Motorhome HVAC system

• US 6,776,451 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfa Leisure Inc
• Original Assignee: Alfa Leisure Inc
• Inventors: Crean, Johnnie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US09/971,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 276/156, 454/83, 454/99, 454/103, 454/104, 454/105, 454/108, 454/111, 454/137, 454/139, 454/141, 454/142, 454/143, 454/144, 454/156, 454/158, 454/159, 454/160, 454/245, 454/246, 454/247, 296/208, 296/190.09, 296/164
• US Class Current: 296/156
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00364 for caravans or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00371 for vehicles carrying large numbers of passengers, e.g. buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00564 of air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00221 Devices in the floor or side wall area of the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/006 Noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/02 comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/046 built up with flat self-supporting panels; Fixed connections between panels B62D29/045, B62D33/048 take precedence

Abstract

A unitized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system ventilates and regulates the air temperature inside a motorhome. Air is drawn from inside the motorhome and is directed to a furnace and an air conditioning unit via a common air return. A filter is positioned within the common return. The HVAC unit is compact and adapted for placement below the living area of motorhome so as to reduce the noise inside the cabin generated by the HVAC system and to reduce the center of gravity of the motorhome.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for a motorhome having an interior living area enclosed by interconnected side coach panels and a rear coach panel, the HVAC system comprising:

a furnace unit;

an air-conditioning unit wherein the furnace and the air-conditioning units are positioned below the interior living area of the motorhome;

first and second adjoining interior trim panels; and

a common air intake directing air from the interior living area to both the furnace and the air-conditioning units wherein the common air intake comprises four adjoining inner surfaces of the rear coach panel, one of the side coach panels, and two inner surfaces of the first and second adjoining interior trim panels wherein each of the one side and rear panels adjoins one of the two adjoining interior trim panels so as to together define a box structure.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1, further comprising a filter positioned within the common air intake.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1, further comprising a single outlet duct and at least one register in communication with the outlet duct directing air from the HVAC system into the interior living area of the motorhome.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the common air intake further comprises inner surfaces of third and fourth adjoining trim panels and an inner surface of a roof coach panel.

5. The HVAC system of claim 4, wherein the first and second trim panels extend generally vertically and the third and fourth trim panels extend generally horizontally.

6. A motorhome having a rear and two side structural panels and at least first and second interior trim panels together defining an interior of the motorhome, the motorhome comprising:

a frame defining a floor plane;

a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system having a distributed weight wherein the majority of the weight of the HVAC system is positioned below the floor plane; and

a common air intake directing air from the interior of the motorhome to the HVAC system wherein the common air intake comprises interior surfaces of the rear and one of the two side structural panels, and the first and second interior trim panels.

7. The motorhome of claim 6, further comprising a common outlet duct and at least one register directing air from the HVAC system to the interior of the motorhome.

8. The motorhome of claim 6, further comprising a single filter assembly positioned within the common air intake.

9. The motorhome of claim 6, wherein the HVAC system comprises a furnace and air-conditioning unit wherein the furnace and air-conditioning unit are positioned below the floor plane.

10. The motorhome of claim 6, wherein the motorhome comprises third and fourth adjoining interior trim panels and a roof structural panel and the common air intake further comprises inner surfaces of the third and fourth adjoining interior trim panels and an inner surface of the roof structural panel.

11. The motorhome of claim 10, wherein the first and second interior trim panels extend generally vertically and the third and fourth interior trim panels extend generally horizontally.

12. The motorhome of claim 10, further comprising a filter wherein the filter is retained by at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth interior trim panels.