Universal air handler unit

Abstract

A universal air handler unit includes a blower and evaporator juxtaposed one another within a compact, weather resistant cabinet adapted for outdoor installation. Ports for cool and return air ducts disposed on one side of the cabinet couple directly to the blower and evaporator respectively. Return air drawn by the blower into the cabinet passes across the evaporator core, then through the blower and back out through the adjacent cool air duct. Coolant lines couple to a stand-alone condenser/compressor unit. In a particular embodiment, an adapter enables stacking the condenser/compressor unit atop the cabinet to reduce the overall footprint of the combination. In another embodiment, a manifold adapted to couple to the cool and return air ducts may be installed in various locations, the air handler unit slideably coupling to the manifold during installation, and easily decoupling and reecoupling for transportation and maintenance.

Claims

1. A universal air handler for an air conditioning system installed in a building, said building having a roof covering a building interior surrounded and defined by building walls, said building further having conditioned and return air ducts extending from within said building interior and accessible from outside said building, said universal air handler comprising a cabinet having a cabinet bottom and a cabinet top separated by cabinet walls surrounding and defining a cabinet interior, said cabinet top having cabinet top corners; an air intake chamber within said cabinet interior and coupled to an air intake port disposed within one of said cabinet walls; an air outlet chamber within said cabinet interior and coupled to an air outlet port disposed within one of said cabinet walls; an evaporator coil disposed within the cabinet interior and dividing the cabinet interior between said intake chamber and said outlet chamber; a blower housed within the outlet chamber and adapted to draw air into the cabinet through the air intake port, across the evaporator coil and out the outlet port; and a condenser mount disposed on said cabinet top and having X-bracket legs disposed diagonally across said cabinet top and having X-bracket tips disposed substantially above said cabinet top corners; and lug means descending from said X-bracket tips and adapted to cooperate with said cabinet top corners to affix said X-bracket tips to said cabinet top corners.

2. The universal air handler of claim 1 wherein at least one of said cabinet walls includes removable access panels adapted to provide access into said air intake chamber and said air outlet chamber; and blower rails extending along said cabinet bottom within said air outlet chamber and supporting said blower.

3. The universal air handler of claim 1 and further comprising a quick-coupling manifold disposed adjacent said building and having a bulkhead juxtaposed said building said bulkhead surrounding and defining a conditioned air duct coupler affixed to said conditioned air duct and a return air duct coupler affixed to said return air duct; a shelf having a proximate shelf edge coupled to said bulkhead and extending to a distal shelf edge; a conditioned air collar coupled to said air outlet port and adapted to mate with said conditioned air duct coupler; and a return air collar coupled to said air intake port and adapted to mate with said return air duct collar.

4. The universal air handler of claim 3 and further comprising at least two shelf rails disposed on said shelf a spaced distance apart and extending parallel each other to terminate adjacent said distal shelf edge in a first latch bar; at least two glider rails disposed on said cabinet bottom said spaced distance apart and adapted to slidably mate with said at least two shelf rails, each of said at least two glider rails having a second latch bar disposed on said at least two glider rails, said second latch bar adapted to abut said first latch bar; and means coupled between said first latch bar and said second latch bar for drawing said second latch bar and said first latch bar into position juxtaposed to each other.

5. The universal air handler of claim 4 wherein said cinch means for drawing comprises a threaded bolt extending through said second latch bar and adapted to rotatably journal into a corresponding threaded aperture on said first latch bar.

6. The universal air handler of claim 1 and further comprising an outdoor filter module disposed on at least one of said air intake port and said air outlet port, said filter module having a filter sized to cover said at least one of said air intake port and said air outlet port; an interior filter chamber sized to enclose said filter; and at least one access door adapted to admit said filter into said interior filter chamber.

7. The universal air handler of claim 1 wherein said lug means comprises a plug adapted to be received within a plug aperture in said cabinet top; and a screw adapted to penetrate one of said cabinet walls adjacent said cabinet top corner and to intersect and secure said plug within said plug aperture.

8. A universal air handler for an air conditioning system installed in a building, said building having a building interior, said building further having a conditioned air duct and a return air duct extending from within said building interior and accessible from outside said building, said universal air handler comprising a cabinet having a cabinet top, cabinet sides and a cabinet interior, said cabinet top having cabinet top corners; an evaporator coil disposed within the cabinet interior and dividing the cabinet interior between an intake chamber and an outlet chamber; an air intake port coupled to said intake chamber; an air outlet port coupled to said outlet chamber; a blower housed within said outlet chamber and adapted to draw air into the cabinet through said air intake port, across the evaporator coil and out the outlet port; and an X-bracket disposed on said cabinet top.

9. The universal air handler of claim 8 wherein said X-bracket further comprises X-bracket legs disposed diagonally across said cabinet top and having X-bracket tips disposed above said cabinet top corners; and lugs descending from said X-bracket tips and adapted to cooperate with said cabinet top corners to affix said X-bracket tips to said cabinet top corners.

10. The universal air handler of claim 9 wherein each of said lugs further comprises a plug adapted to be received within a plug aperture in said cabinet top; and a screw adapted to intersect and secure said plug within said plug aperture.

11. The universal air handler of claim 8 wherein said X-bracket further comprises an X-mount having four triangular panels, each of said four triangular panels having three panel edges; three panel flanges disposed one each on each of said three panel edges, and having panel flange lengths; fasteners adapted to affix two of said three panel flanges to another two of said three panel flanges on two others of said four triangular panels, whereby said four triangular panels form a substantially planar surface coextensive with said cabinet top and having an X-mount perimeter.

12. The universal air handler of claim 11 wherein one of said three panel flanges one each of said four triangular panels disposed adjacent said X-mount perimeter extends downward below said cabinet top to lie adjacent one of cabinet sides.

13. The universal air handler of claim 8 and further comprising a manifold disposed adjacent said building and having a bulkhead having a conditioned air duct coupler coupled to a conditioned air duct; and a return air duct coupler coupled to said return air duct; a shelf having a proximate shelf edge coupled to said bulkhead and extending to a distal shelf edge; a conditioned aft duct collar coupled to said aft outlet port and adapted to mate with said conditioned air duct coupler; and a return aft duct collar coupled to said aft intake port and adapted to mate with 11 said return air duct collar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The novel features believed characteristic of the present invention may be set forth in appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use and further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a typical small structure, such as a mobile home, with which the present invention may be used according to illustrated multiple alternative installation options.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic of a typical bifurcated air conditioning system according to prior art.

(4) FIG. 3 details the crowded conditions common in mobile home parks.

(5) FIGS. 4A, 4B depict an air conditioning package unit according to prior art.

(6) FIG. 5 is a plan view of an installation adjacent a mobile home using the universal air handler unit of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the installation of FIG. 5

(8) FIG. 7 is a plan view of the universal air handler unit of FIG. 5 showing its interior components.

(9) FIG. 8 details intake and exhaust interfaces of the universal air handler unit of FIG. 5.

(10) FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of a manifold system adapted for use with the present invention.

(11) FIGS. 10, 11 show, in quartering perspective and side elevational views respectively, an X-bracket used for stacking a condenser unit atop the present invention.

(12) FIGS. 12A, 12B detail a particular embodiment of corner supports of the X-bracket of FIGS. 10, 11. FIGS. 12C, 12D detail another embodiment of corner supports of the X-bracket of FIGS. 10, 11.

(13) FIGS. 13A, 13B detail a particular embodiment of a corner cap for the universal air handling unit of the present invention when the corner supports of FIGS. 12A, 12B are employed. FIGS. 13C, 13D detail an alternate embodiment of a corner cap for use with the corner supports of FIGS. 12C, 12D.

(14) FIGS. 14, 15 show the present invention in use with an alternate embodiment of the manifold system of FIG. 9.

(15) FIGS. 16, 17 detail the alternate manifold system of FIGS. 14, 15.

(16) FIGS. 18A-18B detail a quick-coupling manifold system of the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 14-17. FIG. 18C details a simplified version of the quick-coupling manifold system of the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 14-17.

(17) FIG. 19 depicts in side elevational view the present invention resting on a sloping rail system to enhance drainage of condensate.

(18) FIGS. 20A, 20B show the cabinet rail system of the manifold of FIGS. 14-17, 19.

(19) FIGS. 21A, 21B show the blower cabinet rail system within the present invention.

(20) FIGS. 22A-22B detail various installation options for use with the present invention.

(21) FIGS. 23A-23D show an alternate embodiment for the cabinet top adapter for stacking a condenser unit atop the present invention.

(22) FIGS. 24A-24C detail an optional outdoor filter module for use with one embodiment of the present invention.

(23) FIGS. 25A and 25B detail the X-bracket of FIGS. 10, 11.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(24) Referring now to the figures, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 3, mobile home 1 comprises a substantially rectangular structure having vertical walls 5 and shallow-pitched roof 3 terminating in gable 4. Mobile homes 1 typically are elevated a spaced distance above ground 9 to form crawl space 7 beneath floor 6. Many utilities serving mobile home 1 extend through crawl space 7 to various entry points (not shown) through floor 6. This often includes flexible cool and return air conditioning ducts 33, 34 (see, e.g., FIGS. 5-7) discussed in more detail below. Crawl space 7 commonly is surrounded by a shroud, or skirt (not shown) to inhibit intrusion into crawl space 7 by small animals and to control air circulation for better insulation of mobile home 1 beneath floor 6.

(25) Unlike with large homes having tall roof lines, gable 4 and roof 3 typically do not define an attic space for mobile home 1 but instead typically define an elevated, or vaulted ceiling (not shown), thus providing no attic space for installation of the interior component of a bifurcated air conditioning system. See FIG. 2. Alternately, if gable 3 does include attic space, it usually is very small and inadequate to contain the indoor equipment. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the structure depicted in FIG. 1 could represent residential or small commercial structures other than mobile home 1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and that the present invention may be used with all such other structures.

(26) Turning now also to FIG. 2, air conditioning system 10 provides cooled air to the interior of mobile home 1, usually through interior duct work 15 extending throughout mobile home 1. The schematic of FIG. 2 represents the typical, bifurcated system. One portion of system 10 includes compressor 17, condenser 18 and condenser blower 19 contained within outdoor cabinet 16, typically resting on pad 23 (FIGS. 5, 6) adjacent crawl space 7 along exterior wall 5. The remainder of system 10 is housed indoors, commonly in closet 11 or attic space (not shown). The indoor component includes blower 13 which impels interior air drawn from intake 12 into duct work 15 after passing through and being cooled by evaporator coils 14. Pressurized coolant lines 21, 22 convey coolant (typically freon) between the indoor and outdoor components of system 10, lines 21, 22 commonly being dozens of feet in length and vulnerable to damage from impacts and elements. Thus, significant space within the interior of mobile home 1 necessarily is dedicated to the indoor component of system 10.

(27) Turning now also to FIGS. 4A, 4B, package unit 30 was developed among other reasons to liberate interior space within mobile home 1 occupied by system 10's indoor component. Package unit 30 contains entire system 10 within single, outdoor cabinet 35 resting on pad 23 (see FIG. 6) juxtaposed crawl space 7. Cool and return air ports 31, 32 couple to a chamber within cabinet 35 which contains evaporator 14 and blower 13. Air drawn by blower 13 from mobile home 1 through intake 32 passes across evaporator 14 and returns as cool air through outlet 31 and into mobile home 1. Intake 32 and outlet 31 are disposed on one side of cabinet 35 adjacent wall 5, and couple to flexible ducts 33, 34 (see FIG. 7) which extend through crawl space 7 to couple to duct 15 without requiring dedication of closet 11 to system 10.

(28) As best seen in FIG. 3, package unit 30 is compact enough to fit adjacent to and within curtilage 2 of mobile home 1 without encroaching upon the curtilage of adjacent mobile home 1A. As discussed above, however, as energy efficiency requirements cause the size of package units 30 to increase, it becomes increasingly difficult to fit such all-in-one units into curtilage 2. Adding to this difficulty, mobile home park owners have decreased curtilage 2 to the point that even earlier, prior art package units 30 have become difficult to install and maintain.

(29) As best seen in FIGS. 5-7, the present invention 40 relieves this curtilage 2 constriction problem by again segregating the evaporator/blower portion of system 10 from the condenser/compressor portion, but enclosing the former into outdoor cabinet 41 adapted also to be disposed outdoors adjacent wall 5 and coupled to flexible ducts 33, 34. Exterior coolant ports 47, 48 couple to coolant lines 21, 22 extending to a separate, stand-alone condenser/compressor unit 16 installed nearby.

(30) Two advantages arise from this arrangement. First, the overall horizontal size of two separate units of currently acceptable capacity now fit well within curtilage 2. Second, universal air handling unit 40 of the present invention may be used with a variety of condenser/compressor units without the two necessarily being manufactured or supplied by the same business entity, as with package unit 30. This gives homeowners and air conditioning contractors greater flexibility to take advantage of competitive pricing among manufacturers of outdoor component units 16, and enables use of units 16 from other applications, such as larger homes.

(31) As best seen in FIG. 7, universal air handling unit 40 comprises a substantially rectangular cabinet partially divided by evaporator 45. Warm air from mobile home 1 enters intake port 44 coupled to return air flexible duct 34 and is drawn across evaporator 45 by the suction of blower 46 which impels the cooled air back out through outlet 43, into cool air flexible duct 33 and thereby into mobile home 1. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that evaporator 45 forms an airtight barrier between intake 44 and blower 46, thereby requiring air entering intake 44 to pass through evaporator 45 and not allowing it to bypass evaporator 45. One having ordinary skill in the art also will recognize that the size of evaporator 45 and blower 46 are selected based on the size of the space to be cooled within mobile home 1, just as with the prior art, and cabinet 41 sized to contain them.

(32) As best seen in FIGS. 21A, 21B, a particular embodiment of cabinet 41 includes removable access panels 55A, 55B which provide access to the interior of cabinet 41. This permits easy servicing of blower 46, evaporator 45 and other equipment within cabinet 41. Blower rails 49 may be provided for easy removal and replacement of blower 46 during such servicing activity.

(33) Opposite access panels 55A, 55B and adjacent crawl space 7, similarly removable port panels, preferably of comparable size to access panels 55A, 55B, provide exchangeable mounts for ports 43, 44, enabling an installer to swap out ports 43, 44 for different sized ports 43, 44 to match flexible ducts 33, 34 as required for a given installation.

(34) In a particular embodiment of universal air handler unit 40 depicted in FIGS. 8, 9, manifold 50 couples across intake 44 and outlet 43 to which flexible ducts 33, 34 may be permanently affixed. When air handler unit 40 must be serviced, it may be unbolted from manifold 50 and removed to a service area or shop (neither shown), unit 40 either being replaced immediately with a new unit 40 or reinstalled once such service is performed. This also abets relief of space requirements within curtilage 2. By leaving manifold 50 coupled to flexible ducts 33, 34, service personnel need not crawl into nor even open crawl space 7 to uncouple ducts 33, 34 from unit 40. Further, flexible ducts 33, 34 can be damaged when they are disturbed, incurring tears, crimps or other injuries which compromise efficiency and even function. By coupling them permanently to manifold 50, such injuries can be minimized or deterred.

(35) With reference now also to FIGS. 24A-24C, optional outdoor filter module 170 may be placed across one or both (not shown) of intake 44 and outlet 43. Filter module 170 comprises filter housing 171 adapted to hold filter 177 across intake 44 or outlet 43 and provide access thereto without the need to enter home 1. FIG. 24B depicts top access to filter 177 through top port 175 sealed by top door panel 173. FIG. 24C depicts side access to filter 177 through side port 175A sealed by side door panel 173A. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that either of both the above discussed side and top access could be provided with one housing 171, and that the side on which side port 175A and side door 173A is located depends upon which of intake 44 or outlet 43 is being filtered, and that all such alternatives to filter module 170 are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

(36) In another particular embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 10-13B and 25A-25B, unit 40 may be equipped with X-bracket 60, which spans across top 42 of cabinet 41 and permits stacking condenser/compressor unit 16 atop universal air handler 40. Since outdoor components commonly include condenser blower 19 (FIG. 5) expelling hot air vertically upward from within unit 16, they seldom are candidates for supporting unit 40. However, outdoor components typically are much lighter in weight than air handler unit 40, and do not represent a major weight load on cabinet 41. Thus, stacking unit 16 atop unit 40 is realistic, and allows blower 19 to continue to blow hot air upward from unit 16.

(37) X-bracket 60 includes legs 61 which cross approximately equidistant from their respective tips 62 at an angle adapted to dispose tips 62 directly above the four corners of cabinet 41. Keeper plate 66 affixes legs 61 in relative position to each other. As best seen if FIGS. 12A, 12B, tips 62 further are contoured to reflect the general shape of the corners of cabinet 41, typically having beveled edges that form a 90 degree angle, giving tips 62 a plan view profile congruent with the square corners of cabinet 41. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any shapes of tips 62, whether or not they match the plan profile of the corners of cabinet 41, are considered within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Where they cross, legs 61 are notched so that they remain coplanar with each other and comprise a stable platform across the middle of cabinet 41.

(38) Disposed on the underside of tips 62, lugs 63 mate with correspondingly shaped apertures 64 in top 42 to affix X-bracket horizontally to cabinet 41. Lugs 63 extend through apertures 64 in top 42 and engage support structures (not shown) of cabinet 41, such as vertical corner channels forming a skeleton (not shown) of cabinet 41. Preferably, lugs 63 and apertures 64 are substantially L-shaped in the plane of cabinet top 42 and sized to match similar L-shaped metal channels usually used as corner structures of the skeleton of cabinet 41. Keepers (not shown) may be provided for affixing lugs 63 in place within apertures 64, but one having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the weight of condenser/compressor unit 16 typically will be sufficient to hold lugs 63 in place. Such keepers may take the form of simple screws inserted through the side of cabinet 41 at an appropriate distance below top 42. Such keepers might include set screws (not shown).

(39) As seen in FIGS. 13A, 13B, corner cap 70 may be provided to close apertures 64 when X-bracket 60 is not employed. Corner cap 70 preferably comprises body 71 adapted to surround two adjacent sides and top 42 of cabinet 41 a spaced distance from its corners. Disposed beneath top 71, aperture plug 73 is adapted to be received and to substantially fill aperture 64, while keeper 75 engages the sides of cabinet 41 to affix corner cap 70 in place. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that keepers 75 may be the same keepers used to affix lugs 63 within apertures 64.

(40) In an alternate embodiment depicted in FIGS. 12C, 12D, lugs 63A depend from tips 62 to cooperate with the corners of cabinet 41 for attachment by bolts 75, without requiring penetration of cabinet top 42 by aperture 64. Instead, lugs 63A mate with bolts 75 to secure X-bracket 60 to cabinet 41. When X-bracket 60 is not in use, corner cap 70A may be affixed to cabinet 41 in place of lugs 63A and held in place by bolts 75. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous means of affixing X-bracket 60 to cabinet 41, including some with damping means (not shown) to dampen transmission of vibrations between unit 40 and condenser 16, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

(41) Referring now also to FIGS. 23A-23D, another alternate embodiment of condenser support means replaces X-bracket 60 with X-mount 160. X-mount 160 includes triangular, opposite end panels 161 which cooperate with opposite side panels 163 to form a rectangular base atop cabinet 41 upon which condenser 16 rests. Panels 161, 163 include downwardly extending inner flanges 167 which fasten together along their common lengths to unite panels 161, 163 into a rectangular cover sized to fit snugly atop the top surface 42 of cabinet 41.

(42) The resulting beams formed by adjacent and fastened-together inner flanges 167 form an X-truss across the top surface 42 of cabinet 41 sufficient in most cases to support condenser unit 16. If the installer (not shown) deems it important to do so, however, he may reinforce the X-truss with perimeter supports using brackets 162, 164 which form a frame around the perimeter of and resting upon top 42. In this configuration, all three sides of panels 161, 163 are supported upon top 42. X-mount 160 disassembles into its component parts 161, 163, 162, 164 for convenient shipping and storage in box 165 until needed.

(43) Brackets 162, 164 preferably are segments of angle iron sized and oriented to have a vertical leg affixed to the inner surface of outer flange 166 with their other leg lying flat on top surface 42 of cabinet 41. Brackets 162, 164 preferably are not quite as long as perimeter flanges 166, thereby leaving gaps through which moisture may escape if it penetrates beneath panels 161, 163.

(44) When X-mount 160 is in place, perimeter flanges 166 descend past top surface 42 to lay alongside the sides of cabinet 41. Fasteners such as screws (not shown) may be provided to affix perimeter flanges 166 to cabinet 41, but experience has shown that they are unnecessary, perimeter flanges 166 alone, surrounding cabinet 41 a top surface 42, providing sufficient stability without them.

(45) Preferably, cushioning means in the form of adhesive tape 168 is disposed between the bottom edges of inner flanges 167 and top 42, and, when perimeter brackets 162, 164 are used, the horizontal leg of brackets 162, 164. Tape 168 absorbs and dampens vibrations from both condenser unit 16 and cabinet 41. Preferably, tape 168 is one-half (0.5 in.) inch thick by one (1.0 in.) inch wide nitrile/vinyl, single-sided adhesive sponge tape with low thermal conductivity and water absorption. A suitable material for tape 168 is available as a 25/50 Rated Sponge (no product number) from SECON Rubber & Plastics, Inc., of Red Bud, Ill. USA. The adhesive side of tape 168 is applied to the bottom edges of inner flanges 167 and the bottoms of brackets 162, 164.

(46) Turning now also to FIGS. 14-20B, an alternate embodiment of manifold 50 comprises quick coupling manifold 80. Manifold 80 includes horizontal shelf 82 from one end of which rises vertical bulkhead 81. Bulkhead 81 surrounds intake coupler 85 and return coupler 86, discussed in more detail below. Couplers 85, 86 extend through bulkhead 81 and provide flanges to which flexible ducts 33, 34 may be permanently attached.

(47) Couplers 85, 86 mate with intake and return ports 43, 44 disposed adjacent one another on one side of cabinet 41. Couplers 85, 86 comprise rubber gaskets disposed on bulkhead 81 and adapted to telescopically receive ports 43, 44 extending from cabinet 41 (and, optionally, port panels 56A, 56B). When seated, they form an airtight seal between flexible ducts 33, 34 and cabinet 41. A typical coupler 85, 86 adapted to surround ports 43, 44 appears in FIG. 18A, couplers 85, 86 having flange 87 from which annular collar 89 extends. Collar 89 is sized to concentrically surround ports 43, 44, forming a tight seal. Concentric inner cone 88 may be provided to journal inside ports 43, 44, and to guide ports 43, 44 into place. As seen in FIG. 18B, cone 88 may be trimmed to fit various sizes of ports 43, 44 and to optimize air flow therein. As seen in FIGS. 18C, 18D an alternate embodiment of cone 88 comprises a simple flange 87A bearing collar 88A mounts to port panels 56A, 56B and is adapted to mate directly with couplers 85, 86.

(48) As best seen in FIGS. 14-17, manifold 80 is adapted to be installed between rafters 8 of mobile home 1 and to provide support for air handler unit 40 atop mobile home 1. Bulkhead 81 is sized to match the height of rafters 8 at the point at which manifold 80 is installed, thereby maintaining the profile of roof 3. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that manifold 80 likely spans a greater width than the typical spacing of rafters 8, and that one or more of rafters 8 may have to be truncated (rafter 8A) to admit manifold 80 between two adjacent rafters 8, one on either side of manifold 80. Bulkhead 81 comprises materials of sufficient strength to form a truss between two adjacent rafters 8 and thereby to maintain the integrity of roof 3. Thus, bulkhead 81 couples to truncated rafter 8A and secures it as would a dormer window.

(49) While manifold 80 creates a recess within roof 3 in which air handler unit 40 is installed, manifold 80 also maintains weather integrity of roof 3 by extending shelf 82 all the way to a position outside wall 5 (see FIGS. 1, 22A, Details 2A-2C). Dormer 91 may be provided to direct precipitation to either side of manifold 80, but one having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that it is not required. Precipitation falling on roof 3 runs onto shelf 82 and thereby off mobile home 1. Shelf 82 effectively forms an eave for roof 3 under air handler unit 40. Shelf 82 preferably slopes slightly downward from bulkhead 81 toward its terminus just beyond wall 5.

(50) As means for easing installation and removal of unit 40 from manifold 80, rail system 83 (see FIG. 19) may be disposed substantially perpendicular to bulkhead 81 and extending for the length of shelf 82. At least two rails 83A preferably are provided, one each located a spaced distance from the other, within the separation of the side walls of cabinet 41. Rails 83A mate with gliders 83B (See FIG. 21B) disposed on the bottom of cabinet 41 for easily aligning cabinet 41 and assuring a proper match of couplers 85, 86 with ports 43, 44 without an installer (not shown) having to stand on roof 3 adjacent bulkhead 81 and mate them by hand. This in turn makes it possible for one installer (not shown) to remove and reinstall unit 40 alone, saving time and manpower.

(51) One or more latch means preferably affixes at least one of gliders 83B to its corresponding rail 83A to maintain the integrity of the coupling between couplers 85, 86 and ports 43, 44. In a particular embodiment of such latches best seen in FIGS. 20A-21B, at least one transverse first latch bar 84A mounted to shelf 82 opposite bulkhead 81 includes longitudinal latch bolt 84C that mates with an appropriately sized, threaded hole in corresponding transverse second latch bar 84B (FIG. 21B) mounted to the access end of cabinet 41 across corresponding glider 83B. Latch bolt 84C not only secures cabinet 41 in place, it may be used to draw first and second latch bars 84A, 84B together and thereby to ratchet cabinet 41 into place once ports 43, 44 engage couplers 85, 86, thereby optimizing the seal between cabinet 41 and manifold 80. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other latch means could be employed to similar effect without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

(52) Another advantage of manifold 80 arises from height constraints when mobile home 1 is transported on roads and highways. For obvious efficiencies, mobile home 1 manufacturers prefer to install air conditioning equipment at the factory instead of on site after a mobile home 1 has been sold and delivered. Manifold 80 enables this by providing means for such manufacturers (not shown) to install unit 40 within roof 3, then to remove it for transportation, sealing up bulkhead 81 during transportation. Alternately, where cabinet 41 is sufficiently short that its top 42 rises above shelf 82 no higher than the peak of gable 4, unit 40 may be installed at the factory and transported in place on roof 3 without requiring any site installation at all.

(53) The present invention lends itself to myriad alternative applications than just the sloped roof installation shown and discussed in conjunction with FIGS. 14-17. For example, manifold 80 could be employed in the same context as manifold 50 discussed above for pad-mounted installations (FIGS. 5-7). In such case, shelf 82 could simply extend across and be supported by pad 23, allowing easy slidable installation using rails 83 on the ground.

(54) FIGS. 22A-22B depict a variety of other installation options using manifold 80. In FIG. 22A, Details 1A-2C depict the two alternatives discussed above. Details 1A-1B contemplate installation adjacent crawl space 7 and on pad 23. Details 2A-2C contemplate the roof mounted installation discussed above. Details 3A-3D contemplate installation of the present invention, using manifold 80, on a flat roof, where duct lines 33, 34 enter from the bottom. In FIG. 22B, Details 4A-4C contemplate support bracket 93 mounted high on wall 5 beneath gable 4 and supporting shelf 82, with bulkhead 81 substantially flush with wall 5 and flexible ducts 33, 34 extending into gable 4. Details 5A-5C contemplate hanging unit 40 from ceiling supports 94 attached to a ceiling inside a building (not shown), while Details 6A-6C contemplate installing unit 40 in a basement. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that condenser/compressor unit 16 may not be juxtaposed to most of the alternate installations of unit 40 depicted in FIGS. 22A-22B, but instead will be located an appropriate distance away and interconnected (not shown) by appropriate lengths of coolant lines 21, 22.

(55) In operation, an installer (not shown) places manifold 50 adjacent a wall of mobile home 1 and couples it to cool and return air lines 33, 34 extending from duct work 15 through crawl space 7. Preferably this is a permanent connection. The installer then places universal air handler unit 40 adjacent manifold 50 and bolts manifold 50 to ports 43, 44. The installer then couples coolant lines 21, 22 between unit 40 and outdoor component 16, and then pressurizes and tests the system.

(56) When alternate manifold 80 is being used in lieu of manifold 50, the installer supports shelf 80 on pad 23 with rails 82 extending substantially perpendicular to wall 5. The installer then places unit 40 atop shelf 82 a spaced distance away from bulkhead 81 and assures that gliders 83B engage rails 83A. The installer then slides unit 40 toward bulkhead 81 until couplers 85, 86 engage ports 43, 44, and them preferably latches gliders 83B to rails 83A using latch 84. The installer then proceeds to hook up coolant lines 21, 22 and to test the system, as described above.

(57) For a rooftop installation, as discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 14-17, an installer first installs manifold 80 between two rafters 8, as discussed above. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that this installer may be the manufacturer (not shown) of mobile home 1, as discussed above. At the appropriate time and place, another installer may proceed as discussed in the previous paragraph for manifold 80.

(58) While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the present invention has been discussed in connection with conventional air conditioning systems, but could just as well serve with heat pump systems. Also, for the roof installation discussed at length above, a second manifold (not shown) having bulkhead 81 and shelf 82, but not having couplers 85, 86, could be installed within roof 3 in similar fashion to manifold 80 and used to support outdoor unit 16 nearby to universal air handler unit 40, thereby minimizing the length of coolant lines 21, 22 and liberating space within curtilage 2.