EP0743493B1 - Fixing and immobilising system for a split unit air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the general technical field of fixing and immobilization systems for air conditioning units separate units comprising a so-called indoor unit, that is to say, arranged in the room to be air conditioned, and an outdoor unit intended to be mounted outside of the room to be air conditioned.

The present invention relates to a system for fixing and immobilizing a air conditioning unit with separate units including an indoor unit intended to rest directly or indirectly on or against the floor of the room to air conditioning and an outdoor unit intended to be placed outside the room to air conditioning, said units being connected by at least one flexible link allowing the functional link between the two units as well as the blocking in position relative of the two units.

It is already generally known to produce air conditioners with separate units in which the indoor unit includes the evaporator and the compressor while the outdoor unit includes the condenser. The air conditioners of this type can be installed, fixed and immobilized different ways, and first of all using screws and dowels.

In this first classic fixing system, each unit is mounted adequately on a wall or on the wall of the room to be refrigerated, the unit interior being mounted obviously inside the room, while the outdoor unit is mounted on the exterior facade of said room. According to a mounting variant, the units can at least partially rest On the ground.

This method of attachment and immobilization requires the use of tools attachments such as hammers, drills, etc. and provokes inevitably a deterioration of the walls or elements supporting the units of the air conditioner. The mounting operation is also not easy to perform. It is difficult to move this type of air conditioner later also possible.

To at least partially remedy the disadvantages listed previously, it has already been proposed to simplify the mounting operation by using a link such as a lanyard or strap, connecting the two units of the air conditioner, and capable of serving at least in part as a means of fixing and immobilization of the air conditioning system.

It has even been envisaged to block the indoor unit in position by a door brake type brake, while the outdoor unit is a counterweight. Such fixation and immobilization system nevertheless presents a certain number disadvantages, and in particular that of requiring for each movement or orientation of the indoor unit, an operation to release the brake and then re-blocking, or even complete modification of the relative position of the two units in case of instability. In total, all displacement operations are found delicate, and in any case requires a series of manipulations. Furthermore, it turns out that the strap exerts on the indoor unit a constant force which tends to lift the door and help reduce the effectiveness of the door brake which basically acts vertically.

The document US-A-2 708 833 describes a fixing system for immobilization an air conditioning unit with separate units including an indoor unit intended to rest on the floor of the room to be air conditioned and an outdoor unit intended to be placed outside the room to be conditioned, said units being connected by a link flexible to prevent possible accidents if the outdoor unit falls window sill.

The objects assigned to the invention therefore consist in providing a remedy to the various drawbacks listed above, and in particular to provide a new system for fixing and immobilizing a air conditioning eliminating the use of tools such as hammers, drills, etc. and which is of simple implementation and improved efficiency.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new fixing system and immobilization of an air conditioning unit with separate units, said system allowing and facilitating relative and frequent movements or orientations units, while allowing efficient immobilization of each of the units, in each new position chosen.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new fixing system and of immobilization of an air conditioning unit with separate units capable of operate efficiently on any type of soil.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a fixing system and immobilization of an air conditioning unit with separate units comprising an indoor unit intended to rest directly or indirectly on or against the floor of the room to be air conditioned and an outdoor unit intended to be placed outside the room to be air conditioned, said units being connected by a flexible link allowing when the unit outside is set up to exercise under the effect of the weight of the unit force F on the indoor unit and block in position this the latter via a blocking means mounted on the indoor unit, said blocking means being formed by at least one pad integral with the unit interior and able to block by reaction on the ground and under the effect of at least a component of the force F any relative displacement of the indoor unit by report to the ground.

• La figure 1 montre selon une coupe transversale longitudinale un exemple de réalisation d'un système de fixation et d'immobilisation conforme à l'invention.
• La figure 2 montre selon une vue latérale, un détail de réalisation d'un patin d'immobilisation conforme à l'objet de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear and emerge in more detail from the description attached below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting illustrative examples in which:

• Figure 1 shows in a longitudinal cross section an embodiment of a fixing and immobilization system according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows in a side view, a detail of an immobilization shoe according to the object of the invention.

The air conditioning unit 1 shown in Figure 1, is of the mobile type and unit separated, and comprises, as is well known in the prior art, a indoor unit 2 intended to rest directly or indirectly on or against the floor 3 of the room to be air conditioned, and an outdoor unit 4 intended to be placed outside the room to be air conditioned.

The indoor unit 2 is in the form of a substantially enclosure parallelepipedic externally bounded by side walls, one of which front face 2a and a rear face 2b. The enclosure forms a frame comprising internally all the organs necessary for the operation of the unit interior, such as an evaporator, a compressor, a fan driven by a motor to blow the cooling air to the evaporator, as well as means of collecting and discharging condensed water from the evaporator. All these organs are classic and well known to man of the trade and will therefore not be described in more detail.

The enclosure is intended to rest directly or indirectly on the ground 3 to using a series of rollers 5, integral with the chassis of the indoor unit 2 mounted at its bottom.

The outdoor unit 4 is also in the form of an enclosure for defined volume in which a condenser, a fan driven by a motor to cool the circulating coolant in the condenser, as well as all the organs necessary for operation of this unit. All of these organs are well known skilled in the art and will therefore not be described in detail.

The indoor unit 2 is functionally connected to the outdoor unit 4 by a flexible pipe 6 allowing the circulation of the coolant between the two units, as well as by a drain pipe (not shown) ensuring condensate drainage. The electrical connection between the two units can take place via flexible pipe 6.

The two units are also connected by a flexible link 7, of length possibly adjustable, used for mounting and relative fixing of the two units and consequently having a resistance to tension adapted to its function.

Figure 1 shows the most frequently used mounting type which consists of to expose outside the room to be air conditioned the outdoor unit 4, making it for example rest on the outside wall 10 of the room under a window 11 which is used for the passage of the flexible link 7 and the flexible 6. The indoor unit 2 is located near window 11, inside the room to be air conditioned. In this layout the weight of the outdoor unit 4 allows the tension of the flexible link 7 which under the weight of said outdoor unit 4 exerts a force F on the unit interior 2.

According to the invention, the fixing and immobilization system of the air conditioning 1 comprises a locking means 20 formed by at least one shoe 21, integral with the indoor unit 2 and able to block, by reaction on the ground 3, and under the effect of at least one component f2 of the force F, any displacement indoor unit 2 relative to the floor 3.

According to a particularly advantageous version of the invention, the shoe 21 is movable mounted on and relative to the indoor unit 2. So preferential, the pad 21 is pivotally mounted on and relative to the unit interior 2 and fixed for this purpose on an axis 22 engaged in rotation in a yoke 23 integral with the lower part 2c of the indoor unit 2. Advantageously, the yoke 23 is fixed on the rear face 2b near to the base of this face.

Advantageously, as shown in Figure 2, the shoe 21 is pivotally mounted in the yoke 23 so as to be able to occupy a noted rest position A, in which the shoe 21 is raised and inactive, the indoor unit 2 resting simply on the rollers 5. The shoe 21 can also occupy a working position denoted B, in which the shoe 21 is lowered and active. In this last position it is supported on and against the ground 3 by its surface of contact 24. In this position, the outdoor unit 4 exerts by its weight a force F on the indoor unit 2, this force F breaking down into a force f1 which will tend to raise the indoor unit 2 and a force f2 which will tend to make move back towards wall 10 the indoor unit 2. Component f1 is canceled by the self-weight of the indoor unit 2, while the force f2 is canceled out by the reaction of the ground 3 via the pad 21 and the support in position anti-kickback of the bearing surface 24 on the ground 3. The conjunction of the effect of weight of the outdoor unit 4 transmitted by the flexible link 7 and the effect of system formed by the whole of the shoe 21 and the yoke 23 has in consequence a self-blocking effect on the relative mobility of the two units separated from the air conditioning unit 1.

According to a particularly advantageous version of the invention, the shoe 21 is formed by a part having in a side view a form of carabiner with a central rib, and an internal branch 26 forming a angle a with an external branch 27. The branches 26, 27 meet at their end opposite to the yoke 23 by an intermediate branch 28 having a general inclination which rests on the ground 3 and the face of which external forms the bearing surface 24. Advantageously, the latter is made of an elastically deformable material, for example having a hardness of the order of 75 shores. According to another alternative embodiment, the entire pad 21 is made of an elastically deformable material. This special technical feature has the advantage of improving the attachment of the shoe 21 on the ground 3 and to favor the relative immobilization of the two separate units.

Particularly advantageously, the fixing system and immobilizer according to the invention comprises two pads 21, mounted preferably on a rear face of the indoor unit 2 and as close as possible to casters 5 so as to compensate for any irregularities in the floor 3.

The operation of the system according to the invention is as follows:

When attaching the air conditioning unit 1, the outdoor unit 4 is deposited outside the room to be air conditioned and for example rests, such as shown in figure 1 against the external face of a wall located under a window 11, while being subjected to the action of its own weight under the effect of the gravity. The supply hose 6, as well as the flexible immobilization link 7 extend into the room to be air conditioned through window 11, flexible link 7 for example coming to bear on a rim 11a of the window. Unity interior 2 is moved and placed in the place that suits the user in the room, the flexible link 7 being energized and possibly adjusted in length. When the position of the internal unit 2 is defined, the shoe 21 is then lowered from its position A to its position B resting on the ground 3. The component f2 of the weight of the external unit 4 is therefore fully compensated by the reactive support of the pad 21, which has the consequence of immobilizing relatively the two separate units 2, 4 which interlock with each other.

The use of an immobilization and fixing system incorporating a skate 21, in addition to its simplicity of implementation, has the advantage of excluding any use of fixed systems such as screws, hooks, involving a immediate degradation of the environment of the device. In addition, it is particularly easy to change the relative positions of the two units 2, 4 in the same room, or even to install them in another room.

Claims (9)

1. A system for fixing and steadying an air-conditioning appliance (1) having separate units (2. 4), the appliance comprising an indoor unit (2) designed to rest directly or indirectly on or against the floor (3) of premises to be air-conditioned, and an outdoor unit (4) designed to be placed outside the premises to be air-conditioned, said units being interconnected via a flexible link (7) enabling a force F to be exerted on the indoor unit (2) when the outdoor unit (4) is put in place, the force being exerted under the effect of the weight of the outdoor unit (4) and enabling said indoor unit to be blocked in position via blocking means (20) mounted on the indoor unit (2), said blocking means being formed by at least one shoe (21) which is steadied to the indoor unit (2) and which is capable of blocking any relative displacement of the indoor unit (2) relative to the floor (3), by reaction of the shoe on the floor, and under the effect of at least one component of the force F.
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoe (21) is movably mounted on and relative to the indoor unit (2).
3. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the shoe (21) is pivotally mounted on and relative to the indoor unit (2).
4. A system according to claim 3. characterized in that the shoe (21) is pivotally mounted in a fork (23) steadied to the base (2c) of the indoor unit (2) so as to be able to occupy firstly a rest position (A) in which the shoe is raised and inactive, and secondly a working position (B) in which the shoe (21) is lowered and active, bearing on and against the floor (3).
5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it includes two shoes (21) preferably mounted on a rear face (2b) of the indoor unit (2).
6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shoe(s) (21) is(are) made at least in part of an elastically-deformable material.
7. A system according to claim 6, characterized in that the surface (24) of the shoe(s) which is designed to bear on the floor is(are) made of an elastically-deformable material.
8. A system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the hardness of the deformable material is about 75 on the Shore scale.
9. An air-conditioning assembly fitted with a fixing and steadying system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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