Outdoor unit and an air conditioner having the same

Abstract

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes: a cabinet in which at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet are formed; a heat exchanger arranged inside the cabinet; an air inlet hood that covers the air inlet; and an air outlet hood that covers the air outlet. The air inlet hood includes: a facing panel arranged facing the air inlet; an upper surface panel arranged on an upper surface of a part between the air inlet and the facing panel; and two side panels arranged respectively on two side surfaces of the part between the air inlet and the facing panel. A lower surface air intake hole is provided to a lower surface of the part between the air inlet and the facing panel. A side surface air intake hole is provided to at least one of the two side panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outdoor unit comprising:
 a cabinet in which at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet are formed;   a heat exchanger arranged inside the cabinet;   an air inlet hood that covers the air inlet; and   an air outlet hood that covers the air outlet, wherein   the air inlet hood includes
 a facing panel arranged facing the air inlet, 
 an upper surface panel arranged on an upper surface of a part between the air inlet and the facing panel, and 
 two side panels arranged respectively on two side surfaces of the part between the air inlet and the facing panel, 
   a lower surface air intake hole is provided to a lower surface of the part between the air inlet and the facing panel, and   a side surface air intake hole is provided to at least one of the two side panels.   
     
     
         2 . The outdoor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the side surface air intake hole is provided at mutually-symmetrical positions on the two side panels. 
     
     
         3 . The outdoor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a cover is provided over the side surface air intake hole. 
     
     
         4 . The outdoor unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a damper and a damper operator are provided inside the air outlet hood, the damper being openable and closable, and the damper operator being connected to the damper, and   the air outlet hood is provided with an opening at a position which is within an operating range of the damper and diagonally forward and downward from the damper.   
     
     
         5 . An air conditioner comprising:
 the outdoor unit according to  claim 1 ;   an indoor unit; and   a refrigerant pipe that connects the outdoor unit to the indoor unit.