Packaged Terminal Air Conditioning System
20240369236 ยท 2024-11-07
Inventors
- Geethakrishnan Vasudevan (Sugar Land, TX, US)
- Mahid Ahmed (San Antonio, TX, US)
- Kevin Eicher (Seguin, TX, US)
- Aaron vom Eigen (Austin, TX, US)
- Kwame Appiahene-Agyei (Austin, TX, US)
- David Lucas (Austin, TX, US)
- Peter KALTENBACH (Austin, TX, US)
- Robert Alden Durfee (Atlanta, GA, US)
- Kevin Keller (Austin, TX, US)
Cpc classification
F24F1/0314
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F1/035
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F24F1/035
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24F1/0314
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
An air conditioning unit is disclosed. The air conditioning unit may include an internal inlet configured to receive internal air from an internal area, an external inlet configured to receive external air from an external area, a heat exchanger arranged to receive the internal air from the internal inlet and the external air from the external inlet and generate a conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air, and an internal outlet configured to output the conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air into the internal area.
Claims
1. An air conditioning unit comprising: an internal inlet configured to receive internal air from an internal area; an external inlet configured to receive external air from an external area; a heat exchanger configured to receive the internal air from the internal inlet and the external air from the external inlet and generate a conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air; and an internal outlet configured to output the conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air into the internal area.
2. The air conditioning unit of claim 1, further comprising: a body configured to house the internal inlet, the external inlet, the heat exchanger, and the internal outlet, wherein the body is configured to be partially located in the internal area and partially located in the external area.
3. The air conditioning unit of claim 2, further comprising: a filter access port in the body and located in the internal area; a removable filter disposed in the body, the removable filter being configured to filter the external air as provided by the external inlet and being configured to be removed through the filter access port in the internal area.
4. The air conditioning unit of claim 1, further comprising: a moveable cover configured to be disposed in a first position and to be moved to a second position, wherein in the first position, the moveable cover covers the heat exchanger, and wherein in the second position, the moveable cover does not cover the heat exchanger.
5. The air conditioning unit of claim 4, further comprising: an internal body structure having a base pan having a base pan protrusion, wherein the moveable cover includes an engaging protrusion configured to engage with the base pan protrusion when the moveable cover is disposed in the first position.
6. The air conditioning unit of claim 5, wherein the base pan includes a handle configured to be grasped to enable a user to pull the air conditioning unit from a wall sleeve in a wall.
7. The air conditioning unit of claim 4, further comprising: a removable filter disposed in a removable filter space between the internal inlet and the heat exchanger and configured to be removed from the removable filter space, wherein the moveable cover includes a removable top panel configured to be in a covered position or a removed position, wherein in the covered position, the removable cover covers the removable filter space, wherein in the removed position, the removable cover is removed from the moveable cover so as to provide access to the removable filter space, and wherein the moveable cover includes a button configured to push the removable top panel from the moveable cover.
8. A method of operating an air conditioning unit, the method comprising: receiving, via an internal inlet, internal air from an internal area; receiving, via an external inlet, external air from an external area; receiving, via a heat exchanger, the internal air from the internal inlet; receiving, via the heat exchanger, the external air from the external inlet; generating, via the heat exchanger, a conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air; and outputting, via an internal outlet, the conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air into the internal area.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the internal inlet, the external inlet, the heat exchanger, and the internal outlet are housed in a body to be disposed in a wall sleeve in a wall so be partially located in the internal area and partially in the external area.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: providing a filter access port in the body on the internal area, wherein the filter access port is configured to house a removable filter disposed in the body, wherein the removable filter is configured to filter the external air as provided by the external inlet, and wherein the removable filer is configured to be removed through the filter access port in the internal area.
11. The method claim 8, further comprising: moving a moveable cover from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position, the moveable cover covers the heat exchanger, and wherein in the second position, the moveable cover does not cover the heat exchanger.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the air conditioning unit includes an internal body structure having a base pan having a base pan protrusion, and wherein the moveable cover includes an engaging protrusion configured to engage with the base pan protrusion when the moveable cover is disposed in the first position.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the base pan additionally includes a handle configured to be grasped to enable a person to pull the air conditioning unit from a wall sleeve in a wall.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: pushing a button on the moveable cover; removing a first removable filter; and inserting a second removable filter; wherein the first removable filter is disposed in a removable filter space between the internal inlet and the heat exchanger, wherein the moveable cover includes a removable top panel configured to be in a covered position or a removed position, wherein in the covered position, the removable cover covers the removable filter space, wherein in the removed position, the removable cover is removed from the moveable cover so as to provide access to the removable filter space, and wherein the button is configured to push the removable top panel from the moveable cover.
15. A packaged terminal air conditioning (PTAC) unit for use in a wall sleeve in a wall having an external side and an internal side, the external side facing an external area, the internal side facing an internal area, the internal area being separated from the external area by the wall, the PTAC unit comprising: an internal inlet configured to receive internal air from the internal area; an external inlet configured to receive external air from the external area; a heat exchanger arranged to receive the internal air from the internal inlet and to receive the external air from the external inlet and configured to generate a conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air; and an internal outlet configured to output the conditioned mix of the internal air and the external air into the internal area.
16. The PTAC unit of claim 15, further comprising: a filter access port located in the internal area; and a removable filter configured to filter the external air as provided by the external inlet and removed through the filter access port in the internal area.
17. The PTAC unit of claim 15, further comprising: a moveable cover configured to be disposed in a first position and to be moved to a second position, wherein in the first position, the moveable cover covers the heat exchanger, and wherein in the second position, the moveable cover does not cover the heat exchanger.
18. The PTAC unit of claim 17, further comprising: an internal body structure having a basepan having a basepan protrusion, wherein the moveable cover includes an engaging protrusion configured to engage with the basepan protrusion when the moveable cover is disposed in the first position.
19. The PTAC unit of claim 18, wherein the basepan additionally includes a handle configured to be grasped to enable a person to pull the PTAC unit from the wall sleeve in the wall.
20. The PTAC unit of claim 17, further comprising: a removable filter disposed in a removable filter space between the internal inlet and the heat exchanger and be configured to be removed from the removable filter space, wherein the moveable cover includes a removable top panel configured to be in a covered position or a removed position, wherein in the covered position, the removable cover covers the removable filter space, wherein in the removed position, the removable cover is removed from the moveable cover so as to provide access to the removable filter space, and wherein the moveable cover includes a button configured to push the removable top panel from the moveable cover.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. In some instances, the use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] This disclosure relates generally to air conditioning units and more particularly to PTAC units. In some instances, the air conditioning unit of the present disclosure includes one or more filters that are accessible from an internal area of the unit without having to remove the air conditioning unit from a wall sleeve within a wall. For example, in some instances, the air conditioning unit does not need to be removed from the wall sleeve to replace the filter for the outside fresh air. In other instances, the air conditioning unit is configured to enable filtered exterior air to be mixed with filtered internal air prior to being conditioned by a heat exchanger of the air conditioning unit. In yet other instances, the air conditioning unit includes a handle configured to be grasped to enable a person to pull the air conditioning unit from a wall sleeve within a wall.
[0028] In certain embodiments, the air conditioning unit may be placed in a wall sleeve in a wall. An interior portion of the air conditioning unit may include a moveable front cover that is configured to be pulled up to provide access to a filter access panel. The filter access panel may enable a user to replace a removable filter that is positioned to filter exterior air that is mixed with the internal air. In addition, the moveable front cover may include a removable top panel that is configured to be removed to enable a user to replace a front filter that filters the internal air being sucked into the front (e.g., room-facing side) of the air conditioning unit. In some instances, the removable top panel may be flush with an outer surface of the air conditioning unit to provide an aesthetically pleasing ornamental look.
[0029] Turning now to the drawings, example air conditioning units in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to
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[0032] In certain embodiments, the internal portion 108 may include an internal inlet 114, an internal outlet 116, a filter access panel 120, and a control panel 122. The internal inlet 114 may be configured to pass internal air from the internal area to a space 115, which will be filled by a removable front filter (not shown) as will be discussed in more detail below. The internal outlet 116 may be configured to output a mix of the internal air and external air back into the internal area. In some instances, the moveable cover 102 may be disposed over the internal inlet 114 and the internal outlet 116.
[0033] The filter access panel 120 may enable access to an internal air filter, as will be described in greater detail below. In some instances, the filter access panel 120 may be omitted. The control panel 122 may be configured to enable a user to operate and adjust parameters of the PTAC unit 100. For example, the control panel 122 may enable a user to adjust the temperature and fan speed of the PTAC unit 100. The control panel 122 may enable a user to operate and adjust any suitable parameters of the PTAC unit 100 and provide additional functionality.
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[0035] The PTAC unit 100 may be disposed within a wall sleeve in an exterior wall of a structure, such as a house, building, apartment, etc. In this manner, the exterior wall, in which the PTAC unit 100 may be disposed, may include an external side and an internal side. The external side may face the external area (e.g., outside of the building), and the internal side may face the internal area (e.g., a room inside the building). In this manner, the exterior wall separates the external area from the internal area. The central flange 110 may be configured to form a seal against the inner surface of a wall sleeve (not shown) that is installed in the wall, so as to prevent internal air from the internal area from escaping to the outside and vice versa.
[0036] The base pan 118 supports the external portion 106 and the internal portion 108. The base pan 118 additionally acts as a reservoir to catch water from condensation as removed from the air by the PTAC unit 100. The base pan 118 may be any suitable size, shape, or configuration.
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[0038] In certain embodiments, the movable cover 102 may be configured to house a removable front filter 212 therein.
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[0042] A detailed view of a portion 402 of
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[0044] The side 210 of the moveable cover 102 may be deformable. In this manner, when attaching the moveable cover 102 on to the internal portion 108, the side 210 of the moveable cover 102 may at least partially deform so as to permit the engaging protrusion 508 to pass over the base pan protrusion 514. The engaging protrusion 508 may be separated from the first protrusion 506 by a space 516. The space 516 may include a detent 517, such that the base pan protrusion 514 is configured to rest in the detent 517 when the moveable cover 102 is attached to the working body 104. For example, as the moveable cover 102 is being attached to the working body 104, the base pan protrusion 514 will lock into place with the detent 517 in space 516 as shown in
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[0049] The mix of the filtered external air and the filtered internal air is then conditioned by a heat exchanger 907, such as an evaporator or condenser of a vapor compression system. If heating is needed, a heater 908 may heat the mixed filtered external air and the filtered internal air after conditioning by the heat exchanger 907. From a user's perspective, returning to
[0050] The location, placement, and configuration of the removable filter 404 in the disclosed PTAC unit 100 provides several benefits. In particular, conventional PTAC units place a removable filter in an area 906 indicated by a dotted ellipse, which is in the external portion 106 and which is used to filter the external air as it enters the PTAC unit. However, as shown in
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[0052] The location, placement, and configuration of the removable front filter 212 provides several benefits, one of which includes filtering the internal air while providing an easy manner to replace the removable front filter 212.
[0053] As depicted in
[0054] The location, placement, and configuration of the handle 702 in the base pan 108 provides several benefits. In particular, as depicted in
[0055] It should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the present disclosure and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the general spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[0056] Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, can, could, might, or may, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.