Modular front box for buses
AssigneeThermo King Corporation
InventorKlaus Kamuf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention pertains to a heating and/or air conditioning unit for commercial vehicles and includes two modules. One of the modules houses a heat exchanger unit and another module houses a blower unit. The air conditioning unit also defines an inlet and an outlet for conveying air through the modules. The individual modules are connected together and are relatively air tight. Each of the modules is assembled from a number of wall sections. Edge strips extend along the edges of the modules connecting the modules. The individual wall sections are inserted into the edge strips, which removably couple adjoining modules and the wall sections of individual modules.
Claims20
A modular vehicle air conditioning unit comprising:
- a first module having a first wall section and a second wall section;
- a second module;
- a heat exchanger housed in one of the first module and the second module;
- an airflow path extending through the first module and the second module and extending across the heat exchanger;
- and
- an edge strip removably coupling the first module and the second module and removably coupling the first wall section and the second wall section.
A modular vehicle air conditioning unit comprising:
- a first module having a first wall section and a second wall section;
- a second module adjacent to the first module;
- a heat exchanger housed in one of the first module and the second module;
- a fan housed in an other of the first module and the second module;
- an airflow path extending through the first module and the second module and extending across the heat exchanger and the fan;
- and
- an edge strip removably coupling the first wall section and the second wall section.
A method of assembling a modular vehicle air conditioning unit, the modular vehicle air conditioning unit including a first module having a. first wall section and a second wall section, a second module, a heat exchanger housed in one of the first module -and the second module, an air flow path extending through the first module and the second module-and across the heat exchanger, and an edge strip defining a first channel and a second channel, one of the first wall section and the edge strip having a first protuberance, an other of the first wall section and the edge strip having a first aperture, one of the second wall section and the edge strip having a second protuberance, an other of the second wall section and the edge strip having a second aperture, the method comprising:
- inserting the first wall section into the first channel;
- inserting the second wall section into the second channel;
- latchingly engaging the first protuberance in the first aperture;
- latchingly engaging the second protuberance in the second aperture;
- and
- coupling the first module and the second module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.