[Name of Document] DESCRIPTION

[Title of Invention] OUTDOOR UNIT OF AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS

[Technical Field]

[0001]

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus. [Background Art]

[0002]

An existing outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus is provided with, for example, a cross fin pipe type heat exchanger including: a heat exchange unit composed of fins made of an aluminum material and circular pipes made of a copper material; and heat exchanger side plates provided at end surfaces of the fins.

[0003]
A lower surface of the cross fin pipe type heat exchanger is a flat surface which is formed by the uniform-width flat fins and has no step. Thus, the cross fin pipe type heat exchanger is installed in the outdoor unit in a state where the fins are in surface contact with a base plate.

[0004]
In addition, a partition plate which separates a machine chamber and a blower chamber is fixed to the base plate by means of screws, and a back panel is fixed to the base plate by means of screws. The partition plate and the back panel are in contact with the heat exchanger side plates, and fixed thereto by means of screws at screw hole portions provided at contact surfaces thereof, whereby it is possible to position the end surfaces of the heat exchanger and stably fix the heat exchanger to a housing.

[0005]
Meanwhile, as an existing outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, there is an outdoor unit provided with a parallel pipe type heat exchanger in which a plurality of flattened pipes and corrugated fins between the adjacent flattened pipes are arranged between two cylindrical header pipes. End portions of the cylindrical header pipes at four corners of such a parallel pipe type heat exchanger are configured to form steps that are convex with respect to the uppermost surface or the lowermost surface of the fin. Thus, when the parallel pipe type heat exchangeis installed directly on a base plate, only the lower surfaces of the convex portions of the cylindrical header pipes come into contact with the base plate, and hence the parallel pipe type heat exchanger is unstable during assembling.

[0006]
By seating the header pipes of such a parallel pipe type heat exchanger on recesses provided on a base plate, the structural characteristic of a step being formed between each header pipe and each flattened pipe is hitherto known, and the parallel pipe type heat exchanger is positioned with respect to a housing of an air-conditioning apparatus (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

[0007]
In addition, a parallel pipe type heat exchanger in which aluminum is used as the material of fins and pipes is fixed to an outdoor unit via a spacer made of a metal electrically less noble than (a metal having higher ionization tendency than) aluminum, thereby suppressing pitting corrosion of an aluminum pipe caused by electrolytic corrosion with iron forming a housing of the outdoor unit (for example, Patent

Literature 2) is hitherto known! [Citation List] [Patent Literature]

[0008]
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-145029 ([0042], Fig. 5)

[Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent No. 4479207 ([0011], Fig. 1) [Summary of Invention] [Technical Problem]

[0009]
However, in the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the parallel pipe type heat exchanger is positioned at only two points on a lower end thereof, and thus an upper end portion thereof is not restrained and is in a free state with the lower end as a fulcrum point. Therefore, when the parallel pipe type heat exchanger is mounted on the base plate so as to be tilted relative to the base plate or when the heat : exchanger vibrates and oscillates during transport or operation, excessive stress is applied to a connected refrigerant pipe, cracks occur in the refrigerant pipe, and a trouble such as refrigerant leak or generation of abnormal sound occurs.

[0010]
In addition, in the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1, when a parallel pipe type heat exchanger including fins and pipes made of aluminum is brought into contact directly with and fixed to, for example, a housing made of iron, if water is present in the contact portion, a different type of metal is in contact with the contact portion. Thus, electrolytic corrosion occurs in aluminum which is electrically less noble than iron, pitting corrosion occurs in the header pipe or the flattened pipe and a refrigerant leaks.

[0011]
Meanwhile, in the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Literature 2, when a pipe near the heat exchanger is brazed with a burner at the time of repairing in the marketplace or at the time of manufacturing, the heat exchanger deforms or melts by heat of the burner.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to obtain an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus which suppresses electrolytic corrosion of a heat exchanger and has high reliability. [Solution to Problem]
[0013]
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes: a partition plate separating a blower chamber and a machine chamber; a heat exchanger having a header pipe; a base plate on which the partition plate and the heat exchanger are placed; a first spacer mounted on a portion of the

header pipe and covering the portion of the header pipe; and a fixing member mounted on the first spacer and fixing the heat exchanger via the first spacer. The first spacer is made of a resin or a metal that is less noble than a metal forming the heat exchanger.
[Advantageous Effects of Invention] [0014]
According to the present invention, the fixing member is mounted on the header pipe via the first spacer. Thus, it is possible to obtain an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus which suppresses electrolytic corrosion of a heat exchanger and has high reliability. [Brief Description of Drawings] [0015]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a front view of a heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.:
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first spacer mounted on the heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a fixing member mounted on the heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing in an enlarged manner a state where first spacers and the fixing member are mounted on the heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger provided in an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a second spacer mounted on the heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning: apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. [Description of Embodiments]
[0016]
Embodiment 1
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning ; apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view of a heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
The configuration and operation of the outdoor unit 100 will be described based on Figs. 1 and 2.
[0017]
As shown in Fig. 1, the outdoor unit 100 includes the heat exchanger 1, a base plate 3, a back plate 4, a partition plate 5, and screws 6.
The heat exchanger 1 is composed of, for example, a parallel pipe type heat exchanger made of aluminum, and is provided at a back side of the outdoor unit 100. The heat exchanger 1 will be described in detail later. The base plate 3 has a box shape whose upper surface is opened, and forms a bottom portion of the outdoor unit 100. Components such as the heat exchanger 1 accommodated in the outdoor unit 100 are placed on the base plate 3. The back plate 4 is a plate forming a side portion and a part of a back portion of the outdoor unit 100. The partition plate 5 is a plate which separates a blower chamber 70 in which a fan (not shown) and the like are

provided and a machine chamber 80 in which a compressor (not shown) and the like are provided. The screws 6 are members for fastening a plurality of components within the outdoor unit 100.
[0018]
It should be noted that means for fixing a plurality of components within the outdoor unit 100 to each other as described above are not limited to only the screws 6, and, for example, a plurality of components may be processed and ; engaged with each other, whereby the components are fixed to each other. In addition, a plurality of the screws shown in Fig. 1 are illustrated as screws 6 provided within the outdoor unit 100, and the number of the screws 6 is not limited thereto. The screws 6 correspond to "fixing means" of the present invention.
[0019]
As shown in Fig. 2, the heat exchanger 1 includes header pipes 7a and 7b, flattened pipes 10, radiation fins 11, side plates 12, and a header pipe partition plate 13.
[0020]
The header pipes 7a and 7b are cylindrical pipes provided at both ends of the heat exchanger 1, and are arranged parallel to each other. An inlet pipe 8 connected to a discharge pipe (not shown) connected to a compressor and a discharge pipe 9 connected to an expansion pipe (not shown) of an expansion unit (not shown) are connected to the header pipe 7a, whereby a refrigerant circuit is formed. The inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9 project toward the machine chamber 80 side. It should be noted that when flow of a refrigerant is reversed, the inlet pipe 8 is connected to the expansion pipe of the expansion unit, and the discharge pipe 9 is connected to the above discharge pipe. In addition, in the following description! the header pipes 7a and 7b are sometimes collectively referred to as header pipe 7!.
[0021]
The flattened pipes 10 are a plurality of pipes which are provided between the header pipes 7a and 7b and are arranged perpendicularly to the header pipes 7a and 7b, namely, parallel to each other at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction bf the

header pipes 7a and 7b, and a passage in which the refrigerant flows is provided within the flattened pipes 10. The header pipes 7 and the flattened pipes 10 are joined to each other, for example, by a brazing filler material, whereby the insides of the header pipes 7 and the insides of the flattened pipes 10 communicate with each other. The radiation fins 11 are, for example, corrugated fines provided on both; surface of each flattened pipe 10, and a plurality of the radiation fins 11 are arranged at regular intervals so as to extend in a horizontal direction.
[0022]
The side plates 12 serve to suppress deformation of the radiation fins 11, and
each are disposed at a single surface of each of the outermost radiation fins 11:
(uppermost and lowermost in Fig. 2). The header pipe partition plate 13 is a member
used for efficient heat exchange to be performed in the heat exchanger 1, and is
provided within the header pipe 7a. The header pipe partition plate 13 is located at a
position lower than the inlet pipe 8 and higher than the discharge pipe 9. i
[0023]
Hereinafter, flow of the refrigerant when the heat exchanger 1 is used as la condenser will be described.
First, the refrigerant flows in the discharge pipe, flows into the inlet pipeS in the direction of an arrow 14a (in the upward direction relative to the sheet), andflows into the flattened pipes 10 via the header pipe 7a in the heat exchanger 1. Specifically, the refrigerant is distributed in an upper space separated by the header pipe partition plate 13 in the header pipe 7a and flows in each flattened pipe 10i
[0024]
Next, the refrigerant having flowed into the flattened pipes 10 flows in the direction of an arrow 14b (in the rightward direction on the sheet) toward the header pipe 7b and flows into the header pipe 7b. The refrigerant flowing in the header pipe 7b flows in the direction of an arrow 14c (in the downward direction relative to the sheet) and flows into the flattened pipes 10 again. The refrigerant having flowed in the direction of the arrow 14b (in the rightward direction relative to the sheet) and

having flowed in from the flattened pipes 10 is split in the header pipe 7b and ; distributed to the flattened pipes 10 that communicate with the discharge pipe 9.
[0025]
Then, the refrigerant having flowed into the flattened pipes 10 again flows in the direction of an arrow 14d (in the leftward direction on the sheet) toward the i header pipe 7a and flows out through the discharge pipe 9 in the direction of ani arrow 14e (in the leftward direction on the sheet) as a condensed refrigerant.
[0026]
It should be noted that when the heat exchanger 1 is used as an evaporator, the refrigerant flows in the direction reverse to that when the heat : exchanger 1 is used as a condenser. In other words, the refrigerant flows in the discharge pipe 9, the header pipe 7a, the flattened pipes 10, the header pipe 7b, the flattened pipes 10, the header pipe 7a, and the inlet pipe 8 in this order.
[0027]
In addition, all the materials of the header pipe 7, the inlet pipe 8, the discharge pipe 9, the flattened pipes 1.0, the radiation fins 11, the side plates 12, and the header pipe partition plate 13 are an aluminum material or a metal that is less noble than the material of a later-described fixing member 17.
Moreover, the flattened pipes 10 and the radiation fins 11, the radiation fins 11 and the side plates 12, and the header pipe 7 and the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9 are joined to each other by a brazing filler material.
[0028]
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
As shown in Fig. 3, a first spacer 15a is mounted on the upper end of the header pipe 7a, and a first spacer 15b is mounted on the lower end of the header pipe 7a. The first spacers 15 are interposed between the heat exchanger 1 and the fixing member 17 when the later-described fixing member 17 is fixed to the heat exchanger 1. Hereinafter, the first spacers 15a and 15b are sometimes referred to collectively as "first spacer 15."

[0029]
It should be noted that for convenience of explanation, in Fig. 3, the first spacers 15a and 15b are illustrated as being mounted on the upper end and the lower end of only the header pipe 7a, and it goes without saying that first spacers 15a and 15b are similarly mounted also on the header pipe 7b. Since the first spacer 15 is mounted also on the lower end of the header pipe 7b, when the heat exchanger 1 is placed on the base plate 3, the first spacers 15b mounted on the lower ends of the respective header pipes 7a and 7b come into contact with the base plate 3, and thus it is possible to assemble the outdoor unit 100 in a state where the heat exchanger 1 is kept stable.
[0030]
In addition, the example has been described in which the first spacer 15a is provided on the upper end of the header pipe 7a and the first spacer 15b is ; provided on the lower end of the header pipe 7a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first spacers 15 may be provided at positions closer to the center than the upper end and the lower end of the header pipe 7a, and the number of the first spacers 15 is also not limited to two.
[0029]
It should be noted that for convenience of explanation, in Fig. 3, the first spacers 15a and 15b are illustrated as being mounted on the upper end and the lower end of only the header pipe 7a, and it goes without saying that first spacers 15a and 15b are similarly mounted also on the header pipe 7b. Since the first spacer 15 is mounted also on the lower end of the header pipe 7b, when the heat exchanger 1 is placed on the base plate 3, the first spacers 15b mounted on the lower ends of the respective header pipes 7a and 7b come into contact with the base plate 3, and thus it is possible to assemble the outdoor unit 100 in a state where the heat exchanger 1 is kept stable.
[0030]
In addition, the example has been described in which the first spacer 15a is provided on the upper end of the header pipe 7a and the first spacer 15b is ; provided on the lower end of the header pipe 7a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first spacers 15 may be provided at positions closer to the center than the upper end and the lower end of the header pipe 7a, and the number of the first spacers 15 is also not limited to two.
[0031]
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the first spacer 15 mounted on the heat; exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
Fig. 4(a) is a perspective view of the first spacer 15 mounted on the heat; exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
As shown in Fig. 4(a), the first spacer 15 has a shape in which a hollowspace is formed and the first spacer 15 is bifurcated for sandwiching the header pipe 7 (a specific shape will be described later), and is composed of, for example, a member made of a resin. It should be noted that the material of the first spacer 15 is not limited to the resin, and may be a metal that is electrically less noble than the material of the heat exchanger 1 (aluminum).
[0032]

The first spacer 15 is configured to be able to sandwich the header pipe 7 from outside. The first spacer 15 includes: a main body portion 15A including a front; surface portion 15e, a back surface portion 15f, an outer surface portion 15g, an upper surface portion 15h, and a lower surface portion 15i; and a header retaining portion 15B including a front-side extending portion 15j, a back-side extending portion 15k, and a header pipe insertion groove 15c formed between the front-side extending portion 15j and the back-side extending portion 15k.
[0033]
The front-side extending portion 15j is formed so as to extend from one end portion of the front surface portion 15e, and the back-side extending portion 15k is formed so as to extend from one end portion of the outer surface portion 15g. The front-side extending portion 15j and the back-side extending portion 15k are formed so as to be thinner than the front surface portion 15e and the back surface portion 15f, and are elastically deformable. The upper surface portion 15h is formed such that its length between the front-side extending portion 15j and the back-side extending portion 15k is narrower than the header pipe 7 and its length between the front surface portion 15e and the back surface portion 15f is equal to the outer \ diameter of the header pipe 7. Here, the first spacer 15 is configured to be mountable on and dismountable from the header pipe 7.
[0034]
A screw hole 16 (screw holes 16a and 16b in Fig. 3) is formed in the outer surface of the first spacer 15 and fixed to the later-described fixing member 17 by means of screws. The screw hole 16 is formed with such a depth as to not reach the inner surface, so that when a screw 6 is inserted into the screw hole 16, the screw 6 does not penetrate therethrough to the inner surface. Thus, even when a screw 6 made of iron, which is less expensive, is used and rusted, it is possible to restrain water containing ions of iron, which is a metal that is electrically nobler than (a metal having lower ionization tendency than) aluminum, from reaching the heat exchanger
1-
[0035]

The first spacer 15b is mounted such that when the heat exchanger 1 is; assembled to the outdoor unit 100, the first spacer 15b comes into contact with ithe base plate 3, and the contact surface area thereof with the base plate 3 is larger than that of the bottom surface of the header pipe 7. Thus, the heat exchanger 1 is not tilted, and it is possible to stably assemble the outdoor unit 100.
[0036]
Fig. 4(b) is a plan view of the.first spacer 15 mounted on the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
As shown in Fig. 4(b), the cylindrical header pipe insertion groove 15c is formed in the first spacer 15. In addition, a plurality of ribs 15d are formed in the header pipe insertion groove 15c so as to project, and the number of the ribs 15d is, for example, three.
[0037]
The diameter of a circle whose circumference is a surface connecting the top of each rib 15d is equal to the diameter of the header pipe 7. Accordingly, when the first spacers 15a and 15b are fitted to the header pipe 7, the ribs 15d press the header pipe 7, and hence each first spacer 15 does not drop off from the header pipe 7 at the time of manufacturing. It should be noted that the number of the ribs 15d is not limited to three.
[0038]
Fig. 4(c) is a front view of the first spacer 15 mounted on the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100, and is a Z-Z cross-sectional view of Fig. 4(b). ;
As shown in Fig. 4(c), A in Fig. 4(c) corresponds to the length by which the header pipe 7 projects.
[0039]
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the fixing member 17 mounted on the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
As shown in Fig. 5, the fixing member 17 is a member in which screw holes 17a and 17b, an inlet pipe insertion hole 18, and a discharge pipe insertion hole 19 are formed and which has a square U shape in cross-section. For the fixing member

17, for example, a metal such as iron which is less expensive and yet able to keep strength is used. The fixing member 17 covers a part of the first spacer 15 and:fixes the heat exchanger 1.
[0040]
The screw holes 17a and 17b are formed near the upper end and the lower end of the fixing member 17 and sized such that the screws 6 are able to be inserted therethrough.
The inlet pipe insertion hole 18 is, for example, an elliptical hole formed at a position slightly above the center, and the inlet pipe 8 is inserted therethrough. The discharge pipe insertion hole 19 is, for example, a circular hole formed near the lower end, and the discharge pipe 9 is inserted therethrough.
[0041]
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing in an enlarged manner a state where the first spacer 15 and the fixing member 17 are mounted on the heat exchanger 1; provided in the outdoor unit 100.
As shown in Fig. 6, the fixing member 17 is mounted on the first spacers 15a and 15b and covers the header pipe 7 and the first spacers 15a and 15b in the Lip-down direction.
[0042]
Here, since the fixing member 17 is made of a metal that is electrically nobler than aluminum, it is necessary to dispose the fixing member 17 at a distance from the header pipe 7, the inlet pipe 8, and the discharge pipe 9 such that the fixing member 17 is not in contact with the header pipe 7, the inlet pipe 8, and the discharge pipe 9. Thus, the length of each side of the square U shape of the fixing member 17 is larger than the diameter of the header pipe 7.
[0043]
In addition, when the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9 are straight pipes, the inlet pipe insertion hole 18 and the discharge pipe insertion hole 19 are preferably formed, for example, in circular shapes or square shapes. When the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9 are bent pipes, the inlet pipe insertion hole 18 and the discharge

pipe insertion hole 19 are formed, for example, in elliptical shapes or rectangular shapes. In other words, the shapes of the inlet pipe insertion hole 18 and the ; discharge pipe insertion hole 19 are preferably determined in accordance with the shapes of the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9.
[0044]
Moreover, the sizes of the inlet pipe insertion hole 18 and the discharge pipe insertion hole 19 are designed on the basis of the sizes of the diameters of the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9, Specifically, the size of the inlet pipe insertion ;hole 18 is designed such that when the fixing member 17 is mounted on the first spacer 15, the inlet pipe 8 and the fixing member 17 do not come into contact with each other. While the size of the discharge pipe insertion hole 19 is designed such that when the fixing member 17 is mounted on the first spacer 15, the discharge pipe 9 and the fixing member 17 do not come into contact with each other.
[0045]
Moreover, the dimensions of the inlet pipe insertion hole 18 and the discharge pipe insertion hole 19 are desirably designed to be larger than the diameters of the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9 such that the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9 do not come into contact with the fixing member 17 even when the air-conditioning apparatus starts operating in a state where the fixing member 17 is fixed to the heat exchanger 1 by means of screws; and the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9; vibrate etc.
[0046]
Hereinafter, mounting of the fixing member 17 on the heat exchanger;1 will be described.
First, the fixing member 17 is brought into close contact with the first spacers 15a and 15b in a state where the inlet pipe 8 and the discharge pipe 9 are inserted through the inlet pipe insertion hole 18 and the discharge pipe insertion hole 19;, respectively.
Next, in this close contact state, the screw 6 is inserted through the screw hole 17a of the fixing member 17 and the screw hole 16a of the first spacer 15a in this

order, and the screw 6 is similarly inserted through the screw hole 17b of the fixing member 17 and the screw hole 16b of the first spacer 15b in this order.
In this manner, mounting of the fixing member 17 on the heat exchanger 1 is completed.
[0047]
In addition, an iron material that has a higher melting point than i aluminum, is less expensive, and has high heat resistance is used as the material of the fixing member 17. Thus, when a pipe near the heat exchanger 1 is brazed with a burner at the time of repairing in the marketplace or at the time of manufacturing, it is possible to protect the heat exchanger 1 made of aluminum from heat of a burner without deforming or melting the heat exchanger 1 by the heat: Therefore, it is possible to suppress mistakenly melting the aluminum pipe.
[0048]
As described above, the outdoor unit 100 includes the partition plate 5: which separates the blower chamber 70 and the machine chamber 80, the heat exchanger 1 having the header pipe 7, the base plate 3 on which the partition plate 5 and the heat exchanger 1 are placed, the first spacer 15 which is mounted on a portion of the header pipe 7 and covers the portion of the header pipe 7, and the fixing member 17 which is mounted on the first spacer 15 and fixes the heat exchanger 1 via the first spacer 15, and the first spacer 15 is made of the resin or the metal that is less noble than the metal forming the heat exchanger 1. Thus, the fixing member 17 is mounted on the header pipe 7 via the first spacer 15. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus which suppresses electrolytic corrosion of the heat exchanger 1 made of aluminum and has high reliability.
[0049]
In addition, in the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the header pipes 7 are provided at both ends of the heat exchanger 1 so as to be parallel to each other, and the first spacer 15 is mounted on the lower end of each header pipe 7.

Accordingly, by using the first spacers 15 for a supplement to the structural features of the heat exchanger 1, a structure is provided in which when the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is manufactured, the heat exchanger 1 installed on the base plate 3 keeps a self-standing state. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate assembling of the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
Therefore, since the heat exchanger 1 does not oscillate even in response to an excessive impact or vibration during transportation or operation of the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, it is possible to provide an air-conditioning apparatus having high reliability for a long period of time over the life cycle of a product.
[0050]
Embodiment 2
Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of an outdoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
As shown in Fig. 7, a screw hole 3a is formed in a front-side rising portion of the base plate 3, and a screw hole 5a is formed in a front-side lower portion of the partition plate 5. Thus, a screw 6 is inserted through the screw holes 3a and 5a in this order in a state where the back surface of the front-side rising portion of the base plate 3 is in contact with the front-side lower portion of the partition plate 5, whereby it is possible to fix the base plate 3 and the partition plate 5 to each other.
[0051]
In addition, screw holes 5c and 5d are formed in the back surface of the partition plate 5, and screw holes 17c and 17d are formed in the front surface of the fixing member 17. Thus, in a state where the back surface of the base plate 3 is in contact with the front surface of the partition plate 5, a screw 6 is inserted through the screw holes 5c and 17c in this order, and a screw 6 is similarly inserted through the screw holes 5d and 17d in this order, whereby it is possible to fix the partition plate 5 and the fixing member 17 to each other.
[0052]

As described above, in the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2, the base plate 3 and the partition plate 5 are fixed to each other by the screw 6, and the partition plate 5 and the fixing member 17 are fixed to each other by the screws 6. In other words, the partition plate 5 is fixed to the base plate 3 and the fixing member 17 by a plurality of the screws 6. Thus, the-heat exchanger 1 is fixed without being directly in contact with the base plate 3 and the partition plate 5. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus which suppresses electrolytic corrosion of the heat exchanger 1 made of aluminum and has high reliability.
[0053]
Embodiment 3
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger 1 provided in an outdoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present: invention.
As shown in Fig. 8, a second spacer 23a is mounted on the upper surface of a side plate 12a, a second spacer 23b is mounted on the lower surface of a side plate 12b, and each second spacer is composed of, for example, a member having a square U shape and made of a resin. The second spacers 23a and 23b are located between the two header pipes 7. It should be noted that the "square U shape" refers to a shape of square "U" of alphabet.
[0054]
It should be noted that the side plates 12a and 12b are sometimes referred to collectively as "side plate 12." In addition, the second spacers 23a and 23b are sometimes referred to collectively as "second spacer 23".
[0055]
Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the second spacer 23 mounted on the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
Fig. 9(a) is a perspective view of the second spacer 23 mounted on the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.

Fig. 9(b) is a plan view of the second spacer 23 mounted on the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit 100.
Fig. 9(c) is a Y-Y cross-sectional view of Fig. 9(b).
[0056]
As shown in Fig. 9(a), the second spacer 23 is formed such that the width of a surface thereof in contact with the base plate 3 is larger than the bottom surface of the side plate 12 and a contact surface area thereof with the base plate 3 is large. Thus, when the second spacer 23 is mounted on the lower end of the side plate 12 and is brought into contact with the base plate 3, the heat exchanger 1 is stably; installed within the outdoor unit 100.
[0057]
As shown in Fig. 9(b), a side plate insertion groove 24 having a square U shape is provided on the inner surface of each of the second spacers 23a and 23b such that the side plate 12 and the radiation fin 11 are fitted therein. End surfaces 25A and 25B are provided at ends of the side plate insertion groove 24. Ribs 25a and 25b are provided at the end surfaces 25A and 25B, respectively, so as to project inwardly. The distance between the ribs 25a and 25b is equal to the width dimension of the side plate 12. Thus, when the second spacer 23 is fitted onto the side plate 12, the ribs 25 are brought into rubbing contact with the side plate 12, and thus it is; possible to suppress dropping-off of the second spacer 23 at the time of manufacturing.
[0058]
As shown in Fig. 9(c), the thickness of the second spacer 23 in its height direction (the distance from the bottom portion to the bottom surface 25C) is set to be a predetermined dimension B. The dimension B is equal to the dimension A of the first spacer 15 shown in Fig. 4.
Thus, when the first spacer 15b is mounted on each of the header pipes 7a and 7b and further the second spacer 23b is mounted on the side plate 12b, a convex shape step formed between the lower end portion of the header pipe 7 and the ilower end portion of the side plate 12b is eliminated.

[0059]
As described above, in the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3, a pair of the header pipes 7 are provided at both ends of the heat exchanger 1, the first spacer 15 is mounted on the lower end of each Header pipe 7, and the heat exchanger 1 includes a plurality of the flattened pipes 10 extending in the longitudinal direction of a pair of the header pipes 7 and communicating with the insides of a pair of the header pipes 7, and the side plates 12 provided at the outer uppermost and outer lowermost flattened pipes 10 of a plurality of the flattened pipes 10. The second spacer 23 mounted on a portion of each side plate 12 and covers the portion of the side plate 12 is provided, the heat exchanger 1 is placed on the base plate 3 via the first spacer 15b mounted on the lower endlof each header pipe 7 and the second spacer 23b mounted on the side plate 12b provided at the outer lowermost flattened pipe 10, and the lower end of the heat exchanger 1 is kept horizontal. Thus, the heat exchanger 1 is placed on the base plate 3 in a stable state. It should be noted that the lower end of the heat exchanger 1 is not limited to be kept completely horizontal, and the heat exchanger 1 may ;be placed on the base plate 3 so as to be slightly tilted relative to the base plate 3.
[0060]
Embodiment 4
Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of an outdoor unit 100 of an air-conditionihg apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
Fig. 10(a) is a perspective view of the outdoor unit 100.
Fig. 10(b) is a side view of the outdoor unit 100.
[0061]
As shown in Fig. 10(a), a motor fixing member 26 is provided on the front side of the heat exchanger 1.
The motor fixing member 26 supports a motor 40, and is, for example, a; member having a substantially square U shape in a side view. The motor fixing member 26 is fixed at its lower portion to the base plate 3 by means of screws, and is fixed at its upper portion to a front portion 27 forming a front surface of the outdoor

unit 100 by means of screws. Thus, the base plate 3 and the front portion 27 are firmly fixed to each other via the motor fixing member 26.
[0062]
Here, for the motor fixing member 26, a metal such as iron which is less expensive and yet able to keep strength is used but iron is a metal that is electrically nobler than aluminum. Thus, it is not preferred if the motor fixing member 26 is brought into contact with and fixed to the heat exchanger 1. Thus, the heat exchanger 1 is mounted on the motor fixing member 26 via the second spacer 23a shown in Embodiment 3.
[0063]
Hereinafter, a method for fixing the second spacer 23 of the heat exchanger 1 and the motor fixing member 26 to each other will be described.
As shown in Fig. 10(b), a pressing portion 26a having an L shape is provided at the lower portion of the motor fixing member 26, and presses the front surface of the second spacer 23. In addition, a squeezing portion 3b provided at the side; surface of the base plate 3 presses the back surface of the second spacer 23 that is opposite to the front surface thereof. Thus, the second spacer 23b is held by the pressing portion 26a and the squeezing portion 3b, and the lower portion of the! heat exchanger 1 is fixed to the outdoor unit 100 by the motor fixing member 26.
[0064]
In addition, the motor fixing member 26 is provided with a hook 26b having a square U shape. The inner width of the hook 26b is the same as the outer width of the second spacer 23a. Thus, the hook 26b and the second spacer 23a are fitted to each other without rattling.
[0065]
A fixing portion 26c having an L shape is provided at the upper side of the motor fixing member 26 so as to be located on a side opposite to the hook 26b. The fixing portion 26c is fixed to the front portion 27 by means of screws. Thus; the hook 26b provided in the motor fixing member 26 fixes the upper portion of the heat exchanger 1.

[0066]
As described above, the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4 includes the motor fixing member 26 which supports the motor 40, and the front portion 27 which is provided at the front side of the motor fixing member 26, and the motor fixing member 26 is fixed to the base plate 3 and the front portion 27 and to the heat exchanger 1 via the second spacer 23. Thus, the heat exchanger 1 is fixed via the second spacer 23 to the motor fixing member 26 fixed to the base plate 3 and the front portion 27.
[0067]
Embodiment 5
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning: apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
As shown in Fig. 11, the heat exchanger 1 is provided in the outdoor unit 100 in a state where Embodiments 1 to 4 are combined. Thus, the heat exchanger ;1 keeps a self-standing state on the base plate 3, and hence assembling of the outdoor unit 100 is facilitated.
[0068]
In addition, the heat exchanger 1 is firmly fixed over the upper portion and the lower portion thereof without being in contact directly with members such as the partition plate 5 and the front portion 27 which are made of a metal that is electrically nobler than aluminum. Thus, the heat exchanger 1 is able to keep a stable assemble state without being tilted relative to the base plate 3, and the heat exchanger 1 is restrained from being oscillated even in response to an excessive impact or vibration during transportation or operation of the air-conditioning apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to provide the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus whicNhas high reliability for a long period of time.
[0069]
Moreover, it is possible to position at least four locations of the upper portion and the lower portion of the heat exchanger 1 made of aluminum by the motor fixing member 26 and the fixing member 17 mounted on the header pipe 7, without bringing the heat exchanger 1 into contact with the housing of the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
Thus, it is possible to avoid electrolytic corrosion of the heat exchanger 1 and to keep stable assembling property without the heat exchanger 1 being tilted relative to the base plate 3.

[0070]
The present invention is applicable to an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus such as a room air-conditioner or a package air-conditioner which includes an aluminum heat exchanger in which fins and pipes are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. [Reference Signs List]

[0071]
1: heat exchanger, 3: base plate, 3a: screw hole, 3b: squeezing portion, 4: back plate, 5: partition plate, 5a, 5c, 5d: screw hole, 6: screw, 7, 7a, 7b: header pipe, 8: inlet pipe, 9: discharge pipe, 10: flattened pipe, 11: radiation fin, 12, 12a, 12b: side plate, 13: header pipe partition plate, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e: arrow; 15, 15a, 15b: first spacer, 15c: header pipe insertion groove, 15d: rib, 15e: front ^ surface portion, 15f: back surface portion, 15g: outer surface portion, 15h: upper surface portion, 15i: lower surface portion, 15j: front-side extending portion, 15k: back-side extending portion, 151: hollow portion, 15A: main body portion, 15B:; header retaining portion, 16,16a, 16b: screw hole, 17: fixing member, 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d: screw hole, 18: inlet pipe insertion hole, 19: discharge pipe insertion hole, 23, 23a, 23b: second spacer, 24: side plate insertion groove, 25, 25a, 25b: rib of second spacer, 25A, 25B: end surface, 25C: bottom surface, 26: motor fixing member, 26a: pressing portion, 26b: hook, 26c: fixing portion, 27: front portion, 40: motor, 70: blower chamber, 80: machine chamber, 100: outdoor unit

[Name of Document] CLAIMS

[Claim 1]
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus comprising:

a partition plate separating a blower chamber and a machine chamber;
a heat exchanger having a header pipe;

a base plate on which the partition plate and the heat exchanger are placed;
a first spacer mounted on a portion of the header pipe and covering the portion of the header pipe; and
a fixing member mounted on the first spacer and fixing the heat exchanger via the first spacer, wherein
the first spacer is made of a resin or a metal that is less noble than a metal forming the heat exchanger.

[Claim 2]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the: fixing member has a square U cross-sectional shape. [Claim 3]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein
an inlet pipe and a discharge pipe are attached to the header pipe so as to communicate with an inside of the header pipe,
the fixing member has an inlet pipe insertion hole through which the inlet pipe is inserted,
the fixing member has a discharge pipe insertion hole through which the; discharge pipe is inserted,
the fixing member fixes the heat exchanger via the first spacer in a statewhere the inlet pipe is inserted through the inlet pipe insertion hole and the discharge pipe is inserted through the discharge pipe insertion hole. [Claim 4]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partition plate is fixed to the base plate and the fixing member by ai plurality of fixing means.

[Claim5]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
a pair of the header pipes are provided at both ends of the heat exchanger,

the first spacer is mounted on a lower end of each header pipe,
the heat exchanger includes:

a plurality of flattened pipes extending in a longitudinal direction of the pair of the header pipes and communicating with insides of the pair of the header pipes; and

side plates provided at outer uppermost and outer lowermost flattened pipes, respectively, of the plurality of flattened pipes,

a second spacer mounted on a portion of each side plate and covering the portion of each side plate is provided, and

the heat exchanger is placed on the base plate via the first spacer mounted on the lower end of each header pipe and the second spacer mounted on the sideiplate provided at the outer lowermost flattened pipe, and a lower end of the heat exchanger is kept horizontal.

[Claim 6]
The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
a motor fixing member supporting a motor; and

a front portion provided at a front side of the motor fixing member, wherein
the motor fixing member is fixed to the base plate and the front portion and is fixed to the heat exchanger via the second spacer