MXPA00001439A - Three-way mounting of an air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

An evaporator unit (10) for an air conditioning system includes a housing having a back panel (32) and a front section. Thefront section defines an air inlet (22) at one end and an air outlet (24) at an opposite end thereof. The first condensate collection pan (18) is configured to collect condensate from the evaporator coil (16) when the evaporator unit is mounted with the back panel (32) in a substantially vertical orientation with one end defining the lower end of the housing and the opposite end defining the upper end of the housing. The first condensate collection pan (18) is further configured to collect condensate from the evaporator coil when the evaporator unit is mounted with the back panel (32) facing upwardly in a substantially horizontal orientation. The unit includes a second condensate collection pan (20) within the housing, which is configured to collect condensate from the evaporator coil when the unit is mounted with the back panel (32) in a substantially vertical orientation with the air inlet at the upper end of the housing and the air outlet at the lower end of the housing.

Description

ASSEMBLY OF THREE SENSES OF THE INTERIOR UNIT OF AN AIR CONDITIONER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is generally related to air distribution units of the type commonly used in air conditioning, heating or ventilation systems and, more particularly, with a unit which can be mounted in various orientations. In many commercial air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, the treated air is discharged into an area to be conditioned through a conditioning or air distribution unit. For example, a general type of air conditioning system, often referred to as a split system, includes separate indoor and outdoor units. The outdoor unit includes a compressor, a heat exchanger and a fan. The indoor unit includes a heat exchanger and a fan. During operation, the indoor fan sucks air into the indoor unit through an inlet thereof, and forces the air on the indoor heat exchanger and then out of the indoor unit, through an exit opening inside. Of the same. The outdoor fan sucks air into the outdoor unit, through an inlet, forces the air over the outdoor heat exchanger and then forces that same air out of the outdoor unit through an outlet therein. At the same time, a compressor causes a cooling fluid to circulate through and between the indoor / outdoor heat exchangers. In the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air that passes over the heat exchanger, cooling that air. At the same time, in the outdoor heat exchanger, the air passing over the heat exchanger absorbs heat from the refrigerant passing through it. Typically, an assembly with vents is positioned at the outlet of the indoor unit to direct the air discharge of that unit to a preferred angle. Commonly, the indoor unit of a divided system is mounted on the floor of a room against the wall thereof. In some situations, however, it is desirable to place the indoor unit in other places, such as on the ceiling of the room or on the wall in a position above the floor. When the indoor unit is mounted on the wall above the ground, the assembly which is commonly referred to as "high wall split mounting", it is desirable that the air discharge be located at the bottom of the unit. Therefore, a unit will be oriented exactly opposite of the mounting of a --- mounting unit console.

An additional benefit of indoor air conditioning which occurs with such air conditioning units is the removal of unwanted moisture in the air as the air that is being cooled passes through the indoor heat exchanger. This dehumidification results in an accumulation of water as moisture condenses in the coils of cold indoor heat exchangers. Therefore it is necessary to collect the removed water and divert it to an appropriate waste point. It should be appreciated that the indoor unit of an air conditioner, which can be assembled in the above-mentioned high wall mount, ceiling mount, and floor assembly, with a bottom discharge orientation still providing the ability to collect the condensate of the unit would be extremely desirable. The indoor unit of an air conditioning system which can be mounted as a wall, ceiling and floor assembly is shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 5,044,260. The air distribution unit, however, of the '260 patent provides a wall mounting orientation with the air discharge at the top of the unit, which compromises the ability to place the unit in a high wall location., which is desirable for such units. Because the '260 unit must be mounted in a high wall application in the same orientation as the floor assembly, in order to collect the condensate, the unit must be mounted substantially below the roof line in order to achieve an acceptable air discharge flow from the top of the unit. An evaporator unit for an air conditioning system includes a housing having a back panel and a front section. The front section defines an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at an opposite end thereof. The housing defines a path of air flow through the unit extending from the entrance to the exit. An evaporator coil is supported in the housing in the air flow path. The unit includes an evaporator fan to effect the flow of air along the air flow path and through the evaporator coil where the air cools and the water is removed from it resulting in condensation. The unit includes a first condensate collection tray mounted in the housing adjacent to the evaporator coil. The first condensate collection tray is configured to collect condensates from the evaporator coil when the evaporator unit is mounted with the rear panel in a substantially vertical orientation with one end defining the lower end of the housing and the opposite end defining the upper end of the housing. accommodation. The first condensate collection tray is additionally configured to collect condensate from the evaporator coil when the evaporator unit is mounted with the rear panel facing upwards in a substantially horizontal orientation. The unit includes a second condensate collection tray inside the housing, which is configured to collect the condensate from the evaporator coil when the unit is mounted with the rear panel in a substantially vertical orientation with the air inlet at the upper end of the housing and the air outlet at the lower end of the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and its objects and advantages will be obvious to those skilled in the art with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of an air conditioner which exemplifies the features of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the air conditioning unit of Figure 1 mounted on a roof with a portion of the outer housing cut away; Figure 3 is a side view of the a-conditioned air unit of Figure 1 mounted on a vertical wall adjacent the roof with a portion of the outer housing cut away; Figure 4 is a view of the air conditioning unit of Figure 1 mounted on a floor in a console assembly with a portion of the outer housing of the cut unit; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioning unit of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the air conditioning unit of Figure 1 with the outer housing and part of the internal components thereof removed; Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 6. The Figures illustrate an indoor unit 10 of a split system air conditioner. As will be seen as the description continues, the unit includes an outer housing 12, evaporator fans 14, evaporator heat exchanger 16, and upper and lower condensate collection trays 18 and 20, respectively. Generally, the housing 12 defines an interior space for mounting the other components and defines an air flow path through the unit from an inlet 22 to conduct air into the interior and an outlet 24 to discharge air from the interior of the housing inside the space to be conditioned. The fans 14, heat exchanger 16 and trays 18 and 20 of upper and lower condensate are secured within the housing 12. An inlet vent 26 forms part of the housing and is located over the air inlet 22 and an assembly 28 of Discharge ventilation grilles are located at the outlet 24. During operation, a heated or cooled fluid is circulated through the evaporator heat exchanger 16. At the same time, the fans 14 suck air into the housing 12 of the space to be conditioned, and force that air over the heat exchanger 16 thereby heating or cooling the air, and forcing the air conditioning through the outlet 24 and from return inside the space to be conditioned. The upper and lower condensate trays 18 and 20 are also supported within the housing 12 adjacent to the upper and lower ends respectively of the heat exchanger for collecting water which condenses on and drips down the heat exchanger during the operation of the system . As a result of the configuration of the upper and lower condensate trays 18 and 20, the air conditioning unit 10 can be operated in a console mounting position, as illustrated in Figure 4, a ceiling mounting position, as illustrated in Figure 2, or a high wall assembly with the air discharge 24 at the lower end thereof, as illustrated in Figure 3. As a result of the unique configuration of the upper and lower condensate trays , the unit can be operated in any of these orientations while still collecting and discarding the water that condenses and drips down the heat exchanger 16. Now looking at Figures 5, 6 and 7, the housing 12 includes a one-piece structural sheet metal structure 30, which defines the rear panel 32, the bottom 34 and an upper flange 36. Structurally attached to the opposite ends of the metal sheet structure 30 are the internal side panels 38. Each of the side panels 38 is provided with a slot 40 extending horizontally. Which extends from the front to the rear and a section 42 in triangular shape, which extends upwardly from the slots 40 and which each define an assembly surface 44 of angularly placed heat exchanger. A horizontal metal sheet fan mounting panel 46 is adapted to be received in the horizontal slots 40 of the internal side panels 38, as shown in Figure 5. The fan mounting panel 46 separates the inside of the housing within the lower inlet section 48, which communicates with the inlet 22 previously described by means of the inlet vent 26 and the outlet section 50 above the fan panel in which the heat exchanger coil 16 is mounted on the inclined surfaces 44 of the internal side panels 38, as best illustrated in Figure 7. Referring again to the Figure 5, the evaporator fan 14 comprises an electric motor 52 mounted at the bottom of the fan assembly panel 46, which is adapted to activate a pair of centrifugal fans 54 which in turn are surrounded by a spiral assembly 58 of two pieces, each of which is fixed to the underside of the fan assembly panel 46 and which communicates with the rectangular discharge openings 62 in the fan panel. As best seen in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the upper condensate tray 18 comprises an elongated, one-piece section made from a foamed plastic material. The tray comprises a central section 56 having an upper face 60 adapted to be received and retained under the upper flange 36 of the structural structure 3 of sheet metal in one piece.

The central section 56 also has a rear face 70 and a section 72 extending downward, the rear face 70 is adapted to be in a confronting relationship with the rear panel 32 of the sheet metal section 30 and the adapted lower section. to be received behind the upper end of the triangular section 42 of the internal side panels 38. In this manner retained, the upper condensate tray 18 has a substantially flat heat exchanger support surface 74, which is at an angle to be in a support relationship confronted with the upper part of the heat exchanger 16, as shown in FIG. defined by the upper ends of the tube sheets 76 and the fins 78 of the heat exchanger. As best seen in Figures 7 and 8, the upper condensate tray 18 includes a longitudinally extending condensate collection channel 80 that passes from the flat section 74 and internally within the collection tray in an orientation that is extends backwards. The left and right ends of the upper condensate tray 18 include extensions 82 of the central section 56, which are configured to be superimposed on the return bends 81 of the heat exchanger coil extending to the left and right of the sheets of pipe and forming a notch 79 for collecting condensate therein, which is in fluid communication with the condensate channel 80. With reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7, lower condensate tray 20 is a one-piece component made from plastic foam. The tray includes a substantially flat front section 64, left and right side extensions 66, and a lower heat exchanger support section 68. The condensate tray 20 is adapted to be installed in the unit after the installation of the upper condensate tray 18 and the evaporator heat exchanger 16. As best seen in Figures 7 and 8, the lower heat exchanger support section 68 has a substantially triangular cross-section having a lower surface 84 that engages the upper surface of the front of the fan mounting panel 46 and a longitudinally inclined extending surface 86 adapted to support the lower ends of the tube sheets 88 of the heat exchanger and the lower ends of the fins 90 of the heat exchanger. A surface 92 facing to the right that extends longitudinally flat is spliced against a surface that is facing forward of each of the inner side panels 38. In addition, an upwardly extending flange 94 is formed on the front side of the fan mounting panel 46, which serves to engage a lower portion 96 of the flat front section 64 of the lower condensate tray to assist in positioning and hold the tray in the position described. With reference to Figure 6, it will be noted that the flat front section 64 of the lower condensate tray is supported in a substantially vertical orientation separate from the heat exchanger coil with the upper end 98 thereof separated from the front edge 100 of the tray 18 of superior condensate. The opening defined by edges 98 and 100 defines part of the discharge path of air flow through the unit. Referring to Figures 5-8, the upper condensate tray 20 is supported in the separate relationship described above of the heat exchanger coil by a central separator 102 extending from the upper edge 98 of the condensate tray and which is adapted for coupling the front part of the heat exchanger coil in the upper part of the same underlying part of the front edge 100 of the upper condensate tray. As best shown in Figure 6, 7 and 8, the additional support spacing of the lower condensate tray 20 is provided by the side walls 106 on the left and right sides of the flat front section 64, which are adapted to couple the front surface 108 of the sheets of heat exchange tube to thereby not only place the bottom condensate tray, but also provide an air tight seal therebetween to further define the air flow path described above. As a minor one can be seen in Figures 1 and 5, an outer cover 100, which includes the inlet ventilation grille 26, a solid section 112 and an elongated opening 114 in which the discharge ventilation grilles 28 are mounted, it is adapted to be structurally attached to and cover the front and top portion of the interior unit 10. The outer side covers 18 and 120 are adapted to be fixed to the left and right sides of the unit to complete the outer housing, as illustrated in Figure 1. The indoor evaporator unit 10, as described above, is capable of being installed in three different orientations illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. In Figure 4, a console installation is shown in which the unit is mounted with the bottom 34 on one floor and the rear panel 32 against an interior wall. The ventilation grilles 22/26 inlet-outlet are located in the bottom of the unit and the ventilation grilles 24/28 air discharge / discharge are located on the upper side to thereby direct the air from the upper end inside the fourth. As illustrated in Figure 6, the fins of the heat exchanger 16 extend vertically with the transversely extending heat exchange tubes. With this configuration, any condensate removed from the air passing through the heat exchanger will fall under the influence of gravity downwards following the fins and / or the tube sheets of the heat exchanger mounting surface 86 angularly disposed of the Tray 20 of lower condensate. It will be noted, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, that an elongate condensate collection slot 130 extends the length of the support section 68 of the lower heat exchanger. The collection slot 130 communicates at its left and right ends with a plenum 132, as shown in Figure 8. Either the left or right plenum can be interconnected with a suitable drain tube 134 as shown in FIGS. Figures 6 and 8, which is adapted to drive the collected condensate to an appropriate disposal site. Now looking at Figure 2, the unit 10 is shown with the rear panel 32 in a horizontal position fixed to the room ceiling to be conditioned and with the bottom 34 adjacent to the interior wall. As such, the inlet / outlet grid 22/26 is facing downwards and the outlet / discharge vents 24/28 are also directed downwards into the space to be conditioned. When oriented in this manner, the condensate that is formed in the heat exchanger 16 will fall down under the influence of gravity and will be collected by the inner part 140 of the flat front section 64 of the lower condensate tray 20- The collected condensate will migrate to a point 142 under which it communicates with the plenum 132, as illustrated in Figure 8. The plenum 132 is then appropriately interconnected with drainage pipe that passes through the opening at the bottom of section 66. side of tray 20 of condensate. The drainage arrangement is similar to that shown in Figure 8 and will not be shown in detail. Figure 3 illustrates the unit 10 mounted in a high wall installation where the rear panel 32 is adjacent to an interior wall and the "bottom" 34 is in contact with the ceiling of a room to be conditioned. In this way installed, the air inlet / inlet grate 22/26 is located on the upper part of the unit adjacent to the roof while the air outlet / exhaust air vents 24/28 are located at the lower end of the unit and are located at the lower end of the unit. they discharge outward and downward into the space to be conditioned. When installed in this manner, the water condensed in the heat exchanger 16 will flow down and to the left following the fins and / or tubing sheets of the heat exchanger to the inclined support surface 74 of the tray 18 of condensed superior. As best shown in Figures 7 and 8, the upper condensate collection channel 80 is aligned with the lower right corner of the heat exchanger, as seen in Figure 3. The condensate collection channel 80 is adapted to receive condensate from the heat exchanger and is in fluid communication at the left and right ends thereof with the pick-up notch 79, as illustrated in Figure 8. In addition, as shown in Figure 8, an appropriate drain pipe ( not shown) can be installed in fluid communication with the pickup notch 79 either on the left or right sides of the upper condensate tray 18 to thereby direct the collected condensate to an appropriate disposal location.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. An evaporator unit for an air conditioning system, the evaporator unit is of the type that includes: a housing that has a rear panel and a front section, the front section defines an air inlet near one end thereof and an air outlet close to an opposite end thereof, the housing further defines an air flow path therethrough extending from the inlet to the outlet; an evaporator coil supported in a housing in the air flow path; and an evaporator fan to effect the flow of air along the air flow path and through the evaporator coil, where the water is removed from the air flowing through the evaporator coil as a result of condensation on the surface cold of the coil, the improvement is characterized in that it comprises: a first condensate collection tray mounted in the housing next to the evaporator coil, the first condensate collection tray is configured to collect condensate from the evaporator coil when the evaporator unit is assembled with the rear panel in a substantially vertical orientation with one end defining the lower end of the housing, and the opposite end defining the upper end of the housing, the first condensate collection tray is further configured to collect the condensate from the evaporator coil when the unit Evaporator is mounted with the rear panel facing up - in a substantially horizontal orientation; and a second condensate collection tray mounted in the housing next to the evaporator coil, the second condensate collection tray is configured to collect condensate from the evaporator coil when the evaporator unit is mounted with the rear panel in a substantially vertical orientation with one of the ends defining the upper end of the housing, and the opposite end defining the lower end of the housing. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that with reference to the rear panel in a substantially vertical orientation, with one end defining the lower end of the housing and the opposite end defining the upper end of the housing, the evaporator coil it is oriented in an inclined position with an upper end thereof close to the rear panel and the opposite end, and the lower end of the coil is close to the front section of the housing; wherein the first condensate collection tray is overlapped and co-extensive with the upper end of the evaporator coil; and wherein the second condensate collection tray is underlying and co-extensive with the lower end of the evaporator coil. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the second condensate collection tray further extends substantially vertically upwards and in parallel to the front section a substantially co-extensive distance with the evaporator coil, the upper end of the second condensate collection tray is separated from the first condensate collection tray to together define a portion of the air flow path. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the evaporator coil comprises left and right tube sheets, having a plurality of horizontally arranged tubes extending therebetween defining a refrigerant flow circuit through them , the evaporator coil further comprises a plurality of heat exchange fins mounted in and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of tubes, wherein the flow of water condensed in the tubes and fins will be in the direction of the fins. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the first condensate collection tray and the second condensate collection tray extend at the left and right ends thereof beyond the left and right tube sheets of the evaporator coil. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the tube sheets includes coolant inlet and outlet means communicating with horizontally arranged tubes and wherein each of the first and second condensate trays second extend laterally outward from the entry and exit means. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the first condensate collection tray comprises a horizontally extending condensate collection slot disposed adjacent to the lowermost end of the evaporator coil; and wherein the second condensate collection tray comprises a condensate collection slot therein adjacent to the uppermost section of the evaporator coil. 8. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 7, characterized in that the first condensate collection tray further includes means therein in fluid communication with the slot adapted to be accessible by the condensate drain means; and wherein the second condensate collection tray includes means therein in fluid communication with the slot adapted to be accessible by the condensate drain means. 9. The apparatus in accordance with the claim 8, characterized in that both of the condensate collection trays are made from a molded foam material. SUMMARY An evaporator unit for an air conditioning system includes a housing that has a back panel and a front section. The front section defines an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at the opposite end thereof. The housing defines a path of air flow through the unit and extends from the entrance to the exit. An evaporator coil is supported in the housing in the air flow path. The unit includes an evaporator fan to effect the flow of air along the air flow path and through the evaporator coil where the air cools and the water is removed from it resulting in condensation. The unit includes a first condensate collection tray mounted in the housing adjacent to the evaporator coil. The first condensate collection tray is configured to collect condensate from the evaporator coil when the evaporator unit is mounted with the rear panel in a substantially vertical orientation with one end defining the lower end of the housing and the opposite end defining the upper end of the housing. accommodation. The first condensate collection tray is further configured to collect the condensate from the evaporator coil when the evaporator unit is mounted with the rear panel facing up in a substantially horizontal orientation. The unit includes a second condensate collection tray within the housing, which is configured to collect the condensate from the evaporator coil when the unit is mounted with the rear panel in a substantially vertical orientation with air inlet at the upper end of the housing and the air outlet at the lower end of the housing.