Patent Application
20240369234
The present subject matter relates generally to air conditioning appliances, and more particularly to package terminal air conditioner units and single-package vertical units.
Air conditioner or conditioning units are conventionally utilized to adjust the temperature indoors, e.g., within structures such as dwellings and office buildings. Such units commonly include a closed refrigeration loop to heat or cool the indoor air. Typically, the indoor air is recirculated while being heated or cooled. A variety of sizes and configurations are available for such air conditioner units. For example, some units may have one portion installed within the indoors that is connected to another portion located outdoors, e.g., by ducting or conduit carrying refrigerant. These types of units are typically used for conditioning the air in larger spaces.
Another type of air conditioner unit, commonly referred to as single-package vertical units (SPVU) or package terminal air conditioners (PTAC), may be utilized to adjust the temperature in, for example, a single room or group of rooms of a structure. These units typically operate like split heat pump systems, except that the indoor and outdoor portions are defined by a bulkhead and all system components are housed within a single package that is installed in a wall sleeve positioned within an opening of an exterior wall of a building. In this regard, such units commonly include an indoor portion that communicates (e.g., exchanges air) with the area within a building and an outdoor portion that generally communicates (e.g., exchanges air) with the area outside a building. Accordingly, the air conditioner unit generally extends through, for example, an outer wall of the structure, or is otherwise ducted to the outdoors.
SPVU or PTAC units may generally be installed in closets that require sliding the unit into an enclosure. Users, such as service technicians and installers, have difficulty grasping and handling surfaces of such units during installation, removal, or servicing.
Accordingly, an air conditioner unit that addresses one or more of the above issues would be advantageous and beneficial.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an air conditioner unit including a cabinet. The cabinet includes a front opening including an upper portion and a lower portion each forming a portion of a perimeter of the front opening. The lower portion includes a lower face. A lower handle extends from the lower portion at the lower face. A bulkhead is mounted within the cabinet to form an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. A refrigeration loop includes an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion and an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion. A compressor is operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and is configured for urging a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a single package air conditioner including a cabinet. The cabinet includes a front opening including an upper portion and a lower portion each forming a portion of a perimeter of the front opening. The upper portion includes an upper handle extending from a lower face of the upper portion. A bulkhead is mounted within the cabinet to form an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. A refrigeration loop includes an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion and an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion. A compressor is operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and is configured for urging a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows. As used herein, terms of approximation, such as “substantially,” “generally,” or “about” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.
Embodiments of an air conditioner appliance are provided herein including a handling structure configured to facilitate installation, removal, and servicing of the air conditioner unit. Embodiments of the air conditioner unit include a handle positioned underneath an inlet plenum of the air conditioner unit. Additionally, or alternatively, embodiments of the air conditioner unit include a handle positioned underneath an upper perimeter of the inlet plenum. Still additionally, or alternatively, embodiments of the air conditioner unit include a handle positioned underneath a drain pan. Embodiments of the air conditioner unit may provide a point of contact at a front end of a cabinet of the air conditioner unit, such as to allow a user to push, pull, or otherwise handle the air conditioner unit from the front end.
Turning now to the figures,
Air conditioner 100 includes a package housing or cabinet 102 supporting and defining an indoor portion 104 and an outdoor portion 106. Air conditioner 100 generally defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T. Each direction V. L. T is perpendicular to each other, such that a mutually orthogonal coordinate system is generally defined.
In some embodiments, cabinet 102 contains various other components of the air conditioner 100. Cabinet 102 may include, for example, a rear opening 110 (e.g., with or without a grill or grate thereacross) and a front opening 112 (e.g., with or without a grill or grate thereacross) may be spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction T. The rear opening 110 may be part of the outdoor portion 106. while the front opening 112 is part of the indoor portion 104. Components of the outdoor portion 106, such as an outdoor heat exchanger 120, outdoor fan 124, and compressor 126 may be enclosed within cabinet 102 between front opening 112 and rear opening 110. In certain embodiments, one or more components of outdoor portion 106 are mounted on a base pan 136, as shown. According to exemplary embodiments, base pan 136 may be received within a drain pan, e.g., for collecting condensation formed during operation.
The front opening 112 includes a lower portion 109 forming, at least in part, a lower perimeter of the front opening 112 and inlet 138. The front opening 112 includes an upper portion 113 forming, at least in part, an upper perimeter of the front opening 112 and inlet 138. The base pan 136 is positioned beneath the lower portion 109 along the vertical axis V. Referring to
Referring to
Handles 107, 115 such as depicted and described herein may allow a user to grasp the cabinet 102, such as to facilitate translating the air conditioner 100 along the transverse direction T, such as during installation, removal, or servicing. Handles 107, 115 provided herein may be formed of polymer material, sheet metal, or wire form, or combinations thereof. For instance, handles 107, 115 may provide a point of contact, or a pair of points of contact, for a user to grasp the air conditioner 100. Embodiments provided herein may mitigate a user grasping the air conditioner from other surfaces, such as may mitigate contact with sharp edges or flow surfaces.
During certain operations, air 114 may be drawn to outdoor portion 106 through rear opening 110. Specifically, an outdoor inlet 128 defined through cabinet 102 may receive outdoor air 114 motivated by outdoor fan 124. Within cabinet 102, the received outdoor air 114 may be motivated through or across outdoor fan 124. Moreover, at least a portion of the outdoor air 114 may be motivated through or across outdoor heat exchanger 120 before exiting the rear opening 110 at an outdoor outlet 130. It is noted that although outdoor inlet 128 is illustrated as being defined above outdoor outlet 130, alternative embodiments may reverse this relative orientation (e.g., such that outdoor inlet 128 is defined below outdoor outlet 130) or provide outdoor inlet 128 beside outdoor outlet 130 in a side-by-side orientation, or another suitable orientation.
As shown, indoor portion 104 may include an indoor heat exchanger 122, a blower fan 142, and a heating unit. These components may, for example, be housed behind the front opening 112. A bulkhead 134 may generally support or house various other components or portions thereof of the indoor portion 104, such as the blower fan 142. Bulkhead 134 may generally separate and define the indoor portion 104 and outdoor portion 106 within cabinet 102. Additionally, or alternatively, bulkhead 134 or indoor heat exchanger 122 may be mounted on base pan 136 (e.g., at a higher vertical position than outdoor heat exchanger 120), as shown.
During certain operations, air 116 may be drawn to indoor portion 104 through front opening 112. In some embodiments, an indoor inlet 138 defined through cabinet 102 may receive indoor air 116 motivated by blower fan 142. At least a portion of the indoor air 116 may be motivated through or across indoor heat exchanger 122 (e.g., before passing to bulkhead 134). From blower fan 142, indoor air 116 may be motivated (e.g., across heating unit) and returned to the indoor area of the room through an indoor outlet 140 defined through cabinet 102 (e.g., above indoor inlet 138 along the vertical direction V), such as depicted schematically by outlet air 119. Optionally, one or more conduits (not pictured) may be mounted on or downstream from indoor outlet 140 to further guide air 119 from air conditioner 100. It is noted that although indoor outlet 140 is illustrated as generally directing air upward, it is understood that indoor outlet 140 may be defined in alternative embodiments to direct air in any other suitable direction.
Outdoor and indoor heat exchanger 120, 122 may be components of a thermodynamic assembly (i.e., sealed system), which may be operated as a refrigeration assembly (and thus perform a refrigeration cycle) or, in the case of the heat pump unit embodiment, a heat pump (and thus perform a heat pump cycle). Thus, as is understood, exemplary heat pump unit embodiments may be selectively operated perform a refrigeration cycle at certain instances (e.g., while in a cooling mode) and a heat pump cycle at other instances (e.g., while in a heating mode). By contrast, exemplary A/C exclusive unit embodiments may be unable to perform a heat pump cycle (e.g., while in the heating mode), but still perform a refrigeration cycle (e.g., while in a cooling mode).
The sealed system may, for example, further include compressor 126 (e.g., mounted on base pan 136) and an expansion device (e.g., expansion valve or capillary tube—not pictured), both of which may be in fluid communication with the heat exchangers 120, 122 to flow refrigerant therethrough, as is generally understood. The outdoor and indoor heat exchanger 120, 122 may each include coils 146, 148, as illustrated, through which a refrigerant may flow for heat exchange purposes, as is generally understood.
According to an example embodiment, compressor 126 may be a variable speed compressor. In this regard, compressor 126 may be operated at various speeds depending on the current air conditioning needs of the room and the demand on the sealed system. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, compressor 126 may be configured to operate at any speed between a minimum speed, e.g., 1500 revolutions per minute (RPM), to a maximum rated speed, e.g., 3500 RPM. Notably, the use of variable speed compressor 126 enables efficient operation of the sealed system, minimizes unnecessary noise when compressor 126 does not need to operate at full speed, and ensures a comfortable environment within the room.
According to exemplary embodiments, air conditioner 100 may further include a duct 200 to direct air to cabinet 102. Duct 200 may be selectively attached to (e.g., fixed to or mounted against) cabinet 102 (e.g., via a suitable mechanical fastener, adhesive, gasket, etc.) and extend through a structure wall 150 (e.g., an outer wall of the structure within which air conditioner 100 is installed) and above a floor of the structure. For instance, duct 200 extends along an axial direction X (e.g., parallel to the transverse direction T) through a hole or channel in the structure wall 150 that passes from an internal surface 154 to an external surface 156. The duct 200 may form a makeup air duct configured to receive outdoor air 118, which may be referred to as makeup air, and provide the outdoor air 118 to the air conditioner 100. For instance, makeup air 118 may be provided to the indoor portion 104. In some embodiments, makeup air 118 may be provided through front opening 112. Air 118 may be allowed to egress through indoor outlet 140.
In various embodiments, duct 200 may include a body 210 and transition portion 220 configured to change direction of air received and provided through the air conditioner 100. In some embodiments, body 210 and transition portion 220 may form a monolithic, unitary structure. In still various embodiments, the body 210, the transition portion 220, or both, are formed of any appropriate material, such as, but not limited to, a metal material, a polymer material, or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the duct 200 is formed from an expanded polystyrene (EPP) material, such as EPP foam, allowing for reduced weight, eliminating separate insulating material layers, and improved handling and maintainability. The air conditioner 100 including the duct 200 formed of the EPP material and including handles 107, 115 may advantageously and beneficially facilitate translating the air conditioner 100 along the transverse direction T, such as during installation, removal, or servicing. Embodiments provided herein may mitigate a user grasping the air conditioner from other surfaces, such as may mitigate contact with sharp edges or flow surfaces, and further promote movement and handling, such as from the reduced weight and complexity of duct 200.
The operation of air conditioner 100 including compressor 126 (and thus the sealed system generally), blower fan 142, outdoor fan 124, heating unit, and other suitable components may be controlled by a control board or controller. Controller may be in communication (via for example a suitable wired or wireless connection) to such components of the air conditioner 100. By way of example, the controller may include a memory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of air conditioner 100. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH.
Air conditioner 100 may additionally include a control panel 160 and one or more user inputs, which may be included in control panel 160. The user inputs may be in communication with the controller. A user of the air conditioner 100 may interact with the user inputs to operate the air conditioner 100, and user commands may be transmitted between the user inputs and controller to facilitate operation of the air conditioner 100 based on such user commands. A display may additionally be provided in the control panel 160, and may be in communication with the controller. Display may, for example be a touchscreen or other text-readable display screen, or alternatively may simply be a light that can be activated and deactivated as required to provide an indication of, for example, an event or setting for the air conditioner 100.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
