Refrigeration – With repair – assembly or disassembly means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-07-10
Buiz, Michael Powell (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
With repair, assembly or disassembly means
C415S204000, C415S214100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257012
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention generally relates to air distribution units of the type commonly used in air conditioning, heating or ventilation systems and, more particularly, to a two-piece scroll assembly for the indoor fan of such a unit.
BACKGROUND ART
In many commercial air conditioning, heating and ventilating systems, treated air is discharged into an area to be conditioned through an air distribution or conditioning unit. For example, one general type of air conditioning system, often referred to as a split system, includes separate indoor and outdoor units. The outdoor unit includes a compressor, a heat exchanger and a fan. The indoor unit includes a heat exchanger and a fan. In operation, the indoor fan draws air into the indoor unit, through an inlet thereof, and forces the air over the indoor heat exchanger and then out of the indoor unit, through an outlet opening therein.
The outdoor fan draws air into the outdoor unit, through an inlet, forces that air over the outdoor heat exchanger and then forces that air out of the outdoor unit through an outlet therein. At the same time, a compressor causes a refrigeration fluid to circulate through and between the indoor/outdoor heat exchangers. At the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air passing over that heat exchanger, cooling that air. At the same time, at the outdoor heat exchanger, the air passing over the heat exchanger absorbs heat from the refrigerant passing therethrough.
Split type air conditioning units of this type are typically manufactured in a wide range of cooling capacities. Accordingly, the size of the indoor unit can range from a small compact relatively narrow unit up to a wide unit, of substantially the same height as the compact unit. Typically the larger units will include a plurality of air circulating fans.
Typically, the larger the unit the more components are required and the more fasteners are required in order to assembly all of the components. It is considered extremely desirable to minimize the number of components required in order to fabricate the indoor units of such an air conditioning system. One component of such indoor units which typically comprises many components and fastening means is the fan scroll structure for housing the indoor unit fans and directing the air through the unit as described above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A scroll housing is provided for enclosing a centrifugal fan of an air distribution unit. The housing is of the type configured for mounting to a panel dividing the air distribution unit into inlet and outlet regions. The panel has a rectangular air flow opening formed therein. The scroll housing generally defines an irregular cylinder having end walls with circular inlet openings therein and a rectangular opening configured to be in air flow communication with the rectangular opening in the panel. The scroll housing is formed from two sections. A rear section includes a curved wall having a first edge at one end thereof, which defines one side of the rectangular opening, and a second edge at the other end of the wall. The first and second edges are substantially parallel to one another. The back section further includes planar end walls on opposite sides, each of which has a first edge which intersects with and is substantially perpendicular to the first edge of the curved wall to thereby define lateral sides of the rectangular opening. A second edge of the side wall intersects with the second edge of the curved wall. The planar end wall further includes a semi-circular opening forming half of the circular inlet opening. A front section of the scroll housing also includes a curved wall having a first edge at one end thereof, which defines the fourth side of the rectangular opening and a second edge of the other end thereof. The front section further includes planar end walls on opposite sides of the curved wall. Each of the end walls has a first edge perpendicularly intersecting with the first edge of the curved wall, and a second edge which intersects with and is substantially perpendicular to the second edge of the curved wall. Each end wall includes a semi-circular opening forming half of the circular inlet opening. The second edge of the curved wall of the back section is provided with a first hinge element thereon. The second edge of the curved wall of the front section is provided with a second hinge element thereon. The first and second hinge elements are configured to engage one another to interconnect the second edges of the front and back sections and allow pivotal movement of the said sections with respect to one another. The side walls of the back section have latching conformations formed thereon at a location underlying the first edge thereof and above the semi-circular opening therein. The side walls of the front section have a latching conformation formed thereon in the first edge, which are adapted to positively engage the latching conformations on the back section when the sections are pivoted toward one another about the hinge engagement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4672819 (1987-06-01), Mino et al.
patent: 5158432 (1992-10-01), Cox
patent: 5403163 (1995-04-01), Murphy
patent: 5638693 (1997-06-01), Baek
patent: 5690470 (1997-11-01), Zimmer
patent: 5743721 (1998-04-01), Graham et al.
patent: WO9826228 (1998-06-01), None
Correa Juan Carlos Carne
Tesche Carlos Alfonso
Buiz Michael Powell
Carrier Corporation
Jiang Chen-Wen
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