d. The other end
of the fourth refrigerant pipe 50d is connected to the refrigerant passage switcher 16.
30 [0022]
9
The refrigerant passage switcher 16 is configured to switch the passage
thereinside with reference to an electric signal in correspondence with the switching
between the cooling operation and the heating operation to be performed by the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100. In Fig. 1, the passage to be established in the
5 refrigerant passage switcher 16 in the cooling operation is represented by solid lines,
and the passage to be established in the refrigerant passage switcher 16 in the heating
operation is represented by dotted lines. The first refrigerant pipe 50a, which is
connected to one end of the inflow pipe 31, is connected at an end thereof to the
refrigerant passage switcher 16.
10 [0023]
The refrigerant passage switcher 16 is, for example, a four-way valve to which an
operation of a solenoid valve is applied. Alternatively, the refrigerant passage switcher
16 may be a combination of two-way valves or three-way valves. Moreover, the
refrigerant passage switcher 16 may be omitted depending on factors such as the
15 usage and functions of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100. For example, if the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is configured to perform a cooling operation alone, the
refrigerant passage switcher 16 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 50d can be omitted. If
the refrigerant passage switcher 16 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 50d are omitted, the
first refrigerant pipe 50a connected to the one end of the inflow pipe 31 is directly
20 connected at the end thereof to the discharge side of the compressor 11.
[0024]
The accumulator 18 has an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. One end of each of the
inlet pipe and the outlet pipe is positioned in the space inside the accumulator 18. The
other end of the inlet pipe is connected to the refrigerant passage switcher 16. The
25 other end of the outlet pipe is connected to the suction side of the compressor 11. The
accumulator 18 may be omitted depending on factors such as the usage and functions
of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100.
[0025]
The accumulator 18 has a refrigerant-storing function and a gas-liquid-separating
30 function. The refrigerant-storing function of the accumulator 18 is a function of storing
10
an excessive portion of the refrigerant that results from the difference between the
amount of refrigerant in the heating operation and the amount of refrigerant in the
cooling operation. The gas-liquid-separating function of the accumulator 18 is a
function of retaining liquid refrigerant caused during the operation of the refrigeration
5 cycle apparatus 100 and thus preventing an excessive inflow of liquid refrigerant into
the compressor 11.
[0026]
The load-side heat exchanger 21 is configured to cause two fluids having
different levels of heat energy to transfer and exchange the heat energy therebetween,
10 as with the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 described above. The load-side heat
exchanger 21 serves as an evaporator in the cooling operation and as a condenser in
the heating operation. The load-side heat exchanger 21 may be an air-cooled heat
exchanger or a water-cooled heat exchanger, depending on factors such as the usage
and functions of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100. Examples of the air-cooled heat
15 exchangers include a fin-and-tube heat exchanger and a plate-fin heat exchanger.
Examples of the water-cooled heat exchanger include a shell-and-tube heat exchanger,
a plate heat exchanger, and a double-tube heat exchanger.
[0027]
The decompressor 23 is configured to expand and decompress the refrigerant
20 that is in a high-pressure liquid phase. The decompressor 23 is a device such as an
expansion device, an automatic thermostatic expansion valve, or a linear electric
expansion valve. An expansion device refers to a mechanical expansion valve
employing a diaphragm serving as a pressure-receiving component. An automatic
thermostatic expansion valve is configured to adjust the amount of refrigerant with
25 reference to the degree of superheat of the refrigerant in a gas phase on the suction
side of the compressor 11. A linear electric expansion valve has an opening degree
that is adjustable in a stepwise or continuous manner and is abbreviated to LEV. The
decompressor 23, which is provided only in the indoor unit 20 in Fig. 1, may
alternatively be provided only in the outdoor unit 1 or in each of the outdoor unit 1 and
30 the indoor unit 20.
11
[0028]
The refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 may include devices other than those
described above. For example, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 may include a
subcooling heat exchanger or an oil separator.
5 [0029]
The refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is configured such that the heat-sourceside heat exchanger 7, the compressor 11, the refrigerant passage switcher 16, and the
accumulator 18 that are included in the outdoor unit 1, and the load-side heat
exchanger 21 and the decompressor 23 that are included in the indoor unit 20 are
10 connected to one another by the refrigerant pipes. Thus, a refrigerant circuit through
which the refrigerant circulates is formed in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100.
Among the refrigerant pipes that form the refrigerant circuit, those provided between the
first header pipe 12 or the second header pipe 13 and the load-side heat exchanger 21
are hereinafter referred to as high-temperature-side refrigerant pipes. The high15 temperature-side refrigerant pipes of the outdoor unit 1 include the refrigerant distributor
pipe 30, the first refrigerant pipe 50a, and the fourth refrigerant pipe 50d. Among the
refrigerant pipes that form the refrigerant circuit, those provided between the first
distributor 14 or the second distributor 15 and the load-side heat exchanger 21 are
hereinafter referred to as low-temperature-side refrigerant pipes. The low20 temperature-side refrigerant pipes of the outdoor unit 1 include the second refrigerant
pipe 50b and the third refrigerant pipe 50c.
[0030]
Now, the behavior of the refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100
in the cooling operation will be outlined. In the cooling operation, the refrigerant
25 passage switcher 16 is controlled to establish the passage represented by the solid
lines in Fig. 1.
[0031]
In the outdoor unit 1, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 is in a
high-temperature, high-pressure gas phase and flows into the fourth refrigerant pipe
30 50d. The refrigerant having flowed into the fourth refrigerant pipe 50d flows through
12
the passage in the refrigerant passage switcher 16, the first refrigerant pipe 50a, the
refrigerant distributor pipe 30, and the first and second header pipes 12 and 13 into the
heat-source-side heat exchanger 7. In the cooling operation, the heat-source-side
heat exchanger 7 serves as a condenser. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas5 phase refrigerant having flowed into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 exchanges
heat in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 with air flowing between the fins of the
heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 and thus turns into high-pressure liquid-phase
refrigerant before being discharged. The high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant
discharged from the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 flows out of the outdoor unit 1
10 through the first distributor 14 and the second refrigerant pipe 50b and through the
second distributor 15 and the third refrigerant pipe 50c into the indoor unit 20.
[0032]
The high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant having flowed into the indoor unit 20
flows into the decompressor 23. The high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant having
15 flowed into the decompressor 23 is expanded and decompressed by the decompressor
23 into low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant and is discharged from the
decompressor 23. The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant
discharged from the decompressor 23 flows into the load-side heat exchanger 21. In
the cooling operation, the load-side heat exchanger 21 serves as an evaporator. The
20 low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant having flowed into the load-side
heat exchanger 21 exchanges heat in the load-side heat exchanger 21 with indoor air or
a heat medium such as water or brine and thus turns into low-pressure gas-phase
refrigerant before being discharged. Occasionally, the refrigerant discharged from the
load-side heat exchanger 21 may be in a low-pressure, high-quality two-phase state.
25 The low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant discharged from the load-side heat exchanger
21 flows out of the indoor unit 20 into the outdoor unit 1.
[0033]
The low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant having flowed into the outdoor unit 1
flows through the passage in the refrigerant passage switcher 16 and is suctioned into
30 the accumulator 18. In the accumulator 18, any liquid-phase component of the
13
refrigerant is separated from the refrigerant, and only the gas-phase component of the
refrigerant is suctioned into the compressor 11. The low-pressure gas-phase
refrigerant suctioned into the compressor 11 is compressed by the compressor 11 into
high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant and is discharged from the
5 compressor 11 into the fourth refrigerant pipe 50d. In the cooling operation, the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 undergoes the above cycle repeatedly.
[0034]
Now, the behavior of the refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100
in the heating operation will be outlined. In the heating operation, the refrigerant
10 passage switcher 16 is controlled to establish the passage represented by the dotted
lines in Fig. 1.
[0035]
The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 is in a high-temperature, highpressure gas phase and flows out of the outdoor unit 1 through the fourth refrigerant
15 pipe 50d and the passage in the refrigerant passage switcher 16 into the indoor unit 20.
[0036]
The high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant having flowed into the
indoor unit 20 flows into the load-side heat exchanger 21. In the heating operation, the
load-side heat exchanger 21 serves as a condenser. The high-temperature, high20 pressure gas-phase refrigerant having flowed into the load-side heat exchanger 21
exchanges heat in the load-side heat exchanger 21 with indoor air or a heat medium
such as water or brine and thus turns into high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant before
being discharged. The high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant discharged from the
load-side heat exchanger 21 flows into the decompressor 23. The high-pressure
25 liquid-phase refrigerant having flowed into the decompressor 23 is expanded and
decompressed by the decompressor 23 into low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase
refrigerant and is discharged from the decompressor 23. The low-temperature, lowpressure two-phase refrigerant discharged from the decompressor 23 flows out of the
indoor unit 20 into the outdoor unit 1.
30 [0037]
14
The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant having flowed into the
outdoor unit 1 flows through the second refrigerant pipe 50b and the first distributor 14
and through the third refrigerant pipe 50c and the second distributor 15 into the heatsource-side heat exchanger 7. In the heating operation, the heat-source-side heat
5 exchanger 7 serves as an evaporator. The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase
refrigerant having flowed into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 exchanges heat in
the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 with air flowing between the fins of the heatsource-side heat exchanger 7 and thus turns into low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant
before being discharged. Occasionally, the refrigerant discharged from the heat10 source-side heat exchanger 7 may be in a low-pressure, high-quality two-phase state.
[0038]
The low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant discharged from the heat-source-side
heat exchanger 7 flows through the first and second header pipes 12 and 13, the
refrigerant distributor pipe 30, the first refrigerant pipe 50a, and the passage in the
15 refrigerant passage switcher 16 and is suctioned into the accumulator 18. In the
accumulator 18, any liquid-phase component of the refrigerant is separated from the
refrigerant, and only the gas-phase component of the refrigerant is suctioned into the
compressor 11. The low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant suctioned into the compressor
11 is compressed by the compressor 11 into high-temperature, high-pressure gas20 phase refrigerant and is discharged from the compressor 11 into the fourth refrigerant
pipe 50d. In the heating operation, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 undergoes
the above cycle repeatedly.
[0039]
Now, an exterior configuration of the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle
25 apparatus 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of
the outdoor unit 1 according to Embodiment 1, illustrating an exemplary exterior
configuration thereof. Fig. 3 is a front view of the outdoor unit 1 illustrated in Fig. 2,
schematically illustrating a part of the interior configuration thereof. In the following
description, the positional relationship between relevant elements of the outdoor unit 1
30 in directions including the vertical direction, the front-rear direction, and the horizontal
15
direction basically refers to a positional relationship in a state where the outdoor unit 1 is
installed for use.
[0040]
While Embodiment 1 concerns an exemplary case where the outdoor unit 1 is a
5 floor-standing heat-source-side unit, the outdoor unit 1 may be any heat-source-side
unit, such as a heat-source-side unit of a wall-hanging type, a rooftop type, or a ceilinghanging type, alternatively to the one of a floor-standing type.
[0041]
The outdoor unit 1 includes a first side panel 2a, a second side panel 2b, a third
10 side panel 2c, a fourth side panel 2d, a top panel 3, a bottom panel 4, exhaust grilles 5,
and legs 6. The first side panel 2a, the second side panel 2b, the third side panel 2c,
the fourth side panel 2d, the top panel 3, and the bottom panel 4 form the housing of the
outdoor unit 1.
[0042]
15 The first side panel 2a is a metal sheet panel including a right-face portion and a
rear-face that form an L shape in top view. The first side panel 2a spreads over an
upper rear part of the right face of the outdoor unit 1 and an upper right part of the rear
face of the outdoor unit 1 and thus forms a part of the housing of the outdoor unit 1.
The first side panel 2a has beads for reinforcement of the first side panel 2a. The first
20 side panel 2a is attached to the top panel 3 and to the third side panel 2c. The first
side panel 2a may be detachably attached to the top panel 3 and to the third side panel
2c by screwing or any other method, or may be fixed thereto by soldering or any other
method. The right-face portion and the rear-face portion of the first side panel 2a may
be formed of respective metal sheet panels that are separate from each other.
25 [0043]
The second side panel 2b is a metal sheet panel including a front-face portion
and a right-face portion that form an L shape in top view. The second side panel 2b
spreads over an upper right part of the front face of the outdoor unit 1 and an upper
front part of the right face of the outdoor unit 1 and thus forms a part of the housing of
30 the outdoor unit 1. The second side panel 2b has beads for reinforcement of the first
16
side panel 2a. The second side panel 2b is detachably attached to the top panel 3, to
the first side panel 2a, and to the third side panel 2c by screwing or any other method
so that the maintenance of the elements inside the outdoor unit 1 can be performed.
On-site work such as the installation, repair, or removal of the outdoor unit 1 is to be
5 performed with at least the second side panel 2b detached.
[0044]
The third side panel 2c is a metal sheet panel including a front-face portion, a
right-face portion, and a rear-face portion that form a U shape in top view. The third
side panel 2c spreads over a lower right part of the front face of the outdoor unit 1, a
10 lower part of the right face of the outdoor unit 1, and a lower right part of the rear face of
the outdoor unit 1 and thus forms a part of the housing of the outdoor unit 1. The third
side panel 2c has a plurality of openings 2c1. Extension pipes, which may be existing
pipes for example, connected to relevant elements including the indoor unit 20 are
drawn into the outdoor unit 1 through the openings 2c1. The openings 2c1 can be
15 provided in, for example, an area near the front right corner of the third side panel 2c:
that is, a right part of the front-face portion and a front part of the right-face portion of
the third side panel 2c.
[0045]
The third side panel 2c is attached to the bottom panel 4. The third side panel
20 2c may be detachably attached to the bottom panel 4 by screwing or any other method,
may be fixed to the bottom panel 4 by soldering or any other method, or may be
integrated with the bottom panel 4. Depending on the usage or other relevant factors
of the outdoor unit 1, the third side panel 2c may be omitted, with the first side panel 2a
and the second side panel 2b being attached to the bottom panel 4. The front-face
25 portion, the right-face portion, and the rear-face portion of the third side panel 2c may
be formed of respective metal sheet panels that are separate from one another.
[0046]
The fourth side panel 2d is a metal sheet panel including a front-face portion and
a left-face portion that form an L shape in top view. The fourth side panel 2d spreads
30 over a left part of the front face of the outdoor unit 1 and the left face of the outdoor unit
17
1 and thus forms a part of the housing of the outdoor unit 1. The front-face portion of
the fourth side panel 2d is provided with the exhaust grilles 5, which are detachably
attached thereto. The exhaust grilles 5 cover the front side of exhaust ports that are
continuous with the inside of the outdoor unit 1. Fig. 2 illustrates a case where two
5 exhaust grilles 5 are provided. The method of attaching the exhaust grilles 5 to the
front-face portion of the fourth side panel 2d may be fitting, screwing, or any other
method. The left-face portion of the fourth side panel 2d may be provided with a
suction grille having a plurality of air inlets. Such a suction grille is not illustrated in the
drawings including Fig. 2.
10 [0047]
The fourth side panel 2d is attached to the top panel 3 and to the bottom panel 4.
The fourth side panel 2d may be detachably attached to the top panel 3 and to the
bottom panel 4 by screwing or any other method, or may be fixed thereto by soldering
or any other method. The front-face portion and the left-face portion of the fourth side
15 panel 2d may be formed of respective metal sheet panels that are separate from each
other.
[0048]
The top panel 3 is a metal sheet panel spreading over the top face of the outdoor
unit 1 and forms a part of the housing of the outdoor unit 1. As described above, the
20 first side panel 2a, the second side panel 2b, and the fourth side panel 2d are attached
to the top panel 3. The top panel 3 has on the upper surface thereof a plurality of
beads for reinforcement of the top panel 3.
[0049]
The bottom panel 4, which is also referred to as unit base, is a metal sheet panel
25 spreading over the bottom face of the outdoor unit 1 and forms a part of the housing of
the outdoor unit 1. As described above, the third side panel 2c and the fourth side
panel 2d are attached to the bottom panel 4.
[0050]
18
The bottom panel 4 is provided on the lower surface thereof with a plurality of
legs 6, which serve as supports for the installation of the outdoor unit 1. The legs 6 are
fixed to a concrete block or any other foundation with bolts or any other components.
[0051]
5 An interior configuration of the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus
100 will now be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front view of the outdoor
unit 1 illustrated in Fig. 2, schematically illustrating a part of the interior configuration
thereof. In Fig. 3, as a matter of convenience of description, some of the devices and
refrigerant pipes described with reference to Fig. 1 are not illustrated.
10 [0052]
As illustrated in Fig. 3, the outdoor unit 1 includes the heat-source-side heat
exchanger 7, the compressor 11, the first header pipe 12, the second header pipe 13,
and the refrigerant distributor pipe 30, which have been described above, and further
includes fans 8 and a separator 10.
15 [0053]
The separator 10 is a metal sheet panel that separates the space inside the
outdoor unit 1. A lower peripheral part of the separator 10 is attached to the bottom
panel 4 by screwing, soldering, or any other method. The fourth side panel 2d, not
illustrated, is attached to the front face of the separator 10 by screwing, soldering, or
20 any other method. The second side panel 2b, not illustrated, is detachably attached to
the front face of the separator 10 by fitting or any other method. The top face of the
separator 10 carries an electric component box, not illustrated. The electric
component box houses circuitry including an inverter circuit and a control circuit
intended for frequency control of the compressor 11 or the fans 8.
25 [0054]
The space inside the outdoor unit 1 is separated by the separator 10 into a
machine chamber 10a and a fan chamber 10b. The machine chamber 10a houses the
compressor 11; and the first header pipe 12, the second header pipe 13, and the
refrigerant distributor pipe 30 that are provided between the compressor 11 and the
19
heat-source-side heat exchanger 7. The fan chamber 10b houses the heat-sourceside heat exchanger 7 and the fans 8.
[0055]
The heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 has an L shape in top view, which is not
5 illustrated. The heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 is placed on a left peripheral part
and a rear peripheral part of the bottom panel 4 such that the heat exchanger tubes
thereof extend horizontally. A part of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 that
extends on the rear side of the outdoor unit 1 defines the fan chamber 10b in
combination with the fourth side panel 2d, the top panel 3, the bottom panel 4, and the
10 separator 10. The heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 is provided at the left end
thereof with a first side plate, which is not illustrated. The first side plate extends in the
vertical direction in such a manner as to be aligned with the first heat-exchanger unit 7a
and the second heat-exchanger unit 7b. The first side plate is attached to the rear face
of the separator 10 by screwing or any other method. The heat-source-side heat
15 exchanger 7 is provided at the front end thereof with a second side plate, which is not
illustrated. The second side plate extends in the vertical direction in such a manner as
to be aligned with the first heat-exchanger unit 7a and the second heat-exchanger unit
7b. The fourth side panel 2d is attached to the second side plate by screwing or any
other method. The shape of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 is not limited to an
20 L shape and may be a flat shape or a U shape.
[0056]
In the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7, the second heat-exchanger unit 7b is
positioned below the first heat-exchanger unit 7a. The first heat-exchanger unit 7a and
the second heat-exchanger unit 7b of the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 may be
25 provided either as separate air-cooled heat exchangers or as two heat-exchange areas
of a single air-cooled heat exchanger. For example, the heat-exchange area of a
single air-cooled heat exchanger may be divided into two areas such that the heatexchange area having heat exchanger tubes connected to the first header pipe 12 is
defined as the first heat-exchanger unit 7a, and the heat-exchange area having heat
20
exchanger tubes connected to the second header pipe 13 is defined as the second
heat-exchanger unit 7b.
[0057]
The fan chamber 10b houses two fans 8. The fans 8 are each configured to
5 induce an airflow from the outside of the outdoor unit 1 into the fan chamber 10b with
the rotation of blades, thereby causing the airflow to pass through a corresponding one
of the first heat-exchanger unit 7a and the second heat-exchanger unit 7b. The fans 8
are oriented to face the exhaust grilles 5 illustrated in Fig. 1. With the rotation of the
fans 8, the air having undergone heat exchange by passing through the heat-source10 side heat exchanger 7 is exhausted to the outside of the outdoor unit 1 through the
exhaust grilles 5. The fans 8 may each be, for example, an axial-flow fan such as a
propeller fan. The fans 8 are attached to a fan support, which is not illustrated. The
fan support is provided on the rear side with respect to the blades of the fans 8 and on
the front side with respect to the heat-exchange area of the heat-source-side heat
15 exchanger 7 that extends on the rear side of the outdoor unit 1.
[0058]
The compressor 11 is attached to the bottom panel 4 by screwing or any other
method while being mounted on a compressor-mounting base, which is not illustrated
but is formed in the bottom panel 4. The refrigerant pipes connected to the
20 compressor 11, including the first refrigerant pipe 50a and the fourth refrigerant pipe 50d
illustrated in Fig. 1 for example, are not illustrated in Fig. 3.
[0059]
Now, configurations of the first header pipe 12 and the second header pipe 13
that are connected to the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7, and the refrigerant
25 distributor pipe 30 through which the refrigerant is distributed between the first header
pipe 12 and the second header pipe 13 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6,
in addition to Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is an enlargement of a part of Fig. 3, illustrating the first
header pipe 12, the second header pipe 13, and the refrigerant distributor pipe 30. Fig.
5 is an enlargement of a part of Fig. 4 where the first header pipe 12 and the refrigerant
30 distributor pipe 30 are connected to each other. Fig. 6 is a top view of the first header
21
pipe 12, the second header pipe 13, and the refrigerant distributor pipe 30 illustrated in
Fig. 4, seen from above a first upper end portion 12a1 of the first main pipe 12a.
[0060]
The first header pipe 12 includes the first main pipe 12a connected to the
5 refrigerant distributor pipe 30. The first main pipe 12a includes the first upper end
portion 12a1, a first lower end portion 12a2, and a first body portion 12a3. The first
body portion 12a3 is provided between the first upper end portion 12a1 and the first
lower end portion 12a2. While the first main pipe 12a illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 is a
round-columnar refrigerant pipe, the first main pipe 12a is not limited thereto. The first
10 main pipe 12a may alternatively be, for example, a polygonal-prism-shaped refrigerant
pipe. If the first main pipe 12a has a round-columnar shape, the first upper end portion
12a1 and the first lower end portion 12a2 each have a round shape. The first upper
end portion 12a1 and the first lower end portion 12a2 may each alternatively form a flat
face, a curved face, or a conical body. The first upper end portion 12a1 and the first
15 lower end portion 12a2 may be shaped differently from each other. The first body
portion 12a3 of the first main pipe 12a receives the first feed pipe 33 of the refrigerant
distributor pipe 30.
[0061]
The first header pipe 12 further includes the plurality of first branch pipes 12b
20 connected to the first main pipe 12a and to the heat exchanger tubes of the first heatexchanger unit 7a. The plurality of first branch pipes 12b are arranged apart from one
another. While the plurality of first branch pipes 12b illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 are
connected to the first body portion 12a3 of the first main pipe 12a, some of the first
branch pipes 12b may be connected to the first upper end portion 12a1 or the first lower
25 end portion 12a2. The first branch pipes 12b are refrigerant pipes each having a
smaller inside diameter than the first main pipe 12a. The first branch pipes 12b are,
but are not limited to, straight refrigerant pipes. Some of the first branch pipes 12b
may be refrigerant pipes including bent portions.
[0062]
22
The second header pipe 13 includes the second main pipe 13a connected to the
refrigerant distributor pipe 30. The second main pipe 13a includes a second upper end
portion 13a1, a second lower end portion 13a2, and a second body portion 13a3. The
second body portion 13a3 is provided between the second upper end portion 13a1 and
5 the second lower end portion 13a2. While the second main pipe 13a illustrated in Figs.
3 and 4 is a round-columnar refrigerant pipe, the second main pipe 13a is not limited
thereto. The second main pipe 13a may alternatively be, for example, a polygonalprism-shaped refrigerant pipe. If the second main pipe 13a has a round-columnar
shape, the second upper end portion 13a1 and the second lower end portion 13a2 each
10 have a round shape. The second upper end portion 13a1 and the second lower end
portion 13a2 may each alternatively form a flat face, a curved face, or a conical body.
The second upper end portion 13a1 and the second lower end portion 13a2 may be
shaped differently from each other. The second body portion 13a3 of the second main
pipe 13a receives the second feed pipe 35 of the refrigerant distributor pipe 30. As
15 illustrated in Fig. 4, the second main pipe 13a may be at the same position as the first
main pipe 12a. If the second main pipe 13a is at the same position as the first main
pipe 12a, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the second main pipe 13a is hidden behind the first
upper end portion 12a1 of the first main pipe 12a.
[0063]
20 The second header pipe 13 further includes the plurality of second branch pipes
13b connected to the second main pipe 13a and to the heat exchanger tubes of the
second heat-exchanger unit 7b. The plurality of second branch pipes 13b are
arranged apart from one another. While Figs. 3 and 4 illustrates an arrangement in
which many of the second branch pipes 13b are connected to the second body portion
25 13a3 of the second main pipe 13a with the others being connected to the second lower
end portion 13a2, the arrangement is not limited thereto. For example, some of the
second branch pipes 13b may be connected to the second upper end portion 13a1.
The second branch pipes 13b are refrigerant pipes each having a smaller inside
diameter than the second main pipe 13a. While the second branch pipes 13b are
23
straight refrigerant pipes in many cases, some of the second branch pipes 13b may be
refrigerant pipes including bent portions, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
[0064]
Since the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 includes two header pipes, which
5 are the first header pipe 12 and the second header pipe 13, the first header pipe 12 and
the second header pipe 13 are shorter in the longitudinal direction than in a
configuration employing a single header pipe. Since the first header pipe 12 and the
second header pipe 13 are short in the longitudinal direction, the thermal stress
occurring when the first header pipe 12 and the second header pipe 13 undergo thermal
10 expansion is reduced.
[0065]
The refrigerant distributor pipe 30 includes the inflow pipe 31, the first feed pipe
33, the second feed pipe 35, and the splitter pipe 37. The refrigerant distributor pipe
30 is a refrigerant pipe that receives the high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase
15 refrigerant flowing thereinto through the inflow pipe 31 and splits the refrigerant at the
splitter pipe 37 such that the high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant
flows through both the first feed pipe 33 and the second feed pipe 35 into both the first
main pipe 12a and the second main pipe 13a.
[0066]
20 The inflow pipe 31 receives the high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase
refrigerant flowing thereinto from the compressor 11 through the first refrigerant pipe
50a illustrated in Fig. 1. The inflow pipe 31 extends along the first body portion 12a3 of
the first main pipe 12a in a direction from the first lower end portion 12a2 toward the first
upper end portion 12a1. The inflow pipe 31 extending along the first body portion 12a3
25 of the first main pipe 12a can be positioned in proximity to the first main pipe 12a.
Therefore, the size of the space in the machine chamber 10a where the refrigerant
pipes are arranged can be reduced. Consequently, the size of the outdoor unit 1 can
be reduced.
[0067]
24
The inflow pipe 31 receives at the upper end thereof the splitter pipe 37. The
inflow pipe 31 further receives at the lower end thereof the first refrigerant pipe 50a,
which is illustrated in Fig. 1 but is not illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6. Fig. 4 illustrates by
dotted lines a horizontal plane passing through a first center position O1, which is
5 defined between the first upper end portion 12a1 and the first lower end portion 12a2 of
the first main pipe 12a, and a horizontal plane passing through a second center position
O2, which is defined between the second upper end portion 13a1 and the second lower
end portion 13a2 of the second main pipe 13a.
[0068]
10 As illustrated in Fig. 5, the splitter pipe 37 is, for example, a T-shaped three-way
pipe or joint. The splitter pipe 37 is positioned above the first center position O1.
[0069]
The splitter pipe 37 has three connection ports. With the refrigerant distributor
pipe 30 being in the connected state, the three connection ports are positioned at the
15 lower end, the upper end, and a lateral end, respectively, of the splitter pipe 37. The
connection port at the lower end of the splitter pipe 37 receives the above-described
inflow pipe 31. The splitter pipe 37 splits the high-temperature, high-pressure gasphase refrigerant flowing thereinto from the inflow pipe 31 and discharges the
refrigerant from the connection ports at the upper and lateral ends thereof. The splitter
20 pipe 37 may have four or more connection ports. For example, the splitter pipe 37 may
be a four-way splitter pipe including three connection ports and one port that is not
connected to any pipe, with the one port being closed by any component such as a cap
or a cap nut.
[0070]
25 The first feed pipe 33 is connected to the connection port at the upper end of the
splitter pipe 37 and to the first body portion 12a3 of the first main pipe 12a. The first
feed pipe 33 is, for example, an L-shaped bent pipe as illustrated in Fig. 4.
[0071]
The high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant discharged from the
30 connection port at the upper end of the splitter pipe 37 flows through the first feed pipe
25
33 and flows into the first main pipe 12a from the first body portion 12a3 of the first main
pipe 12a. In this process, the refrigerant flows in a direction substantially perpendicular
to the first body portion 12a3. Therefore, the refrigerant collides with the inner wall of
the first body portion 12a3 and is thus dispersed over the entirety of the first main pipe
5 12a. Inside the first main pipe 12a, since the refrigerant collides with the inner wall of
the first body portion 12a3, the kinetic energy of the refrigerant that is caused in
correspondence with the flow velocity at the time of inflow is reduced and the refrigerant
is dispersed in dependence on gravity and pressure. Hence, the evenness in the
dispersion is increased. Thus, the unevenness in the dispersion of the refrigerant
10 inside the first main pipe 12a is reduced. Accordingly, the temperature variation inside
the first main pipe 12a is reduced. Therefore, the occurrence of a thermal stress on
the first main pipe 12a is suppressed. Consequently, the occurrence of deformation of
the first branch pipes 12b due to a thermal stress that may be applied thereto is
suppressed. Thus, the reliability of the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle
15 apparatus 100 is increased.
[0072]
As illustrated in Fig. 4, the first feed pipe 33 is connected to the first body portion
12a3 at a position closer to the first upper end portion 12a1 than the first center position
O1. That is, a first connection position 33a, where the first feed pipe 33 and the first
20 body portion 12a3 are connected to each other, is closer to the first upper end portion
12a1 of the first main pipe 12a than to the first lower end portion 12a2 of the first main
pipe 12a. In general, refrigerants other than those such as ammonium are heavier
than air and are therefore more likely to be dispersed toward the first lower end portion
12a2 than toward the first upper end portion 12a1 in the first main pipe 12a under
25 gravity. If the pressure inside the first main pipe 12a is not constant, the amount of
dispersion toward the first upper end portion 12a1 may be reduced. However, if the
first feed pipe 33 is connected to the first body portion 12a3 at a position closer to the
first upper end portion 12a1 than the first center position O1, the closeness between the
first connection position 33a and the first upper end portion 12a1 increases the amount
30 of dispersion toward the first upper end portion 12a1. Thus, connecting the first feed
26
pipe 33 to the first body portion 12a3 at a position above the first center position O1
further increases the evenness in the dispersion of the refrigerant.
[0073]
In Figs. 4 to 6, the center axis, C1, of the first feed pipe 33 at the first connection
5 position 33a and the center axis, C2, of the first branch pipes 12b are represented by
dotted lines. The center axis C1 of the first feed pipe 33 at the first connection position
33a is a straight line extending in a direction coinciding with the direction of a line
normal to a plane defining the first connection position 33a.
[0074]
10 As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the center axis C1 is in a skewed position with
respect to the center axis C2. Hereinafter, the term "skewed position" refers to a
positional relationship in which two straight lines cannot coexist in a single plane: that is,
the two straight lines neither extend parallel to each other nor intersect each other. In
the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the skewed position refers to a positional
15 relationship in which the center axis C1 and the center axis C2 cannot coexist in a
single plane: that is, the center axis C1 neither extends parallel to the center axis C2 nor
intersects the center axis C2.
[0075]
Since the center axis C1 of the first feed pipe 33 at the first connection position
20 33a is in a skewed position with respect to the center axis C2 of the first branch pipes
12b, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant flowing from the first
connection position 33a is prevented from directly flowing into the first branch pipes
12b. Specifically, the high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant flowing
from the first connection position 33a collides with the inner wall of the first main pipe
25 12a and does not directly flow into the first branch pipes 12b. Instead, the refrigerant is
dispersed toward the first upper end portion 12a1 and toward the first lower end portion
12a2. Thus, the evenness in the dispersion of the refrigerant is further increased.
[0076]
Furthermore, the center axis C1 of the first feed pipe 33 at the first connection
30 position 33a is in a skewed position with respect to the center axis C2 of the first branch
27
pipes 12b, and therefore the first feed pipe 33 is not positioned across the first main
pipe 12a from any of the first branch pipes 12b. Therefore, the space where the
refrigerant pipes connected to the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 are arranged
does not spread radially from the first main pipe 12a in top view. Consequently, the
5 size of the outdoor unit 1 can be reduced.
[0077]
The second feed pipe 35 is connected to the connection port at the lateral end of
the splitter pipe 37 and to the second body portion 13a3 of the second main pipe 13a.
The second feed pipe 35 includes an inflow portion 35a, a feed portion 35b, and a
10 coupling portion 35c. The inflow portion 35a is connected to the connection port at the
lateral end of the splitter pipe 37. The feed portion 35b is connected to the second
body portion 13a3 of the second main pipe 13a. The coupling portion 35c is connected
to the inflow portion 35a and to the feed portion 35b. The high-temperature, highpressure gas-phase refrigerant discharged from the connection port at the lateral end of
15 the splitter pipe 37 flows through the inflow portion 35a, the coupling portion 35c, and
the feed portion 35b and flows into the second main pipe 13a from the second body
portion 13a3 of the second main pipe 13a.
[0078]
As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the inflow portion 35a of the second feed pipe 35 is
20 an L-shaped bent pipe. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the inflow portion 35a of the second
feed pipe 35 is connected to the connection port at the lateral end of the splitter pipe 37
at a position above the second center position O2.
[0079]
Herein, a straight line extending in a direction coinciding with the axial direction of
25 the connection port at the lateral end of the splitter pipe 37 is defined as the center axis,
C3, of the inflow portion 35a of the second feed pipe 35. As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6,
the center axis C3 of the inflow portion 35a of the second feed pipe 35 is in a skewed
position with respect to both the center axis C1 of the first feed pipe 33 at the first
connection position 33a and the center axis C2 of the first branch pipes 12b. In such a
30 positional relationship, the space where the refrigerant pipes connected to the heat-
28
source-side heat exchanger 7 are arranged does not spread radially from the first main
pipe 12a in top view. Consequently, the size of the outdoor unit 1 can be reduced.
[0080]
As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the feed portion 35b of the second feed pipe 35 is
5 an L-shaped bent pipe and is connected to the second body portion 13a3. As
illustrated in Fig. 4, the feed portion 35b of the second feed pipe 35 is connected to the
second body portion 13a3 at a position above the second center position O2. The feed
portion 35b of the second feed pipe 35 that is connected to the second body portion
13a3 corresponds to the first feed pipe 33 connected to the first body portion 12a3.
10 The functions and advantageous effects exerted by the feed portion 35b of the second
feed pipe 35 are the same as those exerted by the first feed pipe 33.
[0081]
As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, the center axis, C4, of the feed portion 35b of the
second feed pipe 35 at a second connection position 35b1, where the feed portion 35b
15 of the second feed pipe 35 and the second body portion 13a3 are connected to each
other, can also be set in a skewed position with respect to the center axis, C5, of the
second branch pipes 13b. The center axis C4 of the feed portion 35b of the second
feed pipe 35 at the second connection position 35b1 is a straight line extending in a
direction coinciding with the direction of a line normal to a plane defining the second
20 connection position 35b1. The functions and advantageous effects exerted by the feed
portion 35b of the second feed pipe 35 are the same as those exerted by the first feed
pipe 33.
[0082]
In the second feed pipe 35, the coupling portion 35c connected to the inflow
25 portion 35a and to the feed portion 35b extends along the first body portion 12a3 of the
first main pipe 12a and the second body portion 13a3 of the second main pipe 13a.
The coupling portion 35c of the second feed pipe 35 extends in a direction from the first
upper end portion 12a1 toward the first lower end portion 12a2 of the first main pipe 12a
and in a direction from the second upper end portion 13a1 toward the second lower end
30 portion 13a2 of the second main pipe 13a. The coupling portion 35c of the second
29
feed pipe 35 that extends along the first body portion 12a3 of the first main pipe 12a and
the second body portion 13a3 of the second main pipe 13a can be positioned in
proximity to the first main pipe 12a and the second main pipe 13a. Therefore, the size
of the space in the machine chamber 10a where the refrigerant pipes are arranged can
5 be reduced. Consequently, the size of the outdoor unit 1 can be reduced.
[0083]
Embodiment 2
An outdoor unit 1 of a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment
2 will now be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an enlargement of a part of
10 refrigerant pipes connected to a heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 according to
Embodiment 2, schematically illustrating an exemplary arrangement thereof.
[0084]
The refrigerant pipes connected to the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 that
are illustrated in Fig. 7 include the second main pipe 13a and the third refrigerant pipe
15 50c. The second main pipe 13a and the third refrigerant pipe 50c are provided
therearound with a vibration isolator 40. Furthermore, the second main pipe 13a and
the third refrigerant pipe 50c are bound together by a tie 45 with the vibration isolator 40
interposed in between. The vibration isolator 40 is made of, for example, a butadiene
rubber sheet. The tie 45 is a band such as a metal band or a plastic binding band.
20 Binding the second main pipe 13a and the third refrigerant pipe 50c by using the
vibration isolator 40 and the tie 45 suppresses the vibration of the third refrigerant pipe
50c. Instead of the second main pipe 13a, the first main pipe 12a may be bound.
Instead of the third refrigerant pipe 50c, the second refrigerant pipe 50b, which is
another low-temperature-side refrigerant pipe, may be bound.
25 [0085]
When the outdoor unit 1 is activated, the compressor 11 tends to vibrate. Such
vibration may be transmitted to relevant elements through the refrigerant pipes. If the
frequency of vibration occurring in the compressor 11 is the same as the natural
frequency of any of the refrigerant pipes, that refrigerant pipe resonates, which may
30 deform the refrigerant pipe. Among the refrigerant pipes connected to the heat-source-
30
side heat exchanger 7, any lengthy refrigerant pipe that is straight in large part
particularly tends to vibrate significantly. Therefore, it is effective to wind the vibration
isolator 40 around the second refrigerant pipe 50b and the third refrigerant pipe, which
are low-temperature-side refrigerant pipes. Among the refrigerant pipes connected to
5 the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7, the refrigerant pipes provided between the
compressor 11 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 7 tend to receive the vibration
transmitted from the compressor 11. Therefore, it is also effective to wind the vibration
isolator 40 around the coupling portion 35c of the second feed pipe 35, the inflow pipe
31 of the refrigerant distributor pipe 30, and the first refrigerant pipe 50a. If the
10 vibration isolator 40 is employed as a vibration-isolation measure for the second
refrigerant pipe 50b and the third refrigerant pipe 50c, which are low-temperature-side
refrigerant pipes, and for the coupling portion 35c of the second feed pipe 35, the inflow
pipe 31 of the refrigerant distributor pipe 30, and the first refrigerant pipe 50a, the
reliability of the outdoor unit 1 is increased.
15 Reference Signs List
[0086]
1: outdoor unit, 2a: first side panel, 2b: second side panel, 2c: third side panel,
2c1: opening, 2d: fourth side panel, 3: top panel, 4: bottom panel, 5: exhaust grille, 6:
leg, 7: heat-source-side heat exchanger, 7a: first heat-exchanger unit, 7b: second heat20 exchanger unit, 8: fan, 10: separator, 10a: machine chamber, 10b: fan chamber, 11:
compressor, 12: first header pipe, 12a: first main pipe, 12a1: first upper end portion,
12a2: first lower end portion, 12a3: first body portion, 12b: first branch pipe, 13: second
header pipe, 13a: second main pipe, 13a1: second upper end portion, 13a2: second
lower end portion, 13a3: second body portion, 13b: second branch pipe, 14: first
25 distributor, 14a: third main pipe, 14b: third branch pipe, 15: second distributor, 15a:
fourth main pipe, 15b: fourth branch pipe, 16: refrigerant passage switcher, 18:
accumulator, 20: indoor unit, 21: load-side heat exchanger, 23: decompressor, 30:
refrigerant distributor pipe, 31: inflow pipe, 33: first feed pipe, 33a: first connection
position, 35: second feed pipe, 35a: inflow portion, 35b: feed portion, 35b1: second
30 connection position, 35c: coupling portion, 37: splitter pipe, 40: vibration isolator, 45: tie,
31
50a: first refrigerant pipe, 50b: second refrigerant pipe, 50c: third refrigerant pipe, 50d:
fourth refrigerant pipe, 52: combining unit, 100: refrigeration cycle apparatus

We Claim :
[Claim 1]
An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus, the outdoor unit comprising:
a compressor configured to compress and discharge refrigerant;
5 a heat-source-side heat exchanger including a first heat-exchanger unit and a
second heat-exchanger unit, the second heat-exchanger unit being provided below the
first heat-exchanger unit;
a first header pipe including a first main pipe and a plurality of first branch pipes,
the first main pipe including a first upper end portion, a first lower end portion, and a first
10 body portion provided between the first upper end portion and the first lower end
portion, the plurality of first branch pipes being connected to the first main pipe and to
the first heat-exchanger unit and being arranged apart from one another;
a second header pipe including a second main pipe and a plurality of second
branch pipes, the second main pipe including a second upper end portion, a second
15 lower end portion, and a second body portion provided between the second upper end
portion and the second lower end portion, the plurality of second branch pipes being
connected to the second main pipe and to the second heat-exchanger unit and being
arranged apart from one another; and
a refrigerant distributor pipe including an inflow pipe into which the refrigerant
20 discharged from the compressor flows, a splitter pipe connected to the inflow pipe, a
first feed pipe connected to the splitter pipe and to the first body portion, and a second
feed pipe connected to the splitter pipe and to the second body portion.
[Claim 2]
The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 1,
25 wherein the first feed pipe is connected to the first body portion at a position
closer to the first upper end portion than a first center position defined between the first
upper end portion and the first lower end portion.
[Claim 3]
The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 1 or 2,
33
wherein the second feed pipe is connected to the second body portion at a
position closer to the second upper end portion than a second center position defined
between the second upper end portion and the second lower end portion.
[Claim 4]
5 The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein a center axis of the first feed pipe in a first connection position at which
the first feed pipe and the first body portion are connected to each other is in a skewed
position with respect to a center axis of each of the plurality of first branch pipes.
[Claim 5]
10 The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein a center axis of the second feed pipe in a second connection position at
which the second feed pipe and the second body portion are connected to each other is
in a skewed position with respect to a center axis of each of the plurality of second
branch pipes.
[Claim 6]
The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5,
further comprising:
a housing that houses the compressor and the heat-source-side heat exchanger;
a vibration isolator wound around a refrigerant pipe and one of the first main pipe
20 and the second main pipe, the refrigerant pipe being connected to the heat-source-side
heat exchanger and being housed in the housing, the refrigerant pipe being other than
the first header pipe and the second header pipe; and
a tie that binds the first main pipe or the second main pipe and the refrigerant
pipe together, with the vibration isolator interposed in between.
[Claim 7]
The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus of claim 6,
wherein the refrigerant pipe is a low-temperature-side refrigerant pipe connected
to the heat-source-side heat exchanger.