Base pan and cabinet for an air conditioner

• US 20050204767A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Beaver, Danny D., Norrell, Billy W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/298
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/18 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/38 Fan details of outdoor units, e.g. bell-mouth shaped inlets or fan mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/46 Component arrangements in separate outdoor units
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/50 with outlet air in upward direction
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/56 Casing or covers of separate outdoor units, e.g. fan guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/58 Separate protective covers for outdoor units, e.g. solar guards, snow shields or camouflage
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/207 with control knobs; Mounting controlling members or control units therein
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/04 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/00 Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit

Abstract

An air conditioner includes an outdoor section comprising an outdoor coil, a fan, and a refrigerant compressor housed within a cabinet. The cabinet includes an outer wrapper supported by a plastic base. The base and wrapper include features that facilitate the cabinet'"'"'s assembly and shipping, enhance its appearance, and ensure its functional and structural integrity. For example, the base includes breakaway shipping tabs, lead-ins that help guide the wrapper and coil into position during assembly, and snaps that help hold the wrapper in place with a minimal number of screws. The wrapper includes watertight screw-receiving dimples for mounting electrical hardware, side panels that interconnect by way of a novel vertically sliding fit, and a spacer for protecting the coil from being crushed by the wrapper. A frame that supports the fan also supports the cabinet'"'"'s top cover.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An outdoor section for an air conditioner, comprising:

a base;

a plurality of sheet metal panels connected to the base to define a cabinet, said cabinet having an interior and an exterior, at least one panel of the plurality of panels defining a dimple adapted to receive a threaded fastener, said at least one panel cooperating in the definition of a closed housing for electrical components and separating the interior of the cabinet from said housing for electrical components.

27. The outdoor section according to claim 26 wherein said at least one panel defines a plurality of dimples protruding toward the interior of said cabinet, at least one of said dimples being penetrated by a threaded fastener and at least one of said dimples being closed.

38. The outdoor section according to claim 26 wherein said at least one dimple protrudes into the interior of said cabinet, said dimple being sufficiently deep and narrow such that when a threaded fastener is received therein and is turned, the threads of said fastener bite into the walls of said dimple and, upon further turning of said fastener, said fastener breaks through the bottom of said dimple.

39. The outdoor section for an air conditioner according to claim 38 wherein the engagement with and penetration of said dimple by said fastener is the sole method of retaining said fastener in said dimple.

40. The outdoor section for an air conditioner according to claim 38 further comprising a retainer, said retainer engaging the portion of said fastener that penetrates said dimple so as to secure said fastener in said dimple.

28-37. -37. (canceled)

41. An outdoor unit for an air conditioner comprising:

a base, said base being fabricated from an engineered material;

a wrapper, said wrapper being disposed above said base;

a top, said top being disposed on said wrapper, said base, said wrapper and said top cooperating to define a cabinet having an interior and an exterior;

a heat exchanger, said heat exchanger being disposed in the exterior of said cabinet;

a compressor, said compressor being disposed interior of said cabinet; and

a radio frequency identification device, said radio frequency identification device being disposed in said outdoor unit.

42. The outdoor unit according to claim 41 wherein said radio frequency identification device is embedded in said base, is self-powered and contains information relating to said outdoor section.

43. The outdoor unit according to claim 42 further comprising a query device, said query device triggering said radio frequency identification device to transmit information contained in said radio frequency identification device.

44. The outdoor unit according to claim 42 wherein the information contained in the radio frequency identification device is specific to the particular outdoor unit of which the base pan in which said radio frequency identification device is embedded is a component.

45. The outdoor unit according to claim 42 wherein said radio frequency identification device contains information relating to the manufacture and assembly of said outdoor unit.

46. The outdoor unit according to claim 42 wherein said radio frequency identification device contains information that assists in the servicing of said outdoor unit.

47. The outdoor unit according to claim 43 wherein said query device is disposed in a location in the manufacturing facility in which said outdoor unit is assembled, said location enabling said query device to trigger said radio frequency identification device as said outdoor unit proceeds through its assembly process.

48. The outdoor unit according to claim 43 wherein said query device is located in a position close enough to the location where said outdoor unit is installed in its end use location to trigger the transmission of information by said radio frequency identification device.