Climatization and Window System for Mobile Homes
20210061060 · 2021-03-04
Inventors
Cpc classification
B60H1/00664
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60H2001/00235
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60H1/00207
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B60H1/00535
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
Abstract
A modular climatization system for a recreational vehicle and includes a mounting frame and a window, the mounting frame is mountable into a roof cut-out of the recreational vehicle, thereby defining an opening in the roof, an outward facing side and an inward facing side of the mounting frame with respect to the recreational vehicle, and the window is mountable to the outward facing side of the mounting frame, the modular climatization system further comprises an air conditioning unit and an air distribution unit, the air conditioning unit being mountable to the outward facing side of the mounting frame, wherein the window and the air conditioning unit are mountable to the frame in a mutually exchangeable manner, and the air distribution unit being mountable to the inward facing side of the mounting frame.
Claims
1. A modular climatization system for a recreational vehicle, comprising: a mounting frame and a window, wherein the mounting frame defines and lies in a plane, the mounting frame is mountable into a roof cut-out of the recreational vehicle, thereby defining an opening in the roof of the recreational vehicle, an outward facing side and an inward facing side of the mounting frame with respect to the recreational vehicle, and the window is mountable to the outward facing side of the mounting frame, wherein the modular climatization system further comprises an air conditioning unit and an air distribution unit, the air conditioning unit being mountable to the outward facing side of the mounting frame, wherein the window and the air conditioning unit are mountable to the mounting frame in a mutually exchangeable manner, and the air distribution unit being mountable to the inward facing side of the mounting frame.
2. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the modular climatization system further comprises a fan module for forced ventilation mountable to the outward facing side of the mounting frame, wherein the window, the air conditioning unit and the fan module are mountable to the mounting frame in a mutually exchangeable manner.
3. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the modular climatization system further comprises a shading unit mountable to the inward facing side of the mounting frame, wherein the air distribution unit and the shading unit are mountable to the mounting frame in a mutually exchangeable manner.
4. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the mounting frame comprises securing means for securing the air conditioning unit from moving with respect to the mounting frame in a direction within the plane of the mounting frame, the securing means include a first wall part that is arranged at least in part around the opening and projects in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mounting frame.
5. The modular climatization system according to claim 4, wherein the first wall part is arranged completely around the opening.
6. The modular climatization system according to claim 4, wherein the securing means includes a second wall part that is arranged in parallel to the first wall part.
7. The modular climatization system according to claim 6, wherein the first wall part and the second wall part are concentrically arranged around the opening.
8. The modular climatization system according to claim 4, wherein the air conditioning unit has at least one abutting portion that is configured to abut against one of the first wall part, the second wall part, or both, of the mounting frame in a direction within the plane of the mounting frame, in a mounted state.
9. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning unit comprises structure for air conditioning and heating.
10. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning unit has a cavity on its bottom side that, in a mounted state, faces the mounting frame for accommodating and enclosing from above the outward facing side of the mounting frame that projects to the above from the outer roof surface of the recreational vehicle.
11. The modular climatization system according to claim 10, wherein the air conditioning unit further comprises a gasket on its bottom side that surrounds the cavity and that is configured to provide for a sealing with the outer roof surface of the recreational vehicle.
12. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the air distribution unit is fixable to the air conditioning unit via corresponding fixing structure at the air distribution unit and at the air conditioning unit, thereby clamping the mounting frame between the air distribution unit and the air conditioning unit.
13. The modular climatization system according to claim 12, wherein the fixing structure at the air distribution unit and at the air conditioning unit are located in the area of the opening.
14. The modular climatization system according to claim 12, wherein the fixing structure at the air distribution unit and at the air conditioning unit comprise bores and, in a mounted state, the air distribution unit is fixed to the air conditioning unit via the bores by bolts or screws.
15. The modular climatization system according to claim 12, wherein no further fixing means are comprised by the modular climatization system for fixing the air conditioning unit or the air distribution unit to the mounting frame.
16. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a first pipe section located at the bottom side of the air conditioning unit in the area of the opening and, in a mounted state, projecting vertically downwards to the air distribution unit to provide an air flow path to the air distribution unit.
17. The modular climatization system according to claim 16, wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a base plate on its bottom side and the first pipe section is integrally formed with the base plate and projects, in a mounted state, vertically downwards from the base plate.
18. The modular climatization system according to claim 16, wherein the air distribution unit comprises a second pipe section that is configured to fit with the first pipe section, either via an adapter in between the first and second pipe section or directly, in a telescopic manner, thereby forming part of the air flow path.
19. The modular climatization system according to claim 18, wherein the first pipe section and the second pipe section directly fit and can be moved telescopically with respect to each other, so that the distance between the air conditioning unit and the air distribution unit is variable depending on the thickness of the roof of the recreational vehicle the modular climatization system is to be mounted on.
20. The modular climatization system according to claim 19, wherein the first pipe section is smaller than the second pipe section, so that, when the first pipe section and the second pipe section engage with each other, the second pipe section encloses the first pipe section.
21. The modular climatization system according to claim 20, wherein at the bottom side of the air conditioning unit, a recess is formed at a transition between the base plate and the first pipe section that surrounds the first pipe section and is dimensioned so that the second pipe section can be inserted into the recess.
22. The modular climatization system according to claim 18, wherein the first pipe section and the second pipe section fit with each other via the adapter, the adapter comprises a third pipe section that directly fits with the first pipe section at the air conditioning unit, and a fourth pipe section that directly fits with the second pipe section at the air distribution unit, thereby forming part of the air flow path.
23. The modular climatization system according to claim 22, wherein the adapter comprises an air stream divider dividing the air flow path in at least two separate air flow paths.
24. The modular climatization system according to claim 23, wherein the air stream divider is located in a region downstream the air flow path.
25. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein in a mounted state, the air distribution unit covers the inward facing side of the mounting frame.
26. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the air distribution unit comprises a plurality of air deflecting elements.
27. The modular climatization system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning unit, or the window, include an antenna located underneath an outer cover of the air conditioning unit, or underneath the window, respectively.
28. The modular climatization system according to claim 2, wherein the air conditioning unit or the window or the fan module include an antenna located underneath an outer cover of the air conditioning unit or underneath the window or underneath an outer cover of the fan module, respectively.
29. An air conditioning unit mountable on a roof of a recreational vehicle, the air conditioning unit comprising: a gasket and means for providing at least one air flow path both located on the bottom side of the air conditioning unit, the bottom side, in a mounted state, faces the roof, the gasket is configured to provide for a sealing with an outer surface of the roof of the recreational vehicle and the gasket is circumferential and encloses an area through which the at least one air flow path passes, wherein the air conditioning unit is configured to being used with the modular climatization system according to any one of the preceding claims.
30. The air conditioning unit according to claim 29, wherein the air conditioning unit has a cavity on its bottom side and within the area enclosed by the gasket, the cavity is configured to accommodate and enclose from above an outward facing side of a mounting frame that is mounted into a roof cut-out of the recreational vehicle, thereby defining an opening in the roof of the recreational vehicle, the cavity is circumferential and encloses an area through which the at least one air flow path passes.
31. The air conditioning unit according to claim 30, wherein the air conditioning unit has at least one abutting portion within the cavity that is configured to abut against a wall part of the mounting frame for securing the air conditioning unit from moving with respect to the mounting frame in a direction within a plane defined by the mounting frame which plane is substantially plane-parallel to the outer surface of the roof of the recreational vehicle.
32. The air conditioning unit according to claim 29, wherein the means for providing at least one air flow path comprise a first pipe section that, in a mounted state, projects vertically downwards.
33. The air conditioning unit according to claim 32, wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a base plate on its bottom side and the first pipe section is integrally formed with the base plate and projects, in a mounted state, vertically downwards from the base plate.
34. The air conditioning unit according to claim 33, wherein a recess is formed at a transition between the base plate and the first pipe section, the recess surrounds the first pipe section and has a certain depth and width.
35. The air conditioning unit according to claim 29, wherein the air conditioning unit includes an antenna located underneath an outer cover of the air conditioning unit.
36. A method of exchanging a window with an air conditioning unit of a modular climatization system, the window being coupled to a mounting frame, wherein the method comprises the following steps: removing the window from the mounting frame, placing the air conditioning unit onto the outward facing side of the mounting frame, placing an air distribution unit over the inward facing side of the mounting frame, and fixing the air distribution unit from the inside and through the opening defined by the mounting frame to the air conditioning unit via fixing structure.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein further comprising the step of electronically connecting the air distribution unit with the air conditioning unit.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein the fixing structure comprise bores at the air distribution unit and at the air conditioning unit and the step of fixing the air distribution unit to the air conditioning unit includes fastening the air distribution unit to the air conditioning unit by bolts or screws via the bores.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0051] In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be further illustrated while referring to the attached figures, in which
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0071] In
[0072] The roof 100 is illustrated as a flat board. However, typical shapes of roofs 100 of recreational vehicles are also compatible with the modular climatization system. Below the roof 100 at the ceiling 103, the air distribution unit 500 is mounted. Conditioned air is released at the air outlet 505 provided with air deflecting elements 502 at a side of the air distribution unit 500. The air distribution unit 500 is rather flat shaped in order to occupy less space inside the recreational vehicle. The conditioned air is released substantially horizontally along the ceiling 103 which is controlled by the air deflecting elements 502.
[0073] In a region near the center of the air distribution unit 500, air inside the recreational vehicle is sucked in via the air inlet 504. At the air inlet 504, a filter cover 506 is provided that prevents dust or other particles from entering the air conditioning unit 400. The inside air is sucked substantially vertically upwards in order to prevent that the released conditioned air immediately re-enters the air conditioning unit 400.
[0074] In
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[0076] Further, in the area enclosed by the cavity 403, the first pipe section 406 of the air conditioning unit 400 protrudes vertically downwards and provides an air flow path for the released conditioned air into the inside of the recreational vehicle.
[0077] The further component in the direction of the air flow path downwards is the adapter 800. The adapter 800 has on its upper side the third pipe section 801 which fits with the first pipe section 406 of the air conditioning unit 400. Further below, the adapter 800 has the fourth pipe section 802 and the air stream divider 803. Independent from the actual design of the adapter 800, in this embodiment, the adapter 800 is made as a one-piece plastic component. This has the advantage that air cannot leak. Due to manufacturing aspects, however, it may also be valuable on a case-by-case basis that the adapter 800 is composed of several pieces.
[0078] The adapter 800 is further connected via its fourth pipe section 802 with the air distribution unit 500, thereby completing the air flow path to the inside of the recreational vehicle. In the present embodiment, the second pipe section 501 of the air distribution unit 500 is not of such a circular shape the first pipe section 406 is. Therefore, the adapter 800 is rather asymmetrically shaped. In a mounted state, the fourth pipe section 802 engages with the second pipe section 501 and the air stream divider 803 immerses into the air distribution unit 500.
[0079] The air distribution unit 500 and the mounting frame 200 are designed in a way that, analogously to the air conditioning unit 400, the air distribution unit 500 can be sort of plugged onto the mounting frame 200 thereby preventing the air distribution unit 500 from lateral movement with respect to the mounting frame 200.
[0080] In
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[0082] At the transition from the base plate 407 to the first pipe section 406, the recess 408 accommodates the second pipe section 501 of the air distribution unit 500. The air distribution unit 500 is located at the ceiling 103 and is fixed to the air conditioning unit 400, while in
[0083] In
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[0085] In
[0086] In
[0087] In step S1 of
[0088] In step S2 of
[0089] In S4 of
[0090] In S6 of
[0091] Finally, as shown in S8 and S9 of
[0092] With reference to
[0093] The connected external device can be any suitable device. As exemplarily shown in
[0094] According to another embodiment or additionally, the connection ports 409 include an inverter 413 and a socket 414 for providing alternating current.
[0095] According to another embodiment or additionally, the connection ports 409 include a plug 415 for plugging the air conditioning unit 400 to an external source of electricity.
[0096] According to another embodiment or additionally, the connection ports 409 include a solar panel connection port 411. This embodiment is already described above with reference to
[0097] According to another embodiment or additionally, the connection ports 409 include an antenna connection port 416. In this embodiment, an antenna, like a satellite dish, is placed on the roof 100 as usual and simply has to be plugged in the air conditioning unit 400
[0098] According to another embodiment or additionally, the connection ports 409 include a camera connection port 417. A camera can be plugged in the connection ports 409 at the air conditioning unit 400. The camera is thus supplied with electricity and can transfer its data via the air conditioning unit 400 to a receiving device (not shown) like the aforementioned interface (not shown).
[0099] According to another embodiment or additionally, the connection ports 409 include an external light connection port 418. Thereby, a light can be plugged in the connection ports 409 at the air conditioning unit 400. Preferably, the light intensity can be controlled via the interface (not shown).
[0100] In
[0101] Depending on what is currently needed, a module 900 can be selected from a temperature sensor 907, a pressure sensor 902, a camera 908, a motion sensor 909, a light sensor 904, a microphone 910, an air quality sensor, in particular a smoke sensor 905, a humidity sensor 906, a vibration sensor 911, a light source 903 and a speaker (not shown).
[0102] Each one of the sensors measuring certain events or parameter changes inside the recreational vehicle, like the temperature, can send the respective information to an external device (not shown) or to an interface (not shown).
[0103] In
[0104] Regardless of which part is the component part being equipped with the removably and exchangeably connected modules 900, the attachment portions 901 are equipped with electric contacts to provide power to the modules 900. As such, the modules 900 do not need a battery. In an advanced embodiment, the modules 900 are supplied with power from the same power source the air conditioning unit 400 has. Here, electric power is supplied via the mounting frame 200 to the air conditioning unit 400 and via the air conditioning unit 400 to the air distribution unit 500 or the decorative window frame 301, respectively, and to each attachment portion 901 present thereon. Alternatively, the power can be supplied directly from the mounting frame 200 to the air distribution unit 500 or the decorative window frame 301, respectively, and to each attachment portion 901 present thereon. In some examples, the attachment portions 901 for the modules 900 provide both power supply and signal transmission. For this purpose, electronic circuits for the signal transmission from and to the modules 900 are provided within the modular system, in particular, within the air distribution unit 500, the decorative window frame 301 and the mounting frame 200.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0105] 100 roof [0106] 101 outer roof surface [0107] 102 roof cut-out [0108] 103 ceiling [0109] 200 mounting frame [0110] 201 opening [0111] 202 outward facing side of the mounting frame [0112] 203 inward facing side of the mounting frame [0113] 204 first wall part [0114] 205 second wall part [0115] 206 upper component [0116] 207 lower component [0117] 208 screws (for assembling the mounting frame) [0118] 300 window [0119] 301 decorative window frame [0120] 302 handle [0121] 303 hinge pin [0122] 400 air conditioning unit [0123] 401 outer cover [0124] 402 abutting portion [0125] 403 cavity [0126] 404 gasket [0127] 405 fixing means at the air conditioning unit [0128] 406 first pipe section [0129] 407 base plate [0130] 408 recess [0131] 409 connection port [0132] 410 solar panel [0133] 411 solar panel connection port [0134] 412 socket DC [0135] 413 Inverter [0136] 414 socket AC [0137] 415 plug [0138] 416 antenna connection port [0139] 417 camera connection port [0140] 418 external light connection port [0141] 419 groove [0142] 420 air vents [0143] 421 base pan [0144] 422 opening in the base plate [0145] 500 air distribution unit [0146] 501 second pipe section [0147] 502 air deflecting elements [0148] 503 fixing means at the air distribution unit [0149] 504 air inlet [0150] 505 air outlet [0151] 506 filter cover [0152] 507 cable connection [0153] 508 air stream dividing portion [0154] 600 bore [0155] 601 screw [0156] 700 shading unit [0157] 701 blind [0158] 800 adapter [0159] 801 third pipe section [0160] 802 fourth pipe section [0161] 803 air stream divider [0162] 900 module [0163] 901 attachment portion [0164] 902 pressure sensor [0165] 903 light source [0166] 904 light sensor [0167] 905 smoke sensor [0168] 906 humidity sensor [0169] 907 temperature sensor [0170] 908 camera [0171] 909 motion sensor [0172] 910 microphone [0173] 911 vibration sensor