JP7829737B2 - Electrical unit, outdoor unit, and refrigeration cycle system - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to electrical units, outdoor units, and refrigeration cycle systems.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, an air conditioning system (refrigeration cycle system) equipped with an electrical component unit (electrical component unit) is known.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-220824

In electrical component units like the one described above, an engaging portion is sometimes provided that can engage using elastic deformation in order to fix or temporarily fix a member to be fixed to a fixed wall portion, such as an electrical box. Such an engaging portion elastically deforms when passed through a through-hole formed in the fixed wall portion, allowing it to engage with the periphery of the through-hole in the fixed wall portion. In such an engaging portion, it may be made longer in the direction of penetration through the through-hole to facilitate elastic deformation. However, in this case, the engaging portion tends to protrude from the through-hole, potentially leading to problems such as an increase in the overall size of the electrical component unit.

In response to this, one might consider extending the engaging portion in a direction intersecting the through-hole's penetration direction to prevent it from protruding from the through-hole. However, in this case, it can be difficult to adequately distribute the stress generated in the engaging portion when it undergoes elastic deformation, leading to a problem where stress concentrates at the base of the engaging portion, making it prone to breakage.

In view of the above circumstances, one of the objectives of this disclosure is to provide an electrical component unit having a structure that can suppress the concentration of stress in the engaging portion when the engaging portion undergoes elastic deformation, an outdoor unit equipped with such an electrical component unit, and a refrigeration cycle system equipped with such an outdoor unit.

One embodiment of an electrical component unit according to the present disclosure is an electrical component unit provided in a refrigeration cycle device, comprising: a fixed wall portion having a through hole formed therein that penetrates in a first direction; and a fixed member fixed to the fixed wall portion, wherein the fixed member has a main body portion and an engaging portion that protrudes from the main body portion in the first direction and passes through the through hole, and the engaging portion has a base portion that protrudes from the main body portion in the first direction, and an arm portion that extends from the base portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction and faces the main body portion in the first direction, and The arm portion has a claw portion that protrudes from the tip of the arm portion in a third direction intersecting both the first and second directions, the claw portion has a surface facing the peripheral edge of the through hole in the fixed wall portion in the first direction, the arm portion is elastically deformable in the third direction with the base portion as a fulcrum, and the engaging portion has a curved portion that extends in a curved shape continuously from the end of the base portion that connects to the main body portion to at least a part of the edge of the arm portion that faces the main body portion when viewed in the third direction.

One embodiment of the outdoor unit according to the present disclosure is an outdoor unit for a refrigeration cycle system, comprising the above-mentioned electrical unit, a housing that houses the electrical unit, a heat exchanger housed inside the housing, and a blower housed inside the housing, wherein the electrical unit is located vertically above the blower, and the fixed wall portion constitutes at least a part of the vertically lower wall portion of the electrical box.

One embodiment of the outdoor unit according to this disclosure is an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle system, comprising the above-mentioned electrical unit and a housing that houses the electrical unit inside.

One embodiment of the refrigeration cycle device relating to this disclosure comprises the above-mentioned outdoor unit and indoor unit.

According to this disclosure, in an electrical component unit of a refrigeration cycle device, it is possible to suppress stress concentration in the engaging portion when the engaging portion undergoes elastic deformation.

This is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the refrigeration cycle device in the embodiment. This is a perspective view showing the outdoor unit in the embodiment. This is a perspective view showing a part of the outdoor unit in the embodiment. This is a perspective view showing an electrical unit in an embodiment. This is an exploded perspective view showing the electrical unit in the embodiment. This is a perspective view showing a part of the electrical unit in the embodiment. This is a perspective view showing the electrical component holding member in an embodiment. This is a perspective view showing the electrical component holding member and heat sink in the embodiment. This is a perspective view showing a part of the electrical unit in the embodiment, and is a partial enlargement of Figure 6. This is a perspective view showing the engaging portion in the embodiment. This is a view of the engagement portion in the embodiment, seen from the left side. This is a view of the engagement portion in the embodiment, seen from the other side in the first direction. This is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the electrical unit in the embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in Figure 11. This is a cross-sectional view showing part of the assembly procedure for the electrical unit in the embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view showing another part of the assembly procedure for the electrical unit in the embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view showing yet another part of the assembly procedure for the electrical unit in the embodiment.

The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the technical idea of this disclosure. Furthermore, in the following drawings, the scale and number of components in each structure may differ from those in the actual structure in order to make each component easier to understand.

Furthermore, the X, Y, and Z axes are shown in the drawings as appropriate. The X axis represents one of the horizontal directions. The Y axis represents the other of the horizontal directions. The Z axis represents the vertical direction. In the following explanation, the horizontal direction along the X axis will be called the "front-back direction X," the horizontal direction along the Y axis will be called the "left-right direction Y," and the vertical direction along the Z axis will be called the "vertical direction Z." The front-back direction X, the left-right direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are all orthogonal to each other. In the following explanation, the side of the vertical direction Z in which the Z-axis arrow points (+Z side) will be considered the upper side, and the side of the vertical direction Z opposite to the side in which the Z-axis arrow points (-Z side) will be considered the lower side. Also, the side of the front-back direction X in which the X-axis arrow points (+X side) will be considered the front side, and the side of the front-back direction X opposite to the side in which the X-axis arrow points (-X side) will be considered the rear side. Furthermore, the left-right direction Y refers to the left-right direction when viewing the outdoor unit 10 in the following embodiment from the rear side (-X side). In other words, the side in the left-right direction Y that the Y-axis arrow points to (+Y side) is defined as the left side, and the side in the left-right direction Y that is opposite to the side that the Y-axis arrow points to (-Y side) is defined as the right side.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the refrigeration cycle device 100 in this embodiment. The refrigeration cycle device 100 is a device that utilizes a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant 19 circulates. In this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle device 100 is an air conditioner. As shown in Figure 1, the refrigeration cycle device 100 comprises an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, and a circulation path section 18. The outdoor unit 10 is located outdoors. The indoor unit 20 is located indoors. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are connected to each other by a circulation path section 18 through which refrigerant 19 circulates. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are heat exchange units that perform heat exchange with air.

The refrigeration cycle device 100 can adjust the temperature of the indoor air by performing heat exchange between the refrigerant 19 flowing through the circulation path 18 and the air in the room where the indoor unit 20 is located. Examples of the refrigerant 19 include fluorine-based refrigerants or hydrocarbon-based refrigerants with a low global warming potential (GWP).

The outdoor unit 10 comprises a housing 11, a compressor 12, a heat exchanger 13, a flow control valve 14, a blower 15, a four-way valve 16, and an electrical unit 30. The compressor 12, heat exchanger 13, flow control valve 14, blower 15, four-way valve 16, and electrical unit 30 are housed inside the housing 11.

The compressor 12, heat exchanger 13, flow control valve 14, and four-way valve 16 are located in the part of the circulation path 18 that is inside the housing 11. The compressor 12, heat exchanger 13, flow control valve 14, and four-way valve 16 are connected by the part of the circulation path 18 that is located inside the housing 11.

The four-way valve 16 is installed in the portion of the circulation path 18 that is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 12. The four-way valve 16 can reverse the direction of the refrigerant 19 flowing through the circulation path 18 by switching a portion of the circulation path 18. When the path connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path shown by the solid line on the four-way valve 16 in Figure 1, the refrigerant 19 flows through the circulation path 18 in the direction shown by the solid arrow in Figure 1. On the other hand, when the path connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path shown by the dashed line on the four-way valve 16 in Figure 1, the refrigerant 19 flows through the circulation path 18 in the direction shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 1.

The indoor unit 20 comprises a housing 21, a heat exchanger 22, and a blower fan 23. The housing 21 houses the heat exchanger 22 and the blower fan 23 inside. The indoor unit 20 is capable of both cooling operation, which cools the air in the room where the indoor unit 20 is located, and heating operation, which heats the air in the room where the indoor unit 20 is located.

When the indoor unit 20 is in cooling operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing through the circulation path 18 flows in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in Figure 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is in cooling operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing through the circulation path 18 circulates by passing through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10, the flow control valve 14, and the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20 in that order, before returning to the compressor 12. In cooling operation, the heat exchanger 13 in the outdoor unit 10 functions as a condenser, and the heat exchanger 22 in the indoor unit 20 functions as an evaporator.

On the other hand, when the indoor unit 20 is in heating operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing through the circulation path 18 flows in the direction shown by the dashed line in Figure 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is in heating operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing through the circulation path 18 circulates by passing through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20, the flow control valve 14, and the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10 in that order, before returning to the compressor 12. In heating operation, the heat exchanger 13 in the outdoor unit 10 functions as an evaporator, and the heat exchanger 22 in the indoor unit 20 functions as a condenser.

Next, the outdoor unit 10 will be described in more detail. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the outdoor unit 10. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the outdoor unit 10. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outdoor unit 10 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped that is elongated in the left-right direction Y. The housing 11 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped box that is elongated in the left-right direction Y. As shown in Figure 3, the blower 15 is located inside the housing 11 in front of the heat exchanger 13 (+X direction). The blower 15 draws air from outside the housing 11 into the housing 11 through an intake port (not shown) formed in the rear wall (-X side) of the housing 11. The air drawn into the housing 11 by the blower 15 passes through the heat exchanger 13 and is blown out to the outside of the housing 11 through an outlet 11b formed in the front wall (+X side) of the housing 11. In this way, air is sent to the heat exchanger 13 by driving the blower 15.

In this embodiment, the electrical unit 30 is located inside the housing 11, above the blower 15 in the vertical Z direction. The electrical unit 30 is a control unit that controls various parts of the outdoor unit 10. For example, the electrical unit 30 is a system control unit that oversees the control of the entire refrigeration cycle device 100.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the electrical components unit 30. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the electrical components unit 30. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the electrical components unit 30. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the electrical components unit 30 extends in the left-right direction Y. As shown in Figure 5, the electrical components unit 30 comprises an electrical components box 31, electrical components 32, an electrical components holding member 33, a heat sink 34, and a cover member 35.

The electrical box 31 is a box-shaped component that houses the electrical components 32 inside. The electrical box 31 is made of metal. In this embodiment, the electrical box 31 is made of sheet metal. As shown in Figure 3, the electrical box 31 has an electrical box body 31a and a lid member 31b. The electrical box body 31a is box-shaped with an opening at the top. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, in this embodiment, the electrical box body 31a has a pentagonal shape when viewed in the left-right direction Y. The upper opening of the electrical box body 31a is closed by the lid member 31b.

The electrical box body 31a has a fixed wall portion 31c. The fixed wall portion 31c is a wall portion that constitutes at least a part of the lower wall portion of the electrical box 31 in the vertical direction Z. In this embodiment, the fixed wall portion 31c constitutes a part of the lower wall portion of the electrical box body 31a. More specifically, the fixed wall portion 31c constitutes the rear (-X side) portion of the lower wall portion of the electrical box body 31a. The fixed wall portion 31c is positioned upward as it moves towards the rear. The lower surface of the fixed wall portion 31c is an engagement surface 31e, which is inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal direction. The engagement surface 31e faces downward and rearward.

As shown in Figure 5, a through hole 36 is formed in the fixed wall portion 31c, penetrating the fixed wall portion 31c. In this embodiment, the through hole 36 is a substantially square-shaped hole. In this embodiment, the through hole 36 is formed in the left (+Y) portion of the fixed wall portion 31c. The direction in which the through hole 36 penetrates the fixed wall portion 31c is perpendicular to the engagement surface 31e of the fixed wall portion 31c.

In this embodiment, the direction in which the through-hole 36 penetrates the fixed wall portion 31c is defined as the first direction D1, and is shown as the D1 axis in the figure as appropriate. In this embodiment, the first direction D1 is a direction that is inclined obliquely with respect to both the front-rear direction X and the vertical direction Z, and is perpendicular to the left-right direction Y. More specifically, in this embodiment, the first direction D1 is a direction that moves forward (towards +X) as it moves upward. Also, the second direction D2 that intersects the first direction D1 is shown as the D2 axis in the figure as appropriate. In this embodiment, the second direction D2 is a direction that is inclined obliquely with respect to both the front-rear direction X and the vertical direction Z, and is perpendicular to both the left-right direction Y and the first direction D1. More specifically, in this embodiment, the second direction D2 is a direction that moves downward as it moves forward.

In the following explanation, the side of the first direction D1 where the arrow of the D1 axis points (+D1 side) will be referred to as the "first direction one side," and the side of the first direction D1 opposite to the side where the arrow of the D1 axis points (-D1 side) will be referred to as the "first direction other side." The first direction one side is the side that is both upward and forward, and the first direction other side is the side that is both downward and backward. The side of the second direction D2 where the arrow of the D2 axis points (+D2 side) will be referred to as the "second direction one side," and the side of the second direction D2 opposite to the side where the arrow of the D2 axis points (-D2 side) will be referred to as the "second direction other side." The second direction one side is the side that is both forward and downward, and the second direction other side is the side that is both backward and upward.

In the fixed wall portion 31c, around the through hole 36, a plurality of fixing holes 31d are formed, penetrating the fixed wall portion 31c in the first direction D1. The plurality of fixing holes 31d are arranged surrounding the through hole 36. For example, eight fixing holes 31d are provided.

The electrical component 32 is fixed to the electrical component holding member 33 and housed inside the electrical component box 31. The electrical component 32 is fixed to the electrical component box 31 by the fact that the electrical component holding member 33 is fixed to the electrical component box 31. The electrical component 32 has a substrate 32a and electronic components (not shown) attached to the substrate 32a. The substrate 32a is a rectangular plate shape that extends along the fixed wall portion 31c. The plate surface of the substrate 32a is perpendicular to the first direction D1. The electronic components (not shown) are attached to the surface of the substrate 32a on one side in the first direction (+D1 side).

The electrical component holding member 33 is a member that holds the electrical component 32. The electrical component holding member 33 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that is long in the left-right direction Y. The electrical component holding member 33 is housed inside the electrical component box 31. The electrical component holding member 33 is fixed to one side (+D1 side) of the fixed wall portion 31c in the first direction. In this embodiment, the electrical component holding member 33 corresponds to the "fixed member" fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c. The electrical component holding member 33 is an insulating member. In this embodiment, the electrical component holding member 33 is made of resin.

Although not shown in the diagram, a sealing member is provided between the electrical component holding member 33 and the fixed wall portion 31c, surrounding the through hole 36 when viewed in the first direction D1. This sealing member seals the space between the electrical component holding member 33 and the fixed wall portion 31c around the entire circumference surrounding the through hole 36.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the electrical component holding member 33. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the electrical component holding member 33 and the heat sink 34. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the electrical component holding member 33 has a main body portion 33p and an engaging portion 40. The main body portion 33p has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body wall portion 33a that is long in the left-right direction Y, and a frame-shaped wall portion 33b that protrudes from the main body wall portion 33a in a first direction D1.

As shown in Figure 7, a recess 33c is formed on the surface of the main body wall 33a on the other side in the first direction (-D1 side), recessed on the one side in the first direction (+D1 side). The recess 33c is approximately square in shape when viewed in the first direction D1. A hole 33d is formed in the bottom wall 33f of the recess 33c, penetrating the bottom wall 33f in the first direction D1. The hole 33d is approximately square in shape. The bottom wall 33f is a wall portion that constitutes the surface of the inner surface of the recess 33c facing the other side in the first direction. The bottom wall 33f is formed in a square frame shape by the formation of the hole 33d.

A pair of mounting portions 33e are formed on both edges of the bottom wall portion 33f in the left-right direction Y. The pair of mounting portions 33e protrude from the bottom wall portion 33f in the other direction (-D1 side) and extend in the second direction D2. Although not shown in the figure, a sealing member surrounding the hole portion 33d is provided on the surface of the bottom wall portion 33f in the other direction. This sealing member seals the space between the electrical component holding member 33 and the heat sink 34 around the entire circumference surrounding the hole portion 33d.

Multiple screw holes 33m are formed in the main body wall portion 33a. The multiple screw holes 33m are recessed from the surface of the main body wall portion 33a on the other side in the first direction (-D1 side) toward the one side in the first direction (+D1 side). The multiple screw holes 33m are arranged at intervals from each other, surrounding the periphery of the recess 33c. When viewed in the first direction D1, the multiple screw holes 33m are formed in positions that overlap with the multiple fixing holes 31d formed in the fixing wall portion 31c. For example, eight screw holes 33m are provided. In this embodiment, threads are cut into the inner circumferential surface of the screw holes 33m by tightening a fastening member 37, which is a tapping screw described later.

The frame-shaped wall portion 33b protrudes from the surface of the main body wall portion 33a on the other side in the first direction (-D1 side) to the other side in the first direction. More specifically, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b protrudes from the peripheral edge of the recess 33c on the surface of the main body wall portion 33a on the other side in the first direction to the other side in the first direction. In this embodiment, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b is rectangular in shape. More specifically, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b is approximately square in shape. As shown in Figure 8, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b surrounds the heat sink 34.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a part of the electrical unit 30, and is a partial enlargement of Figure 6. As shown in Figure 9, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b is passed through the through hole 36 in the first direction D1 and protrudes to the outside of the electrical box 31. In this embodiment, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b protrudes from the through hole 36 to the other side in the first direction (-D1 side).

The engaging portion 40 protrudes from the main body portion 33p in the other direction (-D1 side) in the first direction. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 40 protrudes from the frame-shaped wall portion 33b in the other direction in the first direction. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 40 is integrally molded with the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. The engaging portion 40 is passed from inside the electrical box 31 through the through hole 36 in the first direction D1 and is located outside the electrical box 31. The engaging portion 40 protrudes from the through hole 36 in the other direction in the first direction.

As shown in Figure 7, in this embodiment, multiple engaging portions 40 are provided. In this embodiment, there are four engaging portions 40: engaging portion 40a, engaging portion 40b, engaging portion 40c, and engaging portion 40d. The four engaging portions 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d protrude from each of the four corners of the rectangular frame-shaped wall portion 33b in the other side in the first direction (-D side). In other words, in this embodiment, the engaging portions 40 are formed at each of the four corners of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b.

The engaging portion 40a is formed on the left corner (+Y side) and the other side in the second direction (-D2 side) of the corner of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. The engaging portion 40b is formed on the left corner (+D2 side) of the corner of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. The engaging portion 40c is formed on the right corner (-Y side) and the other side in the second direction of the corner of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. The engaging portion 40d is formed on the right corner (-Y side) and the other side in the second direction of the corner of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b.

The engaging portion 40a and the engaging portion 40b are arranged symmetrically in the second direction D2. The engaging portion 40c and the engaging portion 40d are arranged symmetrically in the second direction D2. The engaging portion 40a and the engaging portion 40c are arranged symmetrically in the left-right direction Y. The engaging portion 40b and the engaging portion 40d are arranged symmetrically in the left-right direction Y.

The engaging portions 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d have the same configuration except that they are formed at different corners of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b and are arranged in different orientations. Therefore, in the following description, only the engaging portion 40a may be described as a representative example. Also, when the engaging portions 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d are not specifically distinguished, they will be collectively referred to simply as the engaging portion 40.

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the engaging portion 40a. Figure 11 is a view of the engaging portion 40a from the left side (+Y side). Figure 12 is a view of the engaging portion 40a from the other side in the first direction (-D1 side). Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the electrical equipment unit 30, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in Figure 11.

As shown in Figure 10, in this embodiment, the corner of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b on which the engaging portion 40a is formed is the corner formed by the connection between the extended wall portion 33g extending in the second direction D2 of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b and the extended wall portion 33h extending in the left-right direction Y of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. The engaging portion 40a has a base portion 41, an arm portion 42, and a claw portion 43.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the base portion 41 protrudes from the main body portion 33p in the first direction D1. In this embodiment, the base portion 41 protrudes from the frame-shaped wall portion 33b of the main body portion 33p in the other direction (-D1 side). As shown in Figure 10, the base portion 41 has a first column portion 41a and a second column portion 41b. The first column portion 41a protrudes from the end of the extension wall portion 33g on the other side (-D2 side) in the second direction to the other side in the first direction. The first column portion 41a is plate-shaped with its surface facing the left-right direction Y. The second column portion 41b protrudes from the left side (+Y side) end of the extension wall portion 33h to the other side in the first direction. The second column portion 41b is plate-shaped with its surface facing the second direction D2. The left edge of the second column portion 41b is connected to the other edge of the first column portion 41a in the second direction. As shown in Figure 12, with the first column portion 41a and the second column portion 41b provided, the base portion 41 in this embodiment has an L-shape when viewed from the other side in the first direction.

The arm portion 42 extends from the base portion 41 in the second direction D2. More specifically, the arm portion 42 extends from the end of the base portion 41 on the other side in the first direction (-D1 side) to the one side in the second direction (+D2 side). In this embodiment, the arm portion 42 is plate-shaped with its plate surface facing the left-right direction Y. More specifically, the arm portion 42 is a substantially rectangular plate shape that is long in the second direction D2. As shown in Figure 10, the end of the arm portion 42 on the other side in the second direction (-D2 side) is connected to the edge on the one side in the second direction at the end of the first column portion 41a on the other side in the first direction. The arm portion 42 has an arm body portion 42a. The arm body portion 42a is the part of the arm portion 42 that is located on the base portion 41 side (-D2 side) than the claw portion 43 in the second direction D2.

The arm portion 42 faces the main body portion 33p in the first direction D1. In this embodiment, the arm portion 42 is positioned with a gap on the other side (-D1 side) of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b in the first direction. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 12, the arm portion 42 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction Y with the base portion 41 as the pivot point. The dashed line in Figure 12 shows the state in which the arm portion 42 is elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y towards the inside of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b, i.e., the right side (-Y side), with the base portion 41 as the pivot point. As the arm portion 42 elastically deforms, the claw portion 43 is elastically displaced in the left-right direction Y.

As shown in Figure 11, the portion of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b facing the arm portion 42 in the first direction D1 is a low wall portion 33j, whose protrusion height from the main wall portion 33a is lower than that of the other portion of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. The low wall portion 33j of the engaging portion 40a facing the arm portion 42 is formed at the end of the extension wall portion 33g on the other side in the second direction (-D2 side). A stepped portion 33k is formed between the edge of the low wall portion 33j on the other side in the first direction (-D1 side) and the edge of the portion of the extension wall portion 33g located on the other side in the second direction (+D2 side) than the low wall portion 33j, in the second direction D2. The stepped portion 33k is a step that is recessed on the first direction side when traversing from one side in the second direction to the other side in the second direction. The stepped portion 33k is located on the one side in the second direction, beyond the end of the arm portion 42 on the one side in the second direction.

As shown in Figures 10 and 12, the claw portion 43 protrudes from the tip of the arm portion 42 in the left-right direction Y. In this embodiment, the left-right direction Y corresponds to the "third direction" in which the claw portion 43 protrudes relative to the arm portion 42. In this embodiment, the claw portion 43 protrudes in the direction toward the outside of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b within the left-right direction Y. The claw portion 43 in the engaging portion 40a protrudes to the left (+Y side) from the end of the arm portion 42 on one side in the second direction (+D2 side). The claw portion 43 is located outside the frame-shaped wall portion 33b when viewed in the first direction D1.

As shown in Figure 10, the claw portion 43 has a first beam portion 43a and a pair of second beam portions 43b. The first beam portion 43a is provided on the edge of the arm portion 42 on one side in the second direction (+D2 side) at the end of the arm portion 42 on one side in the second direction (+D2 side). The first beam portion 43a extends in the second direction D2. The pair of second beam portions 43b extend from each of the ends of the first beam portion 43a in the second direction D2 to the other side in the first direction (-D1 side). The pair of second beam portions 43b are arranged opposite each other with a gap in between in the second direction D2. As shown in Figure 13, the dimension of the second beam portion 43b in the left-right direction Y increases as it moves toward one side in the first direction. The left edge (+Y side) of the second beam section 43b extends in an inclined direction toward the outside (+Y side) of the frame-shaped wall section 33b in the left-right direction Y as it moves toward one side in the first direction.

The claw portion 43 has an opposing surface 43c that faces the peripheral edge of the through hole 36 in the fixed wall portion 31c in the first direction D1. In this embodiment, the opposing surface 43c is the surface on one side (+D1 side) of the first beam portion 43a in the first direction. The opposing surface 43c faces the peripheral edge of the through hole 36 in the engagement surface 31e, which is the surface on the other side (-D1 side) of the fixed wall portion 31c in the first direction, in the first direction D1. The opposing surface 43c is positioned away from the peripheral edge of the through hole 36 in the engagement surface 31e in the other side in the first direction. The opposing surface 43c is a flat surface perpendicular to the first direction D1. As shown in Figure 11, the opposing surface 43c is located on the other side in the first direction than the end of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b on the other side in the first direction.

A curved portion 45 is formed on the engaging portion 40a. The curved portion 45 extends in a curved shape continuously from the end of the base portion 41 on the side connected to the main body portion 33p (+D1 side) to at least a part of the edge of the arm portion 42 on the side facing the main body portion 33p (+D1 side), when viewed in the left-right direction Y. In this embodiment, the curved portion 45 is formed spanning the edge of the first column portion 41a of the base portion 41 on one side in the second direction (+D2 side) and a part of the edge of the arm main body portion 42a of the arm portion 42 on one side in the first direction (+D1 side).

In this embodiment, the curved portion 45 extends in a substantially elliptical arc shape, concave in the other direction (-D1 side) when viewed in the left-right direction Y. The curved portion 45 has a first curved portion 45a and a second curved portion 45b. The first curved portion 45a is the part of the curved portion 45 formed on the base portion 41. When viewed in the left-right direction Y, the first curved portion 45a is curved in the opposite direction (-D2 direction) to the direction in which the arm portion 42 protrudes from the base portion 41. The first curved portion 45a is smoothly connected to the main body portion 33p. More specifically, the end of the first curved portion 45a on one side in the first direction (+D1 side) is smoothly connected to the end on the other side (-D2 side) of the edge of the low wall portion 33j on the other side in the first direction.

The second curved section 45b is the portion of the curved section 45 formed on the arm section 42. The second curved section 45b is curved in a direction that curves away from the main body section 33p in the first direction D1 (-D1 direction) when viewed in the left-right direction Y. The end of the second curved section 45b on the other side in the second direction (-D2 side) smoothly connects to the end of the first curved section 45a on the other side in the first direction (-D1 side). The dimension in the first direction D1 in the portion of the arm section 42 where the second curved section 45b is formed is smaller than the dimension in the first direction D1 in the portion of the arm section 42 located one side of the second direction (+D2 side) from the second curved section 45b.

At least a portion of the second curved portion 45b is formed on the arm body portion 42a. The end of the second curved portion 45b on one side in the second direction (+D2 side) is located on the other side in the second direction than the claw portion 43. In other words, in this embodiment, the entirety of the second curved portion 45b is formed on the arm body portion 42a. The second curved portion 45b is formed on the edge of the arm body portion 42a on one side in the first direction (+D1 side). The dimension of the second direction D2 in the second curved portion 45b is more than half the dimension of the second direction D2 in the arm body portion 42a. In this embodiment, the second curved portion 45b is formed on the entire portion of the edge of the arm body portion 42a on one side in the first direction, excluding the end on one side in the second direction.

As shown in Figure 8, the heat sink 34 is fixed to the electrical component holding member 33. In this embodiment, the heat sink 34 is fixed to the main body wall portion 33a of the main body portion 33p. The heat sink 34 is made of metal. As shown in Figure 5, the heat sink 34 has a base portion 34a, a plurality of fin portions 34b, and a pair of flange portions 34c. The base portion 34a is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped, long in the second direction D2 and thin in the first direction D1. The base portion 34a is inserted into a hole portion 33d formed in the electrical component holding member 33 from the other side in the first direction (-D1 side). The surface of the base portion 34a on one side in the first direction (+D1 side) is thermally connected to the surface of the substrate 32a on the other side in the first direction, either directly or indirectly via a heat conductive member. As a result, the heat sink 34 is thermally connected to the electrical component 32.

In this disclosure, "a certain object is thermally connected to another object" means that the two objects are connected directly or indirectly through yet another object, and that heat transfer is possible between them. In other words, "the heat sink 34 is thermally connected to the electrical component 32" means that the heat sink 34 is connected directly or indirectly to the electrical component 32, and that heat transfer is possible between the heat sink 34 and the electrical component 32. In this embodiment, the heat generated in the electrical component 32 is transferred to the heat sink 34.

Multiple fin portions 34b protrude from the base portion 34a in the first direction to the other side (-D1 side). In this embodiment, the fin portion 34b is a rectangular plate shape with its plate surface facing the left-right direction Y and extending in the second direction D2. Multiple fin portions 34b are arranged side by side with gaps in the left-right direction Y. As shown in Figure 6, multiple fin portions 34b protrude to the outside of the electrical box 31 through through holes 36 formed in the fixed wall portion 31c. Thus, in this embodiment, a part of the heat sink 34 is passed from the inside of the electrical box 31 through the through holes 36 in the first direction D1 and protrudes to the outside of the electrical box 31. Multiple fin portions 34b protrude from the through holes 36 in the first direction to the other side (-D1 side). Heat transferred from the electrical product 32 to the heat sink 34 is released from the multiple fin portions 34b into the air outside the electrical unit 30.

The pair of flange portions 34c protrude in the left-right direction Y from both edges of the base portion 34a in the left-right direction Y. The flange portions 34c are rectangular plates with their surface facing the first direction D1 and extending in the second direction D2. The pair of flange portions 34c are fixed to each of the pair of mounting portions 33e formed on the main body wall portion 33a with fastening members such as bolts. In this way, the heat sink 34 is fixed to the main body portion 33p. Note that the fastening members that fix the pair of flange portions 34c to the pair of mounting portions 33e may be screw members such as tapping screws. As shown in Figure 13, the flange portions 34c are located inside the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. The flange portions 34c are arranged opposite the frame-shaped wall portion 33b with a gap in the left-right direction Y.

As shown in Figure 4, the cover member 35 is a member that covers at least a portion of the heat sink 34 from the outside of the electrical box 31. More specifically, the cover member 35 covers a plurality of fin portions 34b of the heat sink 34 from the other side in the first direction (-D1 side). The cover member 35 is an insulating member. In this embodiment, the cover member 35 is made of resin. The cover member 35 has a first covering portion 35a, a frame-shaped flange portion 35b, a second covering portion 35c, and a third covering portion 35d.

The first covering portion 35a is the portion that covers the plurality of fin portions 34b from the other side in the first direction (-D1 side). The first covering portion 35a has a bottom plate portion 35e and a pair of side plate portions 35f. The bottom plate portion 35e is a rectangular plate with its surface facing the first direction D1. The bottom plate portion 35e is located on the other side in the first direction of the plurality of fin portions 34b. The bottom plate portion 35e covers the plurality of fin portions 34b from the other side in the first direction. The pair of side plate portions 35f protrude from both edges of the bottom plate portion 35e in the left-right direction Y to one side in the first direction (+D1 side). The side plate portions 35f are substantially rectangular plates with their surface facing the left-right direction Y and extending in the second direction D2.

The first covering portion 35a has openings on both sides in the second direction D2. Multiple fin portions 34b are exposed to the outside of the electrical unit 30 through the openings in the second direction D2 of the first covering portion 35a. The first covering portion 35a and the base portion 34a of the heat sink 34 house the multiple fin portions 34b inside and form an air passage extending in the second direction D2 from which the fin portions 34b extend. A portion of the airflow generated inside the housing 11 by the blower 15 passes through this air passage, allowing air to flow smoothly between the multiple fin portions 34b. This makes it easier to release heat into the air from the multiple fin portions 34b.

The second covering portion 35c is provided on the edge of one side (+D1 side) of the pair of side plate portions 35f in the first direction. The pair of second covering portions 35c cover the portions of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b located on both sides in the left-right direction Y from the other side (-D1 side) in the first direction. The pair of second covering portions 35c extend in the second direction D2.

The third covering portion 35d is formed at both ends of the pair of second covering portions 35c in the second direction D2. In other words, a total of four third covering portions 35d are formed. The third covering portion 35d is a roughly rectangular box shape that opens on one side in the first direction (+D1 side). As shown in Figure 13, each third covering portion 35d houses each engaging portion 40 inside and covers each engaging portion 40 from the other side in the first direction (-D1 side).

As shown in Figure 4, the frame-shaped flange portion 35b is rectangular in shape, having a pair of sides extending in the left-right direction Y and a pair of sides extending in the second direction D2. The frame-shaped flange portion 35b is plate-shaped with its plate surface facing the first direction D1. The second covering portion 35c and a pair of third covering portions 35d are connected to both edges in the left-right direction Y on the inner edge of the frame-shaped flange portion 35b, respectively. The frame-shaped flange portion 35b is in contact with the engaging surface 31e, which is the surface of the fixed wall portion 31c on the other side (-D1 side) in the first direction.

As shown in Figure 5, the frame-shaped flange portion 35b has a plurality of fixing holes 35g formed therein that penetrate the frame-shaped flange portion 35b in a first direction D1. The plurality of fixing holes 35g are formed at positions that overlap with the plurality of fixing holes 31d formed in the fixing wall portion 31c when viewed in the first direction D1. The frame-shaped flange portion 35b is fixed to the fixing wall portion 31c by a plurality of fastening members 37. For example, eight fastening members 37 are provided. In this embodiment, the fastening members 37 are tapping screws. Note that the fastening members 37 may be screw members other than tapping screws, or they may be bolts.

As shown in Figure 13, each fastening member 37 is passed through each fixing hole 35g formed in the frame-shaped flange portion 35b and each fixing hole 31d formed in the fixing wall portion 31c from the other side in the first direction (-D1 side), and is tightened into each screw hole 33m formed in the main body wall portion 33a. In this way, the fixing wall portion 31c and the cover member 35 are fastened together to the electrical component holding member 33. In other words, in this embodiment, the cover member 35 is fixed to the fixing wall portion 31c together with the electrical component holding member 33 by the fastening members 37 that penetrate the fixing wall portion 31c and are tightened into the main body portion 33p.

Next, the assembly procedure for the electrical components unit 30 will be described. Figure 14A is a cross-sectional view showing part of the assembly procedure for the electrical components unit 30. Figure 14B is a cross-sectional view showing another part of the assembly procedure for the electrical components unit 30. Figure 14C is a cross-sectional view showing yet another part of the assembly procedure for the electrical components unit 30. In Figures 14A, 14B, and 14C, for example, the work is performed in an orientation where the fixed wall portion 31c is located above the electrical components holding member 33 in the vertical direction Z.

The worker assembling the electrical unit 30 fixes the electrical components 32 and the heat sink 34 to the electrical component holding member 33. Next, the worker inserts the electrical component holding member 33, to which the electrical components 32 and the heat sink 34 are fixed, into the electrical component box body 31a in the state before the lid member 31b is fixed, and passes the heat sink 34 through the through hole 36. At this time, each engaging portion 40 is also passed through the through hole 36.

As shown in Figures 14A and 14B, when the electrical component holding member 33 is brought close to the through hole 36, the inner edge of the through hole 36 contacts the second beam portion 43b of the claw portion 43 of the engaging portion 40. Since the second beam portion 43b extends inclined toward the outside (+Y side) of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b in the left-right direction Y as it moves toward one side in the first direction (+D1 side), when the second beam portion 43b is pushed toward one side in the first direction by the inner edge of the through hole 36, the claw portion 43 receives a force directed toward the inside (-Y side) of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b in the left-right direction Y. As a result, the arm portion 42 elastically deforms in the left-right direction Y, and the claw portion 43 elastically displaces in the left-right direction Y. Therefore, by bringing the electrical component holding member 33 closer to the fixed wall portion 31c, the claw portion 43 can be elastically displaced to the inside of the through hole 36, and the claw portion 43 can pass through the through hole 36. This allows the engaging portion 40 to pass through the through hole 36.

When the entire claw portion 43 is passed through the through hole 36, the inner edge of the through hole 36 and the claw portion 43 no longer come into contact. As a result, as shown in Figure 14C, the arm portion 42 returns to its original shape, and the claw portion 43 also returns to its original shape. This causes the claw portion 43 to face the peripheral edge of the through hole 36 on the engagement surface 31e in the first direction D1. Therefore, the claw portion 43 engages with the peripheral edge of the through hole 36 in the first direction D1, and the engagement portion 40 is prevented from coming out of the through hole 36. This temporarily fixes the electrical component holding member 33 to the electrical component box 31.

In addition, Figures 14A and 14B show an example in which the electrical component holding member 33 is positioned below the fixed wall portion 31c, and the electrical component holding member 33 is brought close to the fixed wall portion 31c and the engaging portion 40 is passed through the through hole 36. However, the method is not limited to this. The electrical component holding member 33 may also be positioned above the fixed wall portion 31c, that is, with Figures 14A and 14B inverted vertically, and the electrical component holding member 33 may be brought close to the fixed wall portion 31c and the engaging portion 40 may be passed through the through hole 36.

The worker fixes the cover member 35 to the fixed wall portion 31c while the electrical component holding member 33 is temporarily fixed to the electrical component box 31 by the engaging portion 40. At this time, the orientation of each member is such that, for example, as shown in Figure 14C, the electrical component holding member 33 is positioned below the fixed wall portion 31c in the vertical direction Z. In this state, the opposing surface 43c of the engaging portion 40 is in contact with the engaging surface 31e, and the electrical component holding member 33 is supported by the fixed wall portion 31c by the four engaging portions 40. Also in this state, the main wall portion 33a of the electrical component holding member 33 is located below the fixed wall portion 31c. Also in this state, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b is located below the through hole 36.

The worker places the cover member 35 on the fixed wall portion 31c from above in the vertical direction Z, covering the heat sink 34 with the cover member 35. In this state, the worker passes the fastening member 37 from above through the fixing hole 35g of the cover member 35 and the fixing hole 31d of the fixed wall portion 31c, and tightens it into the screw hole 33m of the electrical component holding member 33. As the fastening member 37 is tightened into the screw hole 33m, the main wall portion 33a of the electrical component holding member 33 approaches the fixed wall portion 31c. When each fastening member 37 is completely tightened into each screw hole 33m, the main wall portion 33a comes into contact with the fixed wall portion 31c, as shown in Figure 13, and the electrical component holding member 33 and the cover member 35 are fixed to the electrical component box 31. After fixing the electrical component holding member 33 and the cover member 35 to the electrical component box 31, the worker attaches the lid member 31b to the electrical component box body 31a. This allows the electrical unit 30 to be assembled.

According to this embodiment, the electrical component unit 30 comprises a fixed wall portion 31c having a through hole 36 that penetrates in a first direction D1, and an electrical component holding member 33 as a fixed member fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c. The electrical component holding member 33 has a main body portion 33p and an engaging portion 40 that protrudes from the main body portion 33p in the first direction D1 and is passed through the through hole 36. The engaging portion 40 has a base portion 41 that protrudes from the main body portion 33p in the first direction D1, an arm portion 42 that extends from the base portion 41 in a second direction D2 that intersects with the first direction D1 and faces the main body portion 33p in the first direction D1, and a claw portion 43 that protrudes from the tip of the arm portion 42 in a left-right direction Y, which is a third direction that intersects with both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. The claw portion 43 has an opposing surface 43c that faces the peripheral edge of the through hole 36 in the fixed wall portion 31c in the first direction D1. The arm portion 42 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction Y with the base portion 41 as a fulcrum. Therefore, as described above, when the engaging portion 40 is inserted into the through hole 36, the arm portion 42 can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y, allowing the engaging portion 40 to pass through the through hole 36. After the engaging portion 40 has passed through the through hole 36, the arm portion 42 returns to its original shape, allowing the opposing surface 43c of the claw portion 43 to engage with the fixed wall portion 31c. Thus, the snap-fit structure between the engaging portion 40 and the through hole 36 allows the electrical component holding member 33 to be fixed or temporarily fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c. In this embodiment, as described above, the snap-fit structure between the engaging portion 40 and the through hole 36 allows the electrical component holding member 33 to be temporarily fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c.

Furthermore, since the direction in which the arm portion 42 extends is the second direction D2, which intersects the first direction D1, the arm portion 42 can be made longer without increasing the dimension of the arm portion 42 in the first direction D1. This makes it possible to make the arm portion 42 more elastically deformable while suppressing the arm portion 42 that passes through the through hole 36 from protruding significantly in the first direction D1. Therefore, it is possible to make it easier to pass the engaging portion 40 through the through hole 36 while suppressing the enlargement of the electrical unit 30 in the first direction D1.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the engaging portion 40 has a curved portion 45 that extends continuously in a curved shape from the end of the base portion 41 connected to the main body portion 33p to at least a part of the edge of the arm portion 42 facing the main body portion 33p, when viewed in the left-right direction Y. Therefore, the stress generated in the engaging portion 40 when the arm portion 42 elastically deforms can be distributed and received by the curved portion 45 that spans the base portion 41 and the arm portion 42. This suppresses the concentration of stress at the connection point between the base portion 41 and the arm portion 42, and suppresses the concentration of stress in the engaging portion when the engaging portion 40 elastically deforms. Consequently, damage to the engaging portion 40 can be suppressed.

Furthermore, if the arm portion 42 elastically deforms in the first direction D1 facing the main body portion 33p, simply forming the edge of the base portion 41 into a curved shape such as a U-shape when viewed in the left-right direction Y will adequately distribute and receive the stress. This is because, when viewed in the left-right direction Y, the arm portion 42 deforms in a direction that opens or closes the curved portion, and the stress is easily distributed and received by the curved portion. On the other hand, as in this embodiment, if the arm portion 42 elastically deforms in the left-right direction Y that intersects the first direction D1 facing the main body portion 33p, even if only the edge of the base portion 41 is curved when viewed in the left-right direction Y, the direction in which the arm portion 42 moves when it elastically deforms will intersect with the direction in which the curved portion extends, making it difficult for the stress to be adequately received by the curved portion. In contrast, in this embodiment, by continuously forming the curved portion 45 not only on the base portion 41 but also on the arm portion 42, the stress generated when the arm portion 42 elastically deforms in the left-right direction Y can be suitably distributed and received by the curved portion 45.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the first curved portion 45a formed on the base portion 41 of the curved portion 45 is curved in the opposite direction to the direction in which the arm portion 42 protrudes relative to the base portion 41 when viewed in the left-right direction Y, and is smoothly connected to the main body portion 33p. Therefore, the stress generated in the base portion 41 when the arm portion 42 undergoes elastic deformation can be suitably distributed and received by the first curved portion 45a formed on the base portion 41. Consequently, the concentration of stress in the engaging portion 40 when the engaging portion 40 undergoes elastic deformation can be further suppressed.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second curved portion 45b formed on the arm portion 42 of the curved portion 45 is curved in a direction that is recessed away from the main body portion 33p in the first direction D1 when viewed in the left-right direction Y. Therefore, the stress generated in the arm portion 42 when the arm portion 42 undergoes elastic deformation can be suitably distributed and received by the second curved portion 45b formed on the arm portion 42. Consequently, the concentration of stress in the engaging portion 40 when the engaging portion 40 undergoes elastic deformation can be further suppressed.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the arm portion 42 has an arm body portion 42a located on the base portion 41 side of the claw portion 43 in the second direction D2. At least a part of the second curved portion 45b is formed on the arm body portion 42a. The dimension of the second direction D2 in the second curved portion 45b is more than half the dimension of the second direction D2 in the arm body portion 42a. Therefore, the second curved portion 45b formed on the arm portion 42 of the curved portion 45 can be made suitably longer, and stress can be more suitably distributed and received in the second curved portion 45b. Thus, the concentration of stress on the engaging portion 40 when the engaging portion 40 undergoes elastic deformation can be further suppressed.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the entirety of the second curved portion 45b is formed on the arm body portion 42a of the arm portion 42, which is located on the base portion 41 side of the claw portion 43 in the second direction D2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the portion of the arm portion 42 on which the second curved portion 45b is formed from becoming too large, and to prevent the strength of the arm portion 42 from decreasing too much. Also, since the curved portion 45 is not formed on the portion of the arm portion 42 on which the claw portion 43 is formed, it is easier to make the claw portion 43 larger. This makes it easier to stably engage the claw portion 43 with the fixed wall portion 31c.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the electrical component unit 30 comprises an electrical component box 31 having a fixed wall portion 31c, and an electrical component 32 housed inside the electrical component box 31. The electrical component 32 is fixed to an electrical component holding member 33, which is a fixed member. Therefore, when fixing the electrical component 32 to the electrical component box 31 via the electrical component holding member 33, the engaging portion 40 can be used to fix or temporarily fix the electrical component holding member 33 to the electrical component box 31. This makes it easier to fix the electrical component 32 to the electrical component box 31. Also, as described above, in this embodiment, the engaging portion 40 can be prevented from becoming larger in the first direction D1, so the engaging portion 40 passed through the through hole 36 can be prevented from protruding significantly to the outside of the electrical component box 31. This prevents the engaging portion 40 from coming into contact with other parts arranged around the electrical component unit 30. Furthermore, when the blower 15 is arranged inside the housing 11 in which the electrical unit 30 is housed, as in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the obstruction of the airflow generated by the blower 15 by the engaging portion 40.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the electrical component unit 30 includes a heat sink 34 that is fixed to an electrical component holding member 33 as a fixed member and is thermally connected to the electrical component 32. At least a portion of the heat sink 34 is passed through a through hole 36 in a first direction D1 from inside the electrical component box 31 and protrudes to the outside of the electrical component box 31. Therefore, the heat sink 34 can release the heat from the electrical component 32 to the air outside the electrical component unit 30. In addition, the engaging portion 40 can be engaged with the peripheral edge of the through hole 36 through which the heat sink 34 passes. Therefore, with the heat sink 34 passed through the through hole 36, the electrical component holding member 33 can be suitably fixed or temporarily fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c by the engaging portion 40.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the electrical component holding member 33, which is the fixed member, is an insulating member. The main body portion 33p of the electrical component holding member 33 has a main body wall portion 33a to which the heat sink 34 is fixed, and a frame-shaped wall portion 33b that protrudes from the main body wall portion 33a in a first direction D1 and surrounds the heat sink 34. The frame-shaped wall portion 33b is passed through the through hole 36 in the first direction D1 and protrudes to the outside of the electrical component box 31. Therefore, as shown in Figure 13, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b, which is part of the insulating electrical component holding member 33, is positioned between the heat sink 34 fixed to the main body wall portion 33a and the fixed wall portion 31c. As a result, even if the current transmitted from the electrical component 32 to the heat sink 34 were to flow from the heat sink 34 towards the fixed wall portion 31c, the current would need to flow along the outer surface of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b, as shown by the dashed line path R in Figure 13, and over the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. Therefore, the creepage distance from the heat sink 34 to the fixed wall portion 31c can be suitably increased by the frame-shaped wall portion 33b, and the heat sink 34 and the electrical component box 31 can be suitably insulated.

Furthermore, the engaging portion 40 protrudes from the frame-shaped wall portion 33b in the first direction D1. Therefore, it is not necessary to interrupt a part of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b to provide the engaging portion 40, and the creepage distance between the heat sink 34 and the fixed wall portion 31c can be suitably increased by the frame-shaped wall portion 33b around the entire circumference of the heat sink 34. Consequently, better insulation can be achieved between the heat sink 34 and the electrical box 31. Also, as described above, since the arm portion 42 of the engaging portion 40 extends in the second direction D2 rather than the first direction D1, even if the engaging portion 40 protrudes from the frame-shaped wall portion 33b in the first direction D1, it is possible to suppress the engaging portion 40 from protruding significantly outside the electrical box 31.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the frame-shaped wall portion 33b is rectangular in shape. The engaging portions 40 are formed at each of the four corners of the frame-shaped wall portion 33b. Therefore, the four engaging portions 40 allow the electrical component holding member 33 to be more stably fixed or temporarily fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the electrical unit 30 includes a cover member 35 that covers at least a portion of the heat sink 34 from the outside of the electrical box 31. The cover member 35 is fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c together with the electrical component holding member 33, which is the component to be fixed, by fastening members 37 that penetrate the fixed wall portion 31c and are tightened into the main body portion 33p. Therefore, by performing the work of fixing the cover member 35 to the fixed wall portion 31c, both the electrical component holding member 33 and the cover member 35 can be fixed to the fixed wall portion 31c. This reduces the number of man-hours required for the assembly of the electrical unit 30.

Furthermore, as described above, even if the electrical component holding member 33 is positioned below the fixing wall portion 31c when fixing the cover member 35, the engaging portion 40 engages with the fixing wall portion 31c, allowing the electrical component holding member 33 to be temporarily fixed to the fixing wall portion 31c. Therefore, when fixing the cover member 35 with the fastening member 37, it is possible to prevent the electrical component holding member 33 from coming off the fixing wall portion 31c, making it easier to fix the cover member 35 and the electrical component holding member 33. In addition, since it is possible to prevent the dimension of the engaging portion 40 in the first direction D1 from becoming too large, when fixing the cover member 35 as described above, it is possible to prevent the electrical component holding member 33 from moving too far below the fixing wall portion 31c. This prevents the fastening member 37 from not reaching the screw hole 33m formed in the electrical component holding member 33, making it easier to fix the cover member 35 and the electrical component holding member 33.

Furthermore, as described above, in this embodiment, since the engaging portion 40 can be prevented from protruding significantly from the through hole 36 to the outside of the electrical box 31, the third covering portion 35d of the cover member 35 that covers the engaging portion 40 can also be prevented from protruding significantly from the electrical box 31. As a result, when the blower 15 is placed inside the housing 11 in which the electrical unit 30 is housed, the airflow generated by the blower 15 is prevented from being obstructed by the third covering portion 35d.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the electrical unit 30 is housed inside the casing 11 of the outdoor unit 10. A blower 15 is housed inside the casing 11. The electrical unit 30 is located above the blower 15 in the vertical direction Z. The fixed wall portion 31c constitutes at least a part of the lower wall portion of the electrical box 31 in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the air blown by the blower 15 tends to flow near the fixed wall portion 31c. This makes it easier for heat to be released from the heat sink 34, which is passed through the through hole 36 of the fixed wall portion 31c, into the air blown by the blower 15. Moreover, even when the air blown by the blower 15 tends to flow near the fixed wall portion 31c, as described above, it is possible to suppress the engagement portion 40 and the third covering portion 35d covering the engagement portion 40 from protruding significantly, thus preventing the airflow generated by the blower 15 from being obstructed by the engagement portion 40 and the cover member 35. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the airflow efficiency of the blower 15.

Furthermore, even if rainwater is scattered toward the electrical unit 30 by air blown by the blower 15, the cover member 35 that covers at least a part of the heat sink 34 prevents rainwater from reaching the space between the heat sink 34 and the electrical component holding member 33, and the through-hole 36. Even if rainwater does reach the space between the heat sink 34 and the electrical component holding member 33, and the through-hole 36, the two sealing members described above prevent rainwater from entering the electrical box 31.

While embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments described above, and the following configurations and methods may also be adopted.

The curved portion formed in the engaging portion may have any shape as long as it extends in a curved manner continuously from the end of the base portion connected to the main body portion to at least a part of the edge of the arm portion facing the main body portion of the fixed member, when viewed in the third direction (left-right direction Y). The curved portion may be formed on the entire edge of the arm portion facing the main body portion of the fixed member. The number of engaging portions is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more. The fixed member may be fixed to the fixed wall portion by a snap-fit structure between the engaging portion and a through hole formed in the fixed wall portion. In this case, the opposing surface of the claw portion in the engaging portion is in contact with the fixed wall portion. The fixed member on which the engaging portion is formed may be any member as long as it is part of the electrical unit. The fixed wall portion to which the fixed member is fixed may be any part as long as it is part of the electrical unit.

The electrical unit relating to this disclosure may be any electrical unit provided in a refrigeration cycle device, and may be provided in the indoor unit, or may be provided separately from the indoor and outdoor units. The refrigeration cycle device relating to this disclosure may be any device that utilizes a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates, and is not limited to an air conditioner. The refrigeration cycle device may also be a heat pump water heater, etc.

The relative positions and dimensions of the parts described in the embodiments described above are merely examples, and the relative positions and dimensions of the parts in this disclosure are not particularly limited, as long as they are within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure. The configurations and methods described herein can be combined as appropriate, within the bounds of mutual non-inconsistency.

10...Outdoor unit, 11...Housing, 13...Heat exchanger, 15...Blower, 20...Indoor unit, 30...Electrical unit, 31...Electrical box, 31c...Fixed wall section, 32...Electrical component, 33...Electrical component holding member (fixed member), 33a...Main body wall section, 33b...Frame-shaped wall section, 33p...Main body section, 34...Heat sink, 35...Cover member, 36...Through hole, 37...Fastening member, 40, 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d...Engaging section, 41...Base section, 42...Arm section, 42a...Arm body section, 43...Claw section, 43c...Opposite surface, 45...Curved section, 45a...First curved section, 45b...Second curved section, 100...Refrigeration cycle device, D1...First direction, D2...Second direction, Y...Left/right direction (Third direction), Z...Vertical direction

Claims (13)

An electrical unit provided in a refrigeration cycle device,
A fixed wall portion having a through hole formed that penetrates in the first direction,
The fixed member fixed to the aforementioned fixed wall,
Equipped with,
The member to be fixed is,
The main body and
An engaging portion that protrudes from the main body in the first direction and passes through the through hole,
It has,
The aforementioned engaging portion is
A base portion protruding from the main body portion in the first direction,
An arm portion extending from the base in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and facing the main body in the first direction,
A claw portion protruding from the tip of the arm in a third direction intersecting both the first and second directions,
It has,
The claw portion has a surface facing the peripheral edge of the through hole in the fixed wall portion and facing the first direction.
The arm portion is elastically deformable in the third direction with the base portion as a fulcrum.
An electrical unit having a curved portion formed in the engaging portion that, when viewed in the third direction, extends in a curved shape continuously from the end of the base portion connected to the main body portion to at least a part of the edge of the arm portion facing the main body portion. The electrical unit according to claim 1, wherein the first curved portion formed at the base of the curved portion is curved in a direction opposite to the direction in which the arm portion protrudes from the base when viewed in the third direction, and is smoothly connected to the main body portion. The electrical unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second curved portion formed on the arm portion of the curved portion is curved in a direction that is recessed away from the main body portion in the first direction when viewed in the third direction. The arm portion has an arm body portion that is located closer to the base portion than the claw portion in the second direction,
At least a portion of the second curved section is formed on the arm body,
The electrical unit according to claim 3, wherein the dimension in the second direction of the second curved portion is more than half of the dimension in the second direction of the arm body portion. The entirety of the second curved section is formed on the arm body, as described in claim 4. An electrical box having the aforementioned fixed wall portion,
The electrical components housed inside the aforementioned electrical box,
Equipped with,
The electrical component unit according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical component is fixed to the fixed member. A heat sink is provided, which is fixed to the fixed member and thermally connected to the electrical component.
The electrical unit according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the heat sink is passed from the inside of the electrical box through the through hole in the first direction and protrudes to the outside of the electrical box. The member to be fixed is an insulating member,
The main body is,
The main body wall portion to which the heat sink is fixed,
A frame-shaped wall portion that protrudes from the main body wall portion in the first direction and surrounds the heat sink,
It has,
The frame-shaped wall portion is passed through the through hole in the first direction and protrudes to the outside of the electrical box.
The electrical unit according to claim 7, wherein the engaging portion protrudes from the frame-shaped wall portion in the first direction. The frame-shaped wall portion is rectangular in shape.
The electrical unit according to claim 8, wherein the engaging portion is formed at each of the four corners of the frame-shaped wall portion. The heat sink is provided with a cover member that covers at least a portion of it from the outside of the electrical box,
The electrical unit according to claim 7 , wherein the cover member is fixed to the fixed wall portion together with the fixed member by a fastening member that penetrates the fixed wall portion and is tightened into the main body portion. An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle system,
The electrical unit according to claim 10,
A housing that houses the aforementioned electrical unit inside,
A heat exchanger housed inside the aforementioned enclosure,
A blower housed inside the aforementioned enclosure,
Equipped with,
The electrical unit is located above the blower in the vertical direction.
The aforementioned fixed wall portion constitutes at least a part of the lower vertical wall portion of the electrical equipment box, which is an outdoor unit. An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle system,
The electrical unit according to claim 1 ,
A housing that houses the aforementioned electrical unit inside,
An outdoor unit equipped with this feature. An outdoor unit according to claim 11 or 12,
Indoor unit and
A refrigeration cycle device equipped with the following features.