US3685577A

US3685577A - Mobile home air heating and cooling system

Info

Publication number: US3685577A
Application number: US167570A
Authority: US
Inventors: James C Goodgion; Armond L Blossom
Original assignee: Coleman Co Inc
Current assignee: Evcon Industries Inc
Priority date: 1971-07-30
Filing date: 1971-07-30
Publication date: 1972-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-22

Abstract

A base assembly for a down-flow mobile home furnace and air cooling unit includes a platform support with a central opening located at the bottom of a compartment adapted to receive an air cooling coil. A connecting duct extends from the platform support to a distribution duct and provides a perimetric space therearound. A make-up air chute is positionable to extend downwardly from a selected side of the perimetric space, and the casing around the space provides openings for the make-up air to exit and flow upwardly around the sides of the casing as installed in an alcove or closet. Preferably, a floor plate is positioned to slidably receive the casing and it extends inwardly to provide the air chute mounting means on a plurality of sides thereof. The refrigerant tubes can extend through the perimetric space selectively along any side thereof. The make-up air chute is connected to the floor plate to facilitate routing of refrigerant tubes to the outside through the chute.

Description

United States Patent [451 Aug. 22, 1972 Goodgion et al.

[54] MOBILE HOME AIR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM 7 [72] Inventors: James C. Goodgion; Armond L.

Blossom, both of Wichita, Kans.

[73] Assignee: The Coleman Company, lnc.,

Wichita, Kans.

[22] Filed: July 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 167,570

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 15,642, March 2 1970.

Hildreth 165/63 3,583,175 6/1971 Eubank ..l65/48 Primary Examiner-\V1lliam J. Wye

Attorney-James J. Hill 57 ABSTRACT A base assembly for a down-flow mobile home furnace and air cooling unit includes a platform support with a central opening located at the bottom of a compartment adapted to receive an air cooling coil. A

connecting duct extends from the platform support to a distribution duct and provides a perimetric space therearound. A make-up air chute is positionable to extend downwardly from a selected side of the perimetric space, and the casing around the space provides openings for the make-up air to exit and flow upwardly around the sides of the casing as installed in an alcove or closet. Preferably, a floor plate is positioned to slidably receive the casing and it extends inwardly to provide the air chute mounting means on a plurality of sides thereof. The refrigerant tubes can extend through the perimetric space selectively along any side thereof. The make-up air chute is connected to the floor plate to facilitate routing of refrigerant tubes to the outside through the chute.

13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 22, 1972 3,685,517

- zfiheejs shgejjz VIII/A I 7 IO 25 k I26 INVENTORS:

JAMES C. GOODGION ARMOND L. BLOSSOM ATT'YS MOBILE HOME AIR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a divisional application of our copending application for Base Assembly for Mobile Home Fur- I nace, Ser. No. 15,642, filed Mar. 2, 1970.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Forced air mobile home furnaces, both gas and oil fired, have been known and in use for many years. Such furnaces are installed as original equipment by the mobile home manufacturers. The time and expense required to install such furnaces is therefore a prime consideration. Since manufacturers of mobile home furnaces sell to many different mobile home manufacturers. it is not possible to exactly correlate the design of the furnace or its method of installation with the design or floor plan of a particular mobile home. The objective of the furnace manufacturers has therefore been to provide a design which is adapted for universal installation being relatively simple and easy to install by all mobile home manufacturers.

Installation problems are further complicated when the mobile home is also to be equipped with an air cooling unit. If the air cooling unit is contained in a separate casing from the furnace, duplicate installation costs may be involved. In recent years, some manufacturers of mobile homes have provided air cooling units, which can be mounted on the floor of the mobile home, and the mobile home furnace mounted on top of the air cooling unit. This procedure is an improvement over separately mounted and installed furnace and air cooling units, but it still involves additional installation costs. It has therefore been desired to provide unitary air heating and cooling units for mobile homes, which are housed in a single casing, and which can be installed as a single unit. However, the national market territories of mobile home manufacturers require that the manufacturer be given a choice between including or omitting the air cooling unit, and/or varying the size and capacity of the air cooling unit, depending upon the part of the United States in which the mobile home is to be marketed.

Where the mobile home furnace is of the downflow type, the treated air (either heated or cooled) is discharged from the bottom of the furnace, and is passed into the distribution duct system of the mobile home, at least a portion of which may be mounted below the floor of the mobile home. Means must therefore be provided for connecting the air outlet of the furnace through the floor to the distribution duct system, which permits the necessary installation connection to be made with minimum time and expense. A closely related installation problem is the need to provide make-up air. Under existing regulations, as well as from the standpoint of good engineering practice, the air being heated or cooled in the furnace unit should include a portion of outside or fresh air, although the larger volume of the air is being recirculated from within the mobile home. Consequently, it has been the practice to provide an intake for outside air, which communicates with the air intake to the blower of the furnace. Commonly, the air intake has been located in the floor of the mobile home, extending through the floor and into the closet or alcove space surrounding the outside of the furnace as installed.

The foregoing problems and difficulties are substantially overcome by the base assembly combination of the present invention, which is designed for use with a downflow mobile home air heating and cooling system, which incorporates an air cooling means, both the air heating and cooling units being housed within a single casing, which can be installed as an integrated unit. The base assembly includes a platform support means mounted within the lower portion of the furnace casing and dividing the downflow air space into an upper compartment and a base compartment. Connecting duct means extends from the larger upper compartment through the central portion of the base compartment. The sides of the connecting duct are spaced inwardly from the sides of the casing to provide a perimetric space therearound. The make-up air chute is positionable to extend downwardly from a side of the perimetric space, and the casing walls surrounding the perimetric space are provided with air outlet openings communicating with the lower portion of the closet or alcove in which the furnace is installed. The air can then flow upwardly around the outside of the casing for entry to a top air intake, which communicates with the intakes of the furnace blower.

In the preferred form of the upper compartment and platform support means, the upper compartment is provided with a removable closure panel on its front side. The platform support means provides slidable tracks which extend inwardly from the front side of the compartment and are arranged to provide for the slidable insertion and removal of the air cooling coil means. This permits the air cooling coil to be installed, if desired, by the mobile home manufacturer. In other words, the air cooling coil can be omitted, or air cooling coils of different sizes can be installed. Moreover, if the air cooling coil requires servicing or repair, after the mobile home is in use, it can be easily removed, and taken to a refrigeration repair center.

In a preferred embodiment the refrigerant tubes which supply and remove refrigerant from the cooling coil unit, as well as a condensate drain tube, if any, are fed through the floor of the mobile home via the makeup air chute. Thus, depending upon the placement of the make-up air chute about the base compartment, the refrigerant tubes are routed to it in the perimetric air space about the connecting duct. Optionally, the refrigerant tube means can extend along any side of the base compartment, and even over the top of the makeup air chute, which is preferably arranged to terminate at the bottom of the base compartment, thereby leaving the space thereabove open and unobstructed.

For universal installation of the make-up air chute, it is preferred that the make-up air chute be selectively positionable in a plurality of positions around the sides of the base compartment. Advantageously,'at least one installation position should be provided on each of the four sides, and optimally at least two installation positions on each of the four sides. To accomplish this result, and to provide other installation advantages, the base assembly preferably also includes a perimetric floor plate disposed beneath the lower ends of the side walls of the furnace casing. The plate means can provide perimetric portions extending around both the inside and the outside of the casing. Retaining flange means can project upwardly on three sides of the plate means from the perimetric outer portion leaving one side open so that the casing can be slid onto the plate means over the unflanged side. Air chute mounting means isprovided by the perimetric inner portion of the plate means on a plurality of sides thereof for selective alternate mounting of the make-up air intake chute. A very important market for air conditioners for mobile homes is the after purchase market wherein the dealer supplies and installs the air cooling coil unit after the home has been purchased. In these situations, the present invention has significant advantages in facilitating installation. The furnace and make-up air chute will'already have been installed. In installing the air cooling coil unit, the refrigerant coil and condensate drain tube maybe run through the make-up chute and the perimetric air space at the bottom of the furnace out to the front of the furnace regardless of the position of the make-up airchute. That is,the positioning of the make-up air chute can be a matter solely of convenience to the manufacturer of the mobile home, knowing that his placement of the chute will not hinder subsequent installation of the air cooling coil.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment, accompanied by the attached drawing wherein identical reference numerals will refer to like parts in the various views.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a downflow mobile home furnace as installed in an alcove of a mobile home and incorporating the base assembly-of thepresent invention, certain of the components of the furnace and base assembly being shown in vertical section for clarity of representation;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary frontperspective view of th furnace showing the interior of the cooling coil compartment with the cooling coil removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front perspective view similar to FIG. 2, the cooling coil assembly being shown in the cooling coil compartment;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the floor of the mobile home, illustrating the initial steps in the installation of the furnace;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the mobile home floor section of FIG. 4, illustrating the optional mounting of the make-up air chute on the floor p FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rear base comer of the furnace casing, showing the openings for diffusion of the make-up air into the al- DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference may first be had to FIG. 1 which illustrates a downflow mobile home furnace of the kind with which the base assembly of this invention can advantageously be employed. The particular furnace illustrated is described in detail in copending, co-owned application of James C. Goodgion, entitled Mobile Home Furnace with Make-Up Air Supply Means, being Ser. No. 9,263, filed Feb. 6,1970. In general, the furnace includes an exterior casing C having vertically extending walls, which may be formed of sheet metal, I

nicates with the annular combustion air passage A of the concentric pipe roof jack J. As will be noted, the flow of combustion air is indicated by the arrows in passages A and S. The hot combustion gases exit at the the make-up chute and the refrigerant tubing in the I base compartment of the furnace.

top of drum D through a flue tube T which connects with the flue pipe F of the roof jack J. This flow is also indicated by the arrows in drum D, tube T, and flue F.

A box-shaped air treating enclosure E provides a jacket around drum D and is spaced therefrom to provide downflow air passages therearound. On the top of enclosure E is mounted a squirrel cage suction blower B, which draws air primarily from the interior of the mobile home through the louver panel P. As indicated by the arrows, the air discharge from the'blower B passes downwardly around drum D in the space between the drum and the enclosure E, and flows downwardly below the level of burner B, flowing around the sides of the transverse portion S of the combustion air supply duct.

As shown in FIG. 1, the furnace is installed within a closet or alcove space defined bya floor 10, a rear wall I 11, side walls 12, a ceiling or top wall l3,'and a front I door wall 14, the door 15 being indicated diagrammatically. An air space is provided around the sides and top of the casing C within the closet or alcove, the fumace rear wall 16 being spaced from the alcove rear wall 1 I, the furnace side walls 17 and the alcove side walls 12, and the furnace top wall 18 from the alcove top wall 13. In addition, space will usually be provided between the furnace front wall, comprising panels P, and the alcove door wall l4, 15. Not only does the spacing of the casing C from the walls and top of the alcove serve to insulate the alcove ,from the heat generated by the furnace, but it also serves the purpose of providing a passage for the flow of make-up fresh air from beneath the floor of the mobile home to a make-up air intake in the top of the furnace casing as well as a passage for routing the refrigerant tubes from the unit to the make-up air chute as will be described. I

In illustration given and described more fully in the above-cited copending application, the make-up air intake in top wall 18 is in the form of an annular passage 19 located at the base of flue' jack], which permits make-up air to be drawn in from the upper portion of the alcove space to the intake of blower B, thereby combining a proportion of make-up air with the recirculated room air from within the mobile home. The means of the present invention for supplying the makeair to the lower portion of the alcove space will be subsequently described, since it forms a preferred part of the base assembly of this invention.

Referring now to preferred components of the base assembly of this invention, as shown somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 1, there is the platform support 20 which is mounted within the lower portion of easing C and divides the downflow air space therein into an upper compartment 21 and a lower or base compartment 22. As shown, the upper or cooling coil compartment 21 is of large size relative to the base compartment 22, the compartment 21 being designed to receive a cooling coil unit, as will subsequently be described.

A connecting duct designated generally by the number 23 extends downwardly from the cooling coil compartment 21 through the central portion of the base compartment 22 for communicating the cooling coil compartment 21 with the distribution duct 24 of the mobile home air distribution system. In the illustration given, the duct 24 is mounted below the floor 10, the connecting duct 23 communicating with the duct 24 through an opening 25 in the floor. The sides of the connecting duct 23 are spaced inwardly from the adjacent sides of easing C to provide a perimetric space 26 therearound.

A make-up air chute 27 extends downwardly from space 26 through floor opening 25. The flow of the make-up air is indicated by the arrows marked with the letter M. As indicated, the make-up air enters the bottom of the chute 27 beneath the floor 10, flows upwardly into the perimetric space 26 and out through the ports 28, flowing upwardly in the alcove, and finally into the make-up air intake 19. In FIG. 6, the openings or ports 28 are shown from the outside of the casing, the openings being provided in the lower portion of the rear wall 16 and in the lower portions of the side wall 17 at the level of the perimetric space 26, and providing communication between this space and the exterior of the casing C within the closet or alcove. Additionally, as mentioned, make-up air may flow from the space 26 into the passage between the front of the casing C and the front door and thence out through the lower panel P and into the alcove.

Looking now at FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower portion of the furnace casing is shown from the front with the interior of the cooling coil compartment 21 exposed. The platform support can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2. As shown, it consists of a perimetric frame, which is secured to the casing C. The sides are provided with a pair of slide tracks 31 for slidably receiving and supporting the cooling coil 30, as indicated in FIG. 3. The cooling coil unit can consist of a V-shaped assembly mounted on a base 32, which is received by the tracks 31. This permits the cooling coil assembly 30 to be inserted and removed from the compartment 21. The downflowing air enters the top of compartment 21, passing around the sides of the transverse duct S, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3. The air then flows downwardly through the

inclined coils

30a and 30b, and passes out of the cooling coil compartment 21 through an opening 33, which is defined by the parametric platform support 20 (see FIG. 2). With this arrangement, the furnace can be utilized with no cooling coil within the compartment 21, or cooling coils of lesser or greater capacitycan be selectively inserted, as required by the contemplated conditions of use. As indicated in FIG. 8, the front of the cooling coil compartment 21 can be closed by a panel or door assembly 34 consisting of a pair of

removable panel sections

34a and 34b. It will be understood that these panel sections will be in place during use of the furnace, since compartment 21 provides a downflow air space, which discharges through base compartment 28 to the distribution 24.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9, the installed cooling coil unit 30 is provided at its front with

tube connectors

35 and 36, which respectively connect to

refrigerant tubes

37 and 38. The

refrigerant tubes

37, 38 extend down the passage between the

closure panels

34a, 34b and the front door 15, through the base compartment 22 and make-up air chute 27 to a point below floor 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9. Optionally, depending upon the placement of the make-up air chute 27 about the floor plate 40, the refrigerant tube means can extend straight downwardly, as indicated in FIG. 1 and shown more clearly in FIG. 8, or the tubes can be run through one or more sides of the perimetric space 26 to the mouth of the make-up chute for extending through the floor 10, as shown in FIG. 9.

For use in combination with the base assembly components described above, it is preferred to employ a floor plate 40, the floor plate is preferably in the form of a perimetric frame, and is disposed horizontally beneath the bottom of the furnace casing C, as indicated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 8 to 9. In the preferred embodiment, the floor plate 40 not only provides for the installation and positioning of the furnace, but also provides a means for positioning and supporting the makeup air chute 27 in a selected position beneath the perimetric air space 26. The preferred method of employing the plate means 40 is shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5.

When installing the furnace on the floor 10, a rectilinear opening (square or rectangular) 25 can be cut in the floor. This opening is sized so that its dimensions are between the internal and external dimensions of the frame 40, thereby permitting the frame to be superimposed thereon, as shown in FIG. 4, with a portion 41 extending inwardly and overlying the opening 25, and a portion 42 extending outwardly and overlying the floor 10. When the plate 40 has been positioned in this manner, the tabs 43 are bent downwardly in facing relation to the respective side edges of the opening 25, thereby maintaining the plate 40 in the desired relation to the opening 25 The outer perimetric portion 42 of the plate 40 is dimensioned to extend outwardly slightly beyond the sides of easing C as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9. The outer edges of the plate portion 42, on three sides of the plate, can be provided with upwardly extending flange means 44. One side of the frame 40, comprising the front 45 is left open and unflanged so that the furnace casing C can be slid onto the floor plate 40 over its front. In other words, after the plate 40 has been installed, as illustrated in FIGS 4 and 5, the furnace is slid onto the plate over the front 45 until the relationship shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the perimetric inner portion 41 of the floor plate, which extends inwardly of the casing C and overlies the outer portion of the floor opening 25 can be provided with a plurality of foldable or removable mounting flange sections designated generally in FIG. with the number 46. In the illustration given, each side of the plate is provided with two of the mounting sections 45, one being located on each side of the central centering tabs 43.-The mounting sections consist of a pair of longitudinally spaced mounting slots 47 connected by fold or score lines 48. Transversely extending cuts may beprovided, as indicated at 49 to assist in folding down the flange portions along the lines defined by the scores 48. When the flanges have been foldeddown, as shown in the lower righthand comer of FIG. 5, the chute 27 may be positioned with. its upper end at the level of the plate 40 and immediately adjacent to the downwardly extending flange portions. To assist in hanging the chute 27 on the plate 40, the outer side of the chute can be provided with a pair of hooks 50 as shown in FIG. 5, the hooks extending through the slots 47 It will be understood that other mounting means can be provided. With the construction illustrated, the chute 40 can be mounted in either one or two selected positions on each side of the plate 40, thereby providing for great flexibility in installation.

Correlating the figures, if the'chute 27 is installed in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, it will occupy the position also shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. If an optional position is adopted, such as the position indicated by O in FIG. 5," the chute when installed will have the approximate position shown in FIG. 9. In any selected position of the chute 27, the refrigerant tube means 37, 38 can extend through the space 26 and be bent and fed through the chute 27, as shown in FIG. 9. In other words, the top or mouth of the chute 27 in its normal use'position communicates withthe bottom of the adjacent-portion of the perimetric space 26, leaving the adjacent space portion open for receiving I the refrigerant tube means. Consequently, the make-up air chute can be positioned on any side of the casing and the refrigerant tubes (as well as condensate drain which is not illustratedlmay be routed to it via the perimetric airspace 26.

OPERATION The operation of the base assembly combination has already been largely described. After installation of the plate 40 in relation to thefloor opening 25, and the sliding of the casing C thereon, the refrigerant tubes can be run up through the make-up air chute 27 in opening 25, passing along any side of the space 26, as required, and then upwardly to the

connections

35, 36. The make-up air chute 27 will be in place, and will be extending downwardly to below the floor 10. During the operation of the blower B, an induced air flow will occur, air being sucked in through the chute 27, passing through the space 26, outwardly through the openings 28 to the lower portion of the closet or alcove, and then to the upper portion thereof, entering the furnace casing through the make-up air opening 19, and finally combining with the recirculating room air at the intakes to the blower B. The combined make-up air and room air will then be heated or cooled, as required, and delivered to the distribution duct system 24.

We claim:

1. In a downflow mobile home fumace and air conditioning system having a vertically extending exterior casing of rectilinear cross-section, the lower portion of which encloses a downflow air space, the combination comprising:

a. platform supportmeansmounted within said casing lower portion and partially defining a cooling coil compartment in said downflow air space;

. a cooling coil unit received in said compartment and including refrigerant lines connected thereto;

. connecting duct means extending downwardly from said compartment from beneath said platform support means through the central portion of said down-flow air space for connecting with a disfrom said perimetricspace through the floor of a said mobile home to receive outside air when said system serves asa furnace and communicating with the exterior of said furnace to deliver makeup air to a closet or alcove in which said system is housed, said chute providing a conduit through said floor for said lines. I

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising closure panel means removably mounted on the front side of said compartment; and track means on said platform support extending inwardly from said front side and arranged to provide for the slidable insertion and removal of said cooling coil unit.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said chute means communicates with the bottom of said perimetric space beneath said closure panels thereby to receive said refrigerant lines in a substantially vertical position.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a door on said furnace spaced outwardly of said compartment closure panels thereby to define a generally vertical its normal use position communicates with the bottom of the adjacent portion of said perimetric space leaving the said adjacent space portion open for routing said refrigerant lines thereto. i

7. In a downflow mobile home furnace having a vertically extending exterior casing of rectilinear cross section, the lower portion of which encloses a downflow air space, the base assembly combination comprising:

a. platform support means mounted within said casing lower portion and dividing said downflow air space into an upper compartment and a base compartrnent, said upper compartment being of large size relative to said base compartment for receiving air cooling coil means;

b. connecting means extending downwardly from said upper compartment through the central portion of said base compartment for communicating with the distribution duct system of the mobile home, the sides of said connecting duct means being spaced inwardly from the sides of said casing to provide a perimetric space therearound;

. make-up air chute means selectively positionable in a plurality of positions to extend downwardly from a selected side of said perimetric space to receive outside air from beneath the floor of the mobile home, said chute in its normal position communicating with the bottom of the adjacent portions of said perimetric space, leaving the perimetric space open for receiving refrigerant tube means;

. air outlet opening means provided in the portions of said casing walls enclosing said perimetric space and arranged to communicate with the lower portion of a closet or alcove in which said furnace is installed; and

. air cooling coil means installed in said upper compartment and refrigerant tube means arranged to extend through said perimetric space of said base compartment and upwardly therefrom for connection to said coil means.

8. The base assembly of claim 7 in which said upper compartment is provided with removable closure panel means on its front side, and said platform support means provides slidable track means extending inwardly from said front side and arranged to provide for the slidable insertion and removal of said air cooling coil means.

9. In a mobile home furnace and air cooling system having a rectilinear casing with vertically extending walls, the combination comprising: platform means secured to said casing adjacent the bottom thereof and extending perimetrically thereabout; the lower portion of said casing providing an air cooling compartment with an open front side; air cooling coil means including refrigerant lines slidably received in said compartment and supported by said platform means; closure panel means attachable to said casing for closing said compartment, said refrigerant lines extending through said closure panel means; a connecting duct communicating the interior of said compartment with a distribution duct in said home beneath said fumace and spaced inwardly of the sides of said casing to provide a perimetric make-up air space; a perimetric floor plate disposed beneath said casing and partially defining said perimetric make-up air space; and chute means attachable to said floor plate and extending through the floor of said mobile home and communicating said make-up air space with the outside of said mobile home for passing outside air to said make-up air space and serving as a conduit to the outside for said refrigerant lines.

10. The base assembly of claim 8 in which said inner portion of said floor plate means provides said air chute mounting means on each of the four sides thereof, said perimetric air space being adapted to route said refrigerant lines beneath said compartment to any of said four sides to which said chute is attachable.

11. The system of claim 10 in WhlCh said platform .panel means whereby said refrigerant lines may be routed therethrough in substantially vertical alignment.

Claims

1. In a downflow mobile home furnace and air conditioning system having a vertically extending exterior casing of rectilinear cross-section, the lower portion of which encloses a downflow air space, the combination comprising: a. platform support means mounted within said casing lower portion and partially defining a cooling coil compartment in said downflow air space; b. a cooling coil unit received in said compartment and including refrigerant lines connected thereto; c. connecting duct means extending downwardly from said compartment from beneath said platform support means through the central portion of said down-flow air space for connecting with a distribution duct system of the mobile home, at least one of the sides of said connecting duct means being spaced inwardly from an associated side of said casing to provide a perimetric space between said cooling coil compartment and the bottom of said furnace, said perimetric space further serving as an internal conduit of said system in which said refrigerant lines may be routed; d. make-up air chute means extending downwardly from said perimetric space through the floor of said mobile home to receive outside air when said system serves as a furnace and communicating with the exterior of said furnace to deliver make-up air to a closet or alcove in which said system is housed, said chute providing a conduit through said floor for said lines.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a door on said furnace spaced outwardly of said compartment closure panels thereby to define a generally vertical space for routing said refrigerant lines from a location in said closure panel means to said perimetric space and thence to said chute means.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said connecting duct has four sides all spaced inwardly from their associated sides of said casing to provide said perimetric space on all sides of said connecting duct; and wherein said chute means is selectively positionable in a plurality of positions, at least one of which is adjacent each side of said casing.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said chute means in its normal use position communicates with the bottom of the adjacent portion of said perimEtric space leaving the said adjacent space portion open for routing said refrigerant lines thereto.

7. In a downflow mobile home furnace having a vertically extending exterior casing of rectilinear cross section, the lower portion of which encloses a downflow air space, the base assembly combination comprising: a. platform support means mounted within said casing lower portion and dividing said downflow air space into an upper compartment and a base compartment, said upper compartment being of large size relative to said base compartment for receiving air cooling coil means; b. connecting duct means extending downwardly from said upper compartment through the central portion of said base compartment for communicating with the distribution duct system of the mobile home, the sides of said connecting duct means being spaced inwardly from the sides of said casing to provide a perimetric space therearound; c. make-up air chute means selectively positionable in a plurality of positions to extend downwardly from a selected side of said perimetric space to receive outside air from beneath the floor of the mobile home, said chute in its normal position communicating with the bottom of the adjacent portions of said perimetric space, leaving the perimetric space open for receiving refrigerant tube means; d. air outlet opening means provided in the portions of said casing walls enclosing said perimetric space and arranged to communicate with the lower portion of a closet or alcove in which said furnace is installed; and e. air cooling coil means installed in said upper compartment and refrigerant tube means arranged to extend through said perimetric space of said base compartment and upwardly therefrom for connection to said coil means.

9. In a mobile home furnace and air cooling system having a rectilinear casing with vertically extending walls, the combination comprising: platform means secured to said casing adjacent the bottom thereof and extending perimetrically thereabout; the lower portion of said casing providing an air cooling compartment with an open front side; air cooling coil means including refrigerant lines slidably received in said compartment and supported by said platform means; closure panel means attachable to said casing for closing said compartment, said refrigerant lines extending through said closure panel means; a connecting duct communicating the interior of said compartment with a distribution duct in said home beneath said furnace and spaced inwardly of the sides of said casing to provide a perimetric make-up air space; a perimetric floor plate disposed beneath said casing and partially defining said perimetric make-up air space; and chute means attachable to said floor plate and extending through the floor of said mobile home and communicating said make-up air space with the outside of said mobile home for passing outside air to said make-up air space and serving as a conduit to the outside for said refrigerant lines.

11. The system of claim 10 in which said platform support means provides track means extending inwardly from said front side and arranged to provide for the slidable insertion and removal of said air cooling coil means.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a front door removably attached to said casing and spaced outwardly of said compartment closure Panel means thereby to provide a space for the vertical placement of said refrigerant lines.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said chute may be connected to said floor plate beneath said closure panel means whereby said refrigerant lines may be routed therethrough in substantially vertical alignment.