WO1999067565A1

WO1999067565A1 - Fan mounting assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1999067565A1
Application number: PCT/BR1998/000040
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juan Carlos Carné CORREA
Original assignee: Carrier Corporation; Springer Carrier S.A.
Priority date: 1998-06-22
Filing date: 1998-06-22
Publication date: 1999-12-29
Also published as: AU7901398A; CN1107188C; BR9811231A; CN1265728A; AR018912A1

Abstract

A mounting bracket (54) and bracket support panel (22) for a fan and motor assembly (34). The mounting bracket (54) includes a substantially planar bracket support plate (22), which has first and second sides and a structural mounting element extending from the first side. The support plate has at least one rigid attachment finger (68) formed therein. The finger extends in a first direction and has a fixed end integrally formed with the plate and a free section, which extends parallel to and which is spaced from the second side of the second plate to define a slot (76) therebetween. The support plate further includes a deformable latch (78), which includes a fixed end formed with the support plate. The latch further includes a flexible elongated section extending from the fixed end in a direction substantially parallel to the support plate and a latching head (84) formed at the other end thereof. The bracket support panel (22) includes a planar bracket engaging plate, which includes openings (86) therein in register with and configured to receive each of the at least one attaching fingers therethrough. The bracket engaging plate also has a latch opening (88) therethrough.

Description

FAN MOUNTING ASSEMBLY

Technical Field

The invention generally relates to air distribution units of the type commonly used in air conditioning, heating or ventilation systems and, more particularly, to the mounting of a motor and fan assembly in such a unit. Background Art

In many commercial air conditioning, heating and ventilating systems, treated air is discharged into an area to be conditioned through an air distribution or conditioning unit. For example, one general type of air conditioning system, often referred to as a split system, includes separate indoor and outdoor units. The outdoor unit includes a compressor, a heat exchanger and a fan. The indoor unit includes a heat exchanger and a fan. In operation, the indoor fan draws air into the indoor unit, through an inlet thereof, and forces the air over the indoor heat exchanger and then out of the indoor unit, through an outlet opening therein.

The outdoor fan draws air into the outdoor unit, through an inlet, forces that air over the outdoor heat exchanger and then forces that air out of the outdoor unit through an outlet therein. At the same time, a compressor causes a refrigeration fluid to circulate through and between the indoor/outdoor heat exchangers. At the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air passing over that heat exchanger, cooling that air. At the same time, at the outdoor heat exchanger, the air passing over the heat exchanger absorbs heat from the refrigerant passing therethrough. Split type air conditioning units of this type are typically manufactured in a wide range of cooling capacities. Accordingly, the size of the indoor unit can range from a small compact relatively narrow unit up to a wide unit, of substantially the same height as the compact unit. Typically the larger units will include a plurality of air circulating fans.

Typically, the larger the unit the more components are required and the more fasteners are required in order to assemble all of the components. It is considered extremely desirable to minimize the number of components required in order to fabricate the indoor units of such an air conditioning system. One of the components which typically involves a large number of components for mounting thereof is the electric motor and fans associated therewith. Disclosure of the Invention

A mounting bracket and bracket support panel for a fan and motor assembly. The mounting bracket includes a substantially planar bracket support plate, which has first and second sides and a structural mounting element extending from the first side. The support plate has at least one rigid attachment finger formed therein. The finger extends in a first direction and has a fixed end integrally formed with the plate and a free section, which extends parallel to and which is spaced from the second side of the second plate to define a slot therebetween. The support plate further includes a deformable latch, which includes a fixed end formed with the support plate. The latch further includes a flexible elongated section extending from the fixed end in a direction substantially parallel to the support plate and a latching head formed at the other end thereof. The bracket support panel includes a planar bracket engaging plate, which includes openings therein in register with and configured to receive each of the at least one attaching fingers therethrough. The bracket engaging plate also has a latch opening therethrough. The latch opening is located at a position, which is displaced from the location of the latching head, when the finger is extending through its receiving opening by a distance, in the first direction, substantially equal to the length of the slot. As a result, when the finger is inserted through its mating opening and the bracket support plate is translated in the first direction, the portions of the bracket engaging plate adjacent to the openings will slide into the slots. At the same time, the deformable latch is deformed downwardly until the latching head becomes aligned with the latching opening and the latch returns to its undeformed condition to thereby move the latching head into positive locking engagement with the latch opening. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may be better understood and its objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of an air conditioner which embodies the features of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the air conditioning unit of

Figure 1 with the left-hand side cover, and one of the modular front panel sections removed therefrom;

Figure 3 illustrates the sub-assembly of the fan panel, fans and fan scrolls of the unit of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a perspective view from the lower side thereof of the sub-assembly of Figure 3 with the fans and fan scrolls removed therefrom to show the mounting of the motor bracket to the fan panel;

Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the assembly of Figure 4 with the components exploded;

Figure 6 is a top perspective view similar to Figure 5 with the components assembled;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective exploded view of the air conditioning unit of Figure 1. Best Mode For Carrying Out The Invention And Industrial Applicability

Looking first at Figures 1 and 8, the indoor unit 10 of a split system air conditioning system of the type incorporating a fan assembly mounting according to the present invention is illustrated. Briefly, the unit 10 includes a main structural support frame 12, which includes a bottom panel 14, a back panel 16 and a top section 18. Attached to the sides of the back and top panels are structural internal side covers 20. The side covers 20 and the back panel 16 cooperate to support a horizontally extending fan support panel 22, which includes a pair of rectangular openings 24 formed therein. Mounted above the fan support panel 22 on a pair of inclined surfaces 26, defined by the internal side covers 20 is a heat exchanger coil 25.

Mounted under the top section of the main support frame 12 is an upper condensate collection pan 28. Mounted in the front of the unit, under the bottom of the heat exchanger 25, and supported by the front edge 30 of the fan support panel 22, is a lower condensate collection pan 32. A front section of the lower condensate collection pan extends upwardly and is spaced from the heat exchanger coil 25.

Mounted to the lower surface of the fan support panel 22 is a fan assembly 34, which includes an electric motor 36 adapted to drive a pair of centrifugal fans 38, which are each enclosed in a two-piece scroll housing 40. Each of scroll housings 40 defines a rectangular upper air outlet opening 39, which is in air flow communication with the rectangular openings 24 in the fan support panel 22.

As a result of the above-described arrangement of components, when the fan assembly is energized, air is drawn into the region 41 underlying the fan support panel 22 through the open front and is directed upwardly through the rectangular openings 24, through the heat exchanger coil 25 and is discharged through an opening 42 defined by the upper edge 44 of the lower condensate pan 32 and the front edge 46 of the upper condensate pan 28. During assembly of the air conditioning unit 10, the main structural framework of the unit comprising the structural frame 12 and the internal side covers 20 is first assembled. Following this, a sub-assembly 48, which includes the fan support panel 22 with the fan and motor assembly 34 and the two-piece scroll 40 attached thereto is then assembled to the unit.

Before describing the mounting of the fan and motor assembly 34 to the fan support panel in detail, the sequence of attachment of the components to the fan panel to form the sub-assembly 48 will briefly be described. First, the two pieces of the scroll housing 40 will be referred to as the "back section 50" and the "front section 52". The back section 50 is first attached to the fan panel 22, as illustrated on the left-hand side of Figure 5. Following this, the assembly comprising the motor 36 and the fans 38 is attached to the lower side of the fan support panel 22, at a location between the two rectangular openings 24 to thereby support the fans 38 within the back sections 50 of the scroll and underlying the rectangular openings 24. Following this, the front sections 52 of the scrolls are attached to the back sections 50 to complete the sub-assembly 48.

The completely assembled sub-assembly 48 is illustrated in Figure 3 and while, as described above, the back section 50 of the scroll housing 40 is first attached to the fan panel. The scroll housing is not illustrated at all in Figures 4 - 7 in order to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. It should be understood that the scroll housing 40 and the method of attaching the scroll housing to the fan panel 22 and the attachment of the front and back sections of the scroll housing to one another form the subject matter of a separate invention, which is the subject matter of another patent application assigned to the assignee of the present invention and filed on even date herewith. Further, to simplify illustration and understanding, the centrifugal fans 38 are not shown in Figures 4 - 7. Looking now at Figure 5, a fan assembly mounting bracket 54 includes a planar support plate 56 having a pair of motor mounting flanges 58 extending downwardly from left and right-hand edges 60 and 62, respectively, thereof. The support plate 56 and the flanges are formed from a single piece of structural sheet steel. Each of the motor mounting flanges 58 is provided with a pair of spaced openings (not shown) therein, which are in axial alignment with a mating set of openings in the opposite flange. Each of these sets of openings are adapted to receive a bolt 64 therethrough, which extends through one flange through the length of the motor frame and extends outwardly from the other flange where a suitable locking threaded nut 66 is assembled thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the through bolts 64 comprise two of the main structural supporting bolts of the electric motor 36 and the bracket 54 is attached to the motor, as illustrated in the drawing figures by the motor manufacturer during assembly of the motor.

The mounting bracket support plate 56 is substantially rectangular and is provided with four attachment fingers 68 located adjacent the four corners thereof. Each of the fingers 68 is formed by punching material upwardly from the plate 56. The fingers are structurally rigid and each comprise an end 70 integrally formed with the support plate 56 and a free planar section 72, which extends rearwardly of the support plate 56, as viewed in Figure 5. Each of the fingers 68 is spaced from the upper surface 74 of the support plate to define a slot 76 therebetween. The slot 76 has a thickness equal to the thickness of the fan support panel 22 and a predetermined length. Also formed in the support plate 56 by a punching operation is a deformable latch 78, which is located within the rectangular section defined by the location of the four attachment fingers 68. As is best seen in Figure 5, the latch comprises a fixed end 80 integrally formed with the support plate 56 and an elongated flexible section 82 having a latching head 84 at the free end thereof. The elongated section of the latch is coplanar with the support plate 56 and the latch head 84 extends upwardly above the upper surface 74 of the plate 56.

Again, as best seen in Figure 5, the fan support panel 22 is provided with four rectangular openings 86, which are positioned and sized to receive the four attachment fingers 68 therein. Also located in the fan support panel 22 is a rectangular opening 88, which is configured to receive the latch head 84 of the deformable latch 78 in positive locking engagement. The location of the latch opening 88 will be best understood in connection with the description of the mounting of the bracket 54 to the panel 22.

With continued reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7, mounting of the bracket 54 is achieved by placing the upper surface 74 of the support plate 56 in confronting relation with the lower surface 90 of the fan support panel 22 with the four attaching fingers 68 extending into their respective openings 86 in the fan panel. At this point, the fan panel 22 contacts the latch head 84 of the deformable latch 78 and depresses it downwardly to allow the support plate 56 and the lower surface 90 of the fan support panel to be in confronting relationship with one another. The mounting bracket 54 is then displaced rearwardly by a distance equal to the length of the slots 76 to thereby result in the portion of the fan panel 22 adjacent each of the slots to move into the respective slot by a distance equal to the length of the slot. As best seen in Figure 7, it will be noted that such displacement results in the latch head 84 of the deformable latch 78 becoming aligned with the latch opening 88 in the fan panel to thereby allow the latch to return to its undeformed condition, as described above and as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

Accordingly, the position of the latch opening 88 is best described as being located at a position which is displaced from the location of the latching head 88 when the fingers 68 are extending through their mating openings 86, by a distance, in the direction in which the fingers extend substantially equal to the length of the slots 76 formed by the fingers.

Following installation of the bracket to the fan panel, a single self-tapping screw 92 is inserted through a hole 94 near the front of the fan panel and into an appropriate receiving opening 96 in the front end of the support plate 56.

It will be also noted that a cylindrical motor starting capacitor 98 is mounted to the underside of the mounting bracket 54 by a capacitor retaining tab 100, which has been punched from the support plate 56 and bent downwardly to laterally engage the capacitor 98. A capacitor retaining dimple 102 is punched in the end of the mounting tab 100 and a second capacitor positioning dimple 104 is punched in the wall of the motor mounting flange 58, which is adjacent to and supports one side of the capacitor.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a mounting bracket and bracket support panel: said mounting bracket comprising: a substantially planar bracket support plate having first and second sides; and at least one structural mounting element extending from said first side of said support plate; said support plate having at least one rigid attachment finger formed therein, said at least one finger extending in a first direction and having a fixed end integrally formed with said support plate, and a free section extending parallel to and spaced from said second side of said second plate to thereby define a slot therebetween; said support plate further including a deformable latch, which includes a fixed end thereof integrally formed with said support plate, said deformable latch further including a flexible elongated section extending from said fixed end in a direction substantially parallel to said support plate; and a latching head formed at the other end thereof, said latching head extending at least partially above said second side of said support plate when said latch is in an undeformed condition; said bracket support panel comprising: a planar bracket engaging plate, which includes openings therein in register with and configured to receive each of said at least one attaching fingers therethrough; said bracket engaging plate also having a latch opening therethrough, said latch openings being located at a position which is displaced from the location of said latching head, when said finger is extending through said at least one opening, by a distance, in said first direction, substantially equal to the length of said slots; whereby when said at least one finger is inserted through at least one opening and said bracket support plate is translated in said first direction, the portions of said bracket engaging plate adjacent to said openings will slide into said slots, and at the same time said deformable latch is deformed downwardly until said latching head becomes aligned with said latching opening and said latch returns to its undeformed condition to thereby move said latching head into positive locking engagement with said latch opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support plate has four of said rigid attachment fingers, and said bracket engaging plate has four finger receiving openings therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fingers and said openings are located on the four corners of a rectangule and, said deformable latch is located within said rectangle.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one structural mounting element extending from said first side of said support plate comprises two flanges extending substantially perpendicular to said plate and parallel to one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including an electric motor, and, means for attaching said electric motor to said two flanges.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said flanges includes two openings therein, each of said openings on one flange being in axial alignment with one of said two openings on the other flange, and wherein said means for attaching said motor comprises two through bolts configured to extend through said motor and through said two sets of axially aligned openings on said flanges.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said deformable latch extends in said first direction.