Refrigeration – Structural installation – Window connected or mounted
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-12-04
Bennett, Henry (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Structural installation
Window connected or mounted
C062S263000, C062S298000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324859
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 structural framework for 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.
In manufacturing such units, particularly as the units become larger, the fabrication of certain components, such as those comprising the front cover portion of the unit, become onerous and cumbersome in size. Typically, the larger the unit the more components are required and the more fasteners are required in order to assemble 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.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A structural framework for an air distribution unit of the type which includes a housing, which defines an air inlet and outlet, and an air flow path therethrough extending between the inlet and the outlet. The unit includes an evaporator coil supported in the housing in the air flow path and a fan for effecting air flow along the flow path. The framework includes a main support frame including a bottom section having a predetermined depth and width, a vertically extending back section, and a top section extending forwardly from the top of the back section. The back section and the top section have the same width as the bottom section, and the bottom section and the back section each have right and left hand edges. Vertically extending left and right side walls each have a lower edge equal in length to the depth of the bottom section and a rear edge less than the predetermined height of the back section. The lower edges and rear edges of the side walls are structurally interconnected to the right-hand edges of the bottom section and the back section, respectively. Each of the right and left side walls has a substantially rectangular lower section having a depth equal to the predetermined depth of the bottom section and an upper end terminating at a height less than the height of the rear edge. Each of the right and left side walls further has an upper triangular section extending from a base overlying the upper end of the rectangular section, and a hypotenuse which extends from a point intermediate the upper end, rearwardly to the upper end of the rear edge. Each of the right and left side walls also has a horizontally extending channel extending the depth of the lower section of the walls and located between the upper end of the rectangular lower section and the base of the triangular section. A planar fan mounting panel having right and left edges is configured to be received in the horizontally extending channels of the right and left side walls. The fan mounting panel has a depth substantially equal to the predetermined depth of the bottom of the main support panel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4151726 (1979-05-01), Schlueter
patent: 4416327 (1983-11-01), Naksda et al.
patent: 4733542 (1988-03-01), Blair
patent: 4733543 (1988-03-01), Blair
patent: 4951737 (1990-08-01), Tenhundfeld et al.
patent: 5094089 (1992-03-01), Lail
patent: 1915725 (1970-10-01), None
patent: 1558582 (1969-02-01), None
patent: 2071693 (1971-09-01), None
Correa Juan Carlos Carne
Tesche Carlos Alfonso
Bennett Henry
Carrier Corporation
Jiang Chen-Wen
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