Indoor unit of an air conditioner

• US 6,324,859 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Correa, Juan Carlos Carne, Tesche, Carlos Alfonso
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US09/485,753
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 622/62, 622/63, 622/98, 622/97, 624/28, 622/591, 312/236
• US Class Current: 62/262
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/00 Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers

Abstract

A structural framework for an air distribution unit of the type which includes a housing having an evaporator coil supported therein in an air flow path and a fan for effecting air flow along the flow path. The framework includes a main support frame including a bottom section, a vertically extending back section, and a top section extending forwardly from the top of the back section. The back section and the top section have the same width as the bottom section, and the bottom section and the back section each have right and left hand edges. Vertically extending left and right side walls are structurally interconnected at lower edges thereof to the right-hand edges of the bottom section and the back section, respectively. Each of the side walls has a rectangular lower section and an upper triangular section extending from the upper end of the rectangular section. Each of the side walls also has a horizontally extending channel extending the depth of the lower section of the walls and located between the upper end of the rectangular lower section and the base of the triangular section. A planar fan mounting panel having right and left edges is configured to be received in the horizontally extending channels of the side walls. The fan mounting panel has a depth equal to the depth of the bottom of the main support panel.

Claims

1. A structural framework for an air distribution unit of the type including a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet, an air flow path therethrough extending from said inlet to said outlet, an evaporator coil supported in said housing in said air flow path, and a fan for effecting air flow along said air flow path and through said evaporator coil, wherein the improvement comprises:

a main support frame including a horizontally extending planar bottom section having a predetermined depth and width, a vertically extending back section, having a predetermined height extending upwardly from the back of said bottom section, and a top section extending forwardly from the top of said back section, a distance less than said predetermined depth of said bottom section;

each of said back section and said top section having the same width as said planar bottom section, each of said bottom section and said back section having right and left-hand edges;

a vertically extending right side wall having a lower edge substantially equal in length to said predetermined depth of said bottom section, and a rear edge having a height less than said predetermined height of said back section, said lower edge and said rear edge being structurally interconnected to the right-hand edges of said bottom section and said back section, respectively;

a vertically extending left side wall having a lower edge substantially equal in length to said predetermined depth of said bottom section, and a rear edge having a height less than said predetermined height of said back section, said lower edge and said rear edge being structurally interconnected to the left-hand edges of said bottom section and said back section, respectively;

each of said right and left side walls having a substantially rectangular lower section having a depth substantially equal to said predetermined depth of said bottom section and having an upper end terminating at a height intermediate the height of said rear edge, each of said right and left side walls further having an upper triangular section extending from a base overlying said upper end of said rectangular section, and a hypotenuse which extends from a point intermediate said upper end, rearwardly to the upper end of said rear edge;

each of said right and left side walls also having a horizontally extending channel extending the depth of said lower section of said walls and located between said upper end of said rectangular lower section and said base of said triangular section; and

a substantially planar fan mounting panel having right and left edges thereof configured to be received in said horizontally extending channels of said right and left side wall, respectively, said fan mounting panel having a depth substantially equal to said predetermined depth of said bottom of said main support panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said bottom section, said fan mounting panel, and said top section includes a vertically extending longitudinal flange formed at the front edges thereof;

further including a cover configured to enclose the front and top of said air distribution unit, said cover having horizontally extending sections thereof configured to engage each of said longitudinal flanges of said bottom section, said fan mounting panel, and said top section; and

means for structurally interconnecting each of said horizontally extending, sections of said cover with the longitudinal flange with which it is engaged.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper end of each of said rectangular lower sections includes a horizontal surface, which defines the bottom of the respective side walls horizontally extending channel;

each of said horizontal surfaces having an upwardly extending protrusion thereon, said protrusions having an inclined surface facing toward the front of said unit and a vertically extending surface facing toward the back of said unit;

said fan mounting panel being configured to be installed in said channels by sliding said edges into said channel from front to back with a portion of said panel overlying and being guided over said protrusions by said inclined surface;

said fan mounting panel further having openings therein position such that one of said protrusions will extend thereinto, when said panel is its final installed position, with said vertically extending surface engaging a mating edge of said opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fan panel further includes a back edge, which contacts said back panel when said fan panel is in its final installed positioned;

and

said back panel has a support tab formed integrally therewith which underlies and supports said fan panel adjacent said back edge.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a threaded fastener interconnecting said fan panel and said tab.