초록 ▼

Rather than having a frame into which, or upon which, an air conditioning system is mounted, a bus rooftop air conditioning module has a unibody which is formed partially of structural members interconnected to the tube sheets of the evaporator and condenser coils to form a structural body which sup

Rather than having a frame into which, or upon which, an air conditioning system is mounted, a bus rooftop air conditioning module has a unibody which is formed partially of structural members interconnected to the tube sheets of the evaporator and condenser coils to form a structural body which supports the components of the system. In this way the coil tube sheets combine with other structural members to form the supporting body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air conditioning module for installation on the roof of a bus comprising:a refrigeration circuit for the circulation of refrigerant therethrough and including a compressor, at least one condenser coil, an expansion valve and at least one evaporator coil;at least one condenser fan for the circu

1. An air conditioning module for installation on the roof of a bus comprising:a refrigeration circuit for the circulation of refrigerant therethrough and including a compressor, at least one condenser coil, an expansion valve and at least one evaporator coil;at least one condenser fan for the circulation of ambient air through said at least one condenser coil;at least one evaporator fan for the circulation of air from a return air opening in the bus through said at least one evaporator coil and to a supply air opening in the bus;a first condenser section structural member disposed in a plane substantially normally to a plane of said at least one condenser coil and rigidly attached to one side of a tube sheet of said at least one condenser coil;a second condenser section structural member disposed in the same plane as said first condenser section structural member and rigidly attached to another side of said tube sheet of said at least one condenser coil;wherein said first and second structural members, together with said condenser coil tube sheet, form rigid member for the support of said at least one condenser fan. 2. An air conditioning module as set forth in claim 1 and including a third condenser section structural member disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of said first and second condenser section structural members and rigidly attached to one side of another tube sheet of said at least one condenser coil; anda fourth condenser section structural member disposed in the same plane as said third condenser section structural member and rigidly attached to the other side of said other tube sheet of said at least one condenser coil;said third and fourth structural members, together with said other condenser coil tube sheet, also forming a part of said body. 3. An air conditioning module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one condenser coil comprises a pair of condenser coils with each having first and second condenser section structural members attached to a tube sheet thereof, and with all the structural members being in the same plane. 4. An air conditioning module as set forth in claim 3 wherein one of said condenser section structural members is disposed between and attached to the tube sheets of each of said pair of condenser coils. 5. An air conditioning module as set forth in claim 1 and including a first evaporator section structural member disposed in a plane substantially normal to a plane of said at least one evaporator coil and rigidly attached to one side of a tube sheet of said at least one evaporator coil; anda second evaporator section structural member disposed in a plane of said first evaporator section structural member and rigidly attached to another side of a tube sheet of said at least one evaporator coil;wherein said first and second evaporator section structural members, together with said evaporator coil tube sheet form a part of the body. 6. An air conditioning module as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one evaporator coil comprises a pair of evaporator coils and further including a third evaporator section structural member disposed in the plane of said first and second evaporator section structural members and rigidly attached to the tube sheet of said second evaporator coil; anda fourth evaporator section structural member disposed in the same plane as said third evaporator section structural member and rigidly attached to the other side of said second evaporator coil tube sheet; said third and forth structural members, together with an attached tube sheets, forming a part of the body. 7. An air conditioning module as set forth in claim 6 wherein one of said evaporator sections structural members is disposed between and attached to the respective tube sheets of said pair of evaporator coils. 8. A method of constructing an air conditioning module for a bus rooftop comprising the steps of providing at least one condenser coil and associated fan for circulating air through said condenser coil, said condenser coil having a pair of spaced tube sheets at its end;providing at least one evaporator coil and associated fan for circulating air through said evaporator coil; andproviding at least a pair of planar structural members with each being attached at an edge to one of said tube sheets, such that the pair of planar structural members, together with the attached one of said tube sheets, collectively form a rigid member for supporting said fan. 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said rigid support structure is adapted to extend transversely across the roof of a bus. 10. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said planar structural members are attached to one of said tube sheets by fasteners. 11. A method as set forth in claim 8 and including the further step of providing a second pair of planar structures and attaching them to the other of said pair of spaced tube sheets such that the second pair of planar structural members, together with the other tube sheet, collectively form a rigid member for supporting said fan. 12. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said planar structural members are attached to tube sheets of said at least one condenser coil. 13. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said planar structural members are attached to a tube sheet of said at least one evaporator coil. 14. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said at least one condensing coil comprises two condensing coils and further wherein a structural member is attached between said two condenser coil. 15. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said at least one evaporator coil comprises two evaporator coils and further wherein a structural member is attached between the two evaporator coils.