Outdoor unit of air conditioner

Abstract

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner is provided in which the refrigerant heating apparatus can be stably mounted and ease of assembly can be improved. The outdoor unit ( 2 ) of an air conditioner is provided with a compressor ( 21 ), an accumulator ( 25 ) for separating gas and liquid refrigerant, and a refrigerant heating apparatus ( 30 ). The accumulator ( 25 ) is connected to the intake side of the compressor ( 21 ). The refrigerant heating apparatus ( 30 ) is connected to the intake side of the accumulator ( 25 ) and heats the refrigerant. The refrigerant heating apparatus ( 30 ) is arranged above the accumulator ( 25 ).

1 . An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising:
 a refrigerant container arranged and configured to accumulate refrigerant that flows through a refrigerant circuit; and   a refrigerant heating apparatus arranged and configured to heat the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant heating apparatus being arranged above the refrigerant container, and weight of the refrigerant heating apparatus being positioned on the refrigerant container.   
     
     
         2 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a compressor arranged and configured to compress the refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant container being an accumulator arranged and configured to separate gas and liquid refrigerant, the accumulator being connected to an intake side of the compressor, and   the refrigerant heating apparatus being connected to an intake side of the accumulator.   
     
     
         3 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a distance between the refrigerant heating apparatus and the accumulator is sized to allow brazing of a tube that connects the refrigerant heating apparatus and the accumulator.   
     
     
         4 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an accumulator tube arranged and configured to connect the refrigerant heating apparatus to the accumulator; and   a switching element arranged and configured to switch a flow direction of refrigerant inside the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant heating apparatus, the accumulator tube, and the switching element forming parts of an integrated assembly, and   the integrated assembly being brazed to the accumulator.   
     
     
         5 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 4 , wherein
 one end of the integrated assembly is brazed to the accumulator and another end of the integrated assembly is brazed to another tube of the refrigerant circuit such that the integrated assembly is secured inside the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         6 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger arranged and configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant container being a receiver arranged and configured to separate gas and liquid refrigerant, and the receiver being connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         7 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant heating apparatus is supported only by a tube forming part of the refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the refrigerant heating apparatus is an induction heating-type apparatus configured so that an induction heating coil of the induction heating-type apparatus is wrapped around a tube.   
     
     
         9 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 7 , further comprising
 a compressor arranged and configured to compress the refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant container being an accumulator arranged and configured to separate gas and liquid refrigerant, the accumulator being connected to an intake side of the compressor, and   the refrigerant heating apparatus being connected to an intake side of the accumulator.   
     
     
         10 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger arranged and configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant container being a receiver arranged and configured to separate gas and liquid refrigerant, and the receiver being connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         11 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant heating apparatus is an induction heating-type apparatus configured so that an induction heating coil of the induction heating-type apparatus is wrapped around a tube.   
     
     
         12 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 a compressor arranged and configured to compress the refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant container being an accumulator arranged and configured to separate gas and liquid refrigerant, the accumulator being connected to an intake side of the compressor, and   the refrigerant heating apparatus being connected to an intake side of the accumulator.   
     
     
         13 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger arranged and configured to exchange heat between outdoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant container being a receiver arranged and configured to separate gas and liquid refrigerant, and the receiver being connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         14 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an accumulator tube arranged and configured to connect the refrigerant heating apparatus to the accumulator; and   a switching element arranged and configured to switch a flow direction of refrigerant inside the refrigerant circuit,   the refrigerant heating apparatus, the accumulator tube, and the switching element forming parts of an integrated assembly, and   the integrated assembly being brazed to the accumulator.   
     
     
         15 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to  claim 14 , wherein
 one end of the integrated assembly is brazed to the accumulator and another end of the integrated assembly is brazed to another tube of the refrigerant circuit such that the integrated assembly is secured inside the outdoor unit.