The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, to a soundproof structure for a compressor installed inside an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, and a method for assembling the outdoor unit.
A compressor is mounted in a conventional outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus to compress refrigerant and circulate the refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit. In an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, noise generated from a compressor during operation is large and operating noise leaked to the outside of the outdoor unit may cause a noise problem. To solve the problem, in many models, a soundproof material is attached to cover the compressor. The soundproof material has a band-like shape and includes a sound absorption layer on the inner side and single or multiple sound insulation layers on the outer side. Then, the soundproof material is wrapped around a lateral face of the compressor and thereby covers the compressor.
The soundproof material is configured in such a manner that a sound insulation layer forming an outer part is longer than a sound absorption layer forming an inner part of the soundproof material. In other words, the sound insulation layer projects farther than an end portion of the sound absorption layer at one end portion of the soundproof material. Also, end portions of the sound absorption layer of the soundproof material wrapped around the compressor face and are in contact with each other. For preventing noise leakage during operation of the compressor, an external face of a gap opened in the part in which the end portions of the sound absorption layer face and are in contact with each other is covered by the sound insulation layer projecting farther than one end portion of the sound absorption layer. A hook-and-loop fastener provided on the projecting part of the sound insulation layer can be secured to a hook-and-loop fastener provided on an external face of the other end portion of the soundproof material. Consequently, the soundproof material covers a lateral face of the compressor in such a manner that soundproof material is rolled in a tubular shape (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-156141 (pages 1 to 7,
Connecting a refrigerant pipe to be connected to a compressor in an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus with the compressor covered by the soundproof material according to Patent Literature 1 causes the problem of the soundproof material being burned by brazing. For prevention of burning of the soundproof material due to brazing, it is necessary to attach the soundproof material to the compressor after brazing of the compressor and the refrigerant pipe to each other. Also, in this case, as the refrigerant pipe and other components are disposed around the compressor, to be attached, the soundproof material has to be inserted a space between the refrigerant pipe and each of the other components in a lateral direction of the compressor. Consequently, the soundproof material sits on the compressor leg portions that fix the compressor to the casing of the outdoor unit, resulting in a failure to fully cover the entire compressor. Furthermore, as attachment of refrigerant circuit components such as the refrigerant pipe is done, even when the attachment of the soundproof material is insufficient, it is difficult to visually confirm whether the soundproof material sits on the compressor leg portions, in particular, for the rear of the compressor. Consequently, operating noise of the compressor leaks from the gap thus opened, which may cause a noise problem. Also, the structure of the soundproof material in Patent Literature 1 has a problem in that when the soundproof material is inserted in the lateral direction of the compressor to be attached, the other refrigerant circuit components are obstacles to the work of the attachment.
The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that is less likely to cause leakage of noise to the outside of the outdoor unit because the soundproof material sits on the compressor leg portions when the soundproof material is attached to the compressor and a method for assembling the outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus.
Also, a second object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus in which a part in which end portions of a sound absorption layer forming the inner side of a soundproof material face and are in contact with each other is covered by a sound insulation layer for soundproof effect enhancement with the first object achieved and a method for assembling the outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus.
Also, a third object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus having assembling efficiency enhanced by improving attachment workability in inserting a soundproof material in a lateral direction to cover a compressor and a method for assembling the outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus.
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a compressor installed inside a casing, and a soundproof material covering at least the compressor. The soundproof material includes a lower soundproof material surrounding a lateral periphery of a lower portion of the compressor, and an upper soundproof material surrounding a lateral periphery of an upper portion of the compressor.
A method of assembling an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a lower soundproof material attachment step of surrounding a periphery of a lower portion of a compressor installed inside a casing by a lower soundproof material and fixing the lower soundproof material, a pipe joining step of joining a pipe connection portion positioned at an upper portion of the compressor and a pipe included in a refrigerant circuit, and an upper soundproof material attachment step of surrounding a periphery of the upper portion of the compressor by an upper soundproof material and fixing the upper soundproof material. The pipe joining step is performed after the lower soundproof material attachment step, and the upper soundproof material attachment step is performed after the pipe joining step.
The outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus and the method of assembling an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention are configured as stated above and thus enable attachment of the upper soundproof material after connection of a compressor and a pipe to each other. Consequently, the attachment workability of the soundproof material in the outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus can be improved and thus the efficiency of assembling of the outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus can be enhanced while the performance of the soundproof material for reducing noise caused by the compressor is ensured.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, a device or a component provided with a reference signs that is the same as that of a certain device or a component represents a device identical or corresponding to the certain device or the component. This note is common through the entire description. Also, forms of components included in the entire description are mere examples and the present invention is not limited only to the statements in the description. In particular, combinations of components are not limited only to those in the embodiments and a component described in one embodiment can be employed for another embodiment. Furthermore, in a case where a plurality of devices of a same type that are, for example, distinguished by suffixes do not need to be specifically distinguished or specified, the devices may be described with the suffixes omitted. Also, in the drawings, a size ratio between the components may be different from actual one,
As illustrated in
The outer part 14a includes an outer part extension portion 14c, which is a part that is longitudinally longer than the inner part 13. The outer part 14a also includes a lower extension portion 14b that is larger in width than that of the inner part 13 and projects farther than a lower end portion of the inner part 13. Furthermore, the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c are attached to a face on which the inner part 13 is positioned, of the outer part extension portion 14c. Also, hook-and-loop fastener loop portions 16a to 16c are provided at an end portion opposite to an end portion with the outer part extension portion 14c provided, of the outer part 14a. The hook-and-loop fastener loop portions 16a to 16c are attached to an external face of the outer part 14a, that is, a face opposite to the face with the inner part 13 positioned. The hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c and the hook-and-loop fastener loop portions 16a to 16c can be fastened with each other and separated from each other, which enables the upper soundproof material 12 to be kept in a tube-like shape by overlaying opposite ends in the longitudinal direction of the upper soundproof material 12 on each other. The above-described structure enables the upper soundproof material 12 to be fixed when the upper soundproof material 12 is attached to the compressor 4. Note that the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c and the hook-and-loop fastener loop portions 16a to 16c in Embodiment 1 correspond to “fixing part” in the present invention. Also, In Embodiment 1, the upper soundproof material 12 is fixed in a tube-like shape by fastening the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c and the hook-and-loop fastener loop portion 16a to 16c with each other, but the upper soundproof material 12 may be fixed in a tube-like shape in such a manner that faces with no hook-and-loop fastener are fastened with each other.
The upper soundproof material 12 is inserted in a lateral direction 17 onto a lateral face of the compressor 4 and attached to surround the periphery of the compressor 4 and the refrigerant separator 11. The upper soundproof material 12 is passed through a gap between the compressor 4 and the refrigerant separator 11, and the refrigerant circuit components 18a to 18e, which are disposed around the compressor 4 and the refrigerant separator 11, and disposed to surround the periphery of the compressor 4 and the refrigerant separator 11 and then fixed by fastening the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c of the outer part extension portion 14c and the hook-and-loop fastener loop portions 16a to 16c disposed on the external face of the outer part 14a with each other.
In Embodiment 1, the upper soundproof material 12 is inserted the space between the refrigerant circuit components 18a and 18b in the lateral direction 17 and the end portion 12a opposite to the outer part extension portion 14c is drawn out to the front face on which the compressor 4 is exposed, that is, the lower end in
(1) The outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 includes the compressor 4 installed inside the casing and the soundproof material 50 covering at least the compressor 4. The soundproof material 50 includes the lower soundproof material 8 covering at least lateral faces of the lower portion of the compressor 4 and the compressor leg portions 10a to 10c and the upper soundproof material 12 covering at least a lateral face of the upper portion of the compressor 4.
The above configuration of the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus enables attaching the upper soundproof material 12 after brazing the compressor 4 and the pipe 30 to each other. Consequently, the upper soundproof material 12 can be prevented from being burned by brazing. Also, the lower soundproof material 8 can be attached to cover from above before brazing of the compressor 4 and the pipe 30 to each other, which provides the effect of enabling correctly covering the compressor leg portions 10a to 10c. Also, the lower soundproof material 8 can be attached with the refrigerant circuit components 18a to 18d not installed around the compressor 4, which provides the effect of easily visually confirming whether the compressor leg portions 10a to 10c are covered by the lower soundproof material 8. As described above, the attachment workability of the soundproof material 50 in the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus can be improved and thus the assembling efficiency can be enhanced while the performance of the soundproof material for reducing noise caused by the compressor is ensured.
(2) In the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, each of the lower soundproof material 8 and the upper soundproof material 12 is formed by overlaying an inner part 13 having a band-like shape and an outer part 14a having a band-like shape on each other. The inner part 13 is positioned to face the compressor 4 and the outer part 14a is positioned on the outer side of the inner part 13.
The above configuration enables the soundproof material 50 to cover the lateral periphery of the compressor 4 and reduce noise from the compressor 4 by a dual-layer structure of the inner part 13 and the outer part 14a.
(3) In the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, of the upper soundproof material 12, the outer part 14a having a band-like shape includes an outer part extension portion 14c projecting farther than the longitudinal end portion of the inner part 13. The outer part extension portion 14c includes the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15a Note that the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c correspond to the “fixing part” in the present invention. Also, in Embodiment 1, the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c are provided on the outer part extension portion 14c but may be the hook-and-loop fastener loop portions 16a to 16c.
The above configuration enables installing the upper soundproof material 12 in such a manner that the upper soundproof material 12 surrounds the lateral periphery of the compressor 4, the opposite ends of the inner part 13 having a band-like shape face and are in contact with each other, and then fastening the hook-and-loop fastener hook portions 15a to 15c provided on the outer part extension portion 14c projecting farther than one end portion of the inner part 13 and the hook-and-loop fastener loop portion 16a to 16c provided on a face of a part of the outer part 14a, the part being located on the outer side of the other end portion of the inner part 13, with each other to keep the upper soundproof material 12 in a tube-like shape. Also, the outer part extension portion 14c covers an external face of a gap opened the part in which the opposite ends of the inner part 13 face and are in contact with each other and thus can reduce noise leaking from the gap. Furthermore, the upper soundproof material 12 is inserted between the refrigerant circuit components 18a and 18b provided in the periphery of the compressor 4 in the lateral direction 17, the end portion 12a opposite to the outer part extension portion 14c is drawn out to the front face, and then the outer part extension portion 14c can be passed the space between the refrigerant separator 11 and the refrigerant circuit component 18a and drawn out. In other words, the outer part extension portion 14c of the upper soundproof material 12 enables improvement in attachment workability of a soundproof material in a narrow space, which have conventionally been difficult.
(4) In the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the lower end portion of the upper soundproof material 12 faces and is in contact with the upper end portion of the lower soundproof material 8.
(5) Also, in the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the upper soundproof material 12 also includes the lower extension portion 14b projecting from an end portion in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the outer part 14a. The lower extension portion 14b covers an external face of the upper end portion of the lower soundproof material 8.
The above configuration enables the soundproof material 50, configured by combining the upper soundproof material 12 and the lower soundproof material 8, to reduce noise generated from the compressor 4 as in a case where the soundproof material 50 is configured by a single part. In particular, the external face of the gap 19 opened in the part in which the lower end portion of the upper soundproof material 12 and the upper end portion of the lower soundproof material 8 face and are in contact with each other can be covered by the lower extension portion 14b of the outer part 14a, enabling reduction of noise leaking from the gap 19.
(6) In the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the upper end portion of the lower soundproof material 8 is positioned lower than the pipe connection portion 60 of the compressor 4.
In the above configuration, when the work of connecting the compressor 4 and the pipe 30 is performed, as the upper end portion of the lower soundproof material 8 is located at a position away from the site of the connection work, the upper end portion of the lower soundproof material 8 is prevented from, for example, being burned by the connection work such as brazing, Also, the connection work is easy and the efficiency of the work is enhanced.
(7) In the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the soundproof material 50 covers lateral faces of the compressor 4 and the refrigerant separator 11.
In the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus, the above configuration enables the periphery of the entire compressor 4 to be covered by the soundproof material 50 and the gap from which noise leaks is reduced. Also, the work of connecting the refrigerant separator 11 to the compressor 4 can be performed before attachment of the soundproof material 50, which prevents the soundproof material 50 from being damaged by the connection work.
(8) A method for assembling the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 includes the lower soundproof material attachment step of surrounding the periphery of the lower portion of the compressor 4 installed inside the casing by the lower soundproof material 8 and fixing the lower soundproof material 8, the pipe joining step of joining the pipe connection portion 60 positioned at the upper portion of the compressor 4 and the pipe 30 included in the refrigerant circuit, and the upper soundproof material attachment step of surrounding the periphery of the upper portion of the compressor 4 by the upper soundproof material 12 and fixing the upper soundproof material 12. The pipe joining step is performed after the soundproof material attachment step, and the upper soundproof material attachment step is performed after the pipe joining step.
As in (1) above, with the above method configuration, the attachment workability of the soundproof material 50 in the outdoor unit 1 of an air-conditioning apparatus can be improved and thus the assembling efficiency can be enhanced while the performance of the soundproof material 50 for reducing noise caused by the compressor is ensured.
1 outdoor unit 2 bottom plate 3 outdoor heat exchanger 4 compressor 5 air sending device compartment 6 mechanical compartment 7 partition plate 8 lower soundproof material 9a arrow 9b arrow 10a compressor leg portion 10b compressor leg portion 10c compressor leg portion 11 refrigerant separator 12 upper soundproof material 12a end portion 13 inner part 14a outer part 14b lower extension portion
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c outer part extension portion 15a hook-and-loop fastener hook portion 15b hook-and-loop fastener hook portion 15c hook-and-loop fastener hook portion 16a hook-and-loop fastener loop portion 16b hook-and-loop fastener loop portion 16c hook-and-loop fastener loop portion 17 lateral direction 18a refrigerant circuit component 18b refrigerant circuit component 18c refrigerant circuit component 18d refrigerant circuit component 18e refrigerant circuit component 19 gap 20 vertical direction
21 dashed arrow 30 pipe 31 pipe 50 soundproof material 60 pipe connection portion 61 pipe connection portion.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2016/088175 | 12/21/2016 | WO | 00 |