AU2010100779A4 - An Installation Kit for a Package Terminal Air Conditioning Unit - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Invention Title: An Installation Kit for a Package Terminal Air Conditioning Unit Applicant: John Edward Hulleman The invention is described in the following statement: 2 An Installation Kit for a Package Terminal Air Conditioning Unit Field of the Invention. The present invention relates to mounting assemblies for air conditioning units and particularly for a mounting assembly to mount a package 5 terminal air conditioning unit in a preformed opening. Background Art. Room air conditioners come in two forms: unitary and packaged terminal (PTAC) systems. Unitary systems, the common one room air conditioners, sit in a 10 window or wall opening, with interior controls. Interior air is cooled as a fan blows it over the evaporator. On the exterior the air is heated as a second fan blows it over the condenser. In this process, heat is drawn from the room and discharged to the environment. A large house or building may have several such units, permitting each room be cooled separately. 15 PTAC systems are also known as wall split air conditioning systems or ductless systems. These PTAC systems which are frequently used in hotels have two separate units (terminal packages), the evaporative unit on the interior and the condensing unit on the exterior, with tubing passing through the wall and connecting them. This minimizes the interior system footprint and allows each room to be 20 adjusted independently. PTAC systems may be adapted to provide heating in cold weather, either directly by using an electric strip, gas or other heater, or by reversing the refrigerant flow to heat the interior and draw heat from the exterior air, converting the air conditioner into a heat pump. While room air conditioning provides maximum flexibility, when cooling many rooms it is generally more expensive than central air 25 conditioning. In situations where a user wishes to replace a unitary air conditioning unit with a package terminal air-conditioner, the problem is created of the opening in the periphery of the structure which remains once the unitary air-conditioner is removed. Typically, this opening is much larger than the opening required for the 30 installation of the fluid communication conduits and/or evaporator unit. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that older houses or buildings utilise materials of construction which are difficult and/or costly to source in order to replace or cover the opening left by the removal of the unitary air-conditioner.

3 It would therefore be a contribution to the art if an installation kit having an adjustable enclosure or frame were provided to ease the installation of a package terminal air conditioning unit into an existing opening left by the removal of unitary air-conditioner. 5 It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. Summary of the Invention. The present invention is directed to a mounting assembly to mount a 10 package terminal air conditioning unit in a preformed opening, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in a mounting assembly to mount a package terminal air conditioning unit in a 15 preformed opening the package terminal air conditioning unit including a condenser portion located outside a building structure and an evaporator/outlet portion to be located inside the building structure and fluid communication conduits therebetween, the installation kit including a size adjustable enclosure adapted to be located relative to and substantially seal an opening in the building structure periphery and relative to 20 which the evaporator/outlet portion of the air conditioning unit is mounted. The installation kit of the present invention is particularly well adapted for retrofitting a package terminal or split system air-conditioner into a building structure that previously had a unitary air conditioning unit installed. The size adjustable enclosure will typically be mounted in the opening 25 left by the removal of the unitary air conditioning unit. However, the size adjustable enclosure may be used to mount the evaporator/outlet portion of a package terminal air conditioning unit in any opening formed in a building. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the size adjustable enclosure is manufactured from a plurality of members which together provide the 30 enclosure with the ability to be length adjustable to suit the dimensions of the opening. Typically, a plurality of members define a substantially rectangular shape. Normally, a number of corner portions are provided, each of the corner portions being substantially L-shaped. Preferably, each of the corner portions will 4 mount a further member which allows the length of the sides of the generally rectangular shape to be adjusted to suit the opening. Typically, the members slide relative to one another. The members will typically form of a frame which will be fixed into the opening in the periphery of 5 structure. One or more cover panels or assemblies will typically be provided relative to the frame both inside and outside the building structure in order to match the exterior as much as possible. An outlet unit may be provided in order to cover the entire opening, 10 particularly on the inside of the building structure. The members of the frame will typically be metal at least substantially rigid and preferably strong. The members will typically define a rectangular "box" frame. The frame will preferably have attachment points or portions in order 15 to allow attachment of the cover members relative to. The cover members according to a preferred embodiment will be separate from one another such that a plurality of members are required in order to build the cover, particularly outside of the building structure. Alternatively, one cover means may be provided on the inside and one on the outside. 20 The frame will preferably be provided with attachment points, typically an elongate track in order to attach the cover members to the frame or relative to the frame. Normally, each of the sides of the substantially rectangular frame will be provided with attachment points or at least one track. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, each of the four 25 corner portions or brackets have a hollow substantially C- shaped cross-section. An elongate track member is preferably receivable within the C-shaped opening of each of the corner portions. Each track member will preferably be substantially rectangular in cross-section with a track portion extending at least partially over the length of the 30 track member. Normally, the opening into which the frame is to be assembled is measured and a track member is cut to size or otherwise adjusted to extend substantially over the length of the side of the opening. The track member is then inserted into a pair of corner portions in the frame is preferably attached to an interior 5 facing edge of the opening. This will typically locate a track along each side of the substantially rectangular opening and relative to which cover member(s) can be attached, preferably the full length of the side of the opening. Typically, a plurality of mounting clips or members will be provided in 5 order to attach to the track and to the cover member(s) to attach the cover members relative to the track. Preferably, the mounting clips or members are provided with means to attach to the cover members or alternatively, the cover members may be provided with a mounting portion corresponding to the mounting clips or members. Normally, at least one sealing means is provided in order to seal the 10 cover members to the periphery of the structure, particularly about the point of entry of the fluid communication conduits, or to seal the frame to the opening, or both. The cover member on the interior of the structure may be or include an outlet portion for the air from the evaporator portion. In an alternative embodiment, the outlet unit may be provided be a size 15 adjustable mounting assembly in order to mount the outlet unit relative or partially within the opening in the wall remaining from removal of the original unit. The size adjustable mounting assembly may be provided as a plurality of length adjustable walls which are attached to the outlet unit and adjustable relative thereto. Any of the features described herein can be combined in any 20 combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings. Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 25 Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a typical package terminal air conditioning unit. Figure 2 is a schematic view from the front of four corner sections of an adjustable sized mounting frame according to an aspect of the present invention. Figure 3 is an end view of a corner section of an adjustable sized 30 mounting frame according to an aspect of the present invention. Figure 4 is an end view of a corner section of a track member according to an aspect of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment.

6 According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a mounting assembly to mount a package terminal air conditioning unit in a preformed opening is provided. The package terminal air conditioning unit includes a condenser 5 portion 10 located outside a building structure 12 and an evaporator/outlet portion I1 to be located inside the building structure 12 and fluid communication conduits 13 therebetween. The preferred installation kit includes a size adjustable enclosure adapted to be located relative to and substantially seal an opening in the building structure periphery and relative to which the evaporator/outlet portion I of the air 10 conditioning unit is mounted. The size adjustable enclosure is mounted in the opening left by the removal of a unitary air conditioning unit. However, the size adjustable enclosure may be used to mount the evaporator/outlet portion 11 of a package terminal air conditioning unit in any opening formed in a building. 15 According to one particularly preferred embodiment, the size adjustable enclosure is manufactured from a plurality of members which together provide the enclosure with the ability to be length adjustable to suit the dimensions of the opening. Typically, a plurality of members define a substantially rectangular shape as illustrated in Figure 2 as an example. 20 Normally, a number of corner portions 14 are provided, each of the corner portions being substantially L-shaped. Preferably, each of the corner portions will mount a further elongate member 16 (one cross sectional view of which is illustrated in Figure 4) which allows the length of the sides of the generally rectangular shape to be adjusted to suit the opening. 25 Typically, the corner members and the elongate members slide relative to one another, with the elongate members received at least partially in the hollow corner portions. The members will typically form of a frame which will be fixed into the opening in the periphery of structure. One or more cover panels or assemblies will typically be provided 30 relative to the frame both inside and outside the building structure in order to match the exterior as much as possible. An outlet unit may be provided in order to cover the entire opening, particularly on the inside of the building structure.

7 The members of the frame will typically be metal at least substantially rigid and preferably strong. The members will typically define a rectangular "box" frame. The frame will preferably have attachment points or portions 15 in 5 order to allow attachment of the cover members relative to. The cover members according to a preferred embodiment will be separate from one another such that a plurality of members are required in order to build the cover, particularly outside of the building structure. Alternatively, one cover means may be provided on the inside and one on the outside. 10 The frame will preferably be provided with attachment points 15, typically an elongate track. Normally, each of the side of the substantially rectangular frame will be provided with attachment points or at least one track. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, each of the four corner portions or brackets have a hollow substantially C- shaped cross-section as 15 illustrated generally in Figure 3. An elongate track member as illustrated generally in Figure 4 is preferably receivable within the C-shaped opening of each of the corner portions, such that the attachment track 15 stands proud of the frame. Each track member will preferably be substantially rectangular in cross-section with a track portion extending at least partially over the length of the 20 track member. Normally, the opening into which the frame is to be assembled is measured and a track member is cut to size or otherwise adjusted to extend substantially over the length of the side of the opening. The track member is then inserted into a pair of corner portions in the frame is preferably attached to an interior facing edge of the opening. This will typically locate a track along each side of the 25 substantially rectangular opening facing inwardly and relative to which cover member(s) can be attached. Typically, a plurality of mounting clips or members will be provided in order to attach to the track and to the cover member(s) to attach the cover members relative to the track. Preferably, the mounting clips or members are provided with 30 means to attach to the cover members or alternatively, the cover members may be provided with a mounting portion corresponding to the mounting clips or members.

8 Normally, at least one sealing means is provided in order to seal the cover members to the periphery of the structure, particularly about the point of entry of the fluid communication conduits. The cover member on the interior of the structure may be or include an 5 outlet portion for the air from the evaporator portion. In an alternative embodiment, the outlet unit may be provided be a size adjustable mounting assembly in order to mount the outlet unit relative or partially within the opening in the wall remaining from removal of the original unit. The size adjustable mounting assembly may be provided as a plurality of length adjustable 10 walls which are attached to the outlet unit and adjustable relative thereto. In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an 15 embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or 20 characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention 25 into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (5)

1. A mounting assembly to mount a package terminal air conditioning unit in a preformed opening the package terminal air conditioning unit including a condenser portion located outside a building structure and an evaporator/outlet 5 portion to be located inside the building structure and fluid communication conduits therebetween, the installation kit including a size adjustable enclosure adapted to be located and substantially skilled an opening in the building structure periphery and relative to which the evaporator/outlet portion of the air conditioning unit is mounted. 10

2. A mounting assembly as claimed in claim I wherein the size adjustable enclosure is manufactured from a plurality of members which together provide the enclosure with the ability to be length adjustable to suit the dimensions of the opening.

3. A mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a number of 15 corner portions are provided, each of the corner portions being substantially L shaped, each of the corner portions mounting a further member which allows the length of the sides of the generally rectangular shape to be adjusted to suit the opening.

4. A mounting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one 20 or more cover panels or assemblies are provided relative to the frame inside the building with a faceplate provided in order to cover the entire opening on the inside and the one or more cover panels or assemblies outside the building structure configured in order to match the exterior as much as possible.

5. A mounting assembly as claimed in claim I wherein the outlet unit is provided 25 with a size adjustable mounting assembly in order to mount the outlet unit relative to or partially within the opening in the wall provided as a plurality of length adjustable walls which are attached to the outlet unit and adjustable relative thereto.