Interchangeable heat exchanger access panel with accessory mounting capability
AssigneeMidea Group Co., Ltd.
InventorZachary Chapin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air conditioning system including swappable/interchangeable heat exchanger access panels with accessory mounting capabilities is disclosed. The air conditioning system includes a heat exchanger, a drain pan beneath the heat exchanger to collect condensation from the heat exchanger, a bracket with an opening coupled to the heat exchanger, a plurality of interchangeable access panels adapted to be interchangeably mounted to the opening on the bracket, and an accessory coupled to one of the plurality of access panels.
Claims21
A method of installing an accessory within a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of interchangeable access panels including at least a solid access panel and an access panel with a pre-formed accessory mounting feature, comprising:
- (a) removing the solid access panel from the heat exchanger;
- (b) selecting the access panel with the pre-formed accessory mounting feature from the plurality of interchangeable access panels for receiving an accessory;
- (c) installing the accessory via the pre-formed mounting feature on the access panel;
- and
- (d) attaching the access panel with the installed accessory back to the heat exchanger.
A method of installing an accessory within a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of interchangeable access panels including at least an access panel with a pre-formed accessory mounting feature, comprising:
- selecting the access panel with the pre-formed accessory mounting feature from the plurality of interchangeable access panels for receiving one or more accessories;
- installing the one or more accessories via the pre-formed mounting feature on the access panel;
- and
- attaching the access panel to the heat exchanger.
A method of installing an accessory within a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of interchangeable access panels including at least an access panel with a pre-formed accessory mounting feature, comprising:
- providing the heat exchanger having a first coil sidewall and a second coil sidewall disposed at an acute angle to each other, and a bracket coupled to edges of the first coil sidewall and the second coil sidewall, with an opening formed through the bracket;
- selecting the access panel with the pre-formed accessory mounting feature from the plurality of interchangeable access panels for receiving one or more accessories;
- installing the one or more accessories via the pre-formed mounting feature on the access panel;
- and
- attaching the access panel to the opening of the bracket of the heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.