Refrigeration – Resiliently supported power and/or heat rejecting element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-16
2001-07-17
Bennett, Henry (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Resiliently supported power and/or heat rejecting element
C062S466000, C165S069000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260373
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention generally pertains to a heat exchanger and more specifically to a mounting structure that provides the heat exchanger with double vibration isolation.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical water-source heat pump includes a compressor that compresses and circulates refrigerant in series-flow through two heat exchangers and a flow restriction (e.g., an expansion valve). One heat exchanger transfers heat between the refrigerant and an external source of water (e.g., ground water). The other heat exchanger transfers heat between the refrigerant and a comfort zone, such as a room or other area within a building. Often a four-way valve determines whether the heat pump heats or cools the comfort zone by selectively directing the refrigerant flow in a forward or reverse direction.
Heat pumps are often, but not always, installed as a system of several heat pumps, where each individual heat pump serves its own particular zone within a building, such as an apartment unit, hotel room, dormitory room, or classroom. A network of pipes interconnecting the heat pumps typically conveys water to and from each individual unit. Each heat pump unit often has its own supply and return air duct for its particular comfort zone.
When heat pumps are installed as a system of several units, often the most convenient location to install the units, the water piping, and the air ducts is overhead, or above the ceiling of each comfort zone. With the heat pumps in such proximity with the comfort zones, it becomes important to minimize any noise generated by the heat pumps. Noise is primarily created by the components that have moving parts, such as the compressor and a blower that forces the conditioned air through the room.
To provide a cushioned mounting for blowers or to minimize noise created by a compressor, such components can be mounted using vibration isolators, such as rubber grommets. Examples of such isolators are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,711,285; 4,984,971; 5,839,295; and 5,306,121. Further isolation can be achieved by installing an intermediate mounting plate between the compressor and a stationary base, as shown in the '971, '295, and '121 patents.
However, in conventional heat pumps, the effectiveness of a high performance compressor isolation system can be compromised by vibration and/or pressure pulsations transmitted to auxiliary components in direct contact with the compressor. One such component is the water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. Typically, these components are not isolation mounted. Vibration transmission from the compressor to the unit structure via these components can become the controlling factor in heat pump noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To minimize noise that could be created by a heat exchanger vibrating its surrounding enclosure or ductwork, it is an object of the invention to provide the heat exchanger with double vibration isolation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger with double vibration isolation using an intermediate vibration isolation plate that is of sufficient mass to isolate the heat exchanger more effectively than would be possible with a single layer of isolation.
A further object is to provide a heat exchanger with double vibration isolation using an intermediate vibration isolation plate that is thicker than the sheet metal of an enclosure in which the heat exchanger is installed.
A still further object of the invention is to provide double vibration isolation for a compressor and heat exchanger combination.
Yet another object is to provide a heat pump having two heat exchangers coupled to a compressor, wherein the heat exchanger closest to the compressor is provided with double vibration isolation to reduce noise, while the other heat exchanger is more firmly mounted to add rigidity to an enclosure that surrounds the heat pump.
Another object of the invention is to install a network of heat pumps and its associated piping and ductwork above several comfort zones, while providing each heat pump with double vibration isolation that includes an intermediate vibration isolation plate interposed between the comfort zone and a heat exchanger of the heat pump.
These and other objects of the invention are provided by a heat exchanger that is coupled to a vibration isolation plate by way of a first resilient member, while a second resilient member couples the plate to an enclosure that contains the heat exchanger.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2711285 (1955-06-01), Burrowes
patent: 4216937 (1980-08-01), Bridgnell et al.
patent: 4330030 (1982-05-01), Cate
patent: 4984971 (1991-01-01), Bergeron
patent: 5040953 (1991-08-01), Tinsler
patent: 5141201 (1992-08-01), Mizuno, et al.
patent: 5306121 (1994-04-01), Heflin et al.
patent: 5839295 (1998-11-01), Lehmann
patent: 6015131 (2000-01-01), Brewer, III
patent: 6029345 (2000-02-01), Christensen
American Standard International Inc.
Bennett Henry
Beres William J.
Ferguson Peter D.
Jiang Chen Wen
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