Relocatable chiller user interface

A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a compressor, a condenser operably connected to the compressor, and an evaporator operably connected to the compressor and to the condenser. A relocatable interface panel is in operable communication with one or more components of the HVAC system to issue commands to the HVAC system via operator inputs at the interface panel. An electrical lead connects the interface panel to the one or more components. A plurality of installation points are located at the HVAC system for installation of the interface panel thereto. The interface panel is selectably installed to an installation point of the plurality of installation points at an installation site of the HVAC system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US15/25242 filed Apr. 10, 2015 which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201410145490.4 filed Apr. 11, 2014 the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, such as chiller or chilled water units. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed chiller systems and chiller system interface panels.

A typical chiller includes a compressor, condenser, expansion device and an evaporator arranged in a vapor compression circuit. A flow of refrigerant is circulated through the system, and cools a medium flowing through evaporator tubes in the evaporator. The cooled medium is used to condition air in a selected space. The chiller includes an interface panel attached thereto, which allow an operator to input commands to chiller. In a typical chiller, this interface panel is located at a fixed location during manufacture. Upon delivery, the location and orientation of the chiller system in a space is often determined by the interface panel location, since it must be located to be accessible by the operator. Thus, other installation considerations, such as water piping routing and electrical system connection and routing are often more complicated due to the priority placed on interface panel location.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a compressor, a condenser operably connected to the compressor, and an evaporator operably connected to the compressor and to the condenser. A relocatable interface panel is in operable communication with one or more components of the HVAC system to issue commands to the HVAC system via operator inputs at the interface panel. An electrical lead connects the interface panel to the one or more components. A plurality of installation points are located at the HVAC system for installation of the interface panel thereto. The interface panel is selectably installed to an installation point of the plurality of installation points at an installation site of the HVAC system.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the interface panel is pivotably secured to the HVAC system.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the interface panel is secured to a tube sheet of one of the condenser or the evaporator.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the interface panel is secured to the tube sheet via a mounting system including a mounting bracket secured to the tube sheet and a mounting channel secured to the mounting bracket and secured to the interface panel.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the mounting bracket includes a plurality of securing locations for the mounting channel, to allow for adjustment in height of the interface panel toward a selected installed position.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the interface panel is secured to the tube sheet via a mounting system including a mounting rod secured to the tube sheet and a mounting sleeve through which the mounting rod extends, the mounting sleeve operably connected to the interface panel.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the mounting sleeve is rotatable about a mounting rod axis.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the mounting sleeve is translatable along a mounting rod axis.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the mounting sleeve is rotatably secured to the interface panel.

In another embodiment, a relocatable interface panel system for an HVAC system includes an interface panel in operable communication with the HVAC system to issue commands to the HVAC system via operator inputs at the interface panel. A mounting system secures the interface panel to one of a plurality of mounting locations at the HVAC system and includes a mounting bracket secured to the mounting location and a mounting channel secured to the mounting bracket and secured to the interface panel.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the mounting channel includes a slotted interface to the interface panel to allow for pivot of the interface panel.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the mounting bracket includes a plurality of securing locations for the mounting channel, to allow for adjustment in height of the interface panel toward a selected installed position.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the interface panel is connectable to the mounting channel at either lateral side of the interface panel.

Alternatively or additionally, in this or other embodiments the system includes an electrical lead extending from the interface panel to operably connect the interface panel to the HVAC system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Shown inFIG. 1is a schematic view an embodiment of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, for example, a chiller10using an evaporator12. A flow of vapor refrigerant14is directed into a compressor16and then to a condenser18that outputs a flow of liquid refrigerant20to an expansion valve22. The expansion valve22outputs a vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture24toward the evaporator12. The compressor16may be, for example, a screw compressor, reciprocating compressor, scroll compressor, or a centrifugal compressor, and is driven by a prime mover, for example, an electric motor26, and controlled by a user interface panel28operably connected to the compressor16, in some embodiments via the electric motor26.

Referring toFIG. 2, the interface panel28is relocatable. As stated above, the interface panel28is operably connected to the compressor16and/or other components of the chiller10to control operation of the chiller10via instruction or commands input by an operator at the interface panel28. The chiller includes a plurality of installation points for the interface panel28, as will be discussed below, with the interface panel28selectably installed to one of the installation points at the installation site of the chiller10such that operator access to the interface panel28is assured. The connection is provided via an electrical lead or umbilical30extending from the interface panel28to the compressor16(and other components, as necessary). In one embodiment, the interface panel28is located at and secured to the evaporator12at, for example, an evaporator tube sheet32. The evaporator tube sheets32support evaporator tubes (not shown) and are located at each evaporator end34, and in some embodiments are also located intermittently along an evaporator length between the evaporator ends34. In other embodiments, as shown inFIG. 3, the interface panel28is secured to the condenser18at a condenser tube sheet36. The condenser tube sheets36are similarly located at condenser ends38and/or intermittently along a condenser length between condenser ends38. As will be explained in more detail below, the interface panel28is configured to be secured at any of these locations through the use of common mounting hardware. Further, the provided umbilical30has sufficient length to reach any of the tube sheet32,36locations. This provides the customer with increased flexibility in installation of the chiller10as the interface panel28may be relocated to suit the particular installation space and reduce the complexity of water and electrical routing and connections to the chiller system10.

Referring now toFIG. 4, one embodiment of a mounting system40for the interface panel28is illustrated. The interface panel28includes mounting holes42at each lateral end44of the interface panel28. The mounting holes42are used to secure the interface panel28to a mounting assembly46. The mounting assembly46is configured to allow for selecting an installed height and an installation angle of the interface panel28relative to the chiller system10. Referring now toFIG. 5, in this embodiment, the mounting assembly46includes a mounting channel48secured to the interface panel28. The mounting channel48includes a circular channel hole50and a channel slot52through which respective channel bolts54extend to secure the interface panel28to the mounting channel48. In the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the channel slot52is arcuate to allow for pivot of the interface panel28to a selected installation angle. The mounting channel48is secured to a mounting bracket56. The mounting bracket56may include an array of bracket holes58for connection of the mounting channel48to the mounting bracket56via, for example, screws or bolts (not shown). The bracket holes58provide flexibility in the installation height on the interface panel28. While the mounting bracket56, the mounting channel48and the interface panel28are illustrated and described herein having holes for connection of additional items, it will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art that in other embodiments, one or more of the items may be provided with threaded studs or other fixing means attached thereto for installation of the additional item by, for example, installation of one or more nuts. Further, other methods may be used for attachment, without the use of bolts or nuts, such as a snap fit connection, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. Referring toFIG. 6, the mounting bracket56is secured to the evaporator tube sheet32or the condenser tube sheet36with mounting bolts60extending through existing tube sheet holes (not shown).

In another embodiment, shown inFIG. 7, the mounting system40uses a mounting rod62secured to the evaporator tube sheet32or the condenser tube sheet36. The mounting rod62extends through a mounting sleeve64, which as illustrated inFIG. 8, is rotatable about a mounting rod axis66and translatable along the mounting rod axis66to provide for movement of the interface panel28to a selected installation orientation. A panel rod68is attached to the mounting sleeve64and is connected to the interface panel28via one or more panel sleeves70. The panel sleeve70and panel rod68arrangement allows for rotation of the interface panel28about a panel rod axis72for tilt of the interface panel28, as shown inFIG. 9.

The mounting system disclosed herein allows for greater flexibility of customer installation of the chiller system10in the selected space via relocation of the interface panel28thereby reducing complexity of the accompanying water and/or electrical routing and connections to the chiller system10.