| Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud -> Monitor Keywords |
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Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroudRelated Patent Categories: Refrigeration, With Repair, Assembly Or Disassembly MeansRefrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060174645, Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to refrigerating or condensing units of the type commonly utilized in refrigeration appliances, and particularly to means for mounting the heat exchanger or condenser on the base of the refrigerating unit and shrouds for directing airflow through the heat exchanger and improving the efficiency of the heat exchange. [0002] Previous condensing units typically included condensers which were mounted via brackets directly to the base of the condensing or a vertical frame fixed to or formed on the base. These brackets are typically attached to the condenser's headers or heat exchange tubes. [0003] An electric fan is usually provided to pull ambient air through the heat exchanger, the airflow generated by the fan being directed by a shroud which substantially encloses the downstream side of the condenser but is provided with a large round aperture, the edge of which is in close proximity to the radially-outermost edges of the fan blades. The shroud may be made of heavy paper or cardboard, metal, or plastic, and is typically attached to heat exchanger headers or heat exchange tubes using brackets. An example of such a shroud is shown in FIG. 1. Shroud 10 is made of sheet metal or cardboard folded into a four-sided substantially parallelepiped shape having top 12, sides 14 and 16 and rear panel 18. Panel 18 is provided with round aperture 20 in which the blades of a motor-driven fan (not shown) are disposed. Near the free edges of sides 14 are 16, a plurality of holes 22 are provided. Holes 22 accommodate screws (not shown) by which shroud 10 is secured via brackets attached to vertically-extending headers provided on opposite edges of the condenser. Shroud 10 is thus attached to a condenser which is separately fixed to the condensing unit base as described above. Notably, it is also common in the prior art for the above-mentioned motor-driven fan to be attached to panel 18 of shroud 10, thereby necessitating their disassembly should one component need to be replaced, and removal of both the shroud and fan from the condensing unit should the condenser, to which both are attached, need to be replaced. [0004] Refrigerant flows to and from the heat exchanger through inlet and outlet tubes typically located near one end of one or both headers. Some previous shrouds require that holes or notches be provided therein through which the condenser inlet and outlet tubes extend, these holes or notches perhaps being added during the assembly process and being uniquely placed depending on the various locations of the inlet and outlet tubes among different condensers. Further, these holes or notches in the shroud may allow air leakage therethrough, which can compromise heat exchanger performance due to ambient air being recirculated through the shroud, rather than directed through the heat exchanger. [0005] Heat exchangers for condensing units have evolved to a preferred design having a pair of vertically-oriented, cylindrical headers, the ends of which are closed, and between which extend a plurality of flat, horizontal heat exchange tubes within each of which are formed a plurality of microchannels. Refrigerant flows between the headers through the microchannels. The heat exchange tubes extend through, and are in contact with, a plurality of vertically-oriented flat fins. Heat is transferred convectively from the refrigerant flowing through the microchannels to the heat exchange tubes, conductively from the heat exchange tubes to the fins, and convectively from the fins to the ambient air flowing through the heat exchanger. Refrigerant enters and exits the heat exchanger through inlet and outlet tubes which are located near opposite ends of one cylindrical header, or near one end of each header, these locations usually being determined by package and performance considerations. Some previous shrouds require that holes or notches be provided therein through which the condenser inlet and outlet tubes extend, these holes or notches perhaps being added during the assembly process and being uniquely placed depending on the various locations of the inlet and outlet tubes among different condensers. Further, these holes or notches in the shroud may allow air leakage therethrough, which can compromise heat exchanger performance due to ambient air being recirculated through the shroud, rather than directed through the heat exchanger. [0006] Heat exchangers having cylindrical headers are known in the art, and are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,936,381 (Alley); 5,320,165 (Hughes); 5,372,188 (Dudley et al.); 6,360,818 (Bosch et al.); and 5,947,196 (Halm et al.); and in Halm's published U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 09/370,405 and 09/759,930. [0007] The cylindrical headers and the flat tubes of the now-preferred condenser designs do not lend themselves well to the above-described means for attachment of the condenser to the condensing unit base, or the shroud to the condenser. Thus, an improved mounting means for condensers having cylindrical headers is desired. It is also desired that such an improved condenser mounting means employ relatively fewer parts and tools, and require less condensing unit assembly time. Further, it would be desirable that the condenser and motor-driven fan be separably removable from the condensing unit, thereby facilitating fast and easy repair of the condensing unit. [0008] Moreover, it is desirable to provide a common shroud which can accommodate condensers having various condenser inlet and outlet tube locations, and which is provided with features which facilitate more efficient techniques for assembly of the condenser and shroud, and of the condensing unit as a whole. SUMMARY [0009] The present invention provides a fan shroud by which a condenser having cylindrical headers is mounted to the base of a condensing unit. No tools are necessary for affixing the condenser to the shroud, or the shroud to the condensing unit base. Further, the inventive shroud, with or without the condenser it supports, and the motor-driven fan are separately affixed to the condensing unit base. Thus, the fan or the condenser may be removed and replaced without removal of the other, thereby simplifying condensing unit service. Moreover, the condenser may be removed from and installed in the condensing unit while leaving the shroud in place, or the condenser and shroud may be removed and installed as an assembly, without affecting the fan. [0010] In accordance with the present invention, a fan shroud is also provided which has integrally-formed notched corners allowing the condenser's inlet and outlet tubes to extend from any of the four corners of the heat exchanger. Because all four corners are notched, the shroud may be used interchangeably among condensers having differing condenser inlet and outlet tube locations. These integrally-formed notched corners also eliminate the need for providing holes or notches in the shroud during assembly processes, thereby minimizing the possibility of adversely affecting heat exchanger performance due to air recirculation through the shroud. [0011] Like previous shrouds, the inventive shroud may stand freely on its bottommost surfaces or feet during assembly processes without falling over. The inventive shroud is also provided, however, with integrally formed, elongated tabs or bosses extending forward and aft on an upper surface thereof. These bosses impart additional strength to the shroud, but more importantly provide surfaces by which the shroud, or the shroud and condenser assembly, may be placed upside down in a substantially vertical orientation and remain freely standing on an assembly table during the condensing unit assembly processes. Thus, more flexible assembly processes are facilitated by the present invention. [0012] The present invention provides a refrigerating unit including a base, a heat exchanger through which air passes, and an air-directing shroud attached to said base. The heat exchanger is engaged with the shroud and is mounted to the base through the engagement of the heat exchanger and the shroud. [0013] The present invention also provides a condensing unit including a base, a heat exchanger through which air passes, and a substantially rectangular air-directing shroud attached to the base. The heat exchanger has opposite side edges defined by a pair of substantially cylindrical headers, and inlet and outlet tubes. At least one of the headers has an inlet tube or outlet tube extending from a side surface of the header near one end. The shroud is provided with a plurality of notched corners, each notched corner forming a notched corner edge. The shroud also has a top surface which is provided with at least one elongate boss, and a plurality of integrally-formed resilient gripping portions which surround and capture the heat exchanger headers, whereby the heat exchanger and the shroud are engaged. The heat exchanger is mounted to the base through the engagement of the heat exchanger and the shroud, clearance is provided between the shroud notched corner edge and the heat exchanger inlet or outlet tube, and the boss provides a means for supporting the shroud when placed upside down prior to the shroud being attached to the base. [0014] The present invention also provides a refrigerating unit including a base, a heat exchanger, and a shroud attached to the base. The shroud is provided with integrally formed means for gripping the heat exchanger and mounting the heat exchanger to the base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a condensing unit fan shroud typically employed in the prior art; [0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a condensing unit including a fan shroud in accordance with the present invention; [0018] FIG. 3 is plan view of the condensing unit of FIG. 2; [0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fan shroud and condenser assembly in accordance with the present invention; [0020] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the fan shroud and condenser assembly of FIG. 5; [0021] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6 in FIG. 3, showing the shroud-to-base attachment; and Continue reading about Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud... Full patent description for Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Device for fixing an adapter for an add-on piece to a condenser Next Patent Application: Ice maker for refrigerator Industry Class: Refrigeration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger mounting shroud patent info. 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