US3592123A

US3592123A - Air conditioner front assembly

Info

Publication number: US3592123A
Application number: US886641A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ferdinand C Henken; Emerson L Wark
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1969-12-19
Filing date: 1969-12-19
Publication date: 1971-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-13

Abstract

In preferred form an air conditioner front assembly including a unitary plastic member having a first outer frame adapted to be connected to the cabinet of an air conditioner unit. A discharge sleeve extends across the width of the frame at the top thereof and a second frame is supported in front of the first frame by a plurality of reinforcing ribs that define an inlet opening above, below and to each side of the frame for flow of return air across a filter element secured on the frame at an outlet opening on the front. The second frame includes a pair of spaced-apart parallel tracks in which slots are formed that receive spring-biased tabs on an imperforate baffle which normally covers the full planar extent of the second frame when the panel is in a closed position to damp operating noise. When in an open position, the panel is moved to one side of the second frame to uncover control means for operating the air conditioner.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors FerdlnnndCJlenken Kettering; Emerson L. War-k, Vnndnla, both of, Ohio [2|] Appl. No. 886,641 [22] Filed Dec. 19, I969 [45] Patented July 13, I97! [73] Assignee General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

[54] AIR CONDITIONER FRONT ASSEMBLY 3,306,l82 2/l967 Schwartz H 62/262 Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Attorneys--W S. Pettigrew and .l C. Evans ABSTRACT: In preferred form an air conditioner front assembly including a unitary plastic member having a first outer frame adapted to be connected to the cabinet of an air conditioner unit. A discharge sleeve extends across the width of the frame at the top thereof and a second frame is supported in front of the first frame by a plurality of reinforcing ribs that define an inlet opening above, below and to each side of the frame for flow of return air across a filter element secured on the frame at an outlet opening on the front. The second frame includes a pair of spaced-apart parallel tracks in which slots are formed that receive spring-biased tabs on an imperforate baffle which normally covers the full planar extent of the second frame when the panel is in a closed position to damp operating noise. When in an open position, the panel is moved to one side of the second frame to uncover control means for operating the air conditioner.

PATENTEU JUL 1 3mm 35392.12?

sum 1 OF 2 AIR CONDITIONER FRONT ASSEMBLY This invention relates to room air conditioners and more particularly to a unitary, multipurpose front assembly having plural airflow passageways therein for the inlet and discharge of air from an air conditioner cabinet to which the front assembly is removably secured.

ln window-mounted air conditioner units it is desirable to include filter means for removing dirt and other foreign particles from vitiated air from a room being conditioned by the unit.

Furthermore, it is desirable from a noise standpoint to include relatively open air passageways for discharge of conditioned air from the unit into the room as well as for return flow of air from the room into the unit for conditioning.

Further noise reduction may be obtained by a front imperforate panel on window air-conditioning units that serves as a means for damping the operational noises from within the cabinet.

Furthermore, it is desirable to cover control components of a unit to improve the aesthetic appearance of the unit when in its window located position within a room.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved front assembly for an air conditioner that includes a unitary framework on which is located a sliding baffle panel at a point in front of the operative components of the air-conditioning unit to damp operational noises within the window-mounted cabinet structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lowcost front assembly for a room air conditioner that includes unitary framework which defines a discharge sleeve across the full width of the front and which provides an inlet passageway on all sides of an imperforate slide panel that is located across substantially all of the full front planar extent of the unit to damp operational noises therein and to conceal control components for the unit.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a unitary front assembly for an air conditioner that includes a first frame adapted to be connected to the front edge ofa window cabinet of a room air conditioner and which includes a second frame member located in front of the first frame portion to define top. bottom and side openings around the second frame for unrestricted flow of return air into the unit during its operation and wherein the second frame serves as a support for an imperforate panel for damping operational noises from within the window air conditioner unit; and wherein the first frame supports a filter element in overlying relationship across the rear of the front to remove dust and the like from return air from the top. bottom and side ports between the two frame members.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost front assembly easily connected to and removed from the front edge of a window-supported room air conditioner cabinet including an unrestricted discharge sleeve across the full width thereof at the top of the front which is supported on a first peripheral frame that connects to the cabinet and wherein a second peripheral frame is supported with respect to the first frame at a point below the discharge sleeve to define a support for an imperforate panel located across the full planar extent of the second frame member for damping operational noises within the cabinet and wherein the damping baffle is slideably supported by coacting means on the baffle and the frame which permit the ballle to be located in a first position to completely overlie the planar extent of the frame to cover controls located immediately behind the second frame and forwardly of the first frame and in a second position to permit access to the Controls for regulating the operation of the unit.

These and other objects of the present invention are attained in one working embodiment of a unitary front that includes a channel shaped peripheral flange that is adapted to be snapfit over the front edge of a window cabinet in which are located an air-circulating fan; a refrigerant compressor; and an evaporator and condenser connected in series flow relationship with the compressor for defining a low-temperature source across which air is circulated by the fan for conditioning the air.

The front includes an integral upper sleeve that extends across the full width thereof to be supported by the first-mentioned frame. It additionally includes a second frame located in front of the sleeve and the first-mentioned frame to define side, top and bottom ports for the flow of air from the room into the air-conditioning unit.

The second frame includes a pair of spaced parallel tracks into which are snapped a plurality of spring-biased tabs on the back side of an imperforate sliding panel. When in a first position, the panel completely covers the full planar extent of the second frame to damp operational noise and to hide a control console located rearwardly of the second frame. The panel is slidable on the second frame to one side thereof to provide access to the control panel for regulating the operation of the unit.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of an air conditioner front assembly including the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the present invention showing a sound baffle panel thereon in a position to provide access to control components;

FIG. 3 is a view from the backside of the unitary plastic front of the present invention showing a fragmentary portion of a removable foam filter that is connected across the backside thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 partially broken away; and

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective ofa portion of the support track and connecting tabs for slidably supporting a sound deadening panel on a frame portion ofthe front assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, a room air conditioner 10 is illustrated of the type adapted to be mounted or supported within a window frame opening.

The air conditioner 10 includes a front assembly 12 that fits over a front opening 14 in a cabinet 16 that includes a top 18 and a bottom 20 that join sidewalls. one of which is illustrated at 22 in FIG. 4. Additionally. the cabinet includes a back (not shown).

For purposes of the present invention, it is only necessary to understand that the cabinet l6 serves to enclose the operative components of the air conditioner unit including an evaporator which is typically located at the front of the cabinet 16 across most of the planar extend thereof; an air-circulating fan for drawing air across the evaporator for cooling it and then for returning the circulated air back into a room being cooled by the unit.

The unit further includes an electric motor driven refrigerant compressor which connects in series flow relationship with a condenser and an expansion device to the evaporator which in turn is connected to the inlet of the compressor.

One characteristic of units of this type is that they have an observable operational noise level in part due to the vibration modes present in both the air-circulating components of the system and in the refrigerant-circulating components thereof.

The front assembly 12, in accordance with certain principles of the present invention, includes an improved baffle arrangement that serves to damp noise emanating from the cabinet 16 and additionally serves to coverup control components that regulate the operation of the unit.

More particularly, in the illustrated arrangement, the baffle is illustrated as a horizontally slidable bafi'le 24 which is slidably supported on the front of a unitary, multipurpose cabinet front 26. The front 26 includes a peripheral cabinet connection channel 28 that has a pair of spaced sidewalls 30,

32 joined at their upper ends by a top frame member 34 and at the lower end thereof by a bottom frame member 36.

The baffle 24 is made of high-impact polystyrene material and in one working embodiment has a thickness of 0.120 inches which adequately reduced noise from a unit having the following specifications:

Cabinet 16:

Width 24% inches. Height 14 inches. Depth 25,; inches. Air circulation (maximum oool). 310 0.12m. Fan motor speed (maximum c0011.. 1,075 r.p.rn. Fan motor I P V 111. Compressor motor speed 3 450 r.p.m. Fan type v v Centrifugal.

The

sidewalls

30, 32 of the connection channel 28 are joined by a crosspiecc 38 which is inclined outwardly and upwardly of the bottom frame member 36 as best illustrated in FIG. 4.

Additionally, the unitary cabinet front 26 includes a discharge sleeve 40 having an upper wall 42 that is directed rearwardly and at a slight downward inclination with respect to the top frame member 34. A lower wall 44 thereon is connected at its front edge to the front edge of the crosspiece 38 and is directed rearwardly thereof at an upward inclination to define a discharge passage 46 which extends through the full width of the cabinet front 26 and which has an outwardly diverging section to receive air discharged by the fan within the cabinet 16 for distribution into the room being cooled by the unit 10. Braces 47 join the walls 42, 44 at the entrance to passage 46.

in the illustrated arrangement within the passageway 46 is located a grill assembly 48 which includes a movable frame 50 having a top 52, a bottom 54 and sidewalls, one of which is shown at 56. The sidewalls 56 fit over pins 57 on

walls

30, 32 for pivotally securing frame 50 on the front 26.

Between the sidewalls of the frame 50 are located a plurality of vertically spaced fixed horizontal vanes 58 which are connected to the frame 50 at the opposite ends thereof to he moved therewith on pins 57 to vary their inclination with respect to the front end of the passageway 46. The vanes 58 are connected by front located, spaced vertical struts 60 on the assembly 48 best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Additionally, the grill assembly 48 includes a plurality of horizontally spaced movable vertical vanes 62 each of which has the opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to the frame 50 and each of which includes a tab 64 thereon, one of which is shown in FIG. 4, that connects to one or the other of two horizontally reciprocated actuating bars 66, 68.

Each of the bars 66, 68 has a handle 69 extending in front of the cabinet as best shown in FIG. 1 for pivotally positioning the vanes 62 in passageway 46 to divert airflow through the passageway 46 to opposite sides of the front ofthe unit 10.

The aforedescribed grill assembly is merely representative of one suitable arrangement for giving a varied flow pattern outwardly of the passageway or flow channel 46 of the conditioned air into the room.

The front assembly 12 also includes a forwardly located frame 70 which serves to slidably support the horizontal baffle 24 with respect to an inlet opening 72 in the front assembly 12 through which operating noise is normally directed. More particularly, the baffle panel 24 is supported by the support of the front frame 70 to overlie substantially the full planar extent of that inlet opening 72 to produce a highly effective noise shield between the operative components within the cabinet 16 and the room interior.

The support frame 70 is integrally connected to the center crosspiece 38 by a plurality of inclined reinforcing ribs 74 which are located at spaced-apart points across the full width of the front assembly 12 as is best seen in FIG. 2.

The reinforcing ribs 74 cooperate to define a plurality of inlet openings 76 into the front assembly 12 at a point in mediately below the upwardly and forwardly inclined crosspiece 38.

Additionally, the frame 70 is integrally connected at the bottom thereof by a plurality of like spaced-apart reinforcing ribs 74 which are located at spaced-apart points across the bottom width of the front assembly 12 to define a plurality of bottom inlet openings 78 thereacross also which communicate with the interior of the front assembly 12 and lead to the inlet 72 to the cabinet 16.

A plurality of side ribs 80 form spaced-apart vertically tiered side openings 82 to one side of a framed control access member 84 in frame 70.

The member 84 is connected by ribs 86 to the sidewall 32 of frame or connection channel 28 at one end thereof and to a side post 88 on the member 84 to define a still further plurality of side openings 90 in the front assembly 12 which lead to the inlet opening 72.

On the opposite side of the frame 70 is located a second upstanding post 92 which connects to one end of a plurality of vertically tiered reinforcing ribs 94 having the opposite end thereof connected to the sidewall 30 of the connection frame or channel to define yet another plurality of side openings 96 leading to the inlet openings 72.

The aforedescribed plurality of openings in the frame 70 define a relatively unrestricted opening in the front assembly through which return air from the room can flow without producing a high velocity of air that results in undesirable whistling noises or the like.

Furthermore, the inlet flow through the

openings

76, 78, 82, 96 are behind the baffle 24 which serves to damp any minor amount of airflow noise that might exist as the air is being drawn through the front assembly 12 around the top, bottom and sides of the panel 24.

Another important feature of the present invention is the manner in which the panel 24 is supported on the frame 70.

More particularly, in the illustrated arrangement the frame 70 includes a top guide bar 100 extending across the top front thereof connecting the forward ends of the reinforcing ribs 74 and a plurality of angle members 102 that are located at spaced-apart points along the length of the guide rod 100. The angle members include a depending leg portion which is integrally formed with the upper flange of an elongated track 104 which extends between the vertical strut 81 of the frame 70 to the vertical strut 92 thereof as is best seen in FIG. 3.

The track 104 includes three spaced slots 106 therein.

Additionally, the frame includes a second elongated track 108 that is connected between the same sides of the frame 70 in which are formed three slots 110 located in spaced parallelism to the slots 106 in the track 104.

The tracks are reinforced with respect to one another by a plurality of vertical struts 112 that have the opposite ends thereof connected to the

tracks

104, 108 respectively to reinforce the frame 70.

The frame further includes a bottom located guide bar 114 which is rigidly connected to the underside of the track 108 by a plurality of spaced-apart upstanding angle members 116.

in accordance with certain principles of the present invention, the baffle 24 includes an undercut recess 118 along the rear bottom edge thereof which is slidably received by the bar 114 in supported relationship thereon.

The upper end of the baffle is maintained in a sliding supported relationship on the front face of the upper guide rod 100.

To prevent rattling of the baffle 24 with respect to the frame, it includes a plurality of spaced-apart spring tabs 120 thereon each of which includes a first arm 122 with a barb 124 thereon which is spring biased away from a like arm 126 having a like barb 128 thereon as is best seen in FIG. 5. in the illustrated arrangement each of the pairs of tabs 120 is adapted to be press fit within one of the slots 106, 110 where they spring apart to locate the backside of the barbs 124, 128 in in terlocked relationship with the

track members

104, 108 so as to secure the baffle 24 in a spring-biased sliding engagement with the front of each of the guide rods 100, 114.

In order to release the baffle 24, the front assembly 12 is removed from the cabinet l6 by pressing downwardly to release a plurality of rollers 130 that are supported on the ends of spring arms 132 held in place within the top and sides of the channel-shaped connecting flange 28 to bias the rollers 130 into an interlocking engagement with a recess l34 formed in a front edge or side edge of the cabinet 16.

The tangs I24, 128 then are accessible and can be pressed together to allow the pairs of tabs 120 to be removed from the slots 106, 110 to replace the baffle 124 or locate it for sliding movement with respect to the front of the assembly 12.

In addition to overlying the full planar extent of the inlet opening 72, the baffle 24 can be moved between two operative positions, In the first operative position as shown in FIG. I, the baffle 24 covers the full width of the front assembly l2 and in addition to serving as a means for baffling noise of operation within the cabinet 16 serves to cover the frame member 84 that defines access to a plurality of control knobs 136, I38, I40 which are connected to control means for the cooling system to regulate the operation of the unit, In the closed position of FIG. 1, the bafi'le has the pairs of tabs 120 thereon located to the far left side of the slots 106, [10 as viewed from the front of front assembly l2.

In FIG. 2, the baffle 24 is shown in an open position wherein it still covers the full planar extent of the inlet opening 72 to the device and is located to one side of the cabinet wherein the control knobs 136, I38, 140 are accessible.

In both of these positions, the pairs of tabs 120 serve to maintain the backside of the baffle 24 at the top and bottom thereof tightly against the guide rods 100, 114 to prevent any undesirable relative movement therebetween that would produce vibration levels that would defeat the initial purpose of the panel 24, namely, to damp noise of operation.

In the illustrated arrangement, the inlet opening 72 also has a filter located thereacross which is removable as part of the front assembly 12.

More particularly, the filter includes a rectangularly shaped flexible foam filter element 142 which has the edges thereof at selective points along the perimeter of the filter element [42 fastened over connection clips 143 that have a barbed end I44 thereon that holds the filter periphery 142 in place with respect to support posts 146 that are located at spaced-apart points along the frame 28 as best shown in FIG. 3.

By virtue of the aforesaid arrangement, replacement of the bafi'le 24 and the filter 142 are easily made by merely removing the front assembly 12 from the cabinet l6 for access to the filter unit [42 and the tabs I on the baffle 24 From the above description it will be appreciated that the front assembly serves multiple purposes including defining a highly effective low noise, inlet passageway for return airflow that is filtered before passing through the operative components of a window-mounted room air conditioner; and also defining a relatively open full-width discharge passageway in which can be located a grill having vane means for regulating the direction of outlet air into the room being conditioned by the unit.

Still further, the means for forming the inlet includes a frame on which a movable sound-dampening baffle 24 is mounted for sliding movement between a first closed position to damp noise from within the cabinet and a second open position wherein the same noise damping properties are obtained while permitting access to control components of the unit.

While the embodiments of the present invention, as herein disclosed, constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What we claim is:

1. An air conditioner front assembly including a peripheral frame adapted to be connected to the front edge of an air conditioner cabinet, a second frame located in front of said peripheral frame, means defining a pair of spaced-apart parallel tracks on said second frame, a pair of spaced-apart slots formed in said track, a sound-damping baffle located in front of said second frame, a plurality of spring-biased tabs on the back of said baffle having the ends thereof extending into the slots of said tracks, barbs on said tabs interlockingly connected to the backside of said tracks holding said baffle against the front of said second frame, said slots extending a predetermined horizontal distance through said tracks, said spring-biased tabs being horizontally movable within said slots into a first position wherein said baffle is located to cover the full planar extent of said front frame, said tabs being located in said slots in a second position to locate said baffle to one side of said frame, an access opening in said front assembly to control means on the air conditioner, said baffle covering said opening when in its first position, said access opening being uncovered for operation of the controls when said panel is in its second position.

2. An air conditioner front assembly comprising: a peripheral frame adapted to be connected to the front edge of an air conditioner cabinet including a pair of spaced-apart sides, a top and a bottom, a discharge sleeve extending across the width of said front assembly having a top and bottom connected to the sides of said peripheral frame, a crosspiece extending between said sides of said peripheral frame formed integral with said sleeve bottom throughout the full horizontal extent thereof, a plurality of upper outwardly, extending reinforcing ribs connected to said crosspiece at one end thereof, an upper guide bar connected to the opposite ends of said upper ribs extending between said side portions of said peripheral frame, a lower guide bar extending below said upper guide bar between sides of said peripheral frame, a pair of spaced-apart tracks located rearwardly of said upper and lower guide bars and inwardly of said reinforcing ribs, a baffle having a plurality of connecting means on the back thereof, coacting means on said connecting means and said tracks for supportingly receiving said baffie for sliding movement across the front of said upper and lower guide bars, said coacting means including means for maintaining said bafile in springbiased supported sliding relationship with said guide rods throughout the sliding movement thereof with respect to said front, control means behind said front, said baffle having a first position to cover said control means and having a second position wherein said control means are exposed,

3. An air conditioner front assembly comprising: a peripheral frame adapted to be connected to the front edge of an air conditioner cabinet including a pair of spaced-apart sides, a top and a bottom, a discharge sleeve extending across the width of said front assembly having a top and bottom connected to the sides of said peripheral frame, a crosspiece extending between said sides of said peripheral frame formed integral with said sleeve bottom throughout the full horizontal extent thereof, a plurality of upper outwardly extending reinforcing ribs connected to said crosspiece at one end thereof, an upper guide bar connected to the opposite ends of said upper ribs extending between said side portions of said peripheral frame, a lower guide bar extending below said upper guide bar between sides of said peripheral frame, a pair of spaced-apart tracks located rearwardly of said upper and lower guide bars and inwardly of said reinforcing ribs, a baffle having a plurality of connecting means on the back thereof, coacting means on said connecting means and said tracks for supportingly receiving said baffle for sliding movement across the front of said upper and lower guide bars, said coacting means including means for maintaining said baffle in supported sliding relationship with said guide rods throughout the sliding movement thereof with respect to said front, control means behind said front, said baffle having a first position to cover said control means and having a second position wherein said control means are exposed, said frame further including a plurality of spaced rearwardly extending posts having one end thereof connected to said crosspiece, a second plurality of posts connected to said peripheral flange across the base thereof, a flexible foam filter extending throughout the planar extent of said frame to remove particulate matter from return air to the a r ndit oner.

Claims

2. An air conditioner front assembly comprising: a peripheral frame adapted to be connected to the front edge of an air conditioner cabinet including a pair of spaced-apart sides, a top and a bottom, a discharge sleeve extending across the width of said front assembly having a top and bottom connected to the sides of said peripheral frame, a crosspiece extending between said sides of said peripheral frame formed integral with said sleeve bottom throughout the full horizontal extent thereof, a plurality of upper outwardly, extending reinforcing ribs connected to said crosspiece at one end thereof, an upper guide bar connected to the opposite ends of said upper ribs extending between said side portions of said peripheral frame, a lower guide bar extending below said upper guide bar between sides of said peripheral frame, a pair of spaced-apart tracks located rearwardly of said upper and lower guide bars and inwardly of said reinforcing ribs, a baffle having a plurality of connecting means on the back thereof, coacting means on said connecting means and said tracks for supportingly receiving said baffle for sliding movement across the front of said upper and lower guide bars, said coacting means including means for maintaining said baffle in spring-biased supported sliding relationship with said guide rods throughout the sliding movement thereof with respect to said front, control means behind said front, said baffle having a first position to cover said control means and having a second position wherein said control means are exposed.

3. An air conditioner front assembly comprising: a peripheral frame adapted to be connected to the front edge of an air conditioner cabinet including a pair of spaced-apart sides, a top and a bottom, a discharge sleeve extending across The width of said front assembly having a top and bottom connected to the sides of said peripheral frame, a crosspiece extending between said sides of said peripheral frame formed integral with said sleeve bottom throughout the full horizontal extent thereof, a plurality of upper outwardly extending reinforcing ribs connected to said crosspiece at one end thereof, an upper guide bar connected to the opposite ends of said upper ribs extending between said side portions of said peripheral frame, a lower guide bar extending below said upper guide bar between sides of said peripheral frame, a pair of spaced-apart tracks located rearwardly of said upper and lower guide bars and inwardly of said reinforcing ribs, a baffle having a plurality of connecting means on the back thereof, coacting means on said connecting means and said tracks for supportingly receiving said baffle for sliding movement across the front of said upper and lower guide bars, said coacting means including means for maintaining said baffle in supported sliding relationship with said guide rods throughout the sliding movement thereof with respect to said front, control means behind said front, said baffle having a first position to cover said control means and having a second position wherein said control means are exposed, said frame further including a plurality of spaced rearwardly extending posts having one end thereof connected to said crosspiece, a second plurality of posts connected to said peripheral flange across the base thereof, a flexible foam filter extending throughout the planar extent of said frame to remove particulate matter from return air to the air conditioner.