Externally accessible climate control system for passenger coaches
AssigneeThomas Built Buses, Inc.
InventorChristopher Allan Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A climate control system for a school bus, includes a frame having a cavity therein, a climate control unit secured within the cavity, and a removable cover plate. The frame extends through an exterior wall and into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Removal of the cover plate permits access to the components of the climate control unit for service or replacement. In the preferred embodiment, the frame includes a casing having a top wall, a floor and three side walls, and the climate control unit is a heater having a filter, heat exchanger, and blower fan. Liquid coolant, warmed by the internal combustion engine of the bus, is circulated from the engine to the heat exchanger.
Claims33
A climate control system for a coach vehicle such as a bus, comprising:
- a frame projecting inwardly from an outer wall of a passenger compartment of the coach vehicle, the frame having a top, a bottom, and three sides defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity having an air intake opening to an exterior of the coach vehicle and an air outlet opening to the passenger compartment;
- a removable exterior cover plate that is capable of closing the interior cavity and is attachable to the frame;
- and
- a climate control assembly disposed within said interior cavity, wherein the climate control assembly is accessible from the exterior of the passenger compartment when the exterior cover plate is removed.
A frame for containing a climate control system for a coach vehicle, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted to project inwardly from an outer wall of a passenger compartment of the coach vehicle, the casing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and three side walls defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity having an air intake and an air outlet, and a removable exterior cover plate that is capable of sealing the interior cavity and is attachable to the casing.
A climate control system for a coach vehicle, comprising:
- a frame for containing a climate control unit for a coach vehicle, including a casing projecting inwardly from an outer wall of a passenger compartment of the coach vehicle, wherein the casing has a top wall, a bottom wall, and three side walls defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity having an air intake opening to an exterior surface of the coach vehicle and an air outlet opening to the passenger compartment;
- a removable exterior cover plate that is capable of closing the interior cavity and is attachable to the casing;
- and
- a heater assembly disposed within said interior cavity, wherein the heater assembly includes an air filtering means, a heat exchanging means, and an air circulating means, and wherein the heater assembly is accessible from the exterior of the passenger compartment when the exterior cover plate is removed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.