AU2008288394A1

AU2008288394A1 - Air conditioner for a built up

Info

Publication number: AU2008288394A1
Application number: AU2008288394A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Vanes Francini
Original assignee: Dometic Italy SRL
Current assignee: Dometic Italy SRL
Priority date: 2007-08-16
Filing date: 2008-08-14
Publication date: 2009-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-14
Also published as: EP2178710A1; AU2008288394B2; DE102007038716A1; WO2009021994A1; EP2178710B1

Description

Air conditioner for a built up The invention concerns an air conditioning unit for an external structure of a camper van, in particular of a mobile home or of a boat, and is particularly 5 suitable to be provided on a roof of such a camper van. There is the requirement especially in the case of larger structures of mobile units to acclimatise, depending on the season and the temperature, the interior of the structure, i.e. to heat it in winter and to cool it in summer. It should be equally 10 possible to adequately illuminate it. In the field of camping vans, like caravans and mobile homes, glass domed roof structures are known. For opening and closing these can be electrically operated and have a fly screen or a louvre for privacy and/or as protection against insects. The provision of such a glass dome by installing it in a cut-out of the roof of a camper van has the advantage that the 15 illumination of the structure through the transparent glass dome is easily achieved and that a variable adjustment of the inclination of the glass dome on the structure enables an adequate ventilation of the interior of the structure. However, glass dome structures of this type, known from the state-of-the-art, 20 have the disadvantage that with the exception of adequate illumination of the interior of the structure in the case of extreme temperatures they cannot ensure suitably pleasant climatic conditions inside of the structure, since they can provide only an appropriate ventilation. Therefore it is often desirable for reasons of comfort or when transporting sensitive goods to keep the temperature inside of 25 the structure within a certain range. In this connection air conditioning unit, used in structures, have been in use, with which the interior of a structure can be adequately acclimatised. For example, from WO 2006/021226 a method to operate an air conditioning unit as well as a 30 device is known. With an air conditioning unit of this kind, that is fitted on the roof of a vehicle like a roof rack, the interior can be adequately acclimatised to suit the requirement. The roof air conditioning equipment, described in WO 2006/021226 has two air circuits. A first air circuit cools the interior, while the air flow circulating in this area is cooled by an evaporator. A second air circuit cools the condenser, 2 through which the heat, removed from the interior, is released into the atmosphere. The air conditioning unit of the same applicant can replace a glass dome without any constructional alteration of the structure and consequently as a replacement of the glass dome insert can provide better climatic conditions in the 5 interior of the structure. With the exception of control and supply wiring no structural measures are necessary. Such air conditioning units, however, have the disadvantage that when the glass dome is removed and replaced by the air conditioning unit, the inherent structural 10 advantages of the glass dome are lost. This means that no light and fresh air will come through where the air conditioning unit is positioned. Consequently, the advantages of automatic air conditioning according to the state-of-the-art are lost due to the disadvantages of lack of lighting and of fresh air supply. 15 The object of the invention is to provide an air conditioning unit that retains the advantages of the air conditioning unit according to the state-of-the-art and improves it by avoiding the disadvantages occurring during the replacement of a glass dome with the air conditioning unit. 20 According to the invention this objective is achieved by an air conditioning unit having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention become obvious from the dependent claims 2 to 15. Consequently one deals with an air conditioning unit for a structure, said air 25 conditioning unit being provided in the region of a cut-out of the structure, while the air conditioning unit has a first housing unit outside of the structure and a second housing unit inside of the structure and a joining section to join the housing units in the region of the cut-out. The advantage of this is that the air conditioning unit according to the invention can be fitted without any 30 constructional alteration in a cut-out in which previously a glass dome had been fastened. Such a solution is technically very simple to accomplish and by virtue of the joining section it is ensured that a mechanical joint between the first housing unit and the second housing unit can be established as well as space can be provided for the required supply leads.

3 In addition the air conditioning unit is so constructed, that it permits a vertical incidence of the light through the surface of the cut-out into the structure. This ensures that despite of the air conditioning unit being installed in the cut-out, light can further enter into the interior of the structure. For this purpose the air 5 conditioning unit, provided in the region of a cut-out of the structure, has appropriate structural provisions that enable the unhindered vertical incidence of light through the cut-out on which the air conditioning unit is fitted. Preferably the opening here one that is transparent for light. 10 The joining section is so constructed, that it encloses the cut-out and is part of a support unit to fasten the air conditioning unit on the structure. On the support unit at least one condenser and one compressor are so arranged, that they are situated outside of the structure and above the cut-out. In this manner it is ensured that those parts of the air conditioning unit which are to be cooled by the 15 external air are in the immediate vicinity of the external air and the constructive steps for the necessary air supply can be simply achieved. According to a further development the condenser and the compressor are provided on the support unit inclined above the cut-out and preferably adjacent to 20 the cut-out, so that an unhindered incidence of the light will be possible through the surface of the cut-out. In a useful manner the condenser and the compressor in the air conditioning unit are provided on the support unit on different, preferably opposite, sides of the cut 25 out. This arrangement around the cut-out serves also the purpose of retaining or producing an as large as possible opening for the light. A further development of the air conditioning unit according to the invention preferably provides that 95% of the area of the cut-out can be used for the 30 passing through of the light, whereas the remaining 5% can be used for the supply leads of the air conditioning unit. In the case of a further development of the air conditioning unit according to the invention it is particularly advantageous to provide in the region of the cut-out of 4 the air conditioning unit a hatch or a dome, so that advantageously an air conditioning unit having the properties of a conventional glass dome is produced. According to a further development of the air conditioning unit according to the 5 invention it is particularly advantageous that the area of the cut-out surface can be closed off with a light-impermeable louvre, or that a fly screen can be pulled over it, so that in the case of an open glass dome the penetration of insects into the interior of the structure will be prevented and privacy will be guaranteed. 10 It is particularly advantageous according to a further development of the air conditioning unit according to the invention that the louvre or the fly screen can be automatically moved away from the region of the cut-out, so that the user of the interior of the structure can be assured a high degree of comfort. 15 A further development of the arrangement according to the invention provides that in the first housing unit an evaporator is provided and the joining section has at least one air conduit. This type of construction advantageously enables a compact construction of the air conditioning unit, whereby it will be ensured that all functional components, required for the cooling of the interior and for the 20 discharge of the waste heat, are accommodated in one housing part and consequently can have a compact design. By virtue of the joining section it will then be ensured, that the necessary air supply and exhaust conduits for the interior can be passed through to the functional components of the air conditioning unit. In this case the joining section can also accommodate the 25 control and supply leads. A particularly advantageous further development of the air conditioning unit according to the invention is that the second housing part accommodates the evaporator, because in this case only the leads of the cooling agent have to be 30 passed through the joining section and thus the cut-out can be enlarged with regard to the light-permeable surface compared with the case when air conduits have to be passed through it, because the joining section can be smaller in this case.

5 In a particularly advantageous manner a further development of the air conditioning unit according to the invention has at least one lighting unit in the second housing unit, as this way during darkness the lighting conditions can be similar to those when light enters through the transparent region of the air 5 conditioning unit. An already existing supply lead of the air conditioning unit can be used this way also for the lighting. Particularly advantageously a further development of the air conditioning unit has at least one indicator element and/or a control element in the second housing 10 unit. In this manner all components necessary to operate and monitor the air conditioning unit are arranged in one housing unit. Particularly advantageously the control element in the second housing unit is executed as a remote control element, as in this manner an increased comfort is 15 achieved and by appropriate remote control units a mobile home can be comfortably acclimatised already prior to arrival. Particularly advantageously the remote control is executed as radio remote control according to the ZigBee standard, because no additional control leads for 20 the control of the air conditioning unit are required and no visual contact is necessary. Particularly advantageously the air conditioning unit is provided in the region of the structure of a mobile home. 25 Further advantageously the structure of a mobile home is provided on a boat, since there too hatches or dome inserts are used, that can be advantageously replaced by air conditioning units. 30 In this manner the air conditioning unit has multiple use in many mobile equipment. In the following the invention is further explained based on the figures and embodiments.

6 Fig.1 shows a perspective view of an air conditioning unit on a structure, Fig.2 shows the air conditioning unit of Fig.1 with the cover removed, 5 Fig.3 shows a view of the air conditioning unit of Figs.1 and 2 from the inside of the structure, Figs.4 and 5 show a side view of the air conditioning unit and a front view of the air conditioning unit by sectioning the structure, 10 Fig.6 shows a glass dome insert according to the state-of-the-art, Fig.7 shows a conventional roof air conditioning unit according to the state-of-the art. 15 Within the scope of the description of the air conditioning unit the reference numerals have the same meaning in all figures. As Fig.1 shows, the air conditioning unit 1 according to an embodiment of the 20 invention is fastened on an external surface of a structure, designated by 20. In this connection the air conditioning unit 1 has a first housing unit 2, executed as a housing cover, said housing unit fastened on a support unit 22. Consequently the housing unit 2 covers the support unit 22 on the outside, at least partly. In the perspective view one can recognise ventilation slots 10 and 11 that serve the 25 purpose of entry and outlet for the cooling air. This cooling air is conveyed through a condenser and past a compressor to cool the interior of the housing. For this purpose in the vicinity of the condenser fans (not illustrated) may be provided, which draw the air under negative pressure through the condenser. This will also result in that the cooling air will be sucked through the ventilation 30 slot 10 into the interior of the housing. In this case the housing of the air conditioning unit has a transparent cover 21, that could be constructed, for example, as a lid, and can be set inclined to let air pass through an opening formed in a cut-out of the structure.

7 Fig.2 illustrates the interior of the embodiment of the air conditioning unit of Fig.1 according to the invention, while the illustration of Fig.2 shows the air conditioning unit with the housing cover 2 removed. 5 In this respect the support unit 22 of the air conditioning unit 1 can be recognised. The air conditioning unit 1 is fastened on the outside of the structure by means of this support unit 22. In the embodiment shown here the essential functional components of the air conditioning unit are provided on the support unit 22. They are the compressor 5, that preferably is a rotary compressor, the condenser 6 10 and the evaporator 4. The support unit 22 further has separating walls 161, 162 and 142, serving the purpose of stabilisation and air guidance. In the vicinity of the cut-out an opening 78 can be clearly recognised, that almost completely permits the passing through of vertically incident light and is bordered by a joining section 70. A louvre 75 is also illustrated, with which the opening can be visually 15 tightly closed. Instead of this louvre, or in addition to it, a movable fly screen can be also provided, that in the case of open ventilation prevents the entry of flies into the interior of the structure. Furthermore, a fan 16 is illustrated, with which the air is sucked through the evaporator. 20 An air supply 141 is also illustrated in this embodiment, with which air can be supplied to the evaporator from the interior of the structure. In this connection particular care is to be taken that the cooling components 16 and 4 are thermally well insulated by the separating walls 142 and 161 from the heat removing components 5 and 6. The result of this is that an air flow for the cooling of the 25 interior is not mixed with the air flow for the cooling of the condenser 6 and compressor 5, provided in the external space. The degree of efficiency of the air conditioning unit would otherwise deteriorate. For this purpose it has to be ensured, particularly in the region of the opening 78, that it is sealed as well as possible against the cut-out. For this purpose the joining section 70, that connects 30 an external part of the housing with an internal part of the housing of the air conditioning unit, should be executed, if possible, in one piece and air-tight.

8 By means of ventilating conduits, that are preferably provided in the region 141, air is removed from the interior of the structure as well as cooled air is supplied to the interior once again through the outlet conduits. 5 For the external cooling circuit, that removes heat from the condenser and cools the compressor, in the region of the ventilation grate 11 additional fans may be provided to suck air past the condenser. They could, for example, suck air through the air slot 10 and let it circulate in the interior. While doing so, the joining section 70 ensures that the compressor will be also cooled with fresh air, 10 because it is tightly sealed against the cut-out and the housing. In that case the air is discharged from the ventilation grate 11. The air circulation, that heats or cools the air in the interior, a heating can be carried out in the known manner, for example, by electric heating in the region of the evaporator 4, transports air from the interior, that is sucked by the fan 16 through the evaporator 4 and conveys 15 cooled or tempered air through appropriately positioned ventilation conduits in the region 141 back into the interior of the structure. As Fig.3 shows, a second housing unit 23 is provided in the interior of the structure. One can again clearly recognise the opening 78, that lets daylight, 20 entering vertically, through the cut-out into the structure as well as fresh air, if desired. A louvre or a fly screen 75 can be also recognised in the interior. Air intake openings 14 are also clearly illustrated, through which air, to be tempered, is sucked from the interior of the structure and conveyed to the evaporator 4. After the air had been tempered in the evaporator or in the heat coil present 25 therein, it is blown by means of the fan 16 from the ventilation openings 15 into the interior of the structure. All components of the air conditioning unit illustrated can be operated by remote control. For example, on the second housing unit an indicator with operating 30 devices 35 is provided. A remote control unit that operates, for example, according to the radio standard ZigBee, may be coupled with this indicator, said radio standard having a particularly energy-saving design thus ensuring a possibly long battery life of the components connected. Further details are shown at www.ziqbee.orq.

9 By means of a remote control of this kind the air conditioning unit according to the invention can be switched on during travel via a suitable connection, for example via the Internet or telephone system, and the interior of the structure brought to the desired temperature. The ventilation components, for example, are also 5 remotely controlled. The same is valid for the lighting devices 30, 31 and 32, that are provided in the region of the second housing unit. The lighting units have the particular advantage that they provide in the interior a lighting situation that is similar to that when light enters through the opening 78. 10 In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figs.1 to 3, all functional components of the air conditioning unit, including the operating unit, are provided inside the first housing unit 2 on the support unit 22 of the air conditioning unit 1. This produces optimal prerequisites for a compact construction of the unit and places most functional components outside of the structure, by virtue of which the 15 interior can be used to its optimum. In any case, such a structure requires that the air has to be conveyed from the interior to outside and the tempered air has to be conveyed again from the outside to the interior. If this is not desired, and to enable an optimal usage of the place in the region of 20 the cut-out 78, the evaporator 4, together with the fan 16, can be installed in the interior of the structure, so that only the pipes for the cooling agent from the evaporator to the compressor and from the condenser back to the evaporator have to be guided through the joining section in the region of the cut-out 78. Naturally, control leads, leads for sensors, as well as supply lines for the 25 compressor and perhaps fans can also be preferably passed through in the region of the joining section. The air conditioning unit illustrated has the great advantage that it combines in a compact unit the use of a ventilating and lighting glass dome with an air 30 conditioning unit, as well as with lighting equipment. Furthermore, a glass dome insert can be simply replaced by an air conditioning unit according to the invention, since the components of the air conditioning unit are provided in a compact manner around the cut-out opening in the structure.

10 Fig.4 shows a schematic side view of the embodiment according to Fig.1, wherein ventilation openings 10 and 11 can be clearly recognised, the housing cover 2, a section through an external surface 20 of the structure as well as the second housing unit 23. 5 Fig.5 shows the view of Fig.4 from the front, and in the interior of the structure ventilation outlet openings 15 for the air-conditioned air can be clearly recognised. The air suction opening for the cooling air of the condenser 10 is also illustrated on the side. It can be clearly seen, that the second housing unit 23 of 10 the air conditioning unit requires little space in the interior of the structure. In Figs.6a and 6b a commercially available standard glass dome insert 100 for mobile homes or caravans is illustrated. In Fig.6 the glass dome 82 is opened and the frame 80, sitting in a cut-out of the structure, can be clearly recognised. 15 In Fig.6b the glass dome 82 is illustrated resting on the frame 80 and closed. When the air conditioning unit according to the invention is to be used instead of an already existing glass dome insert, the glass dome insert can be simply uninstalled and the air conditioning unit according to the invention can be inserted into the cut-out of the structure already in existence. In the region of the cut-out in 20 the joining section 70 a preferably rigid joint is provided, so that no further fastening devices are necessary. The air conditioning unit is then fastened on the structure by means of its support unit 22 only on the edge of the window opening 78, while however according to the invention it is ensured that only a small surface of the window is obstructed in a light-impermeable manner. One can also 25 use suction cups which secure the parts of the air conditioning unit, protruding inside and outside past the cut-out, on the structure. Conventional clamping, tensioning and bolted devices or other joining devices, known to the person skilled in the art, can be also used to secure the air conditioning unit on the structure. 30 The fact, that the air conditioning unit according to the invention can be inserted into an already existing cut-out, previously accommodating a glass dome insert, makes the decision of the buyer easier, enables a technically problem-free operation and a simple assembly. Thus the air conditioning unit according to the 11 invention offers great advantages in comparison with other solutions. At the same time the air conditioning unit according to the invention combines all advantages of the previously existing glass dome insert by simply making ventilation, illumination and darkening possible. 5 Fig.7 shows an example of a roof air conditioning unit according to the state-of the-art. In this case a glass dome insert 100, for example, is removed and the air conditioning unit 1 with its top housing shell 2 is inserted in the region of the outer skin of the structure 20 into the opening thereby produced, as this is illustrated by 10 the arrows. This air conditioning unit is described in detail, for example, in the publication WO 2006/021226. When compared with the solution according to the invention, its disadvantage is that when the roof air conditioning unit is installed to replace it, the illumination condition and the ventilation condition are worse when compared with a roof hatch.

Claims

1. Air conditioning unit (1) for a structure, said air conditioning unit being provided in the region of a cut-out of the structure (20), wherein the air 5 conditioning unit has a first housing unit (2) outside of the structure (20) and a second housing unit (23) inside of the structure and a joining section (70) to join the housing units in the region of the cut-out (78), wherein the air conditioning unit is so constructed, that it permits a vertical incidence of the light through the surface of the cut-out into the structure, characterised in that 10 the joining section (70) encloses the cut-out and is part of a support unit (22) to fasten the air conditioning unit (1) on the structure (20), while on the support unit (22) at least one condenser (6) and one compressor (5) are so arranged that they are situated outside of the structure and above the cut-out (78). 15

2. Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the condenser (6) and the compressor (5) are provided on the support unit (22) inclined above the cut-out (78) and preferably adjacent to the cut-out (78), so that an unhindered incidence of the light is possible through the surface of the cut-out. 20

3. Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the condenser (6) and the compressor (5) are provided on the support unit (22) on different, preferably opposite, sides of the cut-out (78).

4. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. wherein 25 the air conditioning unit permits an incidence of the light through 95% of the area of the cut-out.

5. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an openable transparent hatch or dome (21) is provided in the region of 30 surface of the cut-out.

6. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a light-impermeable louvre and/or a fly screen (75) are provided in the region of surface of the cut-out. 13

7. Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 6, wherein the louvre or the fly screen (75) can be moved away from the region of the cut-out (78).

8. Air conditioning unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in 5 the first housing unit (2) an evaporator (4) is provided on the joining unit (22) and the joining section has at least one air conduit (141).

9. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein in the second housing unit (23) an evaporator is provided and the 10 joining section (70) has at least one cooling agent conduit.

10. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the second housing unit (23) at least one lighting unit (30, 31, 32) is provided for the interior of the structure. 15

11. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the second housing unit (23) at least one control and/or one indicator element (35) is provided. 20

12. Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 11, wherein the control element (35) is a remote control element.

13. Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 12, wherein the remote control element is a radio remote control operating in accordance with the ZigBee 25 standard.

14. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure (20) is the structure of a mobile home. 30

15. Air conditioning unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the structure (20) is the structure of a boat.