Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6260374
-
Patent Number
6,260,374
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, April 26, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 17, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Doerrler; William
- Shulman; Mark
Agents
- Beres; William J.
- O'Driscoll; William
- Ferguson; Peter D.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An air conditioning unit. The unit comprises a housing having a first side, a second side, a return air end wall, a supply air end wall, a return air interior, a supply air interior and a heat exchange coil operably connected to the first and second sides and separating the return air and supply air interiors. The first side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture, and the second side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture. The supply air end wall includes a supply air aperture wherein the supply air and return air apertures are of identical configuration. The air conditioning unit also includes chamfered corners, and a hanger assembly and a U-shaped channel bracket located at each chamfered corner.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to air conditioning units, particularly terminal devices, that must be positioned while being installed and which have a variety of potential airflow paths.
Air conditioning units which act as a terminal device for cooling systems include water source heat pumps, water cooled package units and air handlers. Typically, return air enters these units from any one of several sides, is conditioned, and exits the unit from any one of several sides. In the past, the installer was required to stock each potential configuration, sometimes requiring the installer to stock six differing but very similar terminal devices.
Additionally, during installation it is usually necessary to position the air conditioning unit while attaching some sort of fastener. This often requires several installers and may be awkward, particularly where the air conditioning unit is suspended from a high ceiling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to solve the problems with installation and configuration of previous air conditioning units.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an air conditioning unit that is field configurable.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an air conditioning unit that is easily installable and which is self supporting upon installation.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an installation mechanism which also serves as a vibration isolator.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an installation mechanism which will support a suspended air conditioning unit even if the mechanism is not securely fastened to the air conditioning unit.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an air conditioning unit having an airflow path therethrough which can be reconfigured by an installer to allow return air to enter on one of several sides and supply air to exit upon one of several sides.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present invention that this reconfigurable air conditioning unit be horizontally orientated and have at least two return air options and at least three supply air exit options.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present invention that a heat exchange coil be located in the airflow path between the return air options and the supply air options.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a horizontal water source heat pump having an octagonal shape when viewed from a vertical direction.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an air conditioning unit having chamfered corners which allow integral hanging brackets to remain within the rectangular overall shape of the unit.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an integral hanging bracket for an air conditioning unit where the integral hanging bracket does not increase the footprint of the unit.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a hanging bracket which attached in such a manner that the unit screws can be removed and the unit still hangs.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a horizontal water source heat pump or cooling only unit including an air coil internal to the unit cabinet.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present invention to allow an installer to reconfigure the airflow path for the unit to allow a left air return path, a right air return path, or the combination of both a right air and left air return path.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the present invention to allow that installer to select from a supply air left side, right side, or back supply air path either low or high fan discharge in each of those paths.
It is an object, feature and advantage of the present invention to provide an air conditioning cabinet design minimizing production errors.
It is a further object, feature and advantage of the cabinet design that all components are built the same, independent of air paths and thereby maximizing the old convertibility for airflow path changes.
The present invention provides a bracket for an air conditioning unit. The bracket comprises a substantially planar middle portion having first and second ends; a first end portion of the middle portion extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the middle portion; and a second end portion operatively attached to the middle portion at a second end, and extending in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.
The present invention further provides a bracket for an air conditioning unit. The bracket comprises a vertical portion having a first upper end and a second lower end; a horizontal portion operably connected to and extending from the first end in a first direction to a peripheral end; a horizontal portion operably connected to and extending from the second end in a direction substantially opposite the first direction; and a vibration isolator operably connected to the peripheral end and extending in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
The present invention also provides an air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit comprises a housing having a first side, a second side, a return air end wall, a supply air end wall, and a return air interior and a supply air interior and a heat exchange coil operably connected to the first and second sides and separating the return air and supply air interiors. The first side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture. The second side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture. The supply air end wall includes a supply air aperture wherein the supply air and return air apertures are of identical configuration.
The present invention additionally provides an air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit comprises a housing having first and second sides, first and second ends, and an interior between said sides and ends. Each side has a return air and a supply air section, and the first end includes a supply air section. A heat exchange coil is located within the housing and arranged to divide the interior into a return air portion and a supply air portion such that the return air sections of the first and second sides are co-extensive with the return air portion and the supply air sections of the first and second sides and the first end are coextensive with the supply air portion. The supply air sections are of substantially identical size and shape, and further including a common panel sized to cover at least one supply air section. The return air sections are of substantially identical size and shape, with a profile like the supply air sections but larger in width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an air conditioning unit in accordance with the present invention with a partial cutaway showing the interior and heat exchange coil.
FIG. 2
is a top view of diagram of the present invention including an airflow path.
FIG. 3
is a top diagram of the present invention showing all of the potential airflow paths.
FIG. 4
is a perspective of the corner bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 5A
is a top diagram of a return air panel in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5B
is a top diagram of a supply air panel in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a perspective of the hanger assembly in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a perspective of the air conditioning unit of the present invention showing the hanger assembly in position.
FIG. 8
is a side view of a hanger assembly in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1
shows an air conditioning unit
10
in accordance with the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the air conditioning unit
10
is a water source heat pump but other terminal air conditioning units and air handlers are also contemplated to fall within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
The air conditioning unit
10
includes a top
12
, a bottom
14
, a supply air end
16
, a return air end
18
which provides access to a compressor
36
and a controller (not shown), a first side
20
and a second side
22
. The top
12
, the bottom
14
, the first and second sides
20
,
22
and the supply and return ends
16
and
18
are joined to form a housing
24
. A heat exchange coil
26
is arranged in the housing so as to divide the interior of the housing
24
into a return air space
28
and a supply air space
30
. The heat exchange coil
26
is preferably a fin tube coil but other conventional heat exchanger coil exchanging heat between a fluid within the coil and air flowing over the coil are also contemplated.
The heat exchange coil
26
has an output connection
32
connected by heat exchange tubing
34
to a compressor
36
. The compressor is connected by tubing
38
to a heat exchanger
40
. The heat exchanger
40
has an output
42
connected by heat exchange tubing
44
to an expansion device
46
. The expansion device is connected by tubing
48
to an input
50
of the heat exchange coil
26
. The heat exchange coil
26
, the compressor
36
, the heat exchange coil
40
, the expansion device
46
and the tubing
34
,
38
,
44
and
48
form a heat pump system
56
shown in a cooling mode. A reversing valve and tubing (not shown) are included to reconfigure the heat pump system
56
into a heating mode of operation. The heat exchange coil
40
is preferably implemented as a shell and tube heat exchanger allowing fluid to fluid heat exchange between a refrigerant and the heat pump system
56
and a fluid entering through tubing
58
and exiting through tube
60
. The heat pump system
56
is available from The Trane Company through its Model GEH heat pump.
The present invention is directed to the ease of installation and configuration of the air conditioning unit
10
.
The compressor
36
and the heat exchange coil
40
are located in the return air interior
28
within a sealed enclosure
62
.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
, it can be seen that the air conditioning unit
10
, from a top view, has chamfered corners
70
,
72
,
74
and
76
such that the air conditioning unit
10
has eight sides
16
,
18
,
20
,
22
,
70
,
72
,
74
and
76
.
The structure
62
is mounted on the return air wall
18
to the flanges
84
of the corners
70
,
72
.
FIG. 4
is chamfered corner
70
,
72
,
74
,
76
are formed using a U-shaped vertical support
80
. The support
80
includes a flat face portion
82
with vertically arranged flanges
84
on either side of the face portion
82
. The support
80
may also include a horizontal flange
83
for attachment to the top
12
using conventional fasteners. The flanges
84
are preferably at a right angle to the face portion
82
so as to give the support
80
a U-shaped profile when viewed from above. The face portion includes a bracket aperture
86
preferably configured as a slot. The face portion
82
may also include connection apertures
88
and
90
which allow electrical, refrigerant, or drain connections to be made through the face portion
82
. When the portion
80
is installed as a chamfered corner
70
,
72
,
74
,
76
, the flanges
84
form a 135° angle relative to the adjacent sides
20
,
22
and end walls
16
,
18
.
Center supports
93
having opposed 135° flanges
94
are provided in the first and second sides
20
,
22
at the outside ends
96
of the coil
26
. In the return air space
28
, the peripheral flanges
84
and the support flanges
94
form equilateral triangles
100
where each of the equilateral triangles
100
is identical with respect to the return air space
28
such that the length of their bases
102
are the same. Since the bases
102
, of the equilateral triangles
100
are all the same, a common return air side panel
104
may be used. With respect to the supply air space
30
, the peripheral flanges
84
and the support flanges form equilateral triangles
101
where each of the triangles
101
is identical with respect to the supply air space
30
such that the length of their bases
103
are the same. Since the bases
103
of the equilateral triangles
101
are the same, a common supply air panel
105
may be used.
The return air side panel
104
is shown in FIG.
5
A and the supply air panel
105
is shown in FIG.
5
B. The panels
104
,
105
are substantially similar and have a similar profile with the exception of their width, and like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements. The return air panel
104
includes a panel face
106
, a first angled end portion
108
and a second angled end portion
110
. The angled end portions
108
and
110
are angled towards each other at a similar angle
112
. This angle is preferably 135° such that the end flanges
108
,
110
smoothly engage the flanges
84
and
94
. The supply air panel
105
includes a panel face
107
, a first angled end portion
108
and a second angled end portion
110
. The angled end portion
108
and
110
are angled towards each other at a similar angle
112
. This angle is preferably 135° such that the end flanges
108
,
110
smoothly engage the flanges
84
and
94
. The face
106
of the return air panel
104
is wider than the face
107
of the supply air panel
105
.
Since the supply air panels
105
are identical and return air panels
104
are all identical, an air conditioning unit
10
can be shipped with three such panels (two supply air panels
105
and one return air panel
104
) and an installer can rearrange the panels to provide a desired airflow path. The return air interior
28
is blocked off by the structure
62
and a return air panel
104
installed on either the first
20
or the second side
22
but not both sides
20
,
22
. This allows air to enter the return air interior
28
from the first side
20
as indicated by arrow
120
or from the second side
22
as indicated by the arrow
122
. The return air enters the return air interior
28
and passes through the coil
26
into the supply air interior
30
. A pair of supply air panels
105
are used to block off any of the three potential exits from the supply air interior
30
such that air can exit from one of the first side
20
, the second side
22
, or the supply air end wall
16
. The supply air can exit as indicated by arrows
124
,
126
and
128
.
FIG. 2
is configured such that a return air aperture
130
is blocked by a return air panel
104
and potential supply air apertures
132
and
134
are blocked by supply air panels
105
. A return air aperture
136
is covered by a filter
138
but is accessible to airflow. A supply air aperture
140
is open and a blower
142
is preferably mounted to impel air from the interior
30
out the aperture
140
. Thus the airflow through the air conditioning unit
10
follows the sequence indicated by arrows
144
,
146
,
148
and
150
.
However, the installer could just as easily have configured the airflow to flow out the supply air aperture
132
and have blocked off the supply air aperture
140
. Similarly, the airflow could be through the return air aperture
130
and out the supply air aperture
134
with the remaining apertures
132
,
140
and
136
being blocked off by panels
104
and
105
. Depending on the required airflow, installers had to determine the requisite numbers of each of the six separate configurations, install each after determining where each of the units must go. In the present arrangement, the installer can order a single unit and the distributor is only required to carry that single unit. The installer has the flexibility of reconfiguring the unit
10
into the desired airflow path since the unit
10
has a pair of identical return air apertures
130
,
136
which allow airflow into either aperture across the coil
26
and then out of any one of three identical supply air apertures
132
,
134
and
140
.
The ease of installation is further facilitated by a unique hanging bracket
160
, with an overall elongated z-shape when viewed edge on from the side, which is adapted for use with the vertical channels
80
.
The hanging bracket
160
includes a substantially planar middle portion
162
which is vertically arranged upon installation. At a bottom end
164
of the middle portion
162
is attached a base
166
extending in a first direction
168
which is substantially at a right angle to the planar portion
162
and may include a flange
165
. The middle portion
162
includes an upper end
170
including a hanging flange
172
. The hanging flange extends from the middle portion
162
in a direction
174
substantially opposite that of direction
168
. The hanger flange has a width
176
adapted to fit within the hanger aperture
86
and includes a chamfered end portion
180
. The chamfer of the chamfered end portion
180
is angled such that the chamfered portion
180
falls within a rectangle formed by adjacent side or end walls
16
,
18
,
20
,
22
. This allows the unit
10
to be shipped within a rectangular box or pallet without projections. An insulator assembly
182
extends through an aperture
184
in the chamfered portion
180
. The insulator assembly includes an insulator
186
and conventional fastener assembly
188
.
Upper bracket and lower bracket are attached to the respective top
12
and bottom
14
to support the filter
138
and allow horizontal removal.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, a hanger assembly
200
is formed by inserting the chamfered end
180
of the hanger bracket
160
through the hanger aperture
86
of the channel
80
. The insulator assembly
182
is then added to the chamfered end
180
and a fastener
202
such as a pop rivet, screw, or bolt and nut is used to secure the hanger bracket
160
to the channel
180
. The hanger assembly
200
is such that the fastener
202
is not required and the weight of the unit
10
can be held by the unsecured hanger assembly
200
. Typically, this is accomplished by placing the insulator
186
into a mating receptacle or upon a receiving pin depending upon the installation arrangement.
The present invention describes an easily installable field configurable air conditioning unit with a hanger assembly that will support the unit even when the hanger assemblies fasteners and/or the panels
104
,
105
are removed. The hanger assembly includes a vibration isolator, and the unit has an airflow path that is easily reconfigurable by a field installer to select from one or more of several return air paths and from one or more supply air paths. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the air conditioning unit can be varied from the Preferred Embodiment described herein. Additionally, other modifications and alterations to such a person and all such modifications and alterations are contemplated to fall within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
Claims
- 1. A bracket for an air conditioning unit comprising:a substantially planar middle portion having first and second ends; a first end portion of the middle portion extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the middle portion; and a second end portion operatively attached to the middle portion at a second end, and extending in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.
- 2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the second end portion has a chamfered profile.
- 3. The bracket of claim 2 wherein an insulator is attached to the second end portion.
- 4. The bracket of claim 3 wherein the air conditioning unit is a water source heat pump arranged in a horizontal orientation.
- 5. The bracket of claim 2 wherein the bracket supports the air conditioning unit without fasteners.
- 6. The bracket of claim 5 wherein the bracket has an overall Z-shape.
- 7. The bracket of claim 6 wherein the air conditioning unit includes a U-shaped support having an aperture adapted to receive the second end portion.
- 8. A bracket for an air conditioning unit comprising:a vertical portion having a first upper end and a second lower end; a horizontal portion operably connected to and extending from the first end in a first direction to a peripheral end; a horizontal portion operably connected to and extending from the second end in a direction substantially opposite the first direction; a vibration isolator operably connected to the peripheral end and extending in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
- 9. An air conditioning unit comprising:a housing having a first side, a second side, a return air end wall, a supply air end wall, and a return air interior and a supply air interior and a heat exchange coil operably connected to the first and second sides and separating the return air and supply air interiors; wherein the first side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture, and the second side includes a return air aperture and a supply air aperture, and the supply air end wall includes a supply air aperture wherein the supply air and return air apertures are of identical configuration.
- 10. The air conditioning unit of claim 9 wherein the air conditioning unit has an octagonal shape when viewed from a vertical direction.
- 11. The air conditioning unit of claim 10 wherein the air conditioning unit includes chamfered corners.
- 12. The air conditioning unit of claim 11 wherein a hanger assembly and a U-shaped channel bracket are located at each chamfered corner.
- 13. The air conditioning unit of claim 12 including interchangeable side panels adapted to block at least one of the return air and supply air apertures of the first side, the second side, or the end wall.
- 14. The air conditioning unit of claim 13 where the side panels have a mount including a 45° flange relative to a plane of the side panel.
- 15. The air conditioning unit of claim 14 wherein the side panel flange engages the U-bracket of the chamfered corner.
- 16. The air conditioning unit of claim 15 wherein the U-channel includes a slot.
- 17. The air conditioning unit of claim 16 wherein the hanging bracket extends through the slot.
- 18. The air conditioning unit of claim 17 further including a vibration isolator attached to the hanging bracket.
- 19. An air conditioning unit comprising:a housing having first and second sides, first and second ends, and an interior between said sides and ends, each side having a return air and a supply air section, and the first air end including a supply air section; a heat exchange coil located within the housing and arranged to divide the interior into a return air portion and a supply air portion such that the return air sections of the first and second sides are co-extensive with the return air portion and the supply air sections of the first and second sides and the first end are coextensive with the supply air portion; wherein the supply air sections are of substantially identical size and shape and further including a common panel sized to cover at least one supply air section; and wherein the return air sections are of substantially identical size and shape.
- 20. The air conditioning unit of claim 19 further including an airflow path entering at least one return air section, passing through the heat exchange coil, and exiting a single supply air section.
US Referenced Citations (10)