Modular air conditioning apparatus

Claim 1

An improved air conditioning apparatus of the type requiring connection to a source of heat transfer medium for providing simultaneous air conditioning to a first room area and to a second room area on the same floor of a structure, the apparatus comprising: a housing assembly comprising a first housing compartment having a square cross-section associated with the first room area and a second housing compartment having a square cross-section associated with the second room area, the first housing compartment having three access sides and the second housing compartment having three access sides; a first mid-panel member having an opening therethrough and supported by the first housing compartment so that the first mid-panel member separates the second housing compartment into an upper second plenum section and a lower second operating section; a first blower supported by the first mid-panel member in the first operating section and disposed to blow air from the first operating section through the opening in the first mid-panel member into the first plenum section; a second blower supported by the second mid-panel member in the second operating section and disposed to blow air from the second operating section through the opening in the second mid-panel member into the second plenum section; a first heat pump assembly having a first air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and supported by the first housing compartment in the first operating section so that the first air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger is positioned along a selected component access side of the first housing compartment; a second heat pump assembly having a second air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and supported by the second housing compartment in the second operating section so that the second air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger is positioned along a selected component access side of the second housing compartment; first control means for sensing the temperature of the air in the first room area and for controlling the operating of the first blower and the first heat pump assembly in response thereto; second control means for sensing the temperature of the air in the second room area and for controlling the operation of the second blower and the second heat pump assembly in response thereto; a first outlet grille assembly supported by the first housing compartment along a selected one of the access sides thereof, the access side selectable in response to the air conditioning requirements of the first room area, and disposed to direct air from the first plenum section to the first room area; a second outlet grille assembly supported by the second housing compartment along a selected one of the access sides thereof, the access side selectable in response to the air conditioning requirements of the second room area, and disposed to direct air from the second plenum section to the second room area; a first intake grille assembly removably supported by the first housing compartment and positionable at the selected component access side thereof in intake air relationship to the first air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, the first intake grille assembly defining when removed an access port through which the first blower and the first heat pump assembly are selectively removable from the first operating section; a second intake grille assembly removably supported by the second housing compartment and positionable at the selected component access side thereof in intake air relationship to the second air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, the second intake grille assembly defining when removed an access port through which the second blower and the second heat pump assembly are selectively removable from the second operating section; supply means for providing fluid communication from the source of heat transfer medium to the first and second heat pump assemblies; return means for providing fluid communication from the first and second heat pump assemblies to the source of heat transfer medium; and condensate drain means for collecting and disposing of condensate from the first and second heat pump assemblies.