Abstract:
One aspect of this disclosure provides a packaged air conditioning &amp; heating (PACH) system that comprises a housing, an air cooling system contained within the housing and an air heating system contained within the housing. A first utility access point is located on a first side of the housing and a second utility access point is located on a second side of the housing. The first and second utility access points provide multiple utility access connectivity for the air cooling and heating systems.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application is directed to a packaged air conditioning and heating system having multiple utility connectivity. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Packaged air conditioning and heating (PACH) systems have gained market share in residential and commercial applications, because they are an ideal solution when indoor space is at a premium. These units have the same components as typical split systems, but are engineered to contain all of the components in a split system in one streamlined cabinet. These PAC systems are typically installed on a rooftop or on the ground outside the building, connecting to the ductwork through a secure opening in the outside wall. They also provide easy access for serviceability, and need only to be connected to the air duct system of the residential or commercial building, thereby requiring no space within the building itself. These PAC systems may be powered by a combination of electricity and gas or may be powered by electricity alone. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect provides a packaged air conditioning (PACH) system that comprises a housing, an air cooling system contained within the housing and an air heating system contained within the housing. A first utility access point is located on a first side of the housing and a second utility access point is located on a second side of the housing. The first and second utility access points provide multiple utility access connectivity for the air cooling and heating systems. 
     In another embodiment, the PACH system comprises a housing, an air cooling system contained within the housing, an air heating system contained within the housing, and a utility control center located within the housing that includes an air cooling and heating system controller. A first utility access point is located on a first side of the housing and comprises a first electrical or gas line extending from the first utility access point through the housing and to the utility control center. A second utility access point is located on a second side of the housing and comprises a second electrical or gas line extending from the second utility access point through the housing and to the utility control center, thereby providing multiple utility access connectivity for the air cooling and heating systems. 
     Another embodiment provides a method of manufacturing a PACH system. This embodiment comprises providing a housing, placing an air cooling system within the housing, placing an air heating system within the housing, placing a first utility access point on a first side of the housing, and placing a second utility access point on a second side of the housing. The first and second utility access points provide multiple utility access connectivity for the air cooling and heating systems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a PACH system as provided by this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a different PACH system with similar embodiment as  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an overhead view of the PACH system of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a PACH system  100  as provided by this disclosure. The illustrated PACH includes a housing  105  that houses an air cooling system  110  and an air heating system  115 . The air cooling system  110  may be of conventional design that includes components, such as an outdoor fan,  120 , a compressor  125 , a condenser  130 , and an evaporative coil  135 . The air heating system  115  may also be of conventional design that includes components, such as a heat exchanger  140 , and an air circulation blower fan  145 . The PACH system  100  further includes a control center  150  at which utilities can be connected to the PACH system  100 . In one embodiment, the control center  150  includes a conventional controller  155  that controls the operation of the air cooling and heating systems  110 ,  115 . It should be noted that the controller  155  need not be located in the control center  150 , but may be located adjacent the control center  150  or distal from it elsewhere within the housing  105 . 
     The PACH system  100  further includes first and second utility access points  160 ,  165 , which generally show examples of different locations at which the respective utility access points  160 ,  165  may be placed. In one embodiment, the first utility access point  160  is located on a first side of the housing  105  that is opposite to the alternative positions of the second utility access point  165  as shown  FIG. 1 . However, in an alternative embodiment, the first utility access point may be the control center  150 . As used herein and in the claims, an “access point” is a location on the housing at which a utility supply that is external to the PACH system  100  itself can be connected to the PACH system  100  and includes either internal wiring or tubing necessary for connecting the PACH system  100  to the external utility electrical or gas supply. In an alternative embodiment, the access point may be a location on the housing  105  that is configured to receive field-ready supplied wires or tubing that are configured to extend to a connection point within the housing of the PACH system  100 , that is they have a length and appropriate fittings for making connection to the external utility and to the PACH system  100 . In such embodiments, the PACH would be designed to accommodate a field installed accessory wire harness or tubing in the housing  105  that would enable field connections from multiple locations, if desired. The housing  105  would have internal housing panels to accommodate the field installation of the harnesses, tubing or both. Further in such embodiments, the housing  105  will have structures, such as conduits, chases, or hanger supports that are configured to receive the field-ready wire or tube. 
     The second utility access point  165  is shown to indicate how either the first or second utility access points  160 ,  165  may be generally located on the sides of the housing  105 . For example, they may be located near the front end of the PACH system  100  or positioned more toward the rear of the PACH system  100 , as generally indicated by the second utility access point  165 , thereby providing further installation versatility. The first utility access point  160  may also be positioned in the same manner but on a different side of the housing  105  from that of the second utility access point  165 . The first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  provide multiple utility access connectivity for the air cooling and heating systems  110 ,  115 . It should be noted that each of the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  may provide for more than one utility. For example, if the PACH system  100  is an all electric unit, then the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  will include only electrical wiring. However, if the PACH system  100  is configured to operate on both electric and gas, then the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  will be configured for both electric and gas. Other power sources, such as fluids (like water for water sourced air conditioners/heat pumps) could also be connected at the access points. As can be seen by these few examples, the number of combinations of access points and how they are arranged can vary. 
     In another embodiment, the control center  150  may serve as an internal connection point within the PAC system  100  for utilities that extend from the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  that are located on opposite sides of the PAC system  100 , to thereby provide electrical or gas supply to the air cooling and heating systems  110 ,  115 . It should be noted that the use of the word “or” as used herein and in the claims includes both the conjunctive and disjunctive forms. Thus, for example, the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  may include only electrical, or they may include both electrical and gas configurations. The PACH system  100  also includes a ducting system  170  that can be used to tie into existing ducting within the residence or commercial building. 
     The PACH system  100 , as provided herein, provides a unique combination of additional access points pre-built into the PACH system, which allow the installer a number of options for connecting the unit, when the utilities are not conveniently positioned with respect to the installation sight for the PACH system  100 . Thus, the installer can maximize the position and orientation of the PACH system  100  for the easiest access and serviceability, or lowest installation costs. These access points  160 ,  165  are counter-intuitive to standard manufacturing practices that seek to minimize cost in the production of conventional PACH units by reducing internal parts whenever possible. However, it has been realized with this disclosure that the costs associated with including additional access points is significantly off-set by the option that the PACH system  100  offers an installer the ability to optimize its installation position or orientation, which can reduce installation costs and time and provide easier access and serviceability. 
       FIG. 2  is an alternate design PACH system  100  with different component positions than  FIG. 1 , but is also an example of one embodiment. In this embodiment, the control center  150  serves as a common internal connection area for utilities running from the first utility access point  160  located on one side of the housing  105  and the second utility access point  165  extending from an opposite side of the PACH system  100 . For example, the first utility access point  160  may be located on the right side of the housing  105  and extend to the control center  150 , while the second utility access point  165  may be located on the left side of the housing  105 , either at the front or more toward the rear, as shown, and extend to the control center  150 . As stated previously, the number of access points for each of the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  may vary and not need be as shown but can vary as design requires. The control center  150  may also be of conventional design and include the controller for controlling the operation of the PAC system  100 . The external ends of the access points  160 ,  165  located at the sides of the housing  105  are configured to connect to an external electrical or gas utility supply, while their internal ends are configured to connect to an electrical interface or gas union or valve located within the PACH system  100 , which in the illustrated embodiment is located at control center  150 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an overhead view of an embodiment of the PACH system  100 , shown in  FIG. 2 . This embodiment comprises a conventional electrical connector  305  or conventional gas control valve  310  located within the housing  105 , and in one embodiment, within the control center  150 . The electrical connector  305  and gas control vale  310  are preferably connected to the controller  155  that will control their respective operations within the PAC system  100 . The first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  respectively include first and second electrical wires  315 ,  320  or a gas line  325 ,  330  that extend within the housing  105  from the first and second sides of the housing  105  to the electrical connector  305  or gas control valve  310 , respectively. In another embodiment, the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  may further comprise a conventional electrical or gas connection interface  335  located on an exterior of the first and second sides of the housing  105 . The first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  are respectively configured to have an electrical wire or gas supply line that is exterior to the PACH system  100  connected to it. The electrical and gas connection interfaces  335  may be of conventional design. For example, the electrical connectors may be a negative and positive post terminals to which the electrical wires can easily be connected, while the gas connector may be a threaded end of the gas tubes  325 ,  330 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present disclosure also provides a method of manufacturing the PACH system  100 . In one embodiment, the method includes providing the PACH housing  105 . As used herein and in the claims, “providing” means that the housing may be manufactured internally or may be obtained from a supplier. The conventional air cooling and heating systems  110  and  115  are placed within the housing  105 . The first utility access point  160  is located on a first side of the housing  105 , and the second utility access point  165  is located on a second side of the housing  105 . In another embodiment, the method may further include placing a utility control center  150  within the housing  105  that includes a controller  155  for controlling an operation of the air cooling and heating systems  110 ,  115 . In one embodiment, placing the first access point  160  within the housing  105  comprises extending a first electrical or gas line  315 ,  325  from the first side of and through the housing  105  to the utility control center  150 , and placing the second utility access point  165  comprises extending a second electrical or gas line,  320 ,  330  from the second side of and through the housing  105  and to the utility control center  150 . The first and second access points  160 ,  165 , in one embodiment, can be connected to an electrical or gas interface located in the utility control center  150 , or the connection points may, in other embodiments be outside the control center  150 , yet still internal the housing  105 . In another embodiment, placing the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  include placing an electrical or gas connection interface  335  for the air cooling and heating systems  110 ,  115  on an exterior of the first and second sides of the housing  105 . A duct access system configured to be connectible to a duct system of a residential or commercial building may is also placed within the housing  105 , in another embodiment. In yet another embodiment, placing the first and second utility access points  160 ,  165  include placing an electrical wire or a gas line  315 ,  325  and  320 ,  330 , respectively, that extend within the housing from the first and second sides of the housing  105  to an electrical connector  305  or gas valve  310  located within the housing  105 , to thereby supply a utility to the PACH system  100 . 
     Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.