OUTDOOR UNIT, AND REFRIGERATION CYCLE DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. national stage application of International Application No. PCT/JP2022/023707 filed Jun. 14, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure pertains to an outdoor unit, and a refrigeration cycle device.

BACKGROUND

An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device has a fan motor, and a fan that is linked to the fan motor. In Patent Document 1, a motor support stand that supports a fan motor on an inside of an outdoor unit is disclosed.

PATENT DOCUMENT

• • [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2020-085429

A motor support stand supports a fan motor from a rear side. When rigidity of the motor support stand is not sufficient, there is a risk of noise being generated due to vibration of the motor. However, by making the motor support stand larger in order to increase the rigidity thereof, an air flow path becomes narrow due to the motor support stand, and a risk of air resistance of air passageways increasing on an inside of the outdoor unit exists.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in order to address the aforementioned problem, and one object is to provide an outdoor unit that suppresses an increase in air resistance of air passageways while rigidly supporting a fan motor so as to suppress sound, and to provide a refrigeration cycle device that includes such outdoor unit.

An outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device includes: a fan motor having a rotation shaft, of which a rotation axis that extends in a front-rear direction is a center thereof; a rotating blade that is fixed to the rotation shaft; a pair of support column members that extend in a vertical direction, and that align in the left-right direction, and a motor support plate that is fixed to each support column member at a support column fixing portion provided on each end in the left-right direction, and that supports the fan motor between the pair of support column members, wherein the motor support plate has a first plate that extends along a plane that is orthogonal with the front-rear direction; the first plate has a motor insertion hole which has the fan motor disposed on an inside thereof, a plurality of motor fixing portions that are arranged along an inside edge of the motor insertion hole, and that fix the fan motor, and a protrusion that protrudes to one side in the front-rear direction, provided thereon; the protrusion has an annular protrusion that extends along the inside edge of the motor insertion hole, and that has each motor fixing portion of the plurality of motor fixing portions disposed thereon, and a reinforcement protrusion that extends towards the support column fixing portion, from the annular protrusion; a first imaginary line and a second imaginary line which extend in directions that differ from one another towards the support column fixing portion, from the motor fixing portion of the plurality of motor fixing portions, as seen from the front-rear direction, are assumed; and a side surface of the reinforcement protrusion has a first side surface that extends along the first imaginary line, and a second side surface that extends along the second imaginary line.

An embodiment of a refrigeration cycle device according to the present disclosure may include the aforementioned outdoor unit, and may include a circulation path having a refrigerant flow therein. The outdoor unit may have a heat exchanger that is cooled by the blower fan connected to the circulation path.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress an increase in air resistance of air passageways while rigidly supporting a fan motor so as to suppress noise, in an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A schematic view that shows an outline configuration of a refrigeration cycle device in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 A perspective view that shows an outdoor unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 A cross-sectional view of the outdoor unit along the cross-sectional line III-III in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 A perspective view that shows a fan motor, and a motor support stand that supports the fan motor in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 A front view that shows the motor support stand of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 A perspective view that shows the motor support stand diagonally from the front in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 A perspective view that shows the motor support stand diagonally from the rear in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 A cross-sectional view of a motor support plate in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 A front view of a motor support plate of a modification example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure is explained with reference to the drawings. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment below, and may be changed so long as the embodiment does not depart from the technical scope of the present disclosure. In the drawings below, scales and dimensions of various configurations may differ from scales and dimensions in the drawings below, to facilitate better understanding of the various embodiments.

The drawings show an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis where appropriate. In the embodiment below, the X axis shows a front-rear direction of an outdoor unit. The Y axis shows a width direction of the outdoor unit, which is orthogonal with the front-rear direction. The Z axis shows a vertical direction. The front-rear direction, the width direction, and the vertical direction are mutually orthogonal directions. A side out of sides of the front-rear direction X in which an arrow of the X axis faces is a “front side” (+X side). A side out of sides of the front-rear direction X which faces an opposite side of the arrow of the X axis faces is a “rear side” (−X side). A width direction is a left-right direction of the outdoor unit. The left-right direction is the left-right direction of the outdoor unit in the below embodiment when viewed from the front side (+X side). In other words, a side out of sides of the left-right direction in which an arrow of the Y axis faces is a “right side” (+Y side). A side out of the left-right direction which faces an opposite side the arrow of the Y axis faces is a “left side” (−Y side). A side out of sides of the vertical direction in which an arrow of the Z axis faces is a “top side” (+Z side). A side out of sides of the vertical direction which faces an opposite side the arrow of the Z axis faces is a “bottom side” (−Z side). In the present specification, a surface that faces the front of various parts is simply referred to as a “front surface”, and a surface that faces the rear side of various parts is simply referred to as a “rear side”.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view that shows an outline configuration of a refrigeration cycle device 100 in the embodiment. The refrigeration cycle device 100 in the embodiment is an air conditioner. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration cycle device 100 includes the outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, and a circulation path 18. The outdoor unit 10 is disposed outdoors. The indoor unit 20 is disposed indoors. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are connected by the circulation path 18 that circulates a refrigerant 19.

By having the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18, and the indoor unit 20 conduct heat exchange with air indoors, it is possible for the air conditioner 100 to adjust a temperature of the air indoors. A refrigerant such as a fluorine based refrigerant with a low global warming potential (GWP: Global Warming Potential), or a hydrocarbon based refrigerant or the like may be mentioned as examples of the refrigerant 19.

The outdoor unit 10 has a housing 11, a compressor 12, a heat exchanger 13, a flow adjustment valve 14, a blower 15, a four-way valve 16, and controlling circuitry 17. The compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13, the flow adjustment valve 14, the blower 15, the four-way valve 16, and the controlling circuitry 17 are housed on an inside of the housing 11.

Out of the circulation pathway 18, the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the four-way valve 16 are provided on a portion located on the inside portion of the housing 11. Out of the circulation pathway 18, the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the four-way valve 16 are connected by a portion located on the inside portion of the housing 11.

Out of the circulation pathway 18, the four-way valve 16 is provided on a part that is connected to a discharge side of the compressor 12. By exchanging a portion of the circulation pathway 18, it is possible for the four-way valve 16 to reverse a direction of flow of the refrigerant 19 within the circulation pathway 18. When the path connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path of the four-way valve 16 that is shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, the refrigerant 19 within the circulation pathway 18 flows in the direction shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 1. On the other hand, when the path connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path of the four-way valve 16 that is shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1, the refrigerant 19 flows within the circulation pathway 18 in the direction shown by the dashed line arrow in FIG. 1.

The indoor unit 20 includes a housing 21, a heat exchanger 22, a blower fan 23, and a control device 24. The heat exchanger 22, the blower fan 23, and the control device 24 are housed on an inside of the housing 21. It is possible for the indoor unit 20 to have a cooling operation where the air of the room the indoor unit 20 is disposed in is cooled, and to have a heating operation where the air of the room the indoor unit 20 is disposed in is heated.

When the indoor unit 20 is operated in the cooling operation, the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18 flows in the direction shown by solid lines in FIG. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is operated in the cooling operation, the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18 circulates so as to return to the compressor 12 after passing through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20 in such an order. During the cooling operation, the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10 functions as a condenser, and the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20 functions as an evaporator.

On the other hand, when the indoor unit 20 is operated in the heating operation, the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18 flows in the direction shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is operated in the heating operation, the refrigerant 19 that flows within the circulation pathway 18 circulates so as to return to the compressor 12 after passing through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20, the flow adjustment valve 14, and the heat exchanger 13 on an inside of the outdoor unit 10 in such an order. During the heating operation, the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10 functions as the evaporator, and the heat exchanger 22 on an inside of the indoor unit 20 functions as the condenser.

Next, the outdoor unit 10 is explained in further detail. FIG. 2 is a perspective view that shows the outdoor unit 10. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outdoor unit 10 along the cross-sectional line III-III in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 11 of the outdoor unit 10 is a long semi-square shaped box. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 11 has a front surface panel 11a that covers a space on an inside of the housing 11 from the front side, a back surface panel 11d that covers from the rear side, a ceiling panel 11t that covers from the top side, and a bottom plate 11c that covers from the bottom side.

A fan grille 11G is attached on the front surface panel 11a. The fan grille 11G covers an opening 11b provided on the front surface panel 11a. The opening 11b penetrates the front surface panel 11a in the front-rear direction (X axis direction), and opens to the front side. The opening 11b is a semi-circular shape in a plan view.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 13, the blower fan 15, and a fan room 11 that houses a motor support stand 30 are provided on the inside of the housing 11. Although omitted from the drawings, a mechanical room which houses the compressor 12 and controlling circuitry 17, is separately provided on the inside of the housing 11. The fan room 11e and the mechanical room are partitioned using a partitioning member.

The blower fan 15 is located on the front side (+X side) of the heat exchanger 13. The circulation path 18 is connected to the heat exchanger 13 (refer to FIG. 1). A refrigerant flows on an inside of the heat exchanger 13. The heat exchanger 13 is cooled by the blower fan 15.

The blower fan 15 has a fan motor 60 that has a rotation shaft 61, and a rotating blade 15b that is fixed to the rotation shaft 61. An axis of rotation J extends in the front-rear direction.

The rotating blade 15b is rotated around the axis of rotation J by the fan motor 60. The rotating blade 15b is disposed so as to face the opening 11b, on the inside of the housing 11. When the rotating blade 15b rotates, air is taken into the inside of the housing 11 from an air intake 11f provided on the back surface panel 11d of the housing 11. Air that is taken to the inside of the housing 11 by the rotating blade 15b passes through the heat exchanger 13 and the rotating blade 15b, and is expelled to the front side of the housing 11 from the opening 11b.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view that shows the fan motor 60, and a motor support stand 30 that supports the fan motor 60.

The fan motor 60 has a semi-cylindrical shaped motor main body 62, the rotation shaft 61 having a rotation axis J as a center thereof, and that extends to the front from the motor main body 62, and a plurality of attachment portions 63 (four in the present embodiment) that are provided on an outer circumference of the motor main body 62. The plurality of attachment portions 63 are equidistantly disposed in a circumferential direction of the rotation axis J. A through hole through which a motor fixing screw 73 is inserted, is provided on the attachment portion 63. The fan motor 60 is fixed to the motor support stand 30, in the attachment portion 63.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fan motor 60 is fixed to the housing 11 via the motor support stand 30. The motor support stand 30 is disposed on the rear side of the fan motor 60. The motor support stand 30 is located on the inside of the housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the motor support stand 30 has a motor support plate 40, a bottom base member 33, a top base member 32, and a pair of support column members 31. In other words, the outdoor unit 10 includes the motor support plate 40, the bottom base member 33, the top base member 32, and the pair of support column members 31.

The bottom base member 33 is a member that is fixed to a bottom surface (bottom plate 11c) of the housing 11, along with a bottom end of the pair of support column members 31 being fixed thereto. The top base member 32 is a member that is fixed to the housing 11, along with a top end of the pair of support column members 31 being affixed thereto.

The support column member 31 is a shaft like member having a cross-section thereof be a semi-C shape. The pair of support column members 31 extend in the vertical direction, and align with one another in the left-right direction. The pair of support column members 31 are disposed to the rear, more than the fan motor 60. When the fan motor 60 is viewed from the front, one of the pair of support column members 31 is located on the left side of the rotation shaft 61, while the other is located on the right side of the rotation shaft 61. The pair of support column members 31 have the same shape.

The motor support plate 40 is a semi-square shaped plate, when the fan motor 60 is seen from the front. The motor support plate 40 is a symmetrical shape. The motor support plate 40 is fixed so as to straddle the pair of support column members 31 that are disposed so as to align in the left-right direction. The fan motor 60 is fixed to the motor support plate 40. In other words, the motor support plate 40 holds the fan motor 60 in between the pair of support column members 31.

FIG. 5 is a front view that shows a portion of the fan motor 60, and a portion of the motor support stand 30. FIG. 6 is a perspective view that shows the motor support stand 40 diagonally from the front. FIG. 7 is a perspective view that shows the motor support stand 40 diagonally from the rear. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a motor support plate 40.

As shown in FIG. 6, the motor support plate 40 has a first plate 41 that is located on a center part in the left-right direction, a second plate 44 that is provided on each end on the left-right direction of the first plate 41, and a plurality of bent plates 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 to reinforce the first plate 41 and the second plate 44. The motor support plate 40 is formed by press-working sheet metal. In other words, the first plate 41, the second plate 44, and the plurality of bent plates 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 are various parts that are formed by bending a single sheet metal.

The first plate 41 extends along a plane that is orthogonal with the front-rear direction, where the front-rear direction is a direction of a plate thickness thereof. An arc shaped edge 41a, and a pair of straight edges 41b are provided on each of an upper end, and a lower end of the first plate 41. The arc shaped edge 41a extends in an arc shape with the rotation axis J as a center thereof. The pair of straight edges 41b are disposed on both sides on the left-right of the arc shaped edge 41a, and extend in a straight line in the left-right direction.

Each of a pair of second plates 44 is connected to an end in left-right direction of the first plate 41. The second plate 44 is an elliptical shape. The second plate 44 extends along a plane which is orthogonal with the left-right direction, with the front-rear direction being a direction of a plate thickness thereof. The pair of second plates 44 are formed by bending each end, on the left-right direction of the first plate 41, to the rear. The first plate 41 and the second plate 44 are mutually orthogonal to one another.

The bent plates 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 of the motor support plate 40 are classified into a first bent plate 45, a second bent plate 46, a third bent plate 47, a fourth bent plate (bent plate) 48, and a fifth bent plate (bent plate) 49.

The first bent plate 45 and the second bent plate 46 are provided on a top edge and on a bottom edge of the first plate 41. One first bent plate 45, and two second bent plates 46 are provided on each of the top edge and the bottom edge of the first plate 41. The two second bent plates 46 are disposed on both the left and the right sides of the first bent plate 45. The first bent plate 45 and the second bent plate 46 are formed so as to bend to the front, with respect to the first plate 41. The first bent plate 45 and the second bent plate 46 are orthogonal with respect to the first plate 41. The first bent plate 45 is provided on the arc shaped edge 41a of the first plate 41. Therefore, the first plate 41 curves in an arc shape with the rotation axis J as a center thereof. The second bent plate 46 is provided on the straight edge 41b of the first plate 41. The second bent plate 46 extends in a straight line in the left-right direction. The first bent plate 45 and the second bent plate 46 reinforce the first plate 41.

The third bent plate 47 is provided on a top edge and on a bottom edge of the second plate 44. The third bent plate 47 is formed by bending the third bent plate 47 to the side with respect to the first plate 41. The third bent plate 47 is orthogonal with the second plate 44. The third bent plate 47 extends in a straight line in the front-rear direction. The third bent plate 47 is connected to the second bent plate 46. The third bent plate 47 reinforces the second plate 44. The second bent plate 46 and the third bent plate 47 are connected to one another. As such, the second bent plate 46 and the third bent plate 47 increase rigidity of boundary portion of the first plate 41 and the second plate 44.

The fourth bent plate 48 and the fifth bent plate 49 are connected to the inside edge 41e of a motor insertion hole 41h of the first plate 41. Two fourth bent plates 48 and two fifth bent plates 49 are provided on the inside edge 41 of the motor insertion hole 41h. The fourth bent plate 48 and the fifth bent plate 49 curve in arc shapes with the rotation axis J as a center thereof. The two fourth bent plates 48 are each disposed on the top and on the bottom of the rotation axis J. The two fifth bent plates 49 are each disposed on the left and on the right of the rotation axis J. Therefore, the fourth bent plate 48 and the fifth bent plate 49 are alternately aligned in a circumferential direction, with rotation axis J as a center thereof. The fourth bent plate 48 is formed by bending the fourth bent plate 48 to the front with respect to the first plate 41. On the other hand, the first bent plate 45 and the second bent plate 46 are orthogonal with respect to the first plate 41.

According to the present embodiment, the motor support plate 40 has the fourth bent plate 48 that is bent in the front-rear direction from the inside edge 4l of the motor insertion hole 41h, and the fifth bent plate 49. The fourth bent plate 48 and the fifth bent plate 49 reinforces the first plate 41 in a vicinity of the motor insertion hole 41h of the motor support plate 40. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase rigidity of the motor support plate 40 without needing to increase a projection area to the front-rear direction of the motor support plate 40, and it is possible to have the fan motor 60 be stably supported using the motor support plate 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first bent plate 45 is bent to the front with respect to the first plate 41, and the fourth bent plate 48 is bent to the rear with respect to the first plate 41. Therefore, the motor support plate 40 is reinforced by bending the first plate 41 in directions that differ from one another in regions on the top side and on the bottom side of the of the motor insertion hole 41h.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second plate 44 is bent to the rear with respect to the first plate 41, and the fifth bent plate 49 is bent to the front with respect to the first plate 41. Therefore, the motor support plate 40 is reinforced by being bent in directions that differ from one another with respect to the first plate 41, in a region on the right side and on the left side of the motor insertion hole 41h.

A top end edge 49a of the fifth bent plate 49 extends in a straight line in the front-rear direction. Top and bottom locations of the two top end edge 49a of the fifth bent plate 49 of the present embodiment coincide with one another. As shown in FIG. 5, two of the attachment portions 63 of the fan motor 60 are each disposed on top sides of the two top end edges 49a of the fifth bent plates 49. The fan motor 60 of the present embodiment is attached to the motor support plate 40 in a state where the rotation axis J is facing the horizontal direction. Since the fan motor 60 is heavy, it is difficult to conduct attachment work while holding the fan motor 60 in mid-air for attachment work. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to have the attachment portion 63 of the fan motor 60 to mount on the top end edge 49a of the fifth bent plate 49. As such, a worker conducting attachment work is able to have the fan motor 60 be temporarily held by the motor support plate 40.

The motor support plate 40 is fixed to the support column member 31 at a support column fixing portion 42. The support column fixing portion 42 is configured by both ends in the left-right direction of the first plate 41, and by the second plate 44 connected to said ends. In other words, each end of the left-right direction of the motor support plate 40 has the support column fixing portion 42 provided. The pair of support column fixing portions 42 are shapes that are symmetrical to one another in the left-right direction. In the present specification, the support column fixing portion 42 refers to the entire part that is fixed to the support column member 31, in a state where surface pressure between the support column members 31 out of the motor support plate 40 is provided.

The support column fixing portion 42 has two first fixing portions 42a and two second fixing portions 42b. The first fixing portion 42a and the second fixing portion 42b are screw-fixed to the support column member 31. In other words, the support column fixing portion 42 has a plurality of fixing portions 42a and 42b that screw-fix the part thereof to the support column member 31.

The first fixing portion 42a is provided on the second plate 44. The first fixing portion 42a has a first hole 42ah that penetrates the second plate 44. On the other hand, the second fixing portion 42b is provided on the first plate 41. The second fixing portion 42b has a second hole 42bh that penetrates that first plate 41. In other words, parts of the plurality of fixing portions 42a and 42b are provided on the first plate 41, and other parts of the plurality of fixing portions 42a and 42b are provided on the second plate 44.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first fixing portion 42a is fixed to the support column member 31 using a first screw 71, and the second fixing portion 42b is fixed to the support column member 31 using a second screw 72. As explained above, the second plate 44 in which the first fixing portion 42a is provided, and the first plate 41 in which the second fixing portion 42b is provided, are mutually orthogonal. As such, the support column fixing portion 42 is fixed to each of the support column members 31 from directions that are orthogonal to one another. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase fixing strength in the support column fixing portion 42. Further, according to the present embodiment, even when vibration in various parts of the support column fixing portion 42 is generated along with operation of the fan motor 60, it is possible to suppress the first screw 71 and the second screw 72 from becoming loose. Accordingly, it is possible to increase reliability of the motor support plate 40 and the support column member 31.

As shown in FIG. 6, the motor insertion hole 41h, a plurality (four in the present embodiment) of motor fixing portions 43, and a protrusion 50 are provided in the first plate 41. The motor insertion hole 41h penetrates the first plate 41 in the front-rear direction. The motor insertion hole 41h is located between the pair of support column members 31. The motor insertion hole 41h in the present embodiment is a semi-circular shape, with the rotation axis J as a center thereof. However, a planar shape of the motor insertion hole 41h is not limited to a circular one, and may be a shape having multiple angles or the like.

The plurality of motor fixing portions 43 are arranged along the inside edge 41 of the motor insertion hole 41h. The plurality of motor fixing portions 43 are equidistantly disposed around the rotation axis J. The fan motor 60 is fixed to the motor fixing portion 43. In the present embodiment, each of the four fixing portions 43 is disposed on the top right, bottom right, top left, and bottom left with respect to the rotation axis J. A screw hole 43h is provided in each of the motor fixing portions 43.

As shown in FIG. 5, the fan motor 60 is disposed on an inside of the motor insertion hole 41h. The four attachment portions 63 provided on the fan motor 60 are disposed on the front, with respect to the first plate 41. The attachment portions 63 contact the motor fixing portions 43 in the front. By inserting the motor fixing screw 73 through the through hole of the attachment portion 63, and fastening the motor fixing screw 73 to the screw hole 43h of the motor fixing portion 43 (refer to FIG. 6), the fan motor 60 is fixed to the motor support plate 40. By fastening the motor fixing screw 73, a rear surface of the attachment portion 63 and a front surface of the motor support plate 40 contact one another, and since surface pressure is applied, it is possible to restrict relative movement thereof by force of friction. In the present specification, the motor fixing portion 43 refers to a region where surface pressure is applied due to contact with the attachment portions 63 of the fan motor 60, out of a front surface of the first plate 41.

The protrusion 50 is a portion that protrudes to the front in the first plate 41. The protrusion 50 of the present embodiment is formed by drawing, and has a shape that gently rises when moving towards the front. In the present embodiment, although a case where the protrusion 50 protrudes to the front of the first plate 41 is explained, it is possible for the protrusion 50 to protrude to the rear. In other words, the side to which the protrusion 50 protrudes to may be either one of the front-rear direction.

The protrusion 50 has a top surface 50b and the side surface 50a. The top surface 50b is located on a tip end of a protrusion direction of the protrusion 50. The top surface 50b extends along a plane that is orthogonal with the front-rear direction. The side surface 50a connects the front surface of the first plate 41 of a base side of the protrusion 50, and a front surface of the top surface 50b. The side surface 50a is provided over the entire circumference of an outside edge of the top surface 50b. The side surface 50a inclines to the protrusion direction (front) of the protrusion 50 with respect to a plane that intersects the front-rear direction.

The protrusion 50 has the annular protrusion 51 and a pair of reinforcement protrusions 52. The annular protrusion 51 and the reinforcement protrusion 52 are each a part of the protrusion 50. The annular protrusion 51 and the reinforcement protrusion 52 are connected to one another. In the present embodiment, a protrusion height of the annular protrusion 51 and a protrusion height of the reinforcement protrusion 52 are equal to one another. However, protrusion heights of the annular protrusion 51 and the reinforcement protrusion 52 may differ from one another. A protrusion out of the pair of reinforcement protrusions 52 is located on the right side of the annular protrusion 51, while the other is located on the left side of the annular protrusion 51. The pair of reinforcement protrusions 52 are shapes that are symmetrical to one another about the axis of rotation J.

The annular protrusion 51 extends annularly along the inside edge 41e of the motor insertion hole 41h. As previously mentioned, the motor insertion hole 41h in the present embodiment is a semi-circular shape with the rotation axis J as a center thereof. As such, the annular protrusion 51 extends annularly having the rotation axis J as a center thereof.

In the present description, the term “annularly” refers to a shape formed out of a single closed loop, and includes a case where the planar shape is not necessarily circular. Therefore, the planar shape of the annular protrusion 51 need not be circular.

The motor fixing portion 43 is disposed on the annular protrusion 51. Therefore, the motor fixing portion 43 is provided on the top surface 50b of the annular protrusion 51, out of the front surface of the first plate 41. According to the present embodiment, the fan motor 60 is fixed to the annular protrusion 51 provided along the inside edge 4l of the motor insertion hole 41h of the motor support plate 40. It is possible to increase a cross-sectional area moment of inertia thereof, and increase rigidity of the motor support plate 40 by providing the annular protrusion 51 in the vicinity of the motor insertion hole 41h. By fixing the fan motor 60 to the top surface 50b of the protrusion 50, it is possible to suppress the motor support plate 40 from vibrating along with vibration of the fan motor 60, and it is possible to suppress noise that accompanies operation of the outdoor unit 10. The vibration of the fan motor 60 is suppressed from propagating to various parts of the outdoor unit 10, and screws of the various parts of the outdoor unit 10 are suppressed from being loosened. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable outdoor unit 10.

A dimension D1 in the vertical direction of the annular protrusion 51 of the present embodiment, is smaller than a dimension D2 in the vertical direction of the support column fixing portion 42. According to the motor support plate 40 of the present embodiment, by providing the annular protrusion 51, it is possible to sufficiently increase the rigidity of the motor support plate 40, along the inside edge 4l of the motor insertion hole 41h. As such, even if the dimension D2 in the vertical direction of the support column fixing portion 42 is made to be small, it is still possible for the motor support plate 40 to rigidly support the fan motor 60 in between the support column fixing portion 42 and the fan motor 60. According to the present embodiment, by making the dimension D2 in the vertical direction of the support column fixing portion 42 smaller than the dimension D1 in the vertical direction of the annular protrusion 51, it is possible to have a projected area of the motor support plate 40 in the front-rear direction be smaller. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress having the air flow path of the blower fan 15 from becoming narrow due to the motor support plate 40, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the air resistance of air passageways on the inside of the outdoor unit 10.

Each of the pair of reinforcement protrusions 52 extends to the left and to the right of the support column fixing portion 42, from the annular protrusion 51. The reinforcement protrusion 52 has a center protrusion 54 that is located on a center part in the top-bottom direction, and a side direction protrusion 53 that is located on each of the top side and the bottom side of the center protrusion 54. The pair of the side direction protrusions 53 are shapes that are symmetrical to one another in the top-bottom direction. The center protrusion 54 is a symmetrical shape with respect to the rotation axis J.

The side surface 50a of the reinforcement protrusion 52 has a first side surface 53a, a second side surface 54a, a third side surface 53b, a fourth side surface 53c, a fifth side surface 54b, and a sixth side surface 52a.

The first side surface 53a, the third side surface 53b, and the fourth side surface 53c configure the side surface 50a of the side direction protrusion 53. The first side surface 53a and the fourth side surface 53c extend in a straight line in the left-right direction. The first side surface 53a and the fourth side surface 53c are disposed so as to align in the top-bottom direction. The first side surface 53a is disposed apart from the center protrusion 54, more than the fourth side surface 53c in the top-bottom direction. The third side surface 53b is disposed on an end in the left-right direction of the side direction protrusion 53. The third side surface 53b extends in an arc shape, and connects the first side surface 53a and the fourth side surface 53c.

The fifth side surface 54b and a pair of second side surfaces 54a configure the side surface 50a of the center protrusion 54. The pair of second side surfaces 54a extend in a straight line in the top-bottom direction so as to come close to one another in the top-bottom direction, as both surfaces move apart from the rotation axis J in the left-right direction. The fifth side surface 54b connects the pair of second side surfaces 54a. The fifth side surface 54b extends in straight line on a center portion in the top-bottom direction, and smoothly connects to the curving arc shaped top end and bottom end of the second side surface 54a.

The sixth side surface 52a is located in between the side direction protrusion 53 and the center protrusion 54. The sixth side surface 52a smoothly connects the third side surface 53b of the side direction protrusion 53 which curves in an arc shape, and the second side surface 54a of the center protrusion 54.

As shown in FIG. 5, a first imaginary line L1 and a second imaginary line L2 are assumed to exist, as seen from the front-rear direction. Each of the first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2 pass through the motor fixing portion 43. For every one motor fixing portion 43, one first imaginary line L1, and one second imaginary line L2 are assumed. Each of the first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2 extend towards the support column fixing portion 42, from the motor fixing portion 43. The first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2 extend in directions that differ from one another. The first imaginary line L1 of the present embodiment extends parallel to the left-right direction. On the other hand, the second imaginary line L2 extends in a direction that inclines, with respect to the left-right direction, and the top-bottom direction.

As previously mentioned, the motor fixing portion 43 of the present embodiment is a region having a constant area that is provided on the front surface of the first plate 41. As such, the first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2 pass through a region that has a constant width.

In the present embodiment, the first side surface 53a extends along the first imaginary line L1. On the other hand, the second side surface 54a extends along the second imaginary line L2. In other words, the reinforcement protrusion 52 has the first side surface 53a that extends along the first imaginary line L1, and the second side surface 54a that extends along the second imaginary line L2.

When providing the protrusion 50 on the first plate 41 by drawing, by having the cross-sectional shape thereof be a stepped shape, it is possible to increase a moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area, and the rigidity thereof increases. As such, the rigidity of the protrusion 50 increases in a direction along the side surface 50a. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the rigidity of the first plate 41 increases along the first side surface 53a and along the second side surface 54a. The first side surface 53a and the second side surface 54a extend in a straight line in mutually differing directions towards the support column fixing portion 42 from the motor fixing portion 43. The first side surface 53a and the second side surface 54a configure a reinforcement structure that resembles a truss structure, which links the motor fixing portion 43 and the support column fixing portion 42. Accordingly, it is possible for the motor support plate 40 to rigidly link between the support column member 31 and the fan motor 60. As a result, it is possible to suppress vibration of the fan motor 60, and it is possible to suppress noise of the outdoor unit 10. According to the present embodiment, it is also possible to increase rigidity of the motor support plate 40, without increasing a size of the motor support plate 40. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress having the air flow path of the blower fan 15 from becoming narrow due to the motor support plate 40, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the air resistance of air passageways on the inside of the outdoor unit 10.

In the present embodiment, the first imaginary line L1 passes through the first fixing portion 42a, as seen from the front-rear side. In other words, The first fixing portion 42a is disposed on an extension line of the first side surface 53a that extends along the first imaginary line L1, as seen from the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the first side surface 53a rigidly links the motor fixing portion 43 and the first fixing portion 42a, making it possible to increase rigidity of the motor support plate 40 between the support column member 31 and the fan motor 60.

In the present embodiment, a case where the first fixing portion 42a is provided in the second plate 44 is explained. However, so long as the first fixing portion 42a is disposed along the first imaginary line L1, the first fixing portion 42a may be disposed along the first plate 41, as seen from the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, a case where the first fixing portion 42a is disposed on an extension line of the first side surface 53a is explained. However, so long as the fourth side surface 53c is formed so as to extend along the first imaginary line L1, the first fixing portion 42a may be disposed on the extension line of the fourth side surface 53c. In such case, the fourth side surface 53c rigidly links the motor fixing portion 43 and the first fixing portion 42a.

In the present embodiment, the first imaginary line L1 extends parallel with the left-right direction. As previously explained, the support column member 31 extends in the vertical direction. As such, the first side surface 53a which extends along the first imaginary line L1, extends in a direction that is the shortest distance to connect the first fixing portion 42a and the support column fixing portion 42. For such reason, it is possible to further increase rigidity of the first side surface 53a. Furthermore, by having the first side surface 53a be in the direction that is the shortest distance to connect the first fixing portion 42a and the support column fixing portion 42, since the first side surface 53a is provided, it is possible to suppress the projected surface area in the front-rear direction of the motor support plate 40. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the air resistance of air passageways on the inside of the outdoor unit 10, and it is possible to increase an air flow efficiency of the blower fan 15.

According to the present embodiment, the second imaginary line L2 passes between the two second fixing portions 42b, as seen from the front-rear direction. The two second fixing portions 42b of one support column fixing portion 42 are aligned in the top-bottom direction. The support column fixing portion 42 is especially rigidly fixed in a region between the two second fixing portions 42b. According to the present embodiment, an extension line of the second side surface 54a that extends in the second imaginary line L2 passes between the two second fixing portions 42b. As such, the second side surface 54a rigidly links the motor fixing portion 43 and the region between the second fixing portions 42b, and it is possible to increase rigidity of the motor support plate 40 between the support column member 31 and the fan motor 60.

Out of the plurality of motor fixing portions 43, a portion located on the top side is referred to as a “first motor fixing portion 43A”, and a portion located on the bottom side is referred to as a “second motor fixing portion 43B”. In other words, the plurality of motor fixing portions 43 includes the first motor fixing portion 43A and the second motor fixing portion 43B that are disposed so as to align in the vertical direction.

The second imaginary line L2 extends towards each of the two second fixing portions 42b, from the first motor fixing portion 43A and the second motor fixing portion 43B. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the second imaginary line L2 that extends from the first motor fixing portion 43A, and the second imaginary line L2 that extends from the second motor fixing portion 43B extend in a direction where both come closer to one another in the top-bottom direction, as the annular protrusion 51 is moved away from in the left-right direction. Said two second imaginary lines L2 intersect between the pair of second fixing portions 42b.

The reinforcement protrusion 52 has two second side surfaces 54a that extend along the two second imaginary lines L2. According to the present embodiment, each of the extension lines of the two second side surfaces 54a that extend towards the support column fixing portion 42, from the first motor fixing portion 43A and the second motor fixing portion 43B which are arranged in the top and bottom, intersect between the two second fixing portions 42b. According to the present embodiment, the two second side surfaces 54a rigidly link the region between the first motor fixing portion 43A and the support column fixing portion 42, and the region between the second motor fixing portion 43B and the support column fixing portion 42. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the motor support plate 40 between the support column member 31 and the fan motor 60. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to rigidly fix the motor support plate 40 to the support column member 31 without needlessly increasing the plurality of fixing portions 42a and 42b that are provided in the support column fixing portion 42. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify a process of fixing the motor support plate 40 and the support column member 31 at the support column fixing portion 42.

MODIFICATION EXAMPLE

FIG. 9 is a front view of a motor support plate 140 of a modification example which is adoptable in the outdoor unit 10 of the present embodiment. In the explanations below, configurations similar to the configurations previously mentioned have the same reference signs and the like affixed thereto, with explanations thereof being omitted.

The motor support plate 140 is fixed to the support column member 31 by support column fixing portions 142 located on both ends in the left and right directions. In the present modification example, each of the support column fixing portions 142 has two first fixing portion 42a and one second fixing portion 142b. The second fixing portion 142b is provided on the first plate 41. The second fixing portion 142b is disposed on a center part in the top-bottom direction of the support column fixing portion 142. The second fixing portion 142b is fixed to the support column member 31 by a second screw 172.

As seen from the front-rear direction, the first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2 are assumed to exist on the motor support plate 140. The first imaginary line L1 and the second imaginary line L2 pass through the motor fixing portion 43. The first side surface 53a of the reinforcement protrusion 52 extends along the first imaginary line L1. The second side surface 54a of the reinforcement protrusion 52 extends along the second imaginary line L2.

In the present modification example, the second imaginary line L2 passes through the second fixing portion 142b, as seen from the front-rear direction. According to the present modification example, two second fixing portions 142b are disposed along the extension line of the second side surface 54a that extends along the second imaginary line L2. Accordingly, the second side surface 54a rigidly links a region between the motor fixing portion 43 and the second fixing portion 142b, and increases rigidity of the motor support plate 140 between the support column member 31 and the fan motor 60.

As the second imaginary line L2 that extends from the first motor fixing portion 43A, and the second imaginary line L2 that extends from the second motor fixing portion 43B move away from the annular protrusion 51 in the left-right direction, both imaginary lines extend so as to come closer to one another in the top-bottom direction. The two second imaginary lines L2 intersect with one another at the second fixing portion 142b. The reinforcement protrusion 52 has two of the second side surfaces 54a that extend along the two second imaginary lines L2.

According to the present modification example, the two second fixing portions 142b are disposed on each extension line of the two second side surfaces 54a that extend towards the support column fixing portion 142, from the first motor fixing portion 43A and the second motor fixing portion 43B that are arranged in the top and bottom. According to the present modification example, it is possible for the two second side surfaces 54a to rigidly link the region between the first motor fixing portion 43A, the second motor fixing portion 43B, and the support column fixing portion 142, along with increasing the rigidity of the motor support plate 140 between the support column member 31 and the fan motor 60. According to the present modification example, it is possible to rigidly fix the motor support plate 140 to the support column member 31 without needlessly increasing the second fixing portion 142b of the support column fixing portion 142.

The refrigeration cycle device of the present disclosure is any device that utilizes a refrigeration cycle that circulates a refrigerant, and is not particularly limited to an air conditioner. The refrigeration cycle device may be a heat pump of a water heater or the like.

The various configurations and various methods explained in the above specification may be combined as needed, so long as no conflicts in the technical scope thereof occurs.