U.S. patent application number 11/397261 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for air mover cover for a direct current air conditioning system.
Invention is credited to Matthew Cowling, Eduardo Leon, Bisher J. Rayyahin, Bryan D. Simmons.
Application Number | 20070227177 11/397261 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38556871 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227177 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leon; Eduardo ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Air mover cover for a direct current air conditioning system
Abstract
An evaporator air mover cover for a direct current (DC) powered
variable capacity air conditioning system having a housing
enclosing an evaporator assembly. The housing defines an air intake
opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the
evaporator assembly. The evaporator air mover cover includes a
single piece seamless structure positioned over the air intake
opening for covering at least a portion of the air intake opening.
Further, the evaporator air mover cover allows air from the
enclosed environment to flow through the air intake opening and
into the evaporator assembly.
Inventors: |
Leon; Eduardo; (Woodridge,
IL) ; Cowling; Matthew; (Elmhurst, IL) ;
Rayyahin; Bisher J.; (Chicago, IL) ; Simmons; Bryan
D.; (North Aurora, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY, & PIERCE, P.L.C
7700 BONHOMME, STE 400
ST. LOUIS
MO
63105
US
|
Family ID: |
38556871 |
Appl. No.: |
11/397261 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/419 ;
62/426 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20130101;
F24F 1/0007 20130101; F24F 2013/205 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/419 ;
062/426 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/06 20060101
F25D017/06 |
Goverment Interests
GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
[0001] This invention was made with Government support under
contract DE-FC26-04NT42106, awarded by the United States Department
of Energy. The Government may have certain rights in this
invention.
Claims
1. An evaporator air mover cover for a direct current (DC) powered
variable capacity air conditioning system having a housing
enclosing an evaporator assembly, the housing defining an air
intake opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into
the evaporator assembly, the evaporator air mover cover comprising:
a single piece seamless structure positioned over the air intake
opening for covering at least a portion of the air intake opening,
the evaporator air mover cover allowing air from the enclosed
environment to flow through the air intake opening and into the
evaporator assembly.
2. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 1 wherein the evaporator
air mover cover defines an opening.
3. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 1 wherein the evaporator
air mover cover further comprises an inlet ring.
4. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 1 wherein the inlet ring
is formed integrally with the evaporator air mover cover.
5. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 1 wherein the evaporator
air mover cover includes a transparent panel positioned over the
air intake opening for viewing a plurality of components enclosed
in the housing.
6. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 1 further comprising a
screen having at least one edge, the screen positioned over an
opening defined by the evaporator air mover cover.
7. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 6 wherein the screen is
hardware cloth.
8. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 6 further comprising a
guard, wherein the at least one edge of the screen is positioned on
the guard for preventing the at least one edge from being
exposed.
9. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 8 wherein the guard
includes a flat portion and a bump portion, the at least one edge
of the screen positioned against the flat portion.
10. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 9 wherein the screen
includes a plurality of edges, each edge is positioned on the flat
portion of the guard.
11. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 1 wherein the
evaporator air mover cover is configured for covering a terminal
block mounted to the housing.
12. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 1 wherein the single
piece seamless structure is a molded piece of plastic.
13. A direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air
conditioning system comprising: a housing defining an air intake
opening, an evaporator assembly enclosed in the housing and
positioned adjacent the air intake opening for receiving air from
an enclosed environment, and an air mover cover comprising a single
piece seamless structure and positioned over the air intake opening
for covering at least a portion of the evaporator air mover, the
air mover cover allowing air from the enclosed environment to flow
through the air intake opening and into the evaporator
assembly.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
defines an opening.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
further comprises an inlet ring.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the inlet ring is formed
integrally with the evaporator air mover cover.
17. The system of claim 13 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
has a transparent panel positioned over the opening for viewing a
plurality of components enclosed in the housing.
18. The system of claim 13 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
of claim 1 further comprising a screen having at least one edge,
the screen positioned over an opening defined by the evaporator air
mover cover.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the screen is hardware
cloth.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
further comprises a guard, wherein the at least one edge of the
screen is positioned on the guard for preventing the at least one
edge from being exposed.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the guard includes a flat
portion and a bump portion, the at least one edge of the screen
positioned against the flat portion.
22. The evaporator air mover cover of claim 21 wherein the screen
includes a plurality of edges, each edge positioned on the flat
portion of the guard.
23. The system of claim 13 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
is configured for covering a terminal block mounted to the
housing.
24. The system of claim 13 wherein the single piece seamless
structure is a molded piece of plastic.
25. A direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air
conditioning system comprising: a housing defining an air intake
opening, an evaporator assembly including a plurality of components
enclosed in the housing and positioned adjacent the air intake
opening, and an evaporator air mover cover having a transparent
panel positioned over the air intake opening for covering at least
a portion of the evaporator assembly including at least a portion
of the components, the portion of the components being visible
through the transparent panel.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of components are
mounted to a circuit board.
27. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of components
include at least one status indicator.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein the status indicator is a light
emitting diode.
29. The system of claim 25 wherein the plurality of components
control one or more elements of the system.
30. The system of claim 25 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
comprises a single piece seamless structure.
31. The system of claim 31 wherein the single piece seamless
structure is a molded piece of plastic.
32. A direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air
conditioning system comprising: a housing defining an air intake
opening, an evaporator assembly enclosed in the housing and
positioned adjacent the air intake opening, an evaporator air mover
cover including a guard and a screen having at least one edge, the
evaporator air mover cover defining a second opening, the
evaporator air mover cover positioned over the air intake opening
for covering at least a portion of the evaporator air mover, the
guard positioned at least partially around the second opening, the
screen positioned over the second opening, and the at least one
edge of the screen positioned on the guard for preventing the at
least one edge from being exposed.
33. The system of claim 33 wherein the guard includes a flat
portion and a bump portion, the at least one edge of the screen
positioned against the flat portion.
34. The system of claim 35 wherein the screen includes a plurality
of edges, each edge positioned on the flat portion of the
guard.
35. The system of claim 32 wherein the system further includes a
terminal block having a plurality of conductive connectors mounted
to the housing, the evaporator air mover cover positioned adjacent
the terminal block for covering the terminal block.
36. The system of claim 32 wherein the evaporator air mover cover
is removably mountable to the housing for allowing access to the
evaporator air mover.
Description
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to direct current (DC) air
conditioning systems including an air mover cover for such
systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The statements in this section merely provide background
information related to the present disclosure and may not
constitute prior art.
[0004] Direct current (DC) environmental temperature control
systems (ETCSs), also referred to as air conditioning systems, are
often used to control the temperature within enclosed environments
where alternating current (AC) ETCSs are not feasible, desirable or
reliable. For example, in environments enclosed by structures that
are remotely located where AC power is not available or
conveniently accessible, or where a backup air conditioning system
is necessary in case AC power is interrupted, or where a DC air
conditioning system is more desirable than an AC air conditioning
system. Generally, DC air conditioning systems have a capacity
suitable for efficiently controlling the temperature of
environments enclosed by smaller structures or buildings. For
example, DC air conditioning systems are very suitable for
controlling the temperature within utility sheds, portable or
mobile structures, and electronics cabinets and utility or
equipment structures such as cellular wireless communication
electronic cabinets and battery backup closets.
[0005] Such smaller structures can be located in a wide variety of
outdoor locations that present a myriad of rigorous exterior
environmental conditions that affect the temperature within the
structures. That is, the structures can be exposed to a wide range
of external temperatures, e.g., -30.degree. C. to 55.degree. C.,
varying solar loads and various forms of precipitation that can all
affect the internal environmental temperature. In the case of
equipment cabinets, temperature control requirements can be
stringent in order to prevent damage to the often expensive and not
terribly rugged equipment inside. Thus, employment of DC air
conditioning systems is often desirable for actively controlling
the temperature enclosed environment of such smaller structures.
And in many cases, efficiency, consistency and reliability are
critical necessities of the DC air conditioning system.
[0006] Typically, DC air conditioning systems include a condenser
assembly and an evaporator assembly both of which are positioned
within a housing. In operation, the evaporator assembly receives
air from an enclosed environment through a first opening in the
housing, and an air mover pushes the air across a heater or an
evaporator heat exchanger to condition the air (i.e., to heat or
cool the air) before outputting the air through a second opening in
the housing into the enclosed environment.
[0007] In some known designs, an air mover cover may be mounted
over the first opening to allow air into the evaporator assembly.
Typically, these covers are made of sheet metal having edges which
are sealed together by using a sealant, such as a room temperature
vulcanizing sealant, or by welding the edges together. These seals
or welds are time consuming to apply, costly and prone to failure.
Over time these seals and/or welds may deteriorate, which may
compromise the effectiveness of the evaporator assembly.
SUMMARY
[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an
evaporator air mover cover for a direct current (DC) powered
variable capacity air conditioning system having a housing
enclosing an evaporator assembly. The housing defines an air intake
opening for intaking air from an enclosed environment into the
evaporator assembly. The evaporator air mover cover includes a
single piece seamless structure positioned over the air intake
opening for covering at least a portion of the air intake opening.
Further, the evaporator air mover cover allows air from the
enclosed environment to flow through the air intake opening and
into the evaporator assembly.
[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a
direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning
system having a housing defining an air intake opening, and an
evaporator assembly enclosed in the housing and positioned adjacent
the air intake opening for receiving air from an enclosed
environment. The system further includes an air mover cover
comprising a single piece seamless structure and positioned over
the air intake opening for covering at least a portion of the
evaporator air mover. The air mover cover allows air from the
enclosed environment to flow through the air intake opening and
into the evaporator assembly.
[0010] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a
direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air conditioning
system having a housing defining an air intake opening, and an
evaporator assembly including a plurality of components enclosed in
the housing and positioned adjacent the air intake opening. The
system further includes an evaporator air mover cover having a
transparent panel positioned over the air intake opening for
covering at least a portion of the evaporator assembly including at
least a portion of the components. The portion of the components is
visible through the transparent panel.
[0011] According to still another embodiment of the present
disclosure, a direct current (DC) powered variable capacity air
conditioning system having a housing defining an air intake
opening, and an evaporator assembly enclosed in the housing and
positioned adjacent the air intake opening. The system further
includes an evaporator air mover cover including a guard and a
screen having at least one edge, the evaporator air mover cover
defines a second opening. The evaporator air mover cover is
positioned over the air intake opening for covering at least a
portion of the evaporator air mover. The guard is positioned at
least partially around the second opening, the screen is positioned
over the second opening, and the at least one edge of the screen is
positioned on the guard for preventing the at least one edge from
being exposed.
DRAWINGS
[0012] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes
only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure in any way.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a direct current (DC) powered
variable capacity air conditioning system (VCACS) including an
evaporator air mover cover according to various embodiments,
connected to a structure enclosing an environment to be thermally
conditioned by the variable capacity air conditioning system.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the
VCACS illustrating various components of the VCACS, in accordance
with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view of an evaporator air mover cover
according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the evaporator air mover
cover of FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a front view of the VCACS according to various
embodiments of the disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a front view of a screen according to various
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the evaporator air
mover cover of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a blown up view of section A, shown in FIG. 7,
illustrating a guard for an evaporator air mover cover according to
various embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure
will become apparent from the detailed description provided
hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description
and specific examples, while indicating various preferred
embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Additionally,
the features, functions, and advantages of the present disclosure
can be achieved independently in various embodiments or may be
combined in yet other embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a direct current (DC) powered variable
capacity air conditioning system 10 having an evaporator air mover
cover 21 according to one or more embodiments described below. The
DC variable capacity air conditioning system (VCACS) 10 is
connected to a wall of a structure 14 enclosing an environment 18
to be thermally conditioned by the DC VCACS 10. The DC VCACS 10 can
operate using any suitable DC power supply (not shown) such as one
or more DC batteries or a converted alternating current (AC)
supply. The structure 14 can be any building, shed, cabinet,
closet, portable or mobile structure, or any other structure
enclosing an environment desirous of being thermally controlled by
the DC variable capacity air conditioning system 10. For example,
the structure 14 can be an electronics and/or equipment cabinet,
such as a cellular wireless communication electronics cabinet or
battery backup closet, where it is important to maintain the
enclosed environment 18 at a desired temperature to prevent damage
to the enclosed components and/or systems. The VCACS 10 is
configured to provide heating and cooling to maintain a
substantially constant temperature of the enclosed environment 18
of the structure 14. The VCACS 10 and the structure 14 can comprise
a telecommunication station, e.g., a wireless telecommunication
station, wherein the structure 14 is a telecommunication
electronics and equipment cabinet, e.g., a wireless
telecommunication electronics and equipment cabinet.
[0023] The VCACS 10 generally includes a housing 12 enclosing a
condenser assembly 34, an evaporator assembly 38 including an
evaporator shroud 32 and a variable speed compressor 42 connected
to the condenser and evaporator assemblies 34 and 38 via
refrigerant lines 46. The housing 12 defines an air intake opening
17 for intaking air from the enclosed environment 18 into the
evaporator assembly 38 (indicated generally by an arrow 16), and an
air output opening 19 for outputting air from the evaporator
assembly 38 into the enclosed environment 18 (indicated generally
by an arrow 20). The evaporator air mover cover 21, described in
more detail below, is positioned over the air intake opening
16.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, in various embodiments, the evaporator
assembly 38 includes an evaporator heat exchanger 50, a heating
mechanism 54, an evaporator air mover 58 and a circuit board 62,
all of which are mounted to the evaporator shroud 32. The
evaporator air mover 58 can be rotationally mounted to an
evaporator air mover mounting plate 66, which can then be mounted
to the evaporator shroud 32. The evaporator air mover 58 can be a
radial fan, an axial fan or a turbine, a variable speed
backward-curved impeller, or any air mover suitable for moving
varying capacities of air. Furthermore, the heating mechanism 54
can be any suitable heat producing mechanism such as an open wire
resistive heater, radiator type heater, a chemical reaction type
heater, or any other heating device.
[0025] The housing 12 (from FIG. 1) can include a housing panel 70
and a housing hood 74. The housing panel 70, in various
embodiments, is mounted over the evaporator air mover 58,
evaporator heat exchanger 50, heating mechanism 54 and circuit
board 62 and coupled to the evaporator shroud 32 and/or a housing
hood 74. The housing panel 70 includes the air intake opening 17
and a plurality of grated or finned apertures that generally form
the air output opening 19. In various embodiments, the evaporator
air mover cover 21 can be positioned over the housing panel 70,
thereby covering at least a portion of the air intake opening
17.
[0026] The evaporator air mover cover 21, in various embodiments is
formed or fabricated as a single piece, seamless structure. For
example, the evaporator air mover cover 21 can be molded using
thermal forming or injection molding, cast, stamped or pressed to
form a single piece structure without folded edges or joint
seams.
[0027] In addition, the evaporator air mover cover 21 can be
fabricated from any suitable material such as any suitable plastic
polymer or composite including clear polycarbonate, any suitable
reinforced polyurethane or epoxy resin or any other material
suitable for fabricating a single piece seamless evaporator air
mover cover 21.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 3-5 and 7, the evaporator air mover
cover 21, in various embodiments includes an inlet ring 48 defining
an opening 52, a panel 53, a guard 56 and a terminal block cover
90.
[0029] The opening 52 allows air from the enclosed environment 18
to flow through the air intake opening 17 and into the evaporator
assembly 38. Although the opening 52 is circularly shaped, the
opening 52 may be other suitable shapes (e.g., ovals or rectangles)
to allow air to flow through the air intake opening 17 and into the
evaporator assembly 38 without departing from the scope of this
disclosure. Additionally, the evaporator air mover cover 21, in
various embodiments may include a plurality of openings that
generally form the opening 52 and allow air to flow through the air
intake opening 17 and into the evaporator assembly 38 without
departing from the scope of this disclosure.
[0030] The inlet ring 48 surrounds the opening 52 and includes a
radiused surface 51, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7. The radiused
surface 51 increases the pressure at which air enters into the
evaporator assembly 38 and consequently the volume flow rate of air
through the evaporator assembly 38.
[0031] In various embodiments, the inlet ring 48 can be formed
integrally with the evaporator air mover cover 21. However, in
various other embodiments, the inlet ring 48 can be a separate part
that is mounted to the evaporator air mover cover 21, or the
evaporator air mover cover 21 may not include the inlet ring 48,
without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
[0032] In various embodiments, the evaporator air mover cover 21
includes a screen 56 that can be mounted to the evaporator air
mover cover 21. The screen 56 covers the opening 52 and prevents
debris from entering the evaporator assembly 38. The screen 56 also
prevents human contact with the evaporator air mover 58, thereby
preventing potential injury.
[0033] The screen 56, in various embodiments, is a coarse metal
screen, such as a hardware cloth having edges 64 as illustrated in
FIG. 6. However, the screen may be formed from other suitable
materials, such as plastic, without departing from the scope of
this disclosure.
[0034] In various embodiments, the evaporator air mover cover 21
can include a guard 68 covering the edges 64. The guard 68 provides
protection from injury by edges 64 that can be sharp or jagged due
to manufacturing processes. FIG. 8 is a blown up view of section A,
shown in FIG. 7, illustrating the guard 68. As shown in FIG. 8, the
guard 68 includes a bump portion 72 joining a flat portion 76 in a
generally orthogonal relationship. Additionally, a recess 77 is
formed at the joinder of the bump portion 72 and the flat portion
76. The edges 64 are positioned against the flat portion 76 within
the recess 77. As a result, the edges 64 are covered by the guard
68, which prevents the edges 64 from being exposed, thereby
preventing potential injury.
[0035] As best shown in FIG. 5, in various embodiments, the panel
53 can be transparent and positioned over the air intake opening 17
for viewing portions of the evaporator assembly 38, such as the
circuit board 62, having a plurality of components 82 positioned in
the evaporator assembly 38.
[0036] The components 82 of the circuit board 62 may be various
electrical elements, including one or more status indicators 86.
The status indicators may be light emitting diodes (LEDs)
indicating the status of one or more elements of the VCACS 10. For
example, the status indicators 86 can indicate whether the
evaporator air mover 58 is operating properly, or whether the
evaporator assembly 38 is properly heating or cooling the enclosed
environment 18.
[0037] The components 82 can also include a DC power supply bus, a
processor and/or an electronic storage device and can include one
or more status indicators. Furthermore, the components 82 can be
used to control one or more elements of the VCACS 10, including,
for example, the evaporator assembly 38 and/or the condenser
assembly 34.
[0038] The evaporator air mover cover 21 can include, in various
embodiments, the terminal block cover 90 for covering a terminal
block 94 having a plurality of conductive connectors 96. The
terminal block 94 can connect a direct current power supply (not
shown) to one or more elements of the VCACS 10 including, for
example, the evaporator assembly 38 including the circuit board 62,
and the condenser assembly 34. The terminal block cover 90 covers
the conductors 96 and protects the conductors 96 from being
inadvertently short-circuited.
[0039] As best seen in FIG. 5, the evaporator air mover cover 21
can be mounted to the housing panel 70. In various embodiments, the
evaporator air mover cover 21 can be removed from the housing panel
70 thereby allowing access to the evaporator air mover 58 for
servicing or replacing the evaporator air mover 58.
[0040] Although various embodiments noted above describe the
evaporator air mover cover 21 as being a separate part from the
housing panel 70, it should be understood that in various
embodiments the evaporator air mover cover 21 and the housing panel
70 can be integrally formed as a single, unitary structure without
departing from the scope of this disclosure.
[0041] Additionally, although various embodiments noted above
describe the evaporator air mover cover 21 as defining an opening
52, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not so
limited. For example, the air mover cover 21 may not include an
opening, but instead may be positioned over the air intake opening
17 such that a portion of the air intake opening 17 is exposed,
thereby allowing air to flow from the enclosed environment 18
through the air intake opening 17 and into the evaporator assembly
38.
* * * * *