Room air conditioner fresh air intake duct

Claim 2

An air flow arrangement including a partition wall having a centrifugal fan scroll inlet orifice therein, a centrifugal impeller positioned in said fan scroll, said partition wall having a fresh air opening spaced a defined distance from said inlet orifice, a molded one-piece conduit member comprising a body portioN having an axially elongated outwardly directed hollow cavity including semi-spherical walls at each end, said conduit member having a continuous outstanding peripheral flat flange portion surrounding the elongated conduit mouth, means for rotatably supporting said conduit member on said partition wall about one semi-spherical pivotal end portion which is positioned in concentric fashion over said fresh air opening, whereby said conduit member''s axis of rotation coincides with the principal axis of said fresh air opening, said rotational support means resiliently biasing said conduit member in a first pivoted position away from said inlet orifice such that said conduit member peripheral flat flange is in continuous flush contact with said partition wall closing the conduit mouth and thereby preventing air flow through the hollow cavity of said conduit member, means for rotating said conduit member to a second open position with at least a portion of its opposite semi-spherical free end extending into the path of said partition wall intake orifice causing the free end portion of the conduit mouth to be placed in communication with said intake orifice, whereby fresh air is drawn in through said fresh air opening and through the elongated cavity of said conduit member for discharge into the fan scroll.

Claim 3

The air flow arrangement according to claim 1, whereby approximately 20 percent of the centrifugal fan scroll inlet orifice area is interrupted by said opposite semi-spherical end of said conduit member extending into the path of said partition wall intake orifice.

Claim 4

The air flow arrangement according to claim 1 whereby an L-shaped bracket is positioned on the outer surface of said partition wall for engaging a portion of said peripheral flange adjacent said other semi-spherical free end upon said conduit member being returned to its biased closed position to reatin said peripheral flat flange in flush abutting engagement with said partition wall outer surface.

Claim 5

An air flow arrangement including a partition wall having a centrifugal fan scroll inlet orifice therein, a centrifugal impeller positioned in said fan scroll, said partition wall having a fresh air inlet opening spaced a defined distance from said partition wall inlet orifice, a molded one-piece conduit member comprising a body portion having a planar inner surface and an elongated outwardly directed concavo-convex section cavity including semi-spherical walls at each end, means for rotatably supporting said conduit member on the outer surface of said partition wall with one semi-spherical end wall positioned in concentric fashion about said fresh air opening, said conduit member planar inner surface forming a continuous outstanding peripheral flange defining an elongated oval-shaped conduit mouth, a plurality of integral spring fingers projecting from said one semi-spherical end wall normal to said conduit inner planar surface and extending through said fresh air opening, said rotational support means including a circular ring partially telescoped within said fresh air opening adapted to be supported on the inner side of said partition wall, said circular ring including slot means therein aligned with each of said spring fingers allowing said fingers to spring into their associated slot means for locking engagement therewith, abutment means on said fingers being sprung into the fresh air opening for rotatably securing said conduit member on said partition wall outer surface, whereby said conduit member''s axis of rotation coincides with the center of said fresh air opening, said circular ring having spring means extending outwardly therefrom for retention on the inner surface of said partition wall, said spring means resiliently biasing said conduit member in a first rotational position such that said conduit member peripheral flange is in continuous flush contact with said partition wall outer surface closing said conduit mouth and thereby preventing air flow through said fresh air opening, mEans for rotating said conduit member to a second ventilating position with a portion of its opposite semi-spherical free end wall extending into the path of said centrifugal fan scroll intake orifice such that a portion of said conduit members'' mouth is placed in communication with said intake orifice whereby fresh air is drawn through said fresh air opening into the fan scroll via said conduit member to combine with the air flow entering said intake orifice.

Claim 6

An air flow arrangement including a partition wall having a centrifugal fan scroll inlet orifice therein, a centrifugal impeller positioned in said fan scroll, said partition wall having a fresh air inlet opening spaced a defined distance from said partition wall inlet orifice, a molded one-piece conduit member comprising a body portion having a planar inner surface and an elongated outwardly directed concavo-convex section cavity including semi-spherical walls at each end, means for rotatably supporting said conduit member on the outer surface of said partition wall with one semi-spherical end wall positioned in concentric fashion about said fresh air opening, said conduit member planar inner surface forming a continuous outstanding peripheral flange defining an elongated oval-shaped conduit mouth, a plurality of integral spring fingers projecting from said one semi-spherical end wall normal to said conduit inner planar surface and extending through said fresh air opening, said rotational support means including a circular ring partially telescoped within said fresh air opening adapted to be supported on the inner side of said partition wall, said circular ring including slot means therein aligned with each of said spring fingers allowing said fingers to spring into their associated slot means for locking engagement therewith, abutment means on said fingers being sprung into the fresh air opening for rotatably securing said conduit member on said partition wall outer surface, whereby said conduit member''s axis of rotation coincides with the center of said fresh air opening, said circular ring having spring means extending outwardly therefrom for retention on the inner surface of said partition wall, said spring means resiliently biasing said conduit member in a first rotational position such that said conduit member peripheral flange is in continuous flush contact with said partition wall outer surface closing said conduit mouth and thereby preventing air flow through said fresh air opening, mEans for rotating said conduit member to a second ventilating position with a portion of its opposite semi-spherical free end wall extending into the path of said centrifugal fan scroll intake orifice such that a portion of said conduit members'' mouth is placed in communication with said intake orifice whereby fresh air is drawn through said fresh air opening into the fan scroll via said conduit member to combine with the air flow entering said intake orifice.

Claim 7

In an air conditioning unit for conditioning the air within an enclosure the combination comprising: a casing enclosing a condenser compartment and an evaporator compartment separated by a partition wall, said partition wall having a centrifugal fan scroll air flow orifice therein for receiving a stream of indoor air withdrawn from said enclosure and through said evaporator compartment for subsequent discharging of the conditioned air into the enclosure, a fresh air opening in said partition wall in communication with said condenser compartment, a centrifugal impeller in said fan scroll having its axis substantially normal to said partition wall, said fresh air opening in said partition wall spaced a defined distance from said intake orifice, a molded one-piece conduit member comprising a body portion having a planar inner surface and an elongated outwardly directed concavo-convex section cavity including semi-spherical wall surfaces at each end, said conduit inner surface formed by a continuous outstanding peripheral flange defining an elongated oval-shaped cavity mouth, means for rotatably supporting said conduit member on the evaporator compartment outer surface of said partition wall such that one semi-spherical end surface is positioned in concentric fashion over said fresh air opening with its axis of rotation coinciding with the principal axis of said fresh air opening, said rotational support means including a circular ring partially telescoped within said fresh air opening adapted to be supported on the condenser compartment inner side of said partition wall, attachment means on said conduit member extending through said fresh air opening adapted to engage said ring and the edge of said fresh air opening for rotatably securing said conduit member on said partition wall outer surface, whereby said conduit member and said ring rotate in unison about the principal axis of said fresh air opening, means for resiliently biasing said conduit member in a first position such that said conduit peripheral flange is in continuous flush contact with said partition wall outer surface closing said conduit mouth and said fresh air opening, manual control means for rotating said conduit member against said biasing means to a second vented position, whereby said conduit member''s free semi-spherical end surface partially extends into the area of said partition wall orifice causing a portion of said conduit mouth to be placed in communication with said orifice whereby outside air is drawn in from said condenser compartment through said fresh air opening and said conduit cavity for discharge into said impeller intake orifice for mixture with conditioned air for subsequent return to the enclosure.

Claim 8

In an air conditioning unit for conditioning the air within an enclosure the combination comprising: a casing enclosing a condenser compartment and an evaporator compartment separated by a partition wall, said partition wall having a centrifugal fan scroll air flow orifice therein for receiving a stream of indoor air withdrawn from said enclosure and through said evaporator compartment for subsequent discharging of the conditioned air into the enclosure, a fresh air opening in said partition wall in communication with said condenser compartment, a centrifugal impeller in said fan scroll having its axis substantially normal to said partition wall, said fresh air opening in said partition wall spaced a defined distance from said intake orifice, a molded one-piece conduit member comprising a body portion having a planar inner surface and an elongated outwardly directed concavo-convex section cavity including semi-spherical wall surfaces at each end, said conduit inner surface formed by a continuous outstanding peripheral flange defining an elongated oval-shaped cavity mouth, means for rotatably supporting said conduit member on the evaporator compartment outer surface of said partition wall such that one semi-spherical end surface is positioned in concentric fashion over said fresh air opening with its axis of rotation coinciding with the principal axis of said fresh air opening, said rotational support means including a circular ring partially telescoped within said fresh air opening adapted to be supported on the condenser compartment inner side of said partition wall, attachment means on said conduit member extending through said fresh air opening adapted to engage said ring and the edge of said fresh air opening for rotatably securing said conduit member on said partition wall outer surface, whereby said conduit member and said ring rotate in unison about the principal axis of said fresh air opening, means for resiliently biasing said conduit member in a first position such that said conduit peripheral flange is in continuous flush contact with said partition wall outer surface closing said conduit mouth and said fresh air opening, manual control means for rotating said conduit member against said biasing means to a second vented position, whereby said conduit member''s free semi-spherical end surface partially extends into the area of said partition wall orifice causing a portion of said conduit mouth to be placed in communication with said orifice whereby outside air is drawn in from said condenser compartment through said fresh air opening and said conduit cavity for discharge into said impeller intake orifice for mixture with conditioned air for subsequent return to the enclosure.

Claim 9

In an air conditioning unit for conditioning the air within an enclosure the combination comprising: a casing enclosing a condenser compartment and an evaporator compartment separated by a partition wall, said partition wall having a centrifugal fan scroll air flow orifice therein for receiving a stream of indoor air withdrawn from said enclosure and through said evaporator compartment for subsequent discharging of the conditioned air into the enclosure, a fresh air opening in said partition wall in communication with said condenser compartment, a centrifugal blower wheel in said fan scroll having its axis substantially normal to said partition wall, said fresh air opening in said partition wall spaced a defined distance from said intake orifice, a molded one-piece conduit damper comprising a body portion having a planar inner surface and an elongated outwardly directed concavo-convex section cavity including semi-spherical wall surfaces at each end, said conduit inner surface formed by a continuous outstanding elongated oval-shaped peripheral flange defining an elongated oval-shaped cavity mouth, means for rotatably supporting said conduit damper on the evaporator compartment outer surface of said partition wall such that one semi-spherical end surface is positioned in concentric fashion over said fresh air opening with its axis of rotation coinciding with the principal axis of said fresh air opening, said rotational support means including a circular ring partially telescoped within said fresh air opening adapted to be supported on the condenser compartment inner side of said partition wall, said circular ring having outwardly offset integral shoulder plates arranged in quadrature thereon, each said shoulder plate having a slot therein, attachment means on said conduit member extending through said fresh air opening adapted to engage said ring, said attachment means comprising three spring fingers projecting from said one semi-spherical end wall flange and an elongated spring finger projecting from said cavity inner surface, each of said slots aligned with one of said spring fingers allowing said fingers to spring into their associated slots for releasable engagement therewith, abutments on said fingers being sprung onto the edge of said fresh air opening for rotatably securing said conduit damper on said partition wall outer surface, whereby said conduit damper and said ring rotate in unison about the principal axis of said fresh air opening, means for resiliently biasing said conduit damper in a first position such that said conduit peripheral flange is in continuous flush contact with said partition wall outer surface closing said conduit mouth and said fresh air opening, manual control means for rotating said conduit damper against said biasing means to a second vented position, whereby approximately 20 percent of the centrifugal fan scroll inlet orifice being interrupted by said conduit damper''s semi-spherical end surface extending into the area defined by said partition wall orifice causing a portion of said conduit mouth to be placed in communication with said orifice whereby outside air is drawn in from said condenser compartment through said fresh air opening and said conduit cavity for discharge into said impeller intake orifice for mixture with conditioned air for subsequent return to the enclosure.

Claim 10

In an air conditioning unit for conditioning the air within an enclosure the combination comprising: a casing enclosing a condenser compartment and an evaporator compartment separated by a partition wall, said partition wall having a centrifugal fan scroll air flow orifice therein for receiving a stream of indoor air withdrawn from said enclosure and through said evaporator compartment for subsequent discharging of the conditioned air into the enclosure, a fresh air opening in said partition wall in communication with said condenser compartment, a centrifugal blower wheel in said fan scroll having its axis substantially normal to said partition wall, said fresh air opening in said partition wall spaced a defined distance from said intake orifice, a molded one-piece conduit damper comprising a body portion having a planar inner surface and an elongated outwardly directed concavo-convex section cavity including semi-spherical wall surfaces at each end, said conduit inner surface formed by a continuous outstanding elongated oval-shaped peripheral flange defining an elongated oval-shaped cavity mouth, means for rotatably supporting said conduit damper on the evaporator compartment outer surface of said partition wall such that one semi-spherical end surface is positioned in concentric fashion over said fresh air opening with its axis of rotation coinciding with the principal axis of said fresh air opening, said rotational support means including a circular ring partially telescoped within said fresh air opening adapted to be supported on the condenser compartment inner side of said partition wall, said circular ring having outwardly offset integral shoulder plates arranged in quadrature thereon, each said shoulder plate having a slot therein, attachment means on said conduit member extending through said fresh air opening adapted to engage said ring, said attachment means comprising three spring fingers projecting from said one semi-spherical end wall flange and an elongated spring finger projecting from said cavity inner surface, each of said slots aligned with one of said spring fingers allowing said fingers to spring into their associated slots for releasable engagement therewith, abutments on said fingers being sprung onto the edge of said fresh air opening for rotatably securing said conduit damper on said partition wall outer surface, whereby said conduit damper and said ring rotate in unison about the principal axis of said fresh air opening, means for resiliently biasing said conduit damper in a first position such that said conduit peripheral flange is in continuous flush contact with said partition wall outer surface closing said conduit mouth and said fresh air opening, manual control means for rotating said conduit damper against said biasing means to a second vented position, whereby approximately 20 percent of the centrifugal fan scroll inlet orifice being interrupted by said conduit damper''s semi-spherical end surface extending into the area defined by said partition wall orifice causing a portion of said conduit mouth to be placed in communication with said orifice whereby outside air is drawn in from said condenser compartment through said fresh air opening and said conduit cavity for discharge into said impeller intake orifice for mixture with conditioned air for subsequent return to the enclosure.

Claim 11

The air conditioning unit according to claim 5 whereby said conduit damper being formed with opposed slots integrally formed therein in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said conduit damper intermediate said end wall surfaces, wherein a rectangular-shaped screen may be slidably positioned in said opposed slots to allow for ease of insertion and removal of said screen.

Claim 12

The air conditioning unit according to claim 5 whereby said partition wall having an air exhaust opening therein with a hingedly mounted damper door spring-biased to a closed position over said exhaust opening, said manual control means operative upon being turned in a first direction for opening said damper door, and said manual control means operative upon being turned in a second direction causing rotation of said ring and said conduit member to said second vented position.