Refrigeration – With vehicle feature – Occupant-type vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-26
2001-10-02
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
With vehicle feature
Occupant-type vehicle
C062SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295826
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit (HVAC) adapted for rooftop mounting on a bus or similar vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an HVAC unit which is self-contained, lightweight and provides adequate cooling, heating and ventilation to a bus passenger compartment or the compartment of a similar vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many vehicles are now equipped with heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems including built in climate control units in various vehicles and rooftop mounted units that are used primarily on passenger buses. In some known installations, the relatively heavy HVAC unit is mounted in the rear of the bus in or adjacent the engine compartment so that engine power can be used to power the unit. Also, rooftop mounted units are well known but are usually relatively heavy and in some instances require reinforcement structure incorporated into the bus body to support the HVAC unit. Also, presently available HVAC units frequently have interrelated components such that failure of one components renders the entire unit ineffective.
Previously known HVAC units do not incorporate the modularity concepts incorporated into the present invention including multiple condensers, evaporators and heating units with individual fans and blowers associated with the condensers and evaporators to enhance the modularity thereof and enable a lightweight, self-contained HVAC unit to be provided for rooftop mounting on a passenger bus or similar vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The HVAC unit of this invention includes a unique construction including condensers, evaporators, fans, blowers, heaters and compressor or compressors which results in a self-contained, lightweight, multi-functional unit for rooftop installation and modular component structure especially adapted for use in association with a passenger bus and mounted either as a single module or dual modules enabling it to be utilized with various size passenger buses. The HVAC unit has a unique cross-pattern arrangement of evaporator and condenser assemblies which enables air distribution from the system to function in a ducted system or a free blow system depending upon orientation of the condensers and evaporators. The HVAC unit is of compact construction and includes modular characteristics provided by the allocation of one fan to one condenser and one blower to one evaporator to enhance system performance and system redundancy. The HVAC unit include diagonal symmetry of components which further improves modularity, commonality and serviceability.
The HVAC unit of the present invention also preferably includes intakes for makeup fresh air that are directed through a cold evaporator plenum to allow the hot ambient makeup air to be precooled and predehumidified before entering the evaporator and then into the passenger compartment of a bus or similar vehicle. The unique construction of the HVAC unit enables it to be oriented in various modular arrangements so that it can be used as a single module for small or medium sized buses and as dual modules for medium to large size buses with the unique structural characteristics enabling the HVAC unit to be used in a ducted air circulation system or a free blowing air circulation system.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an HVAC unit especially adapted for use on passenger buses constructed for rooftop mounting either in a ducted air circulation system or free blowing air circulation system with the unit being lightweight, compact and modular in construction.
Another object of the invention is to provide an HVAC unit for bus rooftop mounting utilizing a cross-pattern orientation of evaporators and condensers including a fan for each condenser and a blower for each evaporator enabling a modular, simple and redundant structure and performance.
A further object of the invention is to provide an HVAC unit in accordance with the preceding objects in which the diagonal or cross-pattern symmetry of component arrangement effectively provides ease of serviceability by modularity arrangements which simplifies installation and repair utilizing common units in the cross-pattern arrangement.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an HVAC unit in accordance with the preceding objects in which fresh air makeup in the air circulation system is ducted through a cold evaporator plenum which allows hot ambient makeup air to be precooled and predehumidified before passage through the evaporator and discharge into the bus passenger compartment.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an HVAC unit of modular construction to enable climate control in various size buses by using a single unit for small to medium size buses and a dual unit for medium to large size buses.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4201064 (1980-05-01), Krug et al.
patent: 4727728 (1988-03-01), Brown
patent: 4732011 (1988-03-01), Haiya
patent: 4905478 (1990-03-01), Matsuda et al.
patent: 4926655 (1990-05-01), King
patent: 5209081 (1993-05-01), Matsuoka
patent: 5605055 (1997-02-01), Salgado
patent: 5632330 (1997-05-01), Drucker et al.
Carrier Transicold brochure, 1995, Roofmount Systems.
Jacobson & Holman PLLC
Tapolcai William E.
Trans/Air Manufacturing Corp.
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