CONDENSING UNIT ATTACHMENT FEATURE
The present invention relates to a condenser or other component that is attached to the base plate by means of integral torque tabs that are twisted underneath the base plate to draw the condenser or other component downwardly against the upper surface of the base plate. In a preferred embodiment, the torque tabs are located on the lower ends of the condenser or other component end plates. The tabs are preferably designed to be machine twisted to provide enough holding force to maintain the condenser or other component and base plate in a rigid condition.
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This application claims the benefit under Title 35, U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/178,089, entitled CONDENSING UNIT CONDENSER ATTACHMENT FEATURE, filed on May 14, 2009, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to condensing units, and in particular to an attachment technique for fixing the condenser or other components to the condensing unit base plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Condensing units are self-contained units typically comprising a hermetic compressor, condenser and cooling fan all mounted to a base plate and having refrigerant lines adapted for connection to a remotely located expansion valve and evaporator. In the past, the condenser has been attached to the base plate by means of removable fasteners, such as bolts or threaded studs that extend through openings in the base plate and are secured by means of nuts and washers fastened from underneath the base plate. This not only increases the parts count for the condensing unit but increases assembly time due to the necessity of attaching the various fasteners.
SUMMARYIn the present invention, the condenser or other component is attached to the base plate by means of integral torque tabs that are twisted underneath the base plate to draw the condenser or other component downwardly against the upper surface of the base plate. In a preferred embodiment, the torque tabs are located on the lower ends of the condenser or other component end plates. The tabs are preferably designed to be machine twisted to provide enough holding force to maintain the condenser or other component and base plate in a rigid condition.
In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides a condensing unit, including a base plate having a plurality of components mounted on an upper surface thereof, the components including a compressor and a condenser. At least one of the components includes a plurality of tabs extending through a corresponding plurality of slots in the base plate. The tabs include distal portions that are twisted underneath the base plate, and the tab distal portions include respective camming surfaces that tightly engage an undersurface of the base plate to tightly fix the at least one component to the upper surface of said base plate. In a preferred embodiment, the condensing unit includes a base plate having a condenser mounted on an upper surface thereof, the condenser including a plurality of tabs extending through a corresponding plurality of slots in the base plate.
In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a condensing unit including a base plate having an undersurface and a condenser mounted on an upper surface thereof, the condenser including one or more attachment elements extending through one or more corresponding attachment receiving means in the base plate. The one or more attachment elements include means for engaging the base plate such that, upon deformation, the one or more attachment means tighten against the undersurface of the base plate.
In yet another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a method of attaching a condenser of a condensing unit to a base plate of the condensing unit, the method including the step of positioning the condenser to abut a base plate, the condenser having a plurality of tabs, each tab having an internal distal upper edge, and the base plate having an undersurface. The method further includes the step of aligning each tab with a corresponding slot on the base plate. The method further includes the steps of inserting each tab through the corresponding slot one the base plate such that each tab extends through the corresponding slot, and then twisting each tab to thereby draw the internal distal upper edge of each tab tightly against the undersurface of the base plate such that the condenser is locked to the base plate.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONWith reference to
Referring now to
Exterior surface 41 of end plate 42 is shown in
As shown in
Referring back to
Tabs 52 and 54 are then twisted by means of a suitable machine and due to the orientation of notches 62 and internal distal upper edges 66 (
As shown in
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A condensing unit, comprising:
- a base plate having a plurality of components mounted on an upper surface thereof, said components including a compressor and a condenser;
- at least one of said components including a plurality of tabs extending through a corresponding plurality of slots in said base plate;
- said tabs including distal portions that are twisted underneath said base plate, said tab distal portions including respective camming surfaces that tightly engage an undersurface of said base plate to tightly fix said at least one component to the upper surface of said base plate.
2. The condensing unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said components is a condenser that comprises a pair of end plates having a plurality of apertures, a pair of side edges, and a lower end, said plurality of tabs extending from said lower end of each of said end plates.
3. The condensing unit of claim 2, wherein said condenser further comprises:
- a coil extending through said plurality of apertures of said pair of end plates.
4. The condensing unit of claim 1, wherein each said camming surface comprises an internal distal upper edge, and each tab further includes an internal proximal edge and an internal lateral edge, said internal proximal edge, said internal lateral edge, and said internal distal upper edge defining a notch.
5. The condensing unit of claim 4, wherein said internal distal upper edge and said internal lateral edge are oriented non-orthogonally relative to said base plate undersurface at a given angle.
6. The condensing unit of claim 5, wherein said given angle is 10 degrees.
7. The condensing unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of said tabs further includes a side edge and a lower edge, wherein at least one of said distal portions is defined by said lower edge and said side edge.
8. A condensing unit, comprising:
- a base plate having a condenser mounted on an upper surface thereof, said condenser including a plurality of tabs extending through a corresponding plurality of slots in said base plate;
- said tabs including distal portions that are twisted underneath said base plate, said tab distal portions including respective camming surfaces that tightly engage an undersurface of said base plate to tightly fix said condenser to the upper surface of said base plate.
9. The condensing unit of claim 8, wherein said condenser further comprises a pair of end plates having a plurality of apertures, a pair of side edges, and a lower end, said plurality of tabs extending from said lower end of each of said end plates.
10. The condensing unit of claim 9, wherein said condenser further comprises a coil extending through said plurality of apertures of said pair of end plates.
11. The condensing unit of claim 8, wherein each of said camming surfaces comprises an internal distal upper edge, and each tab further includes an internal proximal edge and an internal lateral edge, said internal proximal edge, said internal lateral edge, and said internal distal upper edge defining a notch.
12. The condensing unit of claim 11, wherein said internal distal upper edge and said internal lateral edge are oriented non-orthogonally relative to said base plate undersurface at a given angle.
13. The condensing unit of claim 12, wherein said given angle is 10 degrees.
14. The condensing unit of claim 8, wherein at least one of said tabs further includes a side edge and a lower edge, wherein at least one of said distal portions is defined by said lower edge and said side edge.
15. A condensing unit comprising:
- a base plate having an undersurface and a condenser mounted on an upper surface thereof, said condenser including one or more attachment elements extending through one or more corresponding attachment receiving means in said base plate; and
- said one or more attachment elements including means for engaging said base plate such that, upon deformation, said one or more attachment means tighten against said undersurface of said base plate.
16. The condensing unit of claim 15, said condenser further comprising a pair of end plates having a lower end, wherein said pair of attachment elements extends from said lower end of each of said end plates.
17. A method of attaching a condenser of a condensing unit to a base plate of the condensing unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the condenser to abut a base plate, the condenser having a plurality of tabs, each tab having an internal distal upper edge, and the base plate having an undersurface;
- aligning each tab with a corresponding slot on the base plate;
- inserting each tab through the corresponding slot on the base plate such that each tab extends through the corresponding slot;
- then twisting each tab to thereby draw the internal distal upper edge of each tab tightly against the undersurface of the base plate such that the condenser is locked to the base plate.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises bending each tab about a bending axis.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises applying a bending force, wherein the bending axis lies on a plane having a minimum amount of resistance towards the bending force.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises bending each tab about a bending axis that intersects a contact point at which the internal distal upper edge contacts the base plate and at which the internal distal upper edge of each tab is positioned on the same horizontal plane as the undersurface of the base plate.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein the internal distal upper edge of each said tab is oriented non-orthogonally relative to the base plate undersurface, and the step of twisting exerts a camming action between the internal distal upper surface and the base plate undersurface to draw the condenser tightly against an upper surface of the base plate.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises machine twisting each tab.
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 18, 2010
Applicant: TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY (Ann Arbor, MI)
Inventors: Genc Jani (London), Stefan Paul (Etobicoke)
Application Number: 12/778,354
International Classification: F28F 3/08 (20060101); B21D 53/02 (20060101);