Patent Application
20240288182
The present subject matter relates generally to window air conditioners, more specifically to saddle window air conditioners.
Saddle window air conditioners consist of an indoor module and an outdoor module connected by, and dependent from, a chaseway. The indoor module comprises an indoor coil and a fan, among other things, while the outdoor module comprises an outdoor coil, a compressor and a fan. The chaseway is an enclosed structure connecting the two modules and providing a protected passage for electronic and fluid communication between the two modules. When installed, the chaseway rests on the stool and windowsill with the indoor and outdoor modules on respective sides of the wall below the window and generally extending no further vertically upward than the top of the chaseway. Thus, the window may still provide outward visibility and allow outdoor light to enter the room.
The indoor and outdoor modules may balance, or substantially balance, the weight distribution of saddle window air conditioners, allowing a window to be freely opened when the saddle window air conditioner is installed in the window. Thus, such air conditioners may be used to cool air within a home while optionally allowing the window to be opened to allow fresh air to enter the room. Saddle window air conditioners may also be quieter than other window air conditioners due to the placement of a fan and compressor outside of the cooled room.
Saddle window air conditioners are installed in windows through walls of various thicknesses. Some saddle window air conditioners have a chaseway that is adjustable in length to accommodate the various wall thicknesses. However, properly adjusting the chaseway for the correct wall thickness and maintaining the indoor and outdoor modules in a parallel relationship may be difficult to achieve. Accordingly, improvements to wall thickness adjustment features of saddle air conditioner would be beneficial.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary aspect, a saddle window air conditioner defining mutually perpendicular lateral, vertical, and transverse directions is disclosed. The saddle window air conditioner comprises an indoor module, an outdoor module spaced apart from the indoor module, and a chaseway extending between the indoor module and the outdoor module. The chaseway comprises an outer sleeve having a first end fixedly attached to one of the indoor module and the outdoor module, a second end transversely spaced from the first end, a top wall, and a first side wall, the top wall and first side wall partially defining a cavity, and an inner sleeve having a first end fixedly attached to the other of the indoor module and the outdoor module, a second end transversely spaced from the first end, a first side wall and a top wall, the top wall having a first set of laterally spaced alignment guides, the second end of the inner sleeve slidingly received within the cavity such that a length of the chaseway between the indoor module and the outdoor module is adjustable by transversely sliding the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve. The indoor module and the outdoor module are generally in a parallel configuration when the second end of the outer sleeve aligns with the first set of alignment guides.
In another example aspect, a chaseway for a saddle window air conditioner is disclosed. The chaseway comprises an outer sleeve having a first end and a second end transversely spaced from the first end, a top wall and a first side wall, the top wall and first side wall partially defining a cavity, and an inner sleeve having a first end and a second end transversely spaced from the first end, a first side wall and a top wall, the top wall having a first set of laterally spaced alignment guides, the second end of the inner sleeve slidingly received within the cavity such that a length of the chaseway is adjustable by transversely sliding the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve. In another example aspect, a method of assembling a saddle window air conditioner defining mutually perpendicular lateral, vertical, and transverse directions is disclosed. The saddle window air conditioner comprises an indoor module, an outdoor module, a chaseway comprising an outer sleeve having a first end fixedly attached to one of the indoor module and the outdoor module, a second end transversely spaced from the first end, a top wall and a first side wall, the top wall and first side wall partially defining a cavity. The saddle window air conditioner further comprises an inner sleeve having a first end fixedly attached to the other of the indoor module and the outdoor module, a second end transversely spaced from the first end, a first side wall and a top wall, the top wall having a plurality of sets of laterally spaced alignment guides. The method comprises positioning the indoor module opposite the outdoor module with inner sleeve and outer sleeve aligned; identifying one set of the plurality of sets of alignment guides that corresponds with a predetermined gap between the indoor and outdoor modules; and sliding the inner sleeve into the cavity until the second end of the outer sleeve aligns with the identified set of alignment guides.
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.
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 or spirit 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 “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. 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”). In addition, here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged. Such ranges are identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “generally,” “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of the methods or machines for constructing or manufacturing the components and/or systems. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a 10 percent margin, i.e., including values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. In this regard, for example, 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, e.g., “generally vertical” includes forming an angle of up to ten degrees in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise, with the vertical direction V.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” In addition, references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “an embodiment” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, 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.
In general, terms such as “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “top,” or “bottom” are used with reference to the perspective of a user accessing the indoor module of saddle window air conditioner from the conditioned space.
Turning to the figures,
As used herein, the term “saddle window air conditioner” is used broadly. For example, saddle window air conditioner 100 may include a supplementary electric heater (not shown) for assisting with heating air within the associated room or building without operating the sealed system 120. However, as discussed in greater detail below, saddle window air conditioner 100 may also include a heat pump heating mode that utilizes sealed system 120, with or without an electric resistance heater, to heat air within the associated room or building. Thus, it should be understood that “saddle window air conditioner” as used herein is intended to cover both units with and without heat pump heating modes.
With reference to
Turning to
Saddle window air conditioner 100 further includes a controller (not shown) with user inputs, such as buttons, switches and/or dials. The controller regulates operation of saddle window air conditioner 100. Thus, the controller is in operative communication with various components of saddle window air conditioner 100, such as components of sealed system 120 and/or a temperature sensor (not shown), such as a thermistor or thermocouple, for measuring the temperature of the interior atmosphere 104. In particular, the controller may selectively activate sealed system 120 in order to chill or heat air within sealed system 120, e.g., in response to temperature measurements from the temperature sensor.
The controller includes 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 saddle window air conditioner 100. The memory can represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. The processor executes programming instructions stored in the memory. The memory can be a separate component from the processor or can be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, the controller may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.
Sealed system 120, represented schematically in
As may be seen in
During operation of sealed system 120 in the cooling mode, refrigerant flows from indoor coil 124 through compressor 122. For example, refrigerant may exit indoor coil 124 as a fluid in the form of a superheated vapor. Upon exiting indoor coil 124, the refrigerant may enter compressor 122. Compressor 122 is operable to compress the refrigerant. Accordingly, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant may be increased in compressor 122 such that the refrigerant becomes a more superheated vapor.
Outdoor coil 126 is disposed downstream of compressor 122 in the cooling mode and acts as a condenser. Thus, outdoor coil 126 is operable to reject heat into the outdoor atmosphere at outdoor module 114 of saddle window air conditioner 100 when sealed system 120 is operating in the cooling mode. For example, the superheated vapor from compressor 122 may enter outdoor coil 126 via a first distribution conduit 134 that extends between and fluidly connects reversing valve 132 and outdoor coil 126. Within outdoor coil 126, the refrigerant from compressor 122 transfers energy to the outdoor atmosphere and condenses into a saturated liquid and/or liquid vapor mixture. An outdoor air handler or outdoor fan 148 is positioned adjacent outdoor coil 126 may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the exterior or outdoor atmosphere across outdoor coil 126 in order to facilitate heat transfer.
Sealed system 120 also includes a capillary tube 128 disposed between indoor coil 124 and outdoor coil 126, e.g., such that capillary tube 128 extends between and fluidly couples indoor coil 124 and outdoor coil 126. Refrigerant, which may be in the form of high liquid quality/saturated liquid vapor mixture, may exit outdoor coil 126 and travel through capillary tube 128 before flowing through indoor coil 124. Capillary tube 128 may generally expand the refrigerant, lowering the pressure and temperature thereof. The refrigerant may then be flowed through indoor coil 124.
Indoor coil 124 is disposed downstream of capillary tube 128 in the cooling mode and acts as an evaporator. For example, the liquid or liquid vapor mixture refrigerant from outdoor coil 126 may enter indoor coil 124 via capillary tube 128 that extends between and fluidly connects indoor coil 124 and outdoor coil 126. Thus, indoor coil 124 is operable to heat refrigerant within indoor coil 124 with energy from the interior atmosphere 104 at indoor module 112 of saddle window air conditioner 100 when sealed system 120 is operating in the cooling mode. Within indoor coil 124, the refrigerant from capillary tube 128 receives energy from the indoor atmosphere 104 and vaporizes into a superheated vapor and/or high quality vapor mixture. An indoor air handler or indoor fan 150 is positioned adjacent indoor coil 124 and may facilitate or urge a flow of air from the interior atmosphere 104 across 104 indoor coil 124 in order to facilitate heat transfer. Indoor fan 150 may be any suitable fan configured to provide a required air flow to achieve the required heat transfer, for example, indoor fan 150 may be a cross-flow fan.
During operation of sealed system 120 in the heating mode, reversing valve 132 reverses the direction of refrigerant flow through sealed system 120. Thus, in the heating mode, indoor coil 124 is disposed downstream of compressor 122 and acts as a condenser, e.g., such that indoor coil 124 is operable to reject heat into the interior atmosphere 104 at indoor module 112 of saddle window air conditioner 100. In addition, outdoor coil 126 is disposed downstream of capillary tube 128 in the heating mode and acts as an evaporator, e.g., such that outdoor coil 126 is operable to heat refrigerant within outdoor coil 126 with energy from the exterior atmosphere at outdoor module 114 of saddle window air conditioner 100.
Indoor coil 124 and indoor fan 150 may be positioned within indoor module 112. Conversely, compressor 122, outdoor coil 126, reversing valve 132 and outdoor fan 148 may be positioned within outdoor module 114. In such a manner, certain noisy components of sealed system 120 may be spaced from the interior atmosphere 104, and saddle window air conditioner 100 may operate quietly. Various fluid passages, such as refrigerant conduits, liquid runoff conduits, etc., may extend through chaseway 130 to fluidly connect components within indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114.
It should be understood that sealed system 120 described above is provided by way of example only. In alternative example embodiments, sealed system 120 may include any suitable components for heating and/or cooling air with a refrigerant. Sealed system 120 may also have any suitable arrangement or configuration of components for heating and/or cooling air with a refrigerant in alternative example embodiments.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In
As illustrated, inner sleeve 152 generally comprises a top wall 166 spaced from a bottom wall 167 along the vertical direction V, a first side wall 164 (e.g., the right side when viewed from the indoor module 112) spaced apart from an opposite second side wall 165 (e.g., the left side when viewed from the indoor module 112) along the lateral direction L, and extends from first end 156 to second end 158 along the transverse direction T. As illustrated, the top, bottom, first side, and second side walls 166, 167, 164, 165 of inner sleeve 152 generally extend from first end 156 to second end 158 and are coterminous in the transverse direction T.
As illustrated, the top wall 166 and bottom wall 167 are generally continuous and parallel to each other and mutually perpendicular to generally continuous first and second side walls 164 and 165. As such, inner sleeve 152 is generally formed as having a rectangular cross section. In other embodiments, the cross section may have other shapes or configurations in which one or more walls are discontinuous or one or more walls are not present. For example, in an embodiment, inner sleeve 152 may be formed by top wall 166 and first side wall 164 without a second side wall 165 or bottom wall 167.
Similarly, outer sleeve 154 generally comprises a top wall 168 spaced from a bottom wall 169 along the vertical direction V, a first side wall 170 (e.g., the right side when viewed from the indoor module 112) spaced apart from an opposite second side wall 171 (e.g., the left side when viewed from the indoor module 112) along the lateral direction L, and extends from first end 160 to second end 162 along the transverse direction T. As illustrated, the top wall 166 and bottom wall 167 of outer sleeve 154 are generally continuous and parallel to each other and mutually perpendicular to generally continuous first and second side walls 170 and 171. As such, outer sleeve 154 is generally formed as a rectangular cross section defining an internal cavity. In other embodiments, the cross section may have other shapes or configurations to receive inner sleeve in the cavity for slidable displacement in the transverse T direction. Some embodiments of outer sleeve 154 may include one or more discontinuous walls or may not include one or more walls. For example, the outer sleeve 154 may comprise a top wall 168 and a first side wall 170 that partially define the cavity for receipt of the inner sleeve 152.
Inner sleeve 152 is slidingly received in the cavity formed by outer sleeve 154 and supported for transverse displacement with respect to the outer sleeve 154. Thus, the length of chaseway 130, corresponding to length of gap G, can be adjusted by sliding the inner sleeve 152 with respect to outer sleeve 154. As the indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114 are fixedly attached to the first ends 156, 160 of the inner and outer sleeves 152, 154, respectively, as the inner sleeve 152 moves transversely within outer sleeve 154, the outdoor module 114 moves towards or away from the indoor module 112, shortening or lengthening the gap G and the chaseway 130.
As may be best illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In some embodiments, a similar configuration is provided on opposite, second side wall 171 of outer sleeve 154 and second side wall 165 of inner sleeve 152. In embodiments, when the apertures 173 on the first side wall 170 and second side wall 171 of outer sleeve 154 align with receiving holes 172 formed in the first and second side walls 164, 165 of inner sleeve 152 respectively, inner module 112 and outer module 114 are generally in a parallel configuration, i.e., gap G is uniform along the lateral direction L. In other embodiments, apertures 173 are located to coaxially align with receiving holes 172 provided in other configurations while maintaining a uniform gap G along the lateral direction L.
In a parallel configuration, the length of the chaseway 130 in the transverse T direction between the first end 156 of the inner sleeve 152 and the first end 160 of the outer sleeve 154 is uniform across the lateral L direction. Accordingly, because the first end 156 of inner sleeve 152 and the first end 160 of outer sleeve 154 are fixedly attached to the indoor module 112 and the outdoor module 114 (or vice versa), in a parallel configuration a portion of L-V planar face 113 of indoor module 112 is parallel to a portion of L-V planar face 115 of outdoor module 114.
As illustrated, alignment guides 174 are provided in sets of two (two sets of two shown), each alignment guide 174 of the set is laterally spaced apart from the other of the set and each alignment guide 174 of the set equidistant transversely from first end 156 of inner sleeve 152. Thus, when inner sleeve 152 is displaced in the transverse direction T within outer sleeve 154 such that second end 162 of outer sleeve 154 is aligned with a set of alignment guides 174, inner module 112 and outer module 114 are in a parallel configuration. Exemplary alignment guides 174 are shown as sets of two alignment elements spaced apart laterally from each other and both of the two equidistant from first end 156. In other embodiments, more than two alignment elements may be used in each set, or only one element, extending substantially across the lateral length L of the inner sleeve 152 and generally parallel to first end 156, may be provided.
In the illustrative embodiment of
One set of receiving holes 172 adjacent to first end 156 of inner sleeve 152 is provided in some embodiments. The set of receiving holes 172 adjacent to first end 156 is not associated with an alignment guide 174. This set of receiving holes 172 may be associated with the retracted position of the chaseway 130 as illustrated in
In some embodiments, chaseway 130 is provided with a physical stop (not shown) to resist displacement in the transverse T direction beyond a maximum gap G. For example, the physical stop resists inner sleeve 152 and outer sleeve 154 from separating as the indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114 are moved away from each other. The stop represents the maximum separation of the indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114 and may be associated with one or more receiving holes 172 (two shown) adjacent to second end 158 of inner sleeve 152 (
Now that the construction of a saddle window air conditioner in accordance with this disclosure has been presented, an exemplary method 700 of assembling a saddle window air conditioner will be described with reference to
The chaseway also includes an inner sleeve 152 having a first end fixedly attached to the other of the indoor module 112 and the outdoor module 114, a second end transversely spaced from the first end, and a first side wall 164 and top wall 166, the top wall including a plurality of sets of alignment guides 174. The first side wall 164 may include a receiving hole 172 configured to accept a threaded fastener 176.
Method 700 begins at 702 with indoor module 112 positioned opposite outdoor module 114 of saddle window air conditioner 100 such that the inner sleeve 152 and the outer sleeve 154 are aligned, i.e., positioned such that the inner sleeve 152 is positioned to be accepted into the cavity partially defined by the top wall 168 and the first side wall 164 of outer sleeve 154.
At 704, one set of the plurality of sets of alignment guides 174 are identified that correspond to a desired predetermined gap G between the indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114. The predetermined gap G is generally selected to be at least as great as the thickness of wall 14 in the transverse direction. As the alignment of the second end 162 of the outer sleeve 154 with alignment guides 174 determines the gap G, identifying one set of the plurality of sets of alignment guides 174 may include identifying the one set of alignment guides 174 that corresponds to a gap G that is closest to, but larger than, the transverse T thickness of wall 14.
At 706, the inner sleeve 152 is received into the outer sleeve 154 and advanced by sliding into the outer sleeve 154 until the second end 162 of the outer sleeve 154 is aligned with the set of alignment guides 174 identified in 704. As the inner sleeve 152 and the outer sleeve 154 are fixedly attached each to one of the indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114, sliding the inner sleeve 152 into the outer sleeve 154 reduces the gap G between the modules. When the second end 162 of outer sleeve 154 aligns with the identified set of alignment guides 174, the predetermined gap G is achieved, the indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114 are in a parallel relationship, and sliding displacement between the inner and outer sleeves 152, 154 ceases.
At 708, when the second end 162 of the outer sleeve 154 is aligned with the identified set of alignment guides 174 that correspond with the predetermined gap G, aperture 173 and receiving hole 172 may be coaxially aligned. In this orientation, a fastener, for example threaded fastener 176, may be inserted through the aperture 173 to engage receiving hole 172. This step may facilitate maintaining the predetermined gap G between the indoor and outdoor modules 112, 114 and maintaining the modules in a parallel relationship. In some embodiments, this step 708 may be optional.
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 language of the claims.
