Flexible lines for air conditioners used in enclosure cooling

Abstract

One aspect provides an air conditioner, including a compressor; a condenser; an evaporator; and one or more flexible lines connecting two or more of the compressor, condenser, and the evaporator to place them into fluid communication with one another. Other aspects include a method of providing flexible lines for an air conditioner as well as kits relating thereto.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/118,500, having the same title and filed on Nov. 25, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to enclosure cooling systems and related techniques. Some of the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a cooling system that is mounted to the side of an enclosure and used for cooling items within the enclosure, such as heat generating components in the telecommunications industry.

Industry and manufacturing have emerged with the widespread use of enclosures for a variety of content, for example electronics or other items that require protection from the elements as well as cooling. To protect these items from harsh environments, they are typically placed in sealed enclosures, cabinets or workstations that permit efficient operation without the threat of being exposed to exterior contaminates including dust, residue, rain and liquids that have the potential to cause serious damage. Since the items (such as electronics used in the telecommunications industry or like equipment) often generate heat within the enclosure, various cooling equipment such as air conditioners, heat exchangers, in-line compressed air coolers and filtered fan systems are used to maintain required operating temperatures within the enclosure.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one embodiment provides an air conditioner, comprising: a compressor; a condenser; an evaporator; and one or more flexible lines connecting two or more of the compressor, condenser, and the evaporator to place them into fluid communication with one another.

Another embodiment provides a method including: providing one or more fittings to one or more of a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator of an air conditioner; and providing one or more flexible lines to place the one or more of the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator into fluid communication with a respective other of the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator.

A further embodiment provides a kit, comprising: a set of one or more flexible lines; and one or more fittings attachable to one or more of: (a) the one or more flexible lines; and (b) a component of an air conditioner.

An embodiment provides an air conditioner that utilizes one or more flexible lines, such as a rubber flexible line that connects or couples various internal components of the air conditioner. For example, an embodiment uses flexible rubber lines for suction and discharge lines of an air conditioner unit. In an embodiment, use of such line(s) increases the durability of the air conditioner and makes manufacturing and servicing of the air conditioner units easier.

An embodiment includes an air conditioner, comprising a first element; a second element; and a line connecting the first and second element to place them into fluid communication with one another; wherein the line is formed of a flexible material.

The air conditioner may include a line having flexible material comprising rubber.

The air conditioner may include a line having flexible material comprising insulated rubber.

The air conditioner may include a line that includes a fitting at least at one end.

A fitting of the flexible line may be complementary to a fitting of one or more of the first element and the second element of the air conditioner that are placed into fluid communication with one another.

A complementary fitting may be one of threaded and snapped on.

The flexible line may be connected to an element or component of the air conditioner via a mechanical mechanism or means such as a hose clamp.

In an embodiment, one or more flexible lines are formed as a suction line, connecting an evaporator to a compressor, and a discharge line, connecting the compressor to a condenser.

An embodiment includes a method comprising: removing a copper tubing line connecting a first and second element of an air conditioner; and replacing the copper tubing line with a flexible line to place the first and second element into fluid communication with one another via the flexible line.

An embodiment includes a method comprising coupling a first and second element of an air conditioner with a flexible line to place the first and second elements into fluid communication with one another via the flexible line.

In an embodiment, the coupling comprises applying or attaching one or more fittings to one or more component to attach a flexible line having a complimentary fitting in a releasable manner.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.

For a better understanding of the embodiments, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1-2 illustrate example views of an example air conditioner having one or more flexible lines therein coupling components to be in fluid communication with one another.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example method.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the claims but is merely representative of those embodiments.

Reference throughout this specification to “embodiment(s)” (or the like) means that a feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “according to embodiments” or “in an embodiment” (or the like) in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of example embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that aspects can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation.

The description now turns to the figures, which illustrate certain example embodiments. The dimensions and other numerical information, if any, provided herein, including in the figures, are provided only by way of example and are not limiting.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, embodiments are illustrated in which various views of an example flexible lines 102, 202, 103, 203 included in an air conditioner unit 101, 201 are provided. The views of FIGS. 1-2 are provided showing examples of use of a flexible line or tubing 102, 202, 103, 203 for transporting cooling fluid between components of air conditioning unit 101, 201. By way of example, an embodiment may include flexible lining or tubing 102, 202, 103, 203 such as that available from the FLEXIN Group SRL, Via Rigosa, 54, 40069 Zola Predosa (BO), Italy.

As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment utilizes the flexible lining 102, 103 to replace conventional lines or lining, which are typically fashioned from a solid or rigid material, e.g., copper tubing. This greatly decreases the difficulty and expense of manufacture and maintenance when compared to conventional approaches.

In an embodiment, one or more conventional lines, which may be made from copper in the form of tubing, piping or like, or similar material, are replaced with flexible rubber tubing 102, 103 that is durable against harsh environmental conditions with respect to temperature and humidity yet remain flexible such that these lines 102, 103 are easily decoupled from the associated units, e.g., a compressor.

In an embodiment, the flexible tubing 102, 103 has dimensions that are suitable for conducting fluid such as cooling fluid or refrigerant between components or elements of an air conditioner 101. By way of example, air conditioner 101 may be used for enclosure cooling applications, a portion of an enclosure wall is indicated at 100 of FIG. 1, such as the Evolution Series of air conditioners available from Ice Qube, Inc. of Greensburg, Pa. This permits air conditioner 101 to provide cooling airflow and/or exhaustion of heat from the enclosure, e.g., due to operating components therein. As will be appreciated from viewing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, air conditioner 101, 201 includes an ambient and enclosure side as well as various components located within a housing.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, air conditioner 201 is illustrated without the enclosure wall 100 of FIG. 1 and the enclosure facing side of air conditioner 201 is rotated towards the viewer to be visible. As indicated, an enclosure air outlet and inlet, collectively indicated at 205, supply the enclosure with cooling air flow for closed loop cooling thereof, whereas the ambient side includes condenser (coils) 204. Likewise, ambient side inlets 206 and outlets are provided for circulating ambient side air.

In the view of FIG. 1-2, flexible line 102, 202 may take the form of a discharge line connecting a condenser 104, 204 and compressor of air conditioner 101, 201. In the example of FIG. 1-2, flexible line 103, 203 may take the form of a suction line connecting an evaporator and compressor of air conditioner 101, 201.

In various embodiments, a flexible tubing or line 102, 103 is formed with a fitting, an example of which is indicated at 106 of FIG. 1, that is complementary to that of a component to which it to be attached. For example, a tubing 102, 103 may have a male or female connector part of a fitting 106 that snaps into a complimentary connector part of a fitting 106 on a component such as a compressor or condenser 104. As may be appreciated, various other attachment or coupling mechanisms or means may be utilized, e.g., complimentary threading, hose or tubing clamps where the inner diameter of flexible tubing or line 102, 103 is larger than a copper tubing, inlet or outlet diameter of a component, etc.

Fittings 106 of various embodiments may be shaped, e.g., straight, curved to form an approximately 90-degree elbow or curve, etc. This facilitates easily joining the flexible line 102, 103 to various components within a tight space internal to air conditioning unit 101.

In an embodiment, one or more of the components to be coupled are conventional cooling lines, e.g., copper tubing. For example, a copper tubing line from a component may be coupled to another copper tubing line of a second component using a flexible line 102, 103. In such a case, a copper line or other conventional line may have a connector part of a fitting similar to fitting 106 or the tubing 102, 103 may be attached thereto using another mechanism, such as a hose clamp. Likewise, a hose claim may be used to attach the flexible tubing 102, 103 to the copper tubing.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method is provided in which fitting(s) such as 106 is/are provided 301. This allows tubing such as 102, 103 to be provided 302. Thereafter, air conditioner 101, 201 may be operated 302 using the components 102, 103, 106.

In an embodiment, the fitting(s) 106 and flexible tubing 102, 103 are applied at time of manufacture. This approach may be chosen to limit the cost of manufacture, increase the durability of the unit and sub components, and make replacement or repair easier and more economical.

In an embodiment, the fitting(s) 106 and flexible tubing 102, 103 are used to replace existing, conventional tubing or lines, e.g., at time of maintenance. In such circumstances, an embodiment may include a retrofitting kit including one or more fittings such as fitting 106 that is/are attachable to conventional tubing, e.g., copper tubing lines of components, to make the suitable for attachment to a flexible line 102, 103. Similarly, a fitting such as fitting 106 may be used to directly couple to an inlet or outlet of a component, e.g., by attachment of a connector part of a fitting that is complementary to that supplied with a flexible tube 102, 103.

Referring to FIG. 4, an example device that may be used in implementing one or more embodiments includes a controller in the form of a computing device (computer) 400. For example, a computer 400 may be included in an embodiment, component thereof such as a control panel, and/or another system (e.g., a tablet, laptop or desktop computer).

Computer 400 may execute program instructions or code configured to store and process data and perform other functionality of the embodiments, e.g., operate an air conditioning unit or sub components thereof to cool an enclosure using set point(s) temperature(s). Components of computer 400 may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 410, which may take a variety of forms such as a central processing unit (CPU), a programmable circuit or other programmable hardware, a combination of the foregoing, etc., a system memory controller 440 and memory 450, and a system bus 422 that couples various system components including the system memory 450 to the processing unit 410. It is noted that in certain implementations, computer 400 may take a reduced or simplified form, such as a micro-control unit implemented in a control panel of an air conditioner, where certain of the components of computer 400 are omitted or combined.

The computer 400 may include or have access to a variety of non-transitory computer readable media. The system memory 450 may include non-transitory computer readable storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory devices such as read only memory (ROM) and/or random-access memory (RAM). By way of example, and not limitation, system memory 450 may also include an operating system, application programs, other program modules, and program data. For example, system memory 450 may include application programs such as variable speed control software and/or air conditioner operational software. Data may be transmitted by wired or wireless communication, e.g., to or from first device to another device, e.g., communication between a remote device or system such as computer 400 and air conditioner 460, which itself may include a device like the computer 400 in a reduced form, such as in the form of a control panel.

A user can interface with (for example, enter commands and information) the computer 400 through input devices such as a touch screen, keypad, etc. A monitor or other type of display screen or device may also be connected to the system bus 422 via an interface, such as an interface 430. The computer 400 may operate in a networked or distributed environment using logical connections to one or more other remote computers or databases. The logical connections may include a network, such local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) but may also include other networks/buses.

It should be noted that various functions described herein may be implemented using processor executable instructions stored on a non-transitory storage medium or device. A non-transitory storage device may be, for example, an electronic, electromagnetic, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of a non-transitory storage medium include the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a solid-state drive, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document “non-transitory” media includes all media except non-statutory signal media.

Program code embodied on a non-transitory storage medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Program code for carrying out operations may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on a single device, partly on a single device, as a stand-alone software package, partly on single device and partly on another device, or entirely on the other device. In some cases, the devices may be connected through any type of connection or network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), a personal area network (PAN) or the connection may be made through other devices (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider), through wireless connections, or through a hard wire connection, such as over a USB or another power and data connection.

Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the figures, which illustrate various example embodiments. It will be understood that the actions and functionality may be implemented at least in part by program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor of a device to produce a special purpose machine, such that the instructions, which execute via a processor of the device implement the functions/acts specified.

It is worth noting that while specific elements are illustrated in the figures, and a particular ordering or organization of elements or steps has been illustrated, these are non-limiting examples. In certain contexts, two or more elements or steps may be combined into an equivalent element or step, an element or step may be split into two or more equivalent elements or steps, or certain elements or steps may be re-ordered or re-organized or omitted as appropriate, as the explicit illustrated examples are used only for descriptive purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

As used herein, the singular “a” and “an” may be construed as including the plural “one or more” unless clearly indicated otherwise.

This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The example embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain principles and practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Thus, although illustrative example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to be understood that this description is not limiting and that various other changes and modifications may be affected by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising:

a compressor;

a condenser;

an evaporator; and

one or more flexible lines connecting two or more of the compressor, condenser, and the evaporator to place them into fluid communication with one another.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise rubber.

3. The air conditioner of claim 2, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise insulated rubber.

4. The air conditioner of claim 1, where the one or more flexible lines comprise a fitting at least at one end.

5. The air conditioner of claim 4, where the fitting is complementary to a fitting of one or more of the compressor, evaporator, and condenser.

6. The air conditioner of claim 5, wherein the complementary fitting is one of threaded and snapped on.

7. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise a suction line and a discharge line.

8. A method including:

providing one or more fittings to one or more of a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator of an air conditioner; and

providing one or more flexible lines to place the one or more of the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator into fluid communication with a respective other of the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising:

removing a copper tubing connecting to one or more of the compressor, a condenser and an evaporator of an air conditioner; and

replacing the copper tubing with the one or more flexible lines.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise rubber.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise insulated rubber.

12. The method of claim 8, where the one or more flexible lines comprise a fitting at least at one end.

13. The method of claim 12, where the fitting is complementary to a fitting of one or more of the compressor, evaporator, and condenser.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the complementary fitting is one of threaded and snapped on.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise a suction line and a discharge line.

16. A kit, comprising:

a set of one or more flexible lines; and

one or more fittings attachable to one or more of: (a) the one or more flexible lines; and (b) a component of an air conditioner.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the set of one or more flexible lines comprise a suction line and a discharge line.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise rubber.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the one or more flexible lines comprise insulated rubber.

20. The kit of claim 16, wherein the one or more fittings are configured to releasably attach to the component of the air conditioner, the component comprising one or more of a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and copper tubing.