Housing for an air conditioner

Abstract

Housing for an air conditioning unit, comprising a lower shell (10), an upper shell (12) and a cover (14) which is screwed to the lower shell and the upper shell by means of a retaining screw (16), wherein a screw channel (18) for the retaining screw (16) is provided, which is formed by concave sections (20, 22) directly opposite each other in the outer contour of the lower shell and the upper shell.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a housing for an air conditioning unit, in particular for a rooftop air conditioning unit for vehicles such as motorhomes, caravans, or similar mobile accommodations. The housing comprises a lower shell and an upper shell, which serve to accommodate the components of a refrigerant circuit, as well as a cover, which is fastened by means of a special screw arrangement. The invention further relates to an air conditioning unit with such a housing.

[0002] An example of such an air conditioning unit can be found in DE 10 2023 131 733 A1. The lower and upper shells serve to house the various components of the air conditioning unit (in particular the fan, compressor, and heat exchanger). The cover, which serves to protect against environmental influences, is located on the upper shell.

[0003] The cover is typically screwed to the upper shell using at least one retaining screw. Because the upper shell is manufactured using an injection mold, the corresponding screw channel is aligned parallel to the demolding direction, resulting in the head of the retaining screw being located on the top of the cover. This creates the risk of water entering the air conditioner through the opening through which the retaining screw extends.

[0004] The object of the invention is to create a housing for an air conditioning unit in which the cover can be screwed on in such a way as to reduce the risk of water ingress, while keeping the manufacturing effort low.

[0005] To solve this problem, a housing for an air conditioning unit is provided according to the invention, comprising a lower shell, an upper shell and a cover which is screwed to the lower shell and the upper shell by means of a retaining screw, wherein a screw channel for the retaining screw is provided which is formed by concave sections directly opposite each other in the outer contour of the lower shell and the upper shell.

[0006] The screw channel is located laterally on the housing in an area where the upper and lower shells abut each other. This position of the screw channel reduces the risk of water ingress. The screw channel itself is formed by two concave contours, one on the outer edge of the lower shell and the other on the outer edge of the upper shell. These concave contours can therefore be easily molded during the manufacturing of the upper and lower shells without the need for slides.

[0007] The screw fastening also ensures that the cover is mechanically securely attached to the upper shell. This is relevant because the air conditioner is usually lifted during installation using suction cups that engage the cover. In the solution according to the invention, the cover is attached so firmly to the upper shell that the forces that occur can be transmitted without any problems.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the lower shell and the upper shell abut each other in the area of ​​the concave sections. This closes the screw channel in the circumferential direction, resulting in high pull-out strength for the retaining screw.

[0009] According to one embodiment, a connecting element is associated with the screw channel, which acts on the upper shell against the lower shell. The connecting element counteracts the spreading forces generated by the retaining screw screwed into the screw channel, which attempt to force the concave sections apart.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the connecting element is a screw that is supported against the base of a stepped opening in the upper shell and screwed into an opening in the lower shell. This specific design enables easy assembly and reliable fixing of the housing components.

[0011] The connecting element could also be implemented using locking tabs provided on the upper or lower shell, which engage a locking surface on the lower or upper shell, respectively. Suitable clearances can be provided next to the locking tabs so that, if necessary, the locking tabs can be moved into a release position using a tool, allowing the upper shell to be lifted off the lower shell.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the retaining screw is arranged on a side wall of the cover, so that the risk of water ingress in the area of ​​the retaining screw is greatly reduced.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the retaining screw extends at an angle relative to a base plane of the housing, with the tip of the retaining screw being lower than its head. This inclined arrangement allows the screw head to be flush with the surface of the cover.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the retaining screw is positioned above a condensate collection area provided in the lower shell. Any water that may enter the housing in the area of ​​the retaining screw (e.g., during rain) automatically flows onto the condensate collection area, which is already provided within the housing. The condensate collection area collects condensate that forms on and drips from a heat exchanger located within the housing. The condensate is drained in a controlled manner through a drain opening provided in the base of the lower shell, which also allows any water that may have entered in the area of ​​the retaining screw to be drained away.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the retaining screw is self-tapping. This makes it possible to design the screw channel with smooth outer walls, which reduces the effort required in the manufacture of the injection mold.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the lower shell and the upper shell are made of EPP. This material offers an optimal combination of low weight, good insulation properties, and sufficient mechanical strength for air conditioner housings.

[0017] The invention is described below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These show: - Fig. 1 a perspective, partially cutaway view of an air conditioner (also called an air conditioning unit), - Fig. 2 a perspective top view of the lower shell, - Fig. 3 a perspective top view of the upper shell, - Fig. 4 a detail of the upper shell mounted on the lower shell, - Fig. 5 a perspective, partially cutaway view of the upper shell mounted on the lower shell, with the cover not yet mounted, - Fig. 6 an excerpt from Fig. 5, - Fig. 7 the assembly of Fig. 5 in another sectional view, - Fig. 8 the housing in the assembled state in a sectional view accordingly Fig. 7, - Fig. 9 a detail of Fig. 8, and - Fig. 10 the detail of Fig. 9 in a different perspective, partially cropped view.

[0018] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a housing for an air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit is designed to cool air from the interior of a vehicle. It can also be configured to reverse a refrigeration cycle, allowing the air conditioning unit to operate as a heat pump. The air conditioning unit is specifically designed as a roof-mounted unit, which can be installed on the roof of a vehicle equipped with a living / common area. The vehicle could be, for example, one of the following: a caravan, motorhome, bus, emergency vehicle of authorities and organizations with security responsibilities, and other panel vans.

[0019] The housing of the air conditioner has a lower shell 10, an upper shell 12 and a cover 14, which together form a closed unit (see. Fig. 1).

[0020] The lower shell 10 and the upper shell 12 serve to house the various components of an air conditioning unit, in particular the components of a refrigerant circuit such as heat exchangers, fans, and compressors. Of the components of the air conditioning unit, only one heat exchanger is shown in the figures; this will be discussed later.

[0021] The lower shell 10 and the upper shell 12 are made of expanded polypropylene (EPP), which offers an optimal combination of low weight, good insulation properties and sufficient mechanical strength.

[0022] The cover 14 is located on the top of the upper shell 12 and protects, among other things, against the ingress of water into the air conditioner. It is designed as a thermoformed hood and extends to the side surfaces of the upper shell 12.

[0023] The cover 14 is screwed to the upper shell 12 from the side. Two retaining screws 16 are used for this purpose.

[0024] Each retaining screw 16 is screwed into a screw channel 18, which is manufactured without the use of slides in the injection molding tool by forming its contour partly in the lower shell 10 and partly in the upper shell 12 (see Fig. 2, Fig. 3) Specifically, concave sections 20, 22 are formed in both shells, which, when the upper shell 12 is mounted on the lower shell 10, form the screw channel 18, which is closed in the circumferential direction (see, for example, Fig. 6).

[0025] A connecting element 24 serves to fasten the upper shell 12 to the lower shell 10. The connecting element 24 is arranged here in the immediate vicinity of the screw channel 18 (see in particular the Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 10) to absorb the spreading forces occurring when the retaining screw 16 is screwed in. This connecting element is designed as a screw 24, which is supported on a base 26 of a step opening 27 in the upper shell 12 and is screwed into an opening 28 in the lower shell 10 (see Fig. 4, Fig. 6 and Fig. 10).

[0026] The retaining screw 16 is inserted laterally into an opening in the cover 14 (see Fig. 6) and then screwed into screw channel 18 (see the Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10).

[0027] The retaining screw 16 is preferably provided with a self-tapping thread, so that the screw channel can be formed with a smooth outer contour in the axial direction.

[0028] The screw channel 18 runs perpendicular to the plane of extension of the cover 14 in the area where the retaining screw 16 is located. Therefore, the screw channel 18 runs obliquely downwards, with the tip of the retaining screw 16 being lower than its head.

[0029] Any water that may enter through the opening in the cover and the screw channel 18 runs down the inner wall of the lower shell 10 and thus reaches a condensate collection surface 30, which is located below the heat exchanger 34 (see the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9) is arranged.

[0030] The condensate collection surface 30 primarily serves to collect and drain the condensate that inevitably forms on the heat exchanger 34 during operation of the air conditioner and drips from it. Due to the positioning of the screw channel 18 "above" the condensate collection surface 30, it also serves to drain any water (along with the condensate) that may enter the interior of the housing through the opening for the retaining screw 16 and through the screw channel 18.

[0031] A particular advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the screw channel 18 can be produced without the use of slides in the injection mold for the lower shell 10 and the upper shell 12. This significantly reduces tool complexity and manufacturing costs, since the concave sections 20, 22 are molded directly as part of the outer contour during the forming process of the respective shells. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2023 131 733 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Housing for an air conditioning unit, comprising a lower shell (10), an upper shell (12) and a cover (14) which is screwed to the lower shell and the upper shell by means of a retaining screw (16), wherein a screw channel (18) for the retaining screw (16) is provided, which is formed by concave sections (20, 22) directly opposite each other in the outer contour of the lower shell and the upper shell. [2] Housing according to claim 1, characterized by , that the lower shell (10) and the upper shell (12) are in contact with each other in the area of ​​the concave sections (20, 22). [3] Housing according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by , that a connecting element (24) is assigned to the screw channel (18), with which the upper shell (12) is acted against the lower shell (10). [4] Housing according to claim 3, characterized by, that the connecting element is a screw (24) which is supported on a bottom (26) of a step opening (27) in the upper shell (12) and is screwed into an opening (28) in the lower shell (10). [5] Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the retaining screw (16) is located on a side wall of the cover (14). [6] Housing according to claim 5, characterized by , that the retaining screw (16) extends at an inclination relative to a base plane of the housing, the tip of the retaining screw (16) being lower than its head. [7] Housing according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterized by , that the retaining screw (16) is arranged above a condensate collection surface (30) which is provided in the lower shell (10). [8] Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the retaining screw (16) is self-tapping. [9] Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the lower shell (10) and the upper shell (12) are made of EPP. [10] Air conditioning unit with a housing according to one of the preceding claims.

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