Patent Application
20150338141
The present disclosure is directed to HVAC systems and components and in particular to a slide rail that allows for dual compressor configurations.
HVAC systems contain numerous components such as compressors, heating coils, cooling coils, fans, heat sinks, and more. At times, these various components must be made to fit into small footprints or oddly shaped footprints. A difficulty can arise in how to arrange and fit all the necessary components into the allowable space. Once an HVAC system is installed another difficulty arises when servicing and repair is needed. If many components have been squeezed into a small area, then accessing a broken part can be difficult. Numerous components may need to be removed so that a repairman can access all the areas that need servicing.
Many HVAC systems utilize a tandem compressor arrangement. Tandem compressors can provide advantages by compressing more fluid than a single compressor. Often a single line carries fluid to the compressors, the line splits and carries fluid to both compressors, and then after the compressors the lines converge back into one line. Tandem compressors can be placed in close proximity and the inlets/outlets for each compressor can be connected to the entry/exit lines by brazing joints or other connections. When servicing is required on the compressors or behind the compressors, the joints under and above the compressors connecting the fluid lines are detached and the compressors are removed. However, removing the compressors can be cumbersome. There is often an oil connection between the tandem compressors. Because the compressors share oil they can be difficult to move separately.
One embodiment of the present teachings is an HVAC system comprising: a slide rail mounted to the HVAC system; a plurality of compressors fluidly coupled to at least one other component within the HVAC system; and a slide plate, the slide plate comprising attachments to the plurality of compressors and comprising a slidable attachment to the slide rail, the slide plate further comprising a locking attachment operable to lock the slide plate in position with respect to the slide rail.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an HVAC slide rail system comprising: a slide rail; and a slide plate, the slide plate slidably attached to the slide rail, the slide plate comprising a plurality of attachment mechanisms operable to attach to a plurality of compressors, the plurality of compressors operable to compress fluid in an HVAC system.
Another embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a method of constructing an HVAC system comprising: connecting a suction line to a plurality of compressors; attaching each of the plurality of compressors to a slide plate; slidably attaching the slide plate to a slide rail; and providing a discharge line from the plurality of compressors.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Some heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems utilize a tandem compressor arrangement. Compressors configured for tandem operation are shown in
The compressor section of an HVAC system 100 utilizing a tandem compressor arrangement is shown in
The tandem compressor arrangement allows for efficient HVAC system operation by providing greater ability to match partial load demands on the HVAC system while still allowing for high overall system capacity during full load operation. One disadvantage of the tandem compressor arrangement is that the shared piping among the tandem compressors may make removing or accessing the compressors for maintenance exceedingly difficult. A slide rail apparatus is presented for ease of access to, and removal of, compressors configured to operate as tandem compressors.
Embodiments of the teachings of the present disclosure are shown in
The grommets 204 and 208 may be annular shaped and made of rubber, metal, or other material. Grommets 204 and 208 may each have a hole for allowing a fastener 203 to pass through it. In an embodiment, a grommet 204 may be used with each fastener 203 used to secure the compressor, or compressors, to the slide plate 202. The fastener 203 may pass through each grommet 204. Additionally, in an embodiment, a grommet 208 may be used with each fastener 203 used to secure the slide rail 201 to the HVAC unit. In this arrangement, the tandem compressors 104 are not rigidly secured to the HVAC unit and are vibrationally isolated from the rest of the HVAC unit. Further, in this arrangement, the tandem compressors are rigidly attached to one another.
As shown in both
When fully recessed, slide plate 202 may be secured to slide rail 201 using a plurality of fasteners 209. Tandem compressors 104 may be secured to slide plate 202 using a plurality of fasteners 203 and grommets 204 placed between the bottom of the compressor and the top surface of the slide plate 202.
Slide plate 202 may have a rectangular perimeter with two flanges 206 located on each of the longer sides (or the shorter sides in other embodiments) that make up its rectangular perimeter. Each flange 206 may be formed by making two approximately ninety degree downward breaks along the long sides of the perimeter of slide plate 202. The slide plate 202 may be configured so that the flanges 206 fit outside and over the raised portions 205 of slide rail 201, as shown in the profile view of
Slide plate 202 may also have handles 207 along the shorter sides that make up its rectangular perimeter. Each handle 207 may be formed by making one approximately ninety degree upward break along the shorter sides of the perimeter of slide plate 202. Each handle 207 may further consist of a rectangular cutout allowing for the remaining material making up handle 207 to be gripped by the HVAC system maintenance person.
The slide rail assembly 200 may allow for sliding of the tandem compressors into, and out of, the HVAC unit for access by maintenance personnel. The slide rail assembly design provides for low friction sliding as the material surfaces which slide over one-another are smooth surfaces that may be made of formed sheet metal. Additionally, the placement of grommets 208 between the slide rail 201 and the HVAC unit maintain vibrational isolation of the rigidly connected tandem compressors 104 from the remainder of the HVAC unit.
Other embodiments can comprise three, four or more compressors in a slide rail configuration. The compressors used can be of a variety of sizes. Alternate sizes can be used within the same configuration in some embodiments.
The connections, pipes, grommets, bolts, and other fasteners used in the teachings of the present disclosure can take a variety of forms. Pipes of various materials such as aluminum, copper, or other materials can be used. Rubber grommets and bolts can attach the compressors to the slide rails, or any appropriate attachment means can be used.
Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/002,562, filed May 23, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62002562 | May 2014 | US |
