Patent Application
20230160584
The present disclosure relates to the field of heat exchange of air conditioners, and more particularly, to an air conditioner outdoor unit.
In the related art, for an air conditioner outdoor unit, a fan module is arranged above a heat exchanger and includes a fan wheel, a motor, a bracket, and an air guide ring, and a mesh cover is mounted at an upper opening of a housing of the air conditioner outdoor unit to ensure the safety of the fan module.
The air conditioner outdoor unit is required to maintain low operating noise and high aerodynamic efficiency while ensuring high air volume. However, improper designs of heat exchangers, fan wheels, motors, brackets, air guide rings and mesh covers in the related art may easily lead to air volume loss and aerodynamic noise.
SUMMARY
An air conditioner outdoor unit according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a housing including a first cavity and an air outlet in communication with the first cavity; a heat exchanger in the first cavity, in which in a horizontal direction, the heat exchanger includes a first portion and a second portion opposite to each other, and a minimum distance between the first portion and the second portion is S; and a fan assembly. The fan assembly includes: a bracket arranged in the first cavity and above the heat exchanger, and connected to the housing; a motor in the first cavity and on the bracket; and a fan wheel arranged in the first cavity and connected to the motor, and having a diameter of D. A first part of the bracket is opposite to the heat exchanger in an up-down direction, a minimum distance between the first part of the bracket and the heat exchanger in the up-down direction is L1 that satisfies: 0≤L1≤0.15D when S<D.
Reference numerals:
air conditioner outdoor unit 100, housing 1, heat exchanger 2, first portion 21, second portion 22, third portion 23, fan assembly 3, bracket 31, first part 311, motor 32, fan wheel 33, mesh cover 4, first rib 41, second rib 42, third rib 43, fourth rib 44, air guide ring 5.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail, and examples of the embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to explain the present disclosure rather than limit the present disclosure. In the specification of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that terms such as “central,” “longitudinal,” “transverse,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “axial,” “radial,” “circumferential” and the like should be construed to refer to orientations or positions as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation or be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Thus, these terms shall not be construed as limitations on the present disclosure.
As shown in
The heat exchanger 2 is arranged in the first cavity 11, and the heat exchanger 2 is connected to a peripheral wall and a bottom plate of the housing 1. In a horizontal direction, the heat exchanger 2 includes a first portion 21 (e.g., a left portion of the heat exchanger 2 in
The fan assembly 3 includes a fan wheel 33, a motor 32 and a bracket 31. The bracket 31 is arranged in the first cavity 11 and connected to the housing 1; the bracket 31 is above the heat exchanger 2; the motor 32 is in the first cavity 11 and is arranged on the bracket 31; and the fan wheel 33 is in the first cavity 11 and is connected to the motor 32, and a diameter of the fan wheel 33 is denoted as D.
A first part 311 of the bracket 31 is opposite to the heat exchanger 2 in an up-down direction, that is, the first part 311 of the bracket 31 is right above the heat exchanger 2. A minimum distance between the first part 311 of the bracket 31 and the heat exchanger 2 in the up-down direction is denoted as L1 that satisfies 0 ≤L1≤0.15D when S<D.
The minimum distance S is a minimum value among all distances from any point on the first portion 21 to any point on the second portion 22. The minimum distance L1 is a minimum value among all distances from any point on the heat exchanger 2 to any point on the first part 311 of the bracket 31.
Outside air exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 2 after entering the first cavity 11. The air is discharged from the first cavity 11 under the action of the fan wheel 33, after undergoing the heat exchange. The air conditioner outdoor unit 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure makes 0≤L1≤0.15D, and the air after the heat exchange does not suffer from speed loss when flowing through the fan wheel 33 and the bracket 31 (the fan assembly 3), allowing for high air exhaust volume and efficiency of the fan wheel 33, and effectively reducing the noise of the fan wheel 33.
Therefore, the air conditioner outdoor unit 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure has the advantages of high air exhaust volume and low noise.
As shown in
As shown in
An inner surface of the first portion 21 and an inner surface of the second portion 22 are substantially parallel, and a minimum distance between the inner surface of the first portion 21 and the inner surface of the second portion 22 is S. The inner surface of the first portion 21 refers to a surface of the first portion 21 adjacent to a middle part of the first cavity 11, that is, the inner surface of the first portion 21 refers to a surface of the first portion 21 adjacent to the second portion 22 in the horizontal direction. The inner surface of the second portion 22 refers to a surface of the second portion 22 adjacent to the middle part of the first cavity 11, that is, the inner surface of the second portion 22 refers to a surface of the second portion 22 adjacent to the first portion 21 in the horizontal direction.
For example, when the first portion 21 is opposite to the second portion 22 in the right-left direction, the inner surface of the first portion 21 is a right surface of the first portion 21, and the inner surface of the second portion 22 is a left surface of the second portion 22.
It can be understood that the cross section of the first cavity 11 is substantially square, and an inner surface of the third portion 23 refers to a surface of the third portion 23 adjacent to the middle part of the first cavity 11. The inner surface of the third portion 23 is substantially parallel to a front surface (or a rear surface) of the housing 1, and a minimum distance between the inner surface of the third portion 23 and the front surface (or the rear surface) of the housing 1 is denoted as Sa. That is, Sa is greater than S, and the minimum distance Sa is a minimum value among all distances from any point on the third portion 23 to any point on the front surface of the housing 1.
In the air conditioner outdoor unit 100 of the present disclosure, the peripheral wall of the housing, which is connected to the heat exchanger 2, includes a ventilation hole, and hot air from the outside enters the housing 1 through the ventilation hole on the housing 1 and exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 2. The air after the heat exchange flows upward to the fan assembly 3 and is discharged out of the first cavity 11 under the action of the fan wheel 33.
The bracket 31 is substantially square, and the bracket 31 is arranged in the first cavity 11 and above the heat exchanger 2. The first part 311 of the bracket 31 (i.e., an edge part of the bracket 31) is right above the heat exchanger 2, and a minimum distance between the first part 311 of the bracket 31 and a top end of the heat exchanger 2 is L1 that satisfies 0≤L1≤0.15D when S<D.
The outside air exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 2 after entering the first cavity 11. The air is discharged from the first cavity 11 under the action of the fan wheel 33, after undergoing the heat exchange. The air conditioner outdoor unit 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure makes 0≤L1≤0.15D, and the air after the heat exchange does not suffer from speed loss when flowing through the fan wheel 33 and the bracket 31 (the fan assembly 3), allowing for high air exhaust volume and efficiency of the fan wheel 33, and effectively reducing the noise of the fan wheel 33.
In some embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
The air exhaust volume gradually increases and the noise gradually decreases, as L1 gradually increases.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, 20 mm≤A1≤55 mm.
When A1=20 mm, 20 mm≤L2≤70 mm. That is, the minimum distance from the fan wheel 33 to the bracket 31 is 20 mm, and even if the fan wheel 33 vibrates and deflects during the rotation, the fan wheel 33 will not collide with the bracket 31, which ensures the safer operation of the fan wheel 33. In the up-down direction, a maximum vertical distance from the lowest point on the fan wheel 33 to the bracket 31 is 70 mm, such that an overall height of the motor assembly 3 is effectively reduced, an installation space for the motor assembly 3 is saved, and the production cost of the air conditioner outdoor unit 100 is lowered, while the safe operation of the fan wheel 33 is ensured.
When A1=55 mm, 55 mm≤L2≤125 mm. That is, the minimum vertical distance from the lowest point on the fan wheel 33 to the bracket 31 is 55 mm, and there is enough space for the airflow between the fan wheel 33 and the bracket 31 to dissipate, and the noise generated by the interaction between the airflow and the fan wheel 33 is effectively reduced.
In one embodiment, a cross section of the bracket 31 in the up-down direction may be designed as a circle, an ellipse, a semi-circle or an arc, in which an arc portion protrudes downward, that is, an arc surface corresponds to a discharge direction of cold air. Consequently, the blockage of the cold air by the bracket 31 can be reduced, and the flow speed of the cold air remains unchanged, which helps to improve the air exhaust efficiency of the air conditioner outdoor unit 100.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The mesh cover 4 is arranged at the air outlet 12 and connected to the housing 1, a blockage ratio of the mesh cover 4 is a that satisfies: 0.12≤σ≤0.15, in which σ is defined as σ =(S1-S2)÷S1, in which S1 represents a frame area of the mesh cover 4, and S2 represents a hole area in the mesh cover 4. Consequently, the blockage ratio of the mesh cover 4 is σ, that is, a ratio of the hole area on the mesh cover 4 to the frame area of the mesh cover 4 is 1-σ. The frame area S1 is an area of a region enclosed by a frame of the mesh cover 4.
Further, the smaller the value of σ is, the larger the hole area on the mesh cover 4 is and the better the ventilation effect is, but the lower the structural strength of the mesh cover 4 is. Conversely, the larger the value of σ is, the higher the structural strength of the mesh cover 4 is, but the smaller the hole area on the mesh cover 4 is and the poorer the ventilation effect is. Therefore, when the blockage ratio σ of the mesh cover 4 is set, it is necessary to ensure both the structural strength of the mesh cover 4 and the ventilation effect of the mesh cover 4. When 0.12 ≤σ≤0.15, the mesh cover 4 ensures the structural strength, prolongs the service life of the mesh cover 4, ensures the ventilation effect, improves the air exhaust efficiency of the air conditioner outdoor unit 100, and enhances the heat exchange effect.
In some embodiments, σ satisfies: 0.133≤σ≤0.137, and the structural strength and ventilation effect of the mesh cover 4 become better.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The first ribs 41 are parallel to each other and spaced apart along a first horizontal direction (e.g., the left-right direction in
Each third rib 43 is between two adjacent first ribs 41 in the first horizontal direction. In one embodiment, the third ribs 43 may be arranged between two first ribs 41, that is, the third ribs 43 equally divide a gap between the two first ribs 41. Each third rib 43 is parallel to each first rib 41, and each third rib 43 is perpendicular to each second rib 42.
Each fourth rib 44 is between two adjacent second ribs 42 in the second horizontal direction. In one embodiment, the fourth ribs 44 may be arranged between two second ribs 42, that is, the fourth ribs 44 equally divide a gap between the two second ribs 42. Each fourth rib 44 is parallel to each second rib 42, and each fourth rib 44 is perpendicular to each first rib 41.
Each of the first rib 41 and the second rib 42 has a diameter greater than or equal to 5 mm and less than 7 mm, and each of the third rib 43 and the fourth rib 44 has a diameter greater than or equal to 2 mm and less than 3 mm. In one embodiment, the first rib 41 and the second rib 42 have the same diameter, and the third rib 43 and the fourth rib 44 have the same diameter.
It can be understood that the first ribs 41 and the second ribs 42 are thick ribs compared with the third ribs 43 and the fourth ribs 44. The first ribs 41 and the second ribs 42 cross each other vertically, and the first ribs 41 and the second ribs 42 form a skeleton of the mesh cover 4. The third ribs 43 and the fourth ribs 44 cross each other vertically, the third ribs 43 are arranged between adjacent first ribs 41, and the fourth ribs 44 are arranged between adjacent second ribs 42. In such a way, the grid of the mesh cover 4 is further subdivided by the third ribs 43 and the fourth ribs 44, making the size of holes in the mesh cover 4 smaller, and preventing external debris from entering the housing 1 through the mesh cover 4, to ensure the safe operation of the fan wheel 33 and reduce safety accidents.
Meanwhile, the thick ribs (the first rib 41 and the second rib 42) effectively improve the structural strength of the mesh cover 4, and the thin ribs (the third ribs 43 and the fourth ribs 44) effectively reduce the blockage ratio σ of the mesh cover 4 and increase the hole area on the mesh cover 4, which helps to improve the ventilation effect of the mesh cover 4.
In other embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, A2≥90 mm. When A2=90 mm, 90 mm ≤L3≤150 mm, the fan wheel 33 will not affect the outside of the mesh cover 4 and the housing 1.
In some embodiments, as shown in
It can be understood that on a horizontal plane, an outermost side of the fan wheel 33 is approximately shaped as a circle, an inner surface of the air guide ring 5 is also shaped as a circle, and the two circles are concentric, with a radius difference of the two concentric circles as the minimum distance L4.
In one embodiment, there is no air guide ring 5, the cross section of the first cavity 11 is substantially square, and the fan wheel 33 is in the first cavity 11. In such a case, when the fan wheel 33 is rotating, a distance between the outermost side of the fan wheel 31 and an inner surface of the housing 1 is varied. The airflow driven by the fan wheel 33 has different directions in a flowing process since the distance between the outermost side of the fan wheel 33 and the inner surface of the shell 1 is different. That is, the airflow driven by the fan wheel 33 interferes with each other, resulting in noise, and diminishing the stability of the fan wheel 33.
When there is the air guide ring 5, the air guide ring 5 is substantially annular, the air guide ring 5 is arranged in the first cavity 11, and the air guide ring 5 is fitted over and arranged coaxially with the fan wheel 33. In such a case, in the radial direction of the fan wheel 33, a distance from each point on the outermost side of the fan wheel 33 to the inner surface of the air guide ring 5 is equal. That is, the airflow driven by the fan wheel 33 has a consistent flow direction, and the airflow will not interfere with each other. As a result, the noise of the air conditioner outdoor unit 100 is reduced, and the stability of the fan wheel 33 is improved.
When 0<L4≤0.02D, the airflow creates almost no backflow or vortex in the fan wheel 33 and the air guide ring 5, allowing the airflow to be discharged out of the housing 1 more quickly.
In some embodiments, L4 satisfies: 0.013D≤L4≤0.017D. In such a way, the airflow driven by the fan wheel 33 creates almost no backflow or vortex between the air guide ring 5 and the fan wheel 33, making the cooperation between the air guide ring 5 and the fan wheel 33 better.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an example,” “a specific example,” or “some examples,” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, the combination of unite different embodiments or examples as well as features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification, in the case of no mutual contradiction.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202022893868.2 | Dec 2020 | CN | national |
The present disclosure is a national phase application of International Application No. PCT/CN2021/115715, filed on Aug. 31, 2021, which claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 202022893868.2 filed on Dec. 3, 2020, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2021/115715 | 8/31/2021 | WO |
