IL155016A - Compressor locking means adaptor - Google Patents

Description

COMPRESSOR LOCKING MEANS ADAPTOR 155016 i?-r» I 453365 τ;ηκ The present invention relates to theft protection of an air-conditioner compressor.

More particularly, the invention provides an adapter v hich can be added to an air-conditioning condenser/compressor unit allowing locking of said unit to an external support platform.- In Israel Patents nos. 116 652 and 129 429, the present inventor has disclosed \ arrangements for locking the compressor unit of an air-conditioner to a platform used to support the compressor on the outside of a building. Positioning the compressor unit outside the building practically eliminates air-conditioning noise inside offices homes and public buildings, but has the disadvantage in that the unit is accessible to thieves.

Locking of the unit to the platform achieves a high level of theft protection, as well as protection against overturning by vandals, or by exceptionally high winds. Due to the need for maintenance and possible future servicing or repair, | the compressor unit is -not welded directly to the platform. The unit can be caged in, but the cost is high and the appearance thereof can mar the face of a building.

The arrangement described in the above patents was found to be successful for securing compressor units provided with foot members which allow the insertion therethrough of a locking pin or other locking component. However some compressor units now being marketed are provided with four simple flat foot plates, provided with a hole for a fastening screw, for securing the unit to the platform there are no means for the insertion of a locking pin. There remains however a demand for locking also these compressor units, which however is not possible with previously disclosed locking arrangements.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide locking means for air-conditioning units provided with short flat leg elements.

It is a further object of the present invention to utilize the adapter of the invention for locking and also for support of alternative compressor units of varying thickness on a standard-size platform.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a ready-modified compressor unit which will arrive on site after being adapted at the factory to be compatible to the platform locking arrangement used on said site.

The present invention achieves the above objects by providing an adapter socket attachable to a foot of an air-conditioning external compressor unit which is to be secured to a base platform, said socket allowing free passage for the insertion of a lockable pin therethrough and through at least a part of said base platform.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an adapter socket being attachable under a foot of said compressor unit and being provided in various lengths for adaptation of external compressor units of varying thickness to a standard size base platform to allow attachment thereto.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an external condenser/compressor unit for a split air-conditioning system, said unit being provided with at least one adapter socket rigidly attached thereto, said unit being arranged to allow secured attachment to a base platform, said socket allowing free passage for the insertion of a lockable pin therethrough and through at least a part of said base platform.

Yet further embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent by example preferred embodiments of the invention. Structural details are shown only as far as necessary for a fundamental understanding thereof. The described examples, together with the drawings, will make apparent to those skilled in the art how further forms of the invention may be realized.

The locking system referred to in the present invention which has been fully described in Israel Patent no. 116 652 will be referred to without repetitive detail.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment, showing two adapters according to the invention assembled to a compressor unit, and showing a platform with locking pins; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adapter to be attached by means of a tamper-resistant screw; FIG. 3 is a view of an adapter welded under the foot of a compressor unit; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of adapters to be used in combination with various thickness compressor units; and FIG. 5 is a view of a compressor unit arranged according to the invention.

There are seen in FIG. 1 two adapter sockets 10 attached to feet 12 of an ( air-conditioning external condenser/compressor unit 14. The compressor unit 14 is seen above ajbase 'platform 16 to which it is to be secured.

The adapter sockets 10 allow free passage for the insertion of a lockable pin 18 ' therethrough and through at least a part of the base platform 16. Best practice is to fit an adapter socket 10 under each of the four feet 12, thus providing secure locking and a level-standing compressor unit 14.

The adapter socket 10 can be easily manufactured using a rectangular-section steel tube, or similar cross-section.

. Preferably attachment of the adapter socket 10 to the foot 12 is effected by aj screw fastener (described with reference to FIG. 2), and a 'complementary hole 26 provided with a screw thread is provided in a wall of the adapter socket 10 for this purpose, as seen in FIG. 2. An existing (hole 22 in the! foot 12 can be utilized or enlarged if necessary to allow passage for the fastener.

With reference to the rest of the figures, similar reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is seen an adapter socket 24 provided with a tapped hole 26 sized to suit a screw fastener 28 of a tamper-resistant type. The screw head 30 is rounded and cannot be gripped after fastening down on a flat surface.

Several other types of tamper-resistant screws are known in the prior art -which could alternatively serve the same purpose.

FIG. 3 illustrates an/adapter socket 34 attached to the foot 36 of a compressor unit 38 by welding 40.

Such attachment is the most secure but requires a local repainting operation to prevent corrosion developing in the welded area.

Seen in FIG. 4 are several socket adapters 42, 44, 46 to be used in combination with various thickness compressor-' units.

As seen in FIG. l,.the adapters are attachable under the feet of the compressor unit 14. Various lengths are provided for adaptation of compressor units 14 of varying thickness to a standard size base platform 16, and to allow attachment thereto. Usually the longer adapters 44, 46 are used in conjunction with a narrow compressor unit. The base platform is however made in various widths and the length of the adapter chosen for use is dependent mainly on the length which needs to be added to each foot 12 seen in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is depicted an external condenser/compressor unit^50 for a split air-conditioning system. The unit 50 is provided with four adapter sockets 52, three of which are visible in the figure, rigidly attached under the feet 12 thereof. Welding is the chosen means of attachment in the illustrated embodiment. A factory welding fixture (not shown) is used for fast, precise positioning of the adapter sockets 52. Welded areas are repainted.

The unit 50 is* arranged to allow secured attachment on site to a base platform 16, seen in FIG. l . The added adapter sockets 52 support the unit 50 and allow free passage for the insertion of a lockable pin 18, seen in FIG. 1, therethrough, and" through at least a part of the base platform 16.

While a well-equipped and determined thief can destroy any locking device, the described arrangement is visible and sufficient to deter practically any thief due to the extra time and noise which would be involved in a theft attempt.

The scope of the described invention is intended to include all embodiments coming within the meaning of the following claims. The foregoing examples illustrate useful forms of the invention, but are not to be considered as limiting its scope, as those skilled in the art will readily be aware that additional variants and modifications of the invention can be formulated without departing from the meaning of the following claims.

Claims (8)

155016/2 -7- WE CLAIM:

1. An adapter socket of substantially rectangular profile attachable to a foot of an air- conditioning external compressor unit which is to be secured to a base platform, said adapter socket allowing free passage for the insertion of a lockable pin therethrough and through at least a part of said base platform.

2. The adapter socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter socket attachment to said foot of said compressor unit is effected by a screw fastener, and a complementary tapped hole is provided in a wall of said adapter socket.

3. The adapter socket attachment as claimed in claim 2, wherein said screw fastener is provided with a head requiring a non-standard tool for the unscrewing thereof.

4. The adapter socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adapter socket attachment to said foot of said compressor unit is effected by welding.

5. The adapter socket attachment as claimed in claim 1 being attachable under said foot of said compressor unit and being provided in various lengths for adaptation of external compressor units of varying thickness to a standard size base platform to allow attachment thereto.

6. An adapter socket attachable to a foot of an air-conditioning external compressor unit substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. An external condenser/compressor unit for a split air-conditioning system, said unit being provided with at least one adapter socket rigidly attached thereto, said unit being arranged to allow secured attachment to a base platform, said socket allowing free P-5702-IL 155016/2 -8- passage for the insertion of a lockable pin therethrough and through at least a part of said base platform.

8. An external condenser/compressor unit for a split air-conditioning system substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the Applicant P-5702-IL