Outdoor unit of air conditioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12359844-B2
Application number	US-202318101397-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2023
Priority date	Aug 10, 2020
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, including a cabinet including a base panel and a side panel; a compressor supported by the cabinet; a heat exchanger supported by the cabinet; and a leg frame at a lower end of the cabinet to support the cabinet. The leg frame includes: a channel including an upper flange coupled to the base panel, a lower flange installable on an installation surface, and a web connecting the upper flange with the lower flange. A first coupling portion and a second coupling portion are configured to fix one side portion of the channel to the side panel, and are positioned on opposite sides with the channel interposed therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising:
a cabinet including a base panel and a side panel;
a compressor supported by the cabinet;
a heat exchanger supported by the cabinet; and
a leg frame at a lower end of the cabinet to support the cabinet, wherein the leg frame includes:
a channel including an upper flange coupled to the base panel, a lower flange installable on an installation surface, and a web connecting the upper flange with the lower flange, and
a first coupling portion fixed to the side panel and positioned on a first side of the channel at an end of the leg frame, and a second coupling portion fixed to the side panel and positioned on a second side, opposite to the first side, of the channel at the end of the leg frame with the channel interposed between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion, so that a center of gravity of the channel is prevented from moving or the channel is prevented from being deformed by shaking of the side panel.

2. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the leg frame includes:
a first coupling flange protruding upward from one end of the lower flange, wherein the first coupling portion is formed in the first coupling flange, and
a second coupling flange protruding from a side end of the web in a direction away from the first coupling portion, wherein the second coupling portion is formed in the second coupling flange.

3. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein
the channel extends in a left-right direction, and
the center of gravity of the channel is positioned between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion in a front-rear direction, as seen in a side direction.

4. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 3 , wherein the center of gravity of the channel is identical to a centroid of a cross section of the channel.

5. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 4 , wherein the centroid of the cross section of the channel is positioned at a higher location than a straight line passing the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.

6. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein the side panel includes:
a side plate portion, and
a flange portion bent from one end of the side plate portion,
wherein the first coupling portion is fixed to the flange portion, and the second coupling portion is fixed to the side plate portion.

7. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 6 , wherein the first coupling flange faces the flange portion, and the second coupling flange faces the side plate portion.

8. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 6 , wherein the base panel includes a third coupling portion fixed to the side panel.

9. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 8 , wherein the side panel includes a step portion bent from one end of the flange portion, and the third coupling portion is fixed to the step portion.

10. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 8 , wherein the third coupling portion is positioned at a higher location than the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.

11. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 10 , wherein the center of gravity of the channel is positioned inside a triangle of which apexes are the first coupling portion to the third coupling portion, as seen in a side direction.

12. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 8 , further comprising:
a reinforcing bracket positioned at a lower end of the side panel and supporting the side panel.

13. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing bracket includes:
a bracket body,
a third coupling flange extending from a lower end of the bracket body in a side direction, wherein a fourth coupling portion fixed to the lower flange is formed in the third coupling flange, and
a fourth coupling flange extending from an upper end of the bracket body, wherein a fifth coupling portion corresponding to the third coupling portion and fixed to the side panel is formed in the fourth coupling flange.

14. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 13 , wherein
the reinforcing bracket further includes a fifth coupling flange extending from a side end of the bracket body and supporting the flange portion, and
a sixth coupling portion corresponding to the first coupling portion and fixed to the flange portion is formed in the fifth coupling flange.

15. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner of claim 14 , wherein an insertion groove in which the reinforcing bracket is inserted is formed in the upper flange.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Seungoh
• Lee Jihye
• Lim Yongbin
• Lim Changsoo
• Park Hyeonu
• Choi Jihoon

Classifications

• F24F1/56 Primary

  Casing or covers of separate outdoor units, e.g. fan guards · CPC title

• F24F2221/36

  Modules, e.g. for an easy mounting or transport · CPC title

• F16B12/02

  Joints between panels and corner posts · CPC title

• F16B12/30

  using threaded bolts · CPC title

• F24F13/20

  Casings or covers · CPC title