WO2008077209A2

WO2008077209A2 - Air conditioner control box

Info

Publication number: WO2008077209A2
Application number: PCT/BR2006/000292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Regis Silva; Rafael Schabbach
Original assignee: Springer Carrier Ltda.
Priority date: 2006-12-22
Filing date: 2006-12-22
Publication date: 2008-07-03
Also published as: WO2008077209A3

Abstract

A controller for controlling operation of an air conditioner includes a first enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller and a second enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller. The first enclosure section slidably fits together with the second enclosure section to enclose the controller.

Description

"AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL BOX"

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to air conditioners and, more particularly, to an enclosure for a controller of the air conditioner.

Conventional air conditioners include a variety of different components that cooperate to provide temperature conditioned air. Certain air conditioners include a control unit in the air conditioner that allows a user to adjust the air conditioner settings. Typically, the control unit provides power to the different components within the air conditioner and controls the components according to the selected settings.

One problem associated with the control unit is making the control unit easily accessible for maintenance or the like. Conventional control units include a box that contains components of the control unit. To access the components, a user removes the box from the air conditioner, and then disassembles the box to gain access to the components. Thus, numerous steps are necessary before gaining access the components. Additionally, even when disassembled, the box may obstruct access to some of the components.

Accordingly, there is a need for an air conditioner having an enclosure that permits easy access to the air conditioner controls. The disclosed examples address these needs while avoiding the shortcomings and drawbacks of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An example controller for controlling operation of an air conditioner includes a first enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller and a second enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller. The first enclosure section slidably fits together with the second enclosure section to enclose the controller.

In one example, the first enclosure section includes opposed side walls and a wall that extends between the opposed side walls to define a channel between the opposed side walls. The second enclosure section includes opposed end walls and another wall that extends between the opposed end walls such that the second enclosure section is slidably receivable into the channel to form a box structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

Figure 1 is an example air conditioner.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the example air conditioner of Figure 1.

Figure 3 A is a frontal perspective view of an example control box for use with the air conditioner. Figure 3B is a rear perspective view of the example control box shown in Figure 3A.

Figure 3 C is a frontal perspective view of a second embodiment of a control box.

Figure 4 is a view of an example control box in an access position.

Figure 5 is a view of the control box in a covered position installed in an air conditioner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 illustrates a partially exploded view of selected portions of an example air conditioner 10. Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic presentation for illustrative purposes only and is not a limitation on the disclosed examples. Additionally, there are various types of air conditioners, many of which could benefit from the examples disclosed herein, which are not limited to the design shown.

In the illustrated example, the air conditioner 10 includes an interior section 12 and an exterior section 14. Generally, the air conditioner 10 is installed in a structure such that the interior section 12 is indoors and the exterior section 14 is outdoors (Figure 2).

The interior section 12 includes a grill 16 and partition 18 (e.g., a wall) that generally enclose an evaporator 20 and heater 22 above a drain pan 24. Although the disclosed example air conditioner 10 includes a heater, it is to be understood that not all air conditioners include heaters. The grill 16 includes an access opening 25a and cover 25b. A blower 26 is located adjacent the heater 22 between the partition 18 and an evaporator partition 28. Referring also to the sectional view of Figure 2, a control box 30 encloses various control components, such as a louver motor 32 (shown schematically hidden inside the control box 30) that engages a came 33 that fits within a slot 34 for moving louvers 35, a capacitor 36, a thermostat 38, a rotary switch 39, and knobs 40 for setting the operation of the air conditioner 10.

The exterior section 14 includes a compressor 50 for compressing and pumping a refrigerant through the air conditioner 10 in a known manner. A motor 52 drives the blower 26 and a fan 54, which is adjacent a condenser 56. A cover 58 includes an evaporator section 60 that generally covers the evaporator

20 and a condenser section 62 that generally covers the condenser 56. The interior section 12 and the exterior section 14 are enclosed in a wrapper 64, which includes louvers 66 on one or more sides of the wrapper 64.

The control box 30 serves to control the operation of the various components (e.g., heater 22, motor 52, compressor 50, a reversing valve, etc.) in the interior section 12 and the exterior section 14 to produce temperature conditioned air in a known manner. To this end, electrical wiring 68 connects the control box 30 with the components. The electrical wiring 68 extends from the control box 30, through a space 70 between the control box 30 and the partition 18, through an opening 72 in the partition 18 the various components. At a minimum, the electrical wiring 68 connects to the motor 52 and the compressor 50. A seal 74 is incorporated at the opening 72 to limit or prevent liquid or other debris from penetrating into the interior section 12. In operation, the compressor 50 functions to compress the refrigerant and delivers it downstream to the condenser 56. The fan 54 moves air over the condenser 56, and cools refrigerant within the condenser 56. The refrigerant flows from the condenser 56 through an expansion device (not shown), to the evaporator 20. The motor 52 drives the fan 54 and the blower 26. As known, air is drawn in through a grill 16 over the evaporator 20, and into an outlet duct 73, where it is delivered through the louvers 35 and horizontal louvers 75 (Figure 1) into the environment to be conditioned.

Figure 3 A and Figure 3B are exploded views of the control box 30. In this example, the control box 30 includes a first enclosure 84a and a second enclosure 84b that slidably fit together. The enclosures 84a and 84b are made of sheet metal and contain the louver motor 32, the capacitor 36, the thermostat 38, and the rotary switch 39. The louver motor 32 is secured to the top of first enclosure 84a such that the came 33 extends up through opening 114b to engage the slot 34 of the louvers 35. The capacitor 36, the thermostat 38, and the rotary switch 39 are secured to the second enclosure 84b for movement therewith, for example. In other examples, the enclosures 84a and 84b contain other types of mechanical devices, electronic devices, or other components that are selectively secured to one of the enclosures 84a or 84b.

The first enclosure 84a includes opposed side walls 86a and 86b connected by a top wall 88. The walls 86a, 86b, and 88 form a channel 90 for slidably receiving the second enclosure 84b. The side walls 86a and 86b include guide walls 92 that extend inwards into the channel 90 along the bottom length of the side walls 86a and 86b to retain and guide the second enclosure 84b within the channel 90. The front of the first enclosure 84a includes a flange 94a. The second enclosure 84b includes an end wall 98a connected to a bottom wall 100. The end wall 98a may be a solid surface or a frame having open areas. In the disclosed example, the back side 98b of the control box 30 is open. The front of the second enclosure 84b includes a flange 94b that corresponds to flange 94a of the first enclosure. Optionally, the enclosures 84a and 84b are secured together at the flanges 94a and 94b using fasteners 101.

A third enclosure 84c functions as a front piece and locks the second enclosure within the first enclosure 84a. For example, the third enclosure 84c is made of a plastic material. The plastic is molded into a desired shape of the third enclosure 84c. The plastic provides desirable aesthetics and permits relatively complex shapes.

The third enclosure 84c includes a panel section 110 having retainer features that hold the control knobs 40 or electronics for controlling the air conditioner 10.

An arm 112 extends from the panel section 110 and includes an opening 114a for receiving the came 33. The bottom of the came 116 is secured for rotation with the louver motor 32 and the top engages the slot 34 of the louvers 35 such that the louver motor 32 can actuate the louvers 35.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 3C, an electronic handset panel section 110' and electronic board 111 are used instead of the panel section 110 that utilizes the thermostat 38, rotary switch 39, and knobs 40 for control. The control box 30 provides relatively easy access for maintenance or the like. For example, the enclosures 84a and 84b slide relative to each other between an access position and a covered position. Figure 4 shows one example access position in which a user is able to access at least the capacitor 36, the thermostat 38, and the rotary switch 39.

Figure 5 shows one example of the covered position in which a user is unable to access the louver motor 32, the capacitor 36, the thermostat 38, and the rotary switch 39 (hereafter the "controls").

To move between the covered position and the access position, a service person slides the enclosures 84a and 84b relative to each other. The first enclosure 84a is secured within the air conditioner 10 and remains relatively stationary. The user can thereby slide the second enclosure 84b from the first enclosure 84a to access the controls. This provides the benefit of permitting access to the controls without having to remove the entire control box 30.

For example, the first enclosure 84a is secured within the air conditioner 10 using the flange 94a (e.g., using fasteners through the flange 94a). Alternatively, other types of attachment mechanisms are used. The service person removes the fasteners 101 and the came 33, which allows the service person to slide the enclosures 84b and 84c from the first enclosure 84a to access the controls.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. A controller apparatus for use in an air conditioner, comprising: a controller for controlling operation of an air conditioner; a first enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller; and a second enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller, wherein the first enclosure section slidably fits together with the second enclosure section to enclose the controller.

2. The controller apparatus as recited in claim I₅ wherein the first enclosure section and the second enclosure section form a box when fit together.

3. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first enclosure section includes opposed side walls and a wall that extends between the opposed side walls to define a channel between the opposed side walls.

4. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the second enclosure section includes an end wall connected with a bottom wall, wherein the second enclosure section is slidably receivable into the channel of the first enclosure section.

5. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the first enclosure section includes guide walls that extend from the opposed side walls into the channel to retain the second enclosure section within the channel.

6. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller includes at least a capacitor, a thermostat, and a rotary switch.

7. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the capacitor, the thermostat, the rotary switch, or a louver motor is attached to the first enclosure section, and at least one other of the capacitor, the thermostat, the rotary switch, or the louver motor is attached to the second enclosure section.

8. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third enclosure section made of plastic and attachable to the second enclosure section, wherein the first enclosure section and the second enclosure section are each made of metal.

9. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first enclosure section includes a first flange and the second enclosure section includes a second flange that is securable to the first flange.

10. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a third enclosure section that is securable to the first flange, with the second flange secured between the first flange and the third enclosure section.

11. The controller apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the third enclosure section includes an arm extending there from.

12. An air conditioner assembly comprising: a first section having a compressor, a fan and a condenser; a second section having an evaporator and a blower; a controller for controlling operation of the first section and the second section; a first enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller; and a second enclosure section for at least partially surrounding the controller, wherein the first enclosure section slidably fits together with the second enclosure section to enclose the controller.

13. The air conditioner assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the first enclosure section is secured to one of the first section or the second section, and the second enclosure section is removably slidable into the first enclosure section.

14. The air conditioner assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the second enclosure section is securable to the first enclosure section.

15. A method of providing access to an air conditioner controller having a first enclosure section and a second enclosure section that at least partially surround the controller, comprising: sliding the first enclosure section relative to the second enclosure section to selectively move between an access position and a covered position.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, including sliding the second enclosure section along a channel formed by opposed side walls and a wall that extends between the opposed side walls of the first enclosure section.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, including securing the first enclosure section within the air conditioner, and sliding the second enclosure section relative to the first enclosure section between the access position and the covered position.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, including securing a third enclosure section to the first enclosure section to lock the first enclosure section and the second enclosure section together.