Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system for recreational vehicles

Abstract

An HVAC unit for a recreational vehicle includes an enclosure having an ambient air inlet, an exterior outlet, a return air duct connection, and a conditioned air duct connection. An air conditioning system and a heating system are each located within the enclosure. The air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator operably connected for cooling air entering the enclosure through the return air duct connection. The heating system includes a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber and a heat exchanger operably connected to the combustion chamber for heating air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection. A control system is operably connected to the air conditioning system and the heating system to selectively heat or cool air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection and exiting through the conditioned air duct connection.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]The field of the present invention generally relates to heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and, more particularly, to HVAC systems for recreational vehicles and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]Recreational vehicles and other similar type vehicles typically have air conditioning systems to maintain a controlled comfortable condition in the vehicle by cooling air within the vehicle. An external air conditioning unit is typically mounted on the roof of the recreational vehicle and houses all of the mechanical components of the air conditioning system. The external air conditioning unit has supply and return duct connections for connecting the external air conditioning unit with an interior air distribution and control system. For example, see U.S. Pat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]According to yet another embodiment described herein, a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle comprises, in combination, an enclosure having an ambient air inlet, an exterior outlet, a return air duct connection, and a conditioned air duct connection, an air conditioning system for cooling air, a heating system for heating air, a first fan positioned to draw ambient air in through an ambient air inlet, over the condenser, and out through an exterior outlet, a second fan positioned to draw return air in through a return air duct connection, over the evaporator and the heat exchanger, and out through a conditioned air duct connection, and an electric motor operably connected to both the first fan and the second fan for rotating both the first fan and the second fan. The air conditioning system is located within the enclosure and includes a compressor, a condenser operably connected to the

Problems solved by technology

While the external air conditioning units may be generally effective, they are relatively inefficient when there is a sun load on the condenser.

Additionally, the external air conditioning units are not very aesthetically pleasing to the overall exterior appearance of the vehicle.

Moreover, the total HVAC systems are relatively expensive to produce and maintain.

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