Outdoor unit of air conditioner

Abstract

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner may include a case that forms an outer appearance; a barrier that divides an inner space of the case into a heat exchange space and an electric space; a heat exchanger disposed in the heat exchange space; a fan disposed in the heat exchange space; a compressor disposed in the electric space; and a grille assembly detachably coupled to a front surface of the case. The grille assembly may include a first grille plate coupled to the front surface of the case corresponding to a front of the heat exchange space; a second grille plate coupled to the front surface of the case corresponding to a front of the electric space; and a grille cover coupled to cover an upper portion of the first grille plate and an upper portion of the second grille plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising:
 a case that forms an outer appearance of the outdoor unit;   a barrier that divides an inner space of the case into a heat exchange space and an electric space;   a heat exchanger disposed in the heat exchange space;   a fan disposed in the heat exchange space;   a compressor disposed in the electric space; and   a grille assembly detachably coupled to a front surface of the case, wherein the grille assembly includes:
 a first grille plate coupled to the front surface of the case corresponding to a front of the heat exchange space; 
 a second grille plate coupled to the front surface of the case corresponding to a front of the electric space; and 
 a grille cover coupled to cover an upper portion of the first grille plate and an upper portion of the second grille plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of hook holes is formed on the front surface of the case, wherein grille at least one first hook is formed on a rear surface of the first grille plate that is coupled to a first portion of the plurality of hook holes, and wherein grille at least one second hook is formed on a rear surface of the second grille plate that is coupled to a second portion of among the plurality of hook holes. 
     
     
         3 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein a direction in which the at least one first hook is coupled to the first portion of the plurality of hook holes is opposite to a direction in which the at least one second hook is coupled to the second portion of the plurality of hook holes. 
     
     
         4 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the case includes:
 a base panel;   a first front panel disposed on a front end portion of the base panel and forming a front surface of the heat exchange space; and   a second front panel disposed on the front end portion of the base panel and forming a front surface of the electric space.   
     
     
         5 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein the first grille plate is configured to cover a front surface of the first front panel, and wherein the second grille plate is configured to cover a front surface of the second front panel. 
     
     
         6 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 5 , wherein the fan is disposed at a front of the heat exchanger, and wherein the first grille plate is disposed at a front of the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 6 , wherein the case further includes an orifice formed in the first front panel, and wherein the fan is disposed at a rear of the orifice. 
     
     
         8 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the first grille plate includes:
 a first plate coupled to the front surface of the case;   a first cover portion coupled to an upper end of the first plate; and   a first grille portion provided on a front surface of the first plate, and wherein the first grille portion is disposed in front of the fan.   
     
     
         9 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 8 , wherein the first grille portion includes:
 a plurality of horizontal ribs spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction; and   a plurality of longitudinal ribs that connects the plurality of horizontal ribs and spaced apart from each other.   
     
     
         10 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 8 , wherein the second grille plate includes:
 a second plate coupled to the front surface of the case;   a second cover portion coupled to an upper end of the second plate; and   a second grille portion provided on a front surface of the second plate, and wherein a front surface of the first grille portion and a front surface of the second grille portion are disposed on a same plane.   
     
     
         11 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 10 , wherein an upper surface of the first cover portion and an upper surface of the second cover portion are disposed on a same plane, and wherein the grille cover is configured to cover the upper surface of the first cover portion and the upper surface of the second cover portion. 
     
     
         12 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the grille cover includes:
 a front surface portion that forms a front surface thereof;   an upper surface portion that forms an upper surface thereof; and   side portions that form both sides thereof, and wherein an upper portion of each of the first grille plate and the second grille plate is inserted and accommodated inside of the grille cover.   
     
     
         13 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 12 , wherein rear and bottom surfaces of the grille cover are open. 
     
     
         14 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 12 , wherein at least one first coupling groove is formed on the upper surface of each of the first grille plate and the second grille plate, and wherein at least one coupling rib is formed on the grille cover, which extends rearward from the front surface portion and is coupled to the at least one first coupling groove. 
     
     
         15 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one coupling rib includes:
 a first rib that extends rearward from a rear surface of the front surface portion; and   a second rib that extends downward from an end portion of the first rib, and wherein the second rib is engaged with an inside of the first coupling groove.   
     
     
         16 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 12 , wherein at least one second coupling groove is formed on each side of the first grille plate and the second grille plate, and wherein at least one coupling protrusion is formed on the grille cover, which extends inward from the side portion and is coupled to the at least one second coupling groove. 
     
     
         17 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one coupling protrusion includes:
 a first protrusion that extends from an inner surface of the side portion toward an inner center; and   a second protrusion that extends from the inner surface of the side portion toward the inner center and spaced upward from the first protrusion.   
     
     
         18 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 12 , wherein an insertion groove is formed at a front end portion of each of the first grille plate and the second grille plate, and wherein an insertion portion is formed in the grille cover, which extends rearward from a lower end of a front surface portion thereof and is coupled to the insertion grooves. 
     
     
         19 . An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising:
 a case that forms an outer appearance of the outdoor unit;   a barrier that divides an inner space of the case into a heat exchange space and an electric space;   a heat exchanger disposed in the heat exchange space;   a fan disposed in the heat exchange space;   a compressor disposed in the electric space; and   a grille assembly detachably coupled to a front surface of the case, wherein the grille assembly includes:
 a first grille plate coupled to the front surface of the case corresponding to a front of the heat exchange space; 
 a second grille plate coupled to the front surface of the case corresponding to a front of the electric space; and 
 a grille cover coupled to cover an upper portion of the first grille plate and an upper portion of the second grille plate, wherein an insertion groove is formed at a front end portion of each of the first grille plate and the second grille plate, and wherein an insertion portion is formed in the grille cover, which extends rearward from a lower end of a front surface portion thereof and is coupled to the insertion grooves. 
   
     
     
         20 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 19 , wherein the case includes:
 a base panel;   a first front panel disposed on a front end portion of the base panel and forming a front surface of the heat exchange space; and   a second front panel disposed on the front end portion of the base panel and forming a front surface of the electric space, wherein the first grille plate is configured to cover a front surface of the first front panel, and wherein the second grille plate is configured to cover a front surface of the second front panel.