Modular air conditioning system
DCFirst Claim
1. In a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system attachable to a structure, said structure having an interior and an exterior, said air conditioning system, comprising:
- a) an elongate housing including;
1) a module receiving chamber inside said housing in communication externally and internally of said housing;
2) a return air opening in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said interior;
3) an air inlet opening in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said exterior;
4) an air exhaust duct in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said exterior for exhausting air from said interior to said exterior;
5) an air supply duct in said housing having a first end in communication with said chamber and a second end in communication with said interior to provide a conduit for passage of conditioned air from said ventilation system to said interior;
6) a ventilation module removably fastenable within said chamber, said ventilation module containing a damper for routing air through said return air opening, said air inlet opening, said air supply duct, and said air exhaust duct;
7) means for conditioning air within said air supply duct;
8) means for circulating air mounted in said air supply duct for drawing fresh air through said air inlet opening and said return air opening, through said chamber, through said air conditioning means, and out said second end of said air supply duct into said interior;
b) temperature responsive means; and
,c) means for controlling said air circulating means and said conditioning air means, said control means receiving and processing signals from said temperature responsive means located in said structure or in said return air opening.
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Abstract
A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is disclosed which is capable of receiving interchangeable ventilation modules having varying degrees of air mixing abilities. A ventilation module fits inside the HVAC system and connects to a return air opening, an exhaust duct, an inlet air opening, and a supply air duct for proper routing of air to be conditioned. As ventilation needs change, a different module with appropriate ventilation characteristics can replace the existing module while keeping intact all other components of the HVAC system such as blowers, compressors, heaters, condensing coils and the like. Ventilation module functionality ranges from an economizer module which allows 100% outside air into a structure, to a motorized air damper module which can be controlled based on various factors such as room occupancy to provide a limited range of fresh and return air mixing, to a blank-off plate which completely prevents use of outdoor air thus leaving the system to condition return air only for supply to the structure. A ventilation module for efficient and economical system operation capable of energy transfer between incoming air and exhausted stale air from the structure is also provided, adaptable to various new or existing types of heating and cooling systems.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system attachable to a structure, said structure having an interior and an exterior, said air conditioning system, comprising:
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a) an elongate housing including; 1) a module receiving chamber inside said housing in communication externally and internally of said housing; 2) a return air opening in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said interior; 3) an air inlet opening in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said exterior; 4) an air exhaust duct in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said exterior for exhausting air from said interior to said exterior; 5) an air supply duct in said housing having a first end in communication with said chamber and a second end in communication with said interior to provide a conduit for passage of conditioned air from said ventilation system to said interior; 6) a ventilation module removably fastenable within said chamber, said ventilation module containing a damper for routing air through said return air opening, said air inlet opening, said air supply duct, and said air exhaust duct; 7) means for conditioning air within said air supply duct; 8) means for circulating air mounted in said air supply duct for drawing fresh air through said air inlet opening and said return air opening, through said chamber, through said air conditioning means, and out said second end of said air supply duct into said interior; b) temperature responsive means; and
,c) means for controlling said air circulating means and said conditioning air means, said control means receiving and processing signals from said temperature responsive means located in said structure or in said return air opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In an HVAC system attachable to a structure having an interior and an exterior, said air conditioning system, comprising:
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a) a housing including; 1) a receiving chamber in communication externally and internally of said housing, 2) a return air opening in communication with said receiving chamber and said interior, 3) an air inlet opening in communication with said receiving chamber and said exterior, 4) an air exhaust duct in communication with said receiving chamber and said exterior for exhausting air from said interior to said exterior, 5) an air supply duct having a first end in communication with said receiving chamber and a second end in communication with said interior, said air supply duct including a means for conditioning air and means for circulating air which draws air through said air inlet opening, said return air opening, said receiving chamber, said conditioning air means and said second end of said air supply duct to said interior, 6) an interchangeable ventilation module removably fastened within said receiving chamber having a damper for routing air through said return air opening, said air inlet opening, said air supply duct and said air exhaust duct; and b) a means responsive to a temperature variation within said structure for controlling said air circulating means and said air conditioning means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for ventilating a structure, said structure with a HVAC system having an interior and an exterior, comprising:
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a) providing an elongate housing including; 1) a module receiving chamber inside said housing in communication externally and internally of said housing; 2) a return air opening in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said interior; 3) an air inlet opening in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said exterior; 4) an air exhaust duct in said housing in communication with said chamber and with said exterior for exhausting air from said interior to said exterior; and 5) an air supply duct in said housing having a first end in communication with said chamber and a second end in communication with said interior to provide a conduit for passage of conditioned air from said ventilation system to said interior; b) fastening a removable ventilation module within said chamber, said ventilation module containing a damper for routing air through said return air opening, said air inlet opening, said air supply duct, and said air exhaust duct; c) drawing air into said HVAC system by a means for circulating air through said air inlet opening and said return air opening, through said chamber, and into said air supply duct; d) conditioning said air within said air supply duct by heating, cooling, dehumidifying, filtering; e) circulating said conditioned air through said second end of said air supply duct and into said interior of said structure; f) controlling said air circulating means and said conditioning air means by utilizing a means responsive to temperature, said temperature responsive means located in said structure; and g) connecting said temperature responsive means with a means for controlling control means. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification