Patent Publication Number: US-6983621-B2

Title: Hybrid window/split air treatment appliance

Description:
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/997,596 filed on Nov. 29, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,201. 

   The invention includes arrangements to substantially improve customer benefits in window air conditioning and at the same time to reduce assembly and installation requirements and operating noise for a cooling and/or ventilating air treatment appliance. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   To cool a certain location such as the room of a home, an air cooling unit of an air conditioning system (or “air conditioner”) may draw heat from the room into a coolant working fluid. To expel the heat absorbed into the fluid, the air conditioner may route that heated coolant to a location that is remote from the room. There, a heat discharging unit may expel the heat from the coolant into the remote location, typically outdoors. 
   Conventional room air conditioners may be categorized into window or split air conditioners. A unitary air conditioner may be a unit in which the air cooling unit and the heat discharging outdoor unit are fixed relative to one another to form a single housing. A split air conditioner may be a unit in which the position of the air cooling unit relative to the heat discharging outdoor unit may be varied. 
   In the area of split air conditioners, assembly, installation, and operating noise are major concerns for customers who purchase air conditioners. One type of split air conditioner is a saddle mount air conditioner. A saddle mount air conditioner may include a low profile service channel disposed between an indoor, air cooling unit and an outdoor, heat discharging unit to permit air, condensate water, coolant, and electricity to pass between each unit. The service channel may be placed on the sill of a window so that the indoor unit and the outdoor unit straddle the sill at locations that are significantly below the horizontal level of the sill. 
   A problem with conventional window as well as split air conditioners, is they are difficult to assemble and install. For example, service channels of conventional split air conditioners are banded tubes that are pre-charged with working fluid, expensive and limited in their ability to adjust to fit a variety of home constructions. Moreover, heavy, bulky, heat discharging outdoor units of split air conditioners increase the cost of installation. It is desirable that the connecting tube between the heat transfer coils of a split air conditioner be charged with coolant at the factory and that the various auxiliary service tubing be connected at the factory rather than the home of the consumer. However, due to the design of conventional service channels, professional on-site installation is necessary to connect the air, water, coolant, and electrical service lines between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
   In operation, conventional split air conditioners produce a great amount of noise that finds its way into the inside of a consumer&#39;s home. For example, noise from air drawn into the top of the heat discharging unit is propagated through the window glass to the inside of a consumer&#39;s home. Also, for window air conditioners in general, an ongoing problem is the noise generated by the components of the air cooling unit located within the consumer&#39;s home. Air cooling unit components such as the evaporator fan motor, the speed of the evaporator fan, the arrangement of the evaporator fan, and the condensate removal system each generate noise which is propagated into the room. 
   It is desirable to have a hybrid room air conditioner that can be configured either as a saddle mount air conditioner which gives customers full access to the window without obstruction or can be assembled as a conventional split or portable air conditioner. It is also desirable to have a unique mechanism that makes the saddle window air conditioner installation simple and easy. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention includes a local unit that may be utilized to provide local cooling and/or air purifying. The local unit may function as the cooling function for a split air conditioner, or a window unit such as a portable air conditioner or a saddle air conditioner. The local unit functions to draw air in a frontal portion and to exit the air out a peripheral portion, thus allowing the unit to be utilized in the same vertical orientation regardless of the configuration of the overall units. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the local unit is configured with two vertically disposed cross flow fans to draw air from the room, over the evaporator and exhaust the cooled air out through the periphery of the local unit. A similarly configured local unit includes an axial flow or centrifugal fan (herein after “fan”) that may be driven directly or indirectly by an electric motor. 
   In a saddle mount air conditioner configuration, an installation bracket is provided with the saddle air conditioner disposed over the installation bracket, the saddle air conditioner having a remote unit coupled to a local unit with a bridge, and wherein the remote unit includes a back having at least one grill that is adapted to permit air to pass through the back of the remote unit into the remote unit of the saddle air conditioner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates split air conditioner incorporating principles of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an air conditioner system; 
       FIG. 2A  is a sectional view of a supply cable taken generally along line IIA—IIA of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a portable air conditioner; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a saddle air conditioner; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a beam taken generally along line VA–IVA of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the saddle air conditioner with a cover removed; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates flexible tubing disposed within the bridge; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates helical tubing; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates serpentine tubing; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates roll tubing; 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an installation of the saddle air conditioner; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a gap filler having one cutout; 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the gap filler having two cutouts; 
       FIG. 14  illustrates the saddle air conditioner with an exterior tray and the majority of the remote unit removed to reveal a Z-bracket; 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the local unit of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a front view of the local unit; 
       FIG. 16A  is a sectional view of the local unit taken generally along line XVIA—XVIA of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 16B  is a sectional view of the local unit taken generally along line XVIB—XVIB of  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a top view of the local unit; 
       FIG. 18  illustrates an exploded, perspective view of a fan motor system; 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a first blower wheel and a second blower wheel disposed in a unit of a split air conditioner; 
       FIG. 20  illustrates the first blower wheel and the second blower wheel disposed behind an evaporator coil; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the local unit with the first blower wheel and the second blower wheel removed to reveal a shroud; 
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the local unit with the shroud removed to reveal a first motor and a second motor; 
       FIG. 22A  schematically illustrates a blower wheel motor system; 
       FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the saddle air conditioner with parts removed to reveal details of a remote unit; 
       FIG. 24  is a detailed view of the remote unit with condenser tubes removed; 
       FIG. 25  illustrates an installation bracket of the invention; 
       FIG. 26  illustrates an installation bracket disposed over a bottom rail ( FIG. 11 ); 
       FIG. 27  illustrates the saddle air conditioner disposed over the installation frame; and 
       FIG. 28  illustrates an air path with respect to the remote unit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a split air conditioner embodying principles of the present invention. Included with the air conditioner  10  may be a local unit  12  and a remote unit  14 . The local unit  12  may include an evaporator system that both absorbs heat from the surrounding environment into a working fluid and passes that heated fluid to the remote unit  14 . The remote unit  14  may include a condenser system that may expel heat from the fluid to aid in cooling the fluid, whereupon the fluid may be recirculated to the local unit  12 . 
   Coupled between the local unit  12  and the remote unit  14  may be a supply system  16 . The supply system  16  may include an adjustable structure that aids in routing tubing, such as air, condensate water, coolant, and electricity tubing, between the local unit  12  and the remote unit  14 . Under this arrangement, the air conditioner  10  may be viewed as a split air conditioner. Here, the adjustibility of the supply system  16  may permit a user to position the local unit  12  in any one of a number of orientations with respect to the remote unit  14 . As schematically illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the air conditioner  10  may include a mini-split air conditioner  26  of  FIG. 2 , a portable air conditioner  80  of  FIG. 3 , a saddle air conditioner  100  of  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , or the local unit may be utilized as an air purifier as exemplified in  FIG. 15 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an air conditioner system  20 . Included with the air conditioner system  20  may be a wall or walls  22 , a surface  24 , and the mini-split air conditioner  26 . The walls  22  may meet with a ceiling (not shown) and the surface  24  so as to define an area (here, an indoors area  28 ) that may be distinguished from an outdoor area  30 . The indoor area  28  may be an area within a building enclosed by the walls  22  and the surface  24  and a ceiling. The walls  22  may include a window  32  so that the indoor area  28  need not be completely isolated from the outdoor area  30  area. Moreover, the outdoor area  30  may include any location that is remote from the indoor area  28 , even where a structure does not exist to physically separate the two areas. 
   The mini-split air conditioner  26  may include a local unit  34 , a remote unit  36 , and a supply cable  38 . In the view shown in  FIG. 2 , the local unit  34  may include a front grill  39 , a first louver  40 , and a second louver  92  ( FIG. 15 ), each disposed within or as part of a housing  42 . The front grill  39  may be any network of fixed or movable slats that define a mesh of openings to pass air. The first louver  40  may be any framed opening fitted with fixed or movable slats to pass air. 
   In the view shown in  FIG. 2 , the remote unit  36  may include a front grill  43 , a first louver  41  ( FIG. 6 ), and a second louver  44 , each disposed within or as part of a housing  46 . The front grill  43  and the second louver  44  may be similar to the front grill  39  and first louver  40 , respectively. Moreover, the slats of the front grill  43  and the second louver  44  may be arranged to shed rain so that the housing  46  works to repel water without allowing rain to penetrate within the housing  46 . 
     FIG. 2A  is a sectional view of a supply cable  38  taken generally along line IIA—IIA of  FIG. 2 . The supply cable  38  may be viewed as an umbilical cord that works towards providing auxiliary services between the local unit  34  and the remote unit  36 . The supply cable  38  may include a sleeve  48 . The sleeve  48  may be any tubular construction designed to cover other parts. Alternatively, the sleeve  48  may be a series of ties that bundle other parts together. Moreover, the sleeve  48  may include insulation disposed about its interior or exterior surface. 
   The sleeve  48  may be flexible or rigid through structural design, selection of material, or a combination of the two. For example, the sleeve  48  may be made from corrugated tubing surrounded by a polyethylene non-chlorinated jacket. The material of the sleeve  48  may include at least one of plastic, rubber, cloth, metal, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and wood. When made of a rigid material, the sleeve  48  may include joints, mating pieces, and elongated pieces of varying lengths to permit a user to position the local unit  34  in any one of a number of orientations with respect to the remote unit  36 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the sleeve  48  is made of copper. 
   The supply cable  38  may also include power lines  50 , a suction line  52 , and an expansion line  54 . The power lines  50 , the suction line  52 , and the expansion line  54  may be disposed within the sleeve  48 . The power lines  50  may include any cable used to distribute electricity  56 . The suction line  52  and the expansion line  54  may be a system of elongated tubes that may be used to pass a coolant  58  between the local unit  34  and the remote unit  36 . The coolant  58  may be any agent that produces cooling, especially a working fluid (liquid or gas) that relays heat through circulation. Examples of the coolant  58  of  FIG. 2A  include air, ammonia, water, carbon dioxide, the fluorinated hydrocarbon Freon®, and the high-pressure coolant chlorodifluoromethane R-22. 
   When disposed within the suction line  52 , the coolant  58  may be referred to as a chilled coolant  60  since the suction line  52  may transmit a relatively low temperature coolant  58  from the local unit  34  to the remote unit  36 . When disposed within the expansion line  54 , the coolant  58  may be referred to as a heated coolant  62  since the expansion line  54  may transmit a relatively high temperature coolant  58  from the remote unit  36  to the local unit  34 . To maintain the temperature of the chilled coolant  60 , the suction line  52  further may include insulation  64  disposed about an exterior of suction line  52 . 
   In operation, the chilled coolant  60  may pass through evaporator coils  220  ( FIG. 15 ) within the local unit  34  as air is passed over the evaporator coils  220 . A side effect of the chilled coolant  60  passing through the local unit  34  as air is passed over the evaporator coils  220  is that atmospheric moisture from the passing air may condense on evaporator coils  220  as a condensate  66 . The condensate  66  may collect in a pan  221  ( FIG. 15 ) at a base  218  of the local unit  34 . It is desirable to remove the condensate  66  from the pan  221  so that the condensate  66  does not spill out of the local unit  34 . 
   To aid in removing the condensate  66 , the supply cable  38  of  FIG. 2A  may further include a condensate line  68 . The condensate  66  may be moved through the condensate line  68  by a condensate removal pump  299  ( FIG. 24 ). When the condensate removal pump  299  is located in the remote unit  36  and is an air pump that pumps air  70 , the supply cable  38  may also include an air tube  72 . The air tube  72  may include a filter to purify the air  70  prior to the air  70  entering the indoor area  28 . 
   An advantage of the mini-split air conditioner  26  is that the local unit  34  may be installed at a location that is remote from the window  32 . Moreover, the remote unit  36  may be installed at a location that is remote from the window  32  so as to minimize or completely eliminate the introduction of noise into the indoor area  28  from the remote unit  36 . Further, the mini-split air conditioner  26  may include two or more of the local units  34  where each local unit  34  may be distributed within the indoor area  28  as well as coupled to the remote unit  36 . 
   The mini-split air conditioner  26  of  FIG. 2  may be installed as follows. The remote unit  36  may be placed on a surface  74  in the outdoor area  30 . The supply cable  38  may be coupled to the remote unit  36  and routed through the wall  22  to a location within the indoor area  28 . Part of the supply cable  38  is shown in phantom in  FIG. 2  to indicate that the supply cable  38  is routed on the outdoor area  30  side of the wall  22 . The supply cable  38  may also be routed on the indoor area  28  side of wall  22 . The supply cable  38  may be coupled to the local unit  34 . The local unit  34  may then be fixed to a position within the indoor area  28 , such as on the wall  22 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the portable air conditioner  80 . Included with the portable air conditioner  80  may be the supply cable  38  disposed between a local unit  82  and a remote unit  84 . 
   The local unit  82  may include the front grill  39 , the housing  42 , a platform  86 , casters  88 , a plate  90 , the first louver  40  ( FIG. 2 ), a second louver  92  ( FIG. 15 ), and a fan  94 . While an axial fan is illustrated at  94 , those skilled in the art recognize that many other type fans could be utilized, and that reference in this description to an axial fan is for illustrative purposes only. As in the split air conditioner  26  of  FIG. 2 , the front grill  39  may be disposed in or as part of the housing  42 . The front grill  39  may include finger handles  95  to aid in removing the front grill  39  from and installing the front grill  39  into the housing  42 . 
   The housing  42  may be disposed on the platform  86 . Alternatively, the platform  86  may be part of the housing  42 . In general, the platform  86  may include any horizontal surface raised above the level of an adjacent area. In the embodiment shown, the platform  86  may be raised above the level of an adjacent area by the casters  88 . Each caster  88  may include a small wheel on a swivel. The swivel may be attached under a platform to make it easier to move a platform and to transport a unit of the portable air conditioner  80 . The plate  90  may be used to display a company logo. 
   In the view shown in  FIG. 3 , the second louver  92  has been removed to reveal the fan  94 . The fan  94  may define an axis of rotation that is parallel to a horizontal flow of air drawn by the fan  94 . The fan  94  may aid in circulating air into the local unit  82  through the front grill  39  and out of the local unit  38  through the first set of louvers  40  and the second set of louvers  92  ( FIG. 15 ). 
   The remote unit  84  of  FIG. 3  may include a first set of louvers  41  ( FIG. 28 ), a second set of louvers  44 , the housing  46 , a first back grill  96 , a second back grill  98 , a platform  99 , and the casters  88 . The second louver  44  may be coupled to the housing  46  as shown. Moreover, each of the first back grill  96  and the second back grill  98  may be disposed in the housing  46  on the supply cable  38  side of the remote unit  84  to receive air that is external to the remote unit  84  (as discussed in connection with  FIG. 27  and  FIG. 28 ). The housing  46  may be disposed on the platform  99 . Alternatively, the platform  99  may be part of the housing  46 . In general, the platform  99  may include any horizontal surface raised above the level of an adjacent area. In the embodiment shown, the platform  99  may be raised above the level of an adjacent area by the casters  88 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the saddle air conditioner  100 . The saddle air conditioner  100  may include a local unit  102 , a remote unit  104 , and a bridge  106 . The local unit  102  and the remote unit  104  may be similar to the local unit  34  and the remote unit  36  of  FIG. 2 , respectively, or to the local unit  82  and the remote unit  84  of  FIG. 3 , respectively. 
   The bridge  106  may include a low-profile, rectangular shaped channel. Moreover, the bridge  106  may be coupled between the local unit  102  and the remote unit  104  to provide a structure from which the local unit  102  and the remote unit  104  may hang. The bridge  106  may also serve to channel between the local unit  102  and the remote unit  104  at least one of the following: the power lines  50  ( FIG. 2A ), the suction line  52 , the expansion line  54 , the condensate line  68 , and the air tube  72 . 
   The bridge  106  of  FIG. 4  may include a plurality of telescoping beams, such as two telescoping beams. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the bridge  106  includes a first beam  108  and a second beam  110 . The first beam  108  and the second beam  110  each may be a telescoping beam. 
     FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first beam  108  taken along of line IVA—IVA of  FIG. 4 . The first beam  108  may include a first or interior channel  111  and a second or exterior channel  112 . The interior channel  111  may include a base  114  coupled between a first side  116  and a second side  118 . The exterior channel  112  may include a base  120  coupled between first side  122  and second side  124 . The first side  122  of the exterior channel  112  may be coupled to a first L-shaped bracket  126  whereas the second side  124  may be coupled to a second L-shaped bracket  128 , such that the second L-shaped bracket  128  may oppose the first L-shaped bracket  126 . 
   The interior channel  111  and the exterior channel  112  each may be made from galvanized steel. In one embodiment, the material thickness of at least one of the interior channel  111  and the exterior channel  112  is less than or equal to one eighth of an inch thick. In another embodiment, the exterior channel  112  is a 1⅝ inch wide metal framing channel P-4100. 
   In assembly, a first end of the interior channel  111  may be fixed to the remote unit  104 , such as by welding or bolting, such as with bolts  109  ( FIG. 4 ). A first end of the exterior channel  112  may be fixed to the local unit  102  in a similar manner. A second end of the exterior channel  112  may be disposed to abut the remote unit  104  when the remote and local units are disposed in the closest disposition end (not shown). 
   Included with the bridge  106  may be a cover  130 . The cover  130  may include two overlapping sections that may be adapted to move relative to one another over a predetermined distance without separating from one another. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the saddle air conditioner  100  with the cover  130  removed. As shown, the bridge  106  may further include an interior tray  132  and an exterior tray  134 . The interior tray  132  and the exterior tray  134  each may be viewed as a channel. 
   The interior tray  132  may be coupled to the housing  46  of the remote unit  104 . For example, the interior tray  132  may be coupled to the back and base of the housing  46  to form a Z-shaped structure  133  similar to remote Z-bracket  200  of  FIG. 14 . 
   The exterior tray  134  of the local unit  102  similarly may form a part of a Z-shaped structure with respect to the housing  42 . 
   The interior tray  132  and the exterior tray  134  may have a structure that permits the interior tray  132  to be disposed within the exterior tray  134 . In the embodiment shown, the interior tray  132  may include a base  136  disposed between a first lip  138  and a second lip  140 . The exterior tray  134  may include a base  146  disposed between the exterior channel of beam  108  and  110 . The base  146  may define a length that may equal a length of the housing  42 . 
   In one embodiment, the remote unit  104  may be about eighty pounds (thirty six kilograms) and the local unit  102  may be about thirty pounds (14 kilograms). 
   To assemble the local unit  102  to the remote unit  104 , the interior channels  111  are inserted into channels  112  and secured by hand screw fasteners  148  in slots  152  in channels  112 . The power lines  50  and line  52 ,  54  may be connected and the cover  130  placed on the local unit  102  and remote unit  104  to form the saddle conditioner  100 . Thus the units  102  and  104  may be disposed a predetermined distance from each other, the predetermined distance may be the width of a windowsill. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates flexible tubing disposed within the bridge  106 . Flexible tubing (or pipeline) may include tubing that can be installed in single long runs without the necessity of regular joints either to extend the length of the tubing or to change directions. In one embodiment, flexible tubing may be disposed between the local unit  102  and the remote unit  104  to provide passageways for electricity  56  ( FIG. 2A ), the chilled coolant  60 , the heated coolant  62 , the condensate  66 , and the air  70 . For example, disposed within the bridge  106  may be at least one of the power lines  50 , the suction line  52 , the expansion line  54 , and the condensate line  68 . Each may employ flexible tubing which may be accessible by removing the cover  130  ( FIG. 5 ) from the interior tray  132  and exterior tray  134  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a helical tubing  158 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a serpentine tubing  168 .  FIG. 10  illustrates a roll tubing  180 . The helical tubing  158 , the serpentine tubing  168 , and the roll tubing  180  each may be viewed as a type of flexible tubing. Here, each of the helical tubing  158 , the serpentine tubing  168 , and the roll tubing  180  may be flexible through structural design or a combination of structural design and selection of material. The material of one of the helical tubing  158 , the serpentine tubing  168 , and the roll tubing  180  may include plastic, rubber, cloth, metal, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or wood. 
   The helical tubing  158  of  FIG. 8  may be defined by a three-dimensional curve disposed about an axis  160  so that an angle of the curve to a plane disposed perpendicular to the axis  160  is constant. The distance between the axis  160  and the center  162  of the helical tubing  158  may define a radius  164 . The radius  164  may be constant or may vary over a length of the helical tubing  158 . In one embodiment, the radius  164  ranges from 0.1 to 0.4 inches. In another embodiment, the radius  164  equals 0.25 inches. The helical tubing  158  may extend in the directions of arrows  166  and may include connectors (not shown) at each end. 
   The serpentine tubing  168  of  FIG. 9  may be defined by a two-dimensional curve that follows a sinuous path. The serpentine tubing  168  may include curved pieces  170 , straight sections  172 , a first coupler curve  174 , and a second coupler curve  176 . The curved pieces  170  may be hollow tubes bent towards a C-Shape or U-Shape. The straight sections  172 , the first coupler curve  174 , and the second coupler curve  176  each may be hollow tubes. Moreover, the first coupler curve  174  and the second coupler curve  176  may be bent at an angle of greater than ninety degrees. 
   The straight sections  172  may couple the curved pieces  170 , the first coupler curve  174 , and the second coupler curve  176  to one another. The serpentine tubing  168  may extend in the direction of arrows  178 . Moreover, the serpentine tubing  168  may include connectors (not shown) at each end and may be made of rigid material. 
   Based on the various standard window constructions around the world, it is important that the distance between the first coupler curve  174  and the second coupler curve  176  be adapted to expand or contract over a length of about ten inches (twenty five centimeters). However, the distance between each curved piece  170  is limited to the length of the window  32 . To provide the desired flexibility over the width of the bridge  106  ( FIG. 7 ) when serpentine tubing  168  is made from rigid material and used in the bridge  106 , the serpentine tubing  168  includes at least two curved pieces  170  as shown in  FIG. 9 . A construction of the serpentine tubing  168  having a single curved piece  170  would be insufficient to permit expansion and contraction over a ten-inch length. 
   The roll tubing  180  of  FIG. 10  may be defined by windings  182 . Each winding  182  may define a perpendicular axis that is parallel to the axes of the other windings  182 . Each of the windings  182  may overlap an adjacent winding  182  or be overlapped by an adjacent winding  182 . In one embodiment, an overlap of adjacent windings  188  may define a height that extends perpendicularly from the view of  FIG. 10  to a range of 0.25 to 0.80 inches. The roll tubing  180  may extend in the direction of arrows  184 . Moreover, the roll tubing  180  may include connectors (not shown) at each end and may be made of rigid material. To provide the desired flexibility over the width of the bridge  106  when the roll tubing  180  is made from rigid material, the roll tubing  180  includes at least two windings  182  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   The helical tubing  158  provides good flexing action whereas the serpentine tubing  168  and the roll tubing  180  provide low profile advantages. At least one of the helical tubing  158 , the serpentine tubing  168 , and the roll tubing  180  may be used for at least one of the power lines  50  ( FIG. 2A ), the suction line  52 , the expansion line  54 , the condensate line  68 , and the air tube  72 . In one embodiment, the serpentine tubing  168  may be made from copper and used for the suction line  52 . This may be seen in  FIG. 7 . Moreover, the roll tubing  180  may be used for the expansion line  54 , where the expansion line  54  may be long and slender with a very small internal diameter, much like a capillary vessel. The helical tubing  158  may be used for the air tube  72 . Further, a meandering line may be used for the power lines  50  and the condensate line  68  as seen in  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 11  illustrates an installation of the saddle air conditioner  100 . The saddle air conditioner  100  may be installed into the wall  22  having the window  32  to give a consumer full access to the window  32 . Giving a consumer full access to the window  32  eliminates the need to remove the saddle air conditioner  100  from the window  32  during winter. This also permits a consumer to place decorations such as flowerpots and pictures on the top of the local unit  102  without concern that the decorations will need to be relocated during winter. 
   The window  32  may include an upper sash  186  and a lower sash  188 . The lower sash  188  may include a sash frame  190  and a glass  192  disposed within the sash frame  190 . The window  32  further may include a windowsill  194  having a bottom rail  196 . 
   To install the saddle air conditioner  100  into the window  32 , the lower sash  188  may be raised towards the position of the upper sash  186 . From a position within the indoor area  28 , the saddle air conditioner  100  may be raised and extended so that the remote unit  104  may be positioned within the outdoor area  30  and the local unit may be positioned within the indoor area  28 . The saddle air conditioner  100  may then be lowered so that the bridge  106  contacts the bottom rail  196  of the windowsill  194 . 
   To provide a seal between the indoor area  28  and the outdoor area  30 , the saddle air conditioner  100  may further include a gap filler  198 . The gap filler  198  may be a preformed foam or insulating material. Moreover, the gap filler  198  may include one or more cutouts  199  and may be made of an insulating material, such as urethane foam.  FIG. 12  illustrates the gap filler  198  having one cutout  199 . The arrangement of the gap filler  198  in  FIG. 12  may be used for the saddle air conditioner  100  as seen in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 13  illustrates the gap filler  198  having two cutouts  199 . The arrangement of the gap filler  198  of  FIG. 13  may be used for the saddle air conditioner  100  of  FIG. 4 . The gap filler  198  may be disposed over the bridge  106  and the bottom rail  196 . With the gap filler  198  in position, the sash frame  190  of the lower sash  188  may be closed onto the gap filler  198 . 
   Alternatively, the sash frame  190  may be designed with two notches that fit around the exterior of the beam  106  and the first beam  108  of  FIG. 4 . This may maximize the direct contact between the lower sash  188  and the bottom rail  196  and further provide access to the window  32  to a consumer. 
   As noted above, the interior tray  132  may be coupled to a back and base of the housing  46  to form a Z-shaped structure.  FIG. 14  illustrates the saddle air conditioner  100  with the exterior tray  134  and the majority of the remote unit  104  removed to reveal a Z-bracket  200 . The Z-bracket  200  may include a back  202  coupled between the interior tray  132  and a base  204  to form a Z-shaped structure. A single sheet of metal may define the interior tray  132 , the back  202 , and the base  204 . 
   The back  202  may form a punch out  208 . The interior tray  132  may include indents  210 . The base  204  may include a support hole  212  and a sump  213 . The tab  206  and the support hole  212  may aid in supporting parts disposed on the base  204  (such as a brace  297  of  FIG. 24 ). The indents  210  may provide a raised portion into which an installation bracket  300  ( FIG. 25 ) may be disposed. The sump  213  may serve as a repository for the waste condensate  66  as discussed more fully in connection with  FIG. 24 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 14 , the housing  42  of the local unit  102  may include a center housing  214  disposed between a top housing  216  and a base  218 . The front grill  39  may be located within the center housing  214  by employing the finger handles  95 . 
     FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the local unit  102  of  FIG. 14 . As seen in  FIG. 15 , residing behind the front grill  39  may be the evaporator coils  220 . As noted above, atmospheric moisture from air passing over the evaporator coils  220  may condense on the evaporator coils  220  as the condensate  66  ( FIG. 2A ). To collect the condensate  66 , the local unit  102  of  FIG. 15  may further include a trough or pan  221 . The pan  221  may be fixed to the base  218  at a location that is below the evaporator coils  220 . The pan  221  may include an angled bottom that meets at a midpoint of the pan  221 . The local unit  102  may further include a back plate  223  to complete the housing  42 . 
   The evaporator coils  220  may be connected to the expansion line  54  ( FIG. 2A ) through an expansion device or valve (not shown). In the process of the high pressure coolant  62  passing though the expansion device, the high pressure coolant  62  may go through a pressure drop to become the cold, low-pressure chilled coolant  60  in a vapor/liquid phase. In this regard, the evaporator coils  220  of the local unit  102  may be a set of coils that allow the chilled coolant  60  to absorb heat and cool down the air inside the indoor area  28 . Thus, the local unit  102  may be referred to as an evaporator unit where the evaporator coils  220  may serve as part of an evaporator heat exchanger system. In one embodiment, the evaporator coils  220  are flat coils. 
   Behind the evaporator coils  220  may be an orifice  222 . Behind the orifice  222  may be a fan deflector  224 . Circumscribed by the fan deflector  224  may be a fan ring  226  disposed against the fan blades  227  of the fan  94 . Air inside the indoor area  28  may be drawn through the evaporator coils  220  by the fan  94  so as to be cooled. The bearings  228  may permit a shaft  229  to rotate the fan  94  without the shaft  229  rotating the fan deflector  224 . The orifice  222  may aid in directing this now cooled air into the fan  94 . The fan  94  may centrifugally expel the cooled air into the fan deflector  224  as directed by the fan blades  227 . The fan deflector  224  may then direct the cooled air through the first louver  40  and the second louver  92  of the center housing  214  into the indoor area  28 . 
   A motor may drive the fan  94 . Conventionally, a motor is located directly behind a fan in a saddle air conditioner to provide a direct drive of a fan. Moreover, conventional high-speed operations may occur at 1100 revolutions per minute (RPM). To reduce the level of noise introduced into the indoor area  28  from the operations of fan  94 , the fan  94  may be driven at low speeds, such as 500 to 700 RPM. Although it is possible to accomplish this with a low speed, direct drive motor, low speed motors are relatively more expensive when high efficiency is needed. 
   To drive the fan  94  at low speeds, the local unit  103  of the saddle air conditioner  100  may further include a fan motor system  230 . The fan motor system  230  may be simply an efficient low speed motor. Also, system  230  may be, as illustrated as an indirect drive, pulley operated, fan speed reduction system. The fan motor system  230  may include a motor  232 , a first pulley wheel  234 , a second pulley wheel  236 , and a pulley belt  238 . The motor  232  may be coupled to the base  218  through a motor bracket  240 . Between the motor bracket  240  and the motor  232  may be a cushion ring  242 . The cushion ring  242  may work to absorb vibrations of the motor  232  and to prevent these vibrations from transmitting to the base  218  of housing  42 . 
     FIG. 16  is a front view of the local unit  102 .  FIG. 16A  is a sectional view of the local unit  102  taken along line XVIA—XVIA of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 16B  is a sectional view of the local unit  102  taken along line XVIB—XVIB of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 17  is a top view of the local unit  102 .  FIG. 16A  and  FIG. 16B  each illustrate aspects of the fan motor system  230 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 16A , the shaft  229  may be disposed in the center of the first pulley wheel  234 . From  FIG. 16B , it may be seen that a shaft  244  of the motor  232  may be disposed in the center of the second pulley wheel  236 . The shaft  229  may define an axis that is parallel to, but remote from, an axis of the shaft  244 . The independence of the motor  232  from the remote unit  104  works to allow the motor  232  to handle a greater pressure drop, such as may be caused by the use of a filter. In this embodiment, the local unit  102  may include a filter  250  disposed between the front grill  39  and the evaporator coils  220  to aid in purifying the air from the indoor area  28 . The filter  250  may be a high performance air filter that adds an air-purifying feature to the cooling capabilities of the saddle air conditioner  100 . 
     FIG. 18  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the fan motor system  230 . As seen, the first pulley wheel  234  may be coupled to the shaft  229  and the second pulley wheel  236  may be coupled to the shaft  244  of the motor  232 . The pulley belt  238  may be coupled between the first pulley wheel  234  and the second pulley wheel  236 . The pulley belt  238  may be any power-transmitting device adapted to rotate over a path that leads back onto itself. The first pulley wheel  234  may define a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the second pulley wheel  236 . 
   The motor  232  may include a plurality of poles where the number of poles is less than six. For example, the motor  232  may be a four pole permanent split capacitor fan motor having an operating speed of around 1500 revolutions per minute (RPMs) at an efficiency of 50 to 90 percent. Moreover, the motor  232  may be a two-pole motor. The motor  232  may also be a C-frame motor having an operating speed in the range of 2400 to 3500 RPMs at a maximum efficiency of 20–30%. The first pulley wheel  234  and the second pulley wheel  236  may define a diameter relationship that reduces the operating speed of the motor  232  at shaft  229  to a range of 500 to 700 RPMs at an efficiency of higher than 85%. In one embodiment, the ratio of the diameter of the first pulley wheel  234  to the diameter of the second pulley wheel  236  may be in the range of about 3:2 to 7:1 with an efficiency of 95% to 98%. 
   A low power transmission loss between the shaft  244  and the shaft  229  may work to lower the cost of the local unit  102  while maintaining the desired fan output speed. Moreover, the separation of motor  232  from the shaft  229  allows for better spatial management of the motor and the fan. The separation of motor  232  from the shaft  229  also permits reduction in the weight of a unit of the saddle air conditioner  100  due to the reduction in the number of poles. Noise may also be reduced due to isolating the motor  232  from the motor bracket  240  by the cushion ring  242 . 
   The above embodiments are described in connection with the fan  94 . Recall that the fan  94  may define an axis of rotation that is parallel to a horizontal flow of air drawn by the fan  94 . In an alternate embodiment, the split air conditioner  10  may employ twin cross flow blower wheels. 
     FIG. 19  illustrates a first blower wheel  246  and a second blower wheel  248  disposed in on unit of the split air conditioner  10 . The unit illustrated in  FIG. 19  is the local unit  102 .  FIG. 20  illustrates the first blower wheel  246  and the second blower wheel  248  disposed behind the evaporator coil  220 . The first blower wheel  246  and the blower wheel  248  may work to draw air through the evaporator coil  220 . 
   The second blower wheel  248  may be of similar structure as the first blower wheel  246 . As seen in  FIG. 19 , the first blower wheel  246  may define the vertical axis  250  about which the first blower wheel  246  may rotate. Employing two vertically disposed blower wheels may permit the first blower wheel  246  and the second blower wheel  248  to define a length that is shorter than a single, horizontally disposed blower wheel, such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,721. A shorter blower wheel is less likely to vibrate and generate noise from this vibration. 
   Disposed around the vertical axis  250  may be the blade sets  252 . Each blade set  252  may include the blades  254  radially distributed about the vertical axis  250  and divided by the blade ring  256 . In one embodiment, the first blower wheel  246  includes four blade sets  252 . In another embodiment, the blades  254  are curved. 
   In this embodiment, the local unit  102  may further include the sleeve bearings  258 , the upper blower support  260 , the bearing supports  262 , the shroud  264 , the blower cutoff  266 , and the blower cutoff  268 . The sleeve bearings  258  may be any device that permits a blower wheel to rotate freely about the vertical axis  250 . The sleeve bearing  258  may be coupled to a shaft (not shown) of the first blower wheel  246 . The upper blower support  260  may be an L-shaped bracket secured to the back plate  223  at a location above the first blower wheel  246 . The bearing supports  262  may be a disc having a ring extending inward to a raised dome, where the dome couples each sleeve bearing  258  to the upper blower support  260  through the ring. The dome may be adapted to permit a blower wheel to rotate below the raised dome. 
   The shroud  264  may be a continuous formed sheet that aids in channeling air from the front grill  39  to the first louver  40  and the second louver  92 .  FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the local unit  102  with the first blower wheel  246  and the second blower wheel  248  removed to reveal the shroud  264 . The shroud  264  may include the wall  270 , the first curved portion  272 , the first channel  274 , the second curved portion  276 , and the second channel  278 . 
   The wall  270  may extend as part of the shroud  264  from a point adjacent to the evaporator coils  220  towards the back plate  223  at a midpoint of the evaporator coils  220 . In this arrangement, the wall  270  may serve to evenly divide and channel an inlet measure of air between the first blower wheel  246  and the second blower wheel  248 . The first curved portion  272  may be coupled between the wall  270  and the first channel  274 . Moreover, the second curved portion  276  may be coupled between the wall  270  and the second channel  278 . 
   An inlet measure of air that is guided towards the first blower wheel  246  may encounter the first curved portion  272 . The shape of the first curved portion  272  may cause the measure of air to change directions towards the first blower wheel  246 . In one embodiment, the first curved portion  272  defines a perimeter that is one quarter of a circle. 
   The first channel  274  may be disposed about the first blower wheel  246  from the first curved portion  272  to a location that is adjacent to the first louver  40  ( FIG. 2 ). As the first blower wheel  246  rotates within the first channel  274 , air may be moved from the first curved portion  272  to the first louver  40  as guided by the first channel  274 . On reaching the first louver  40 , the air may encounter the blower cutoff  280 . The blower cutoff  280  may have a first edge that extends to a location that is adjacent to the first blower wheel  246  and a second edge that extends to a location that is adjacent to the first louver  40 . This arrangement of the blower cutoff  246  may strip air from the first blower wheel  246  and guide the air towards the first louver  40 . The second curved portion  276 , the second channel  278 , and the blower cutoff  282  may define a structure and arrangement that aids the second blower wheel  248  in moving a measure of air from the evaporator coil  220  to the second louver  92 . The structure and arrangement of the second curved portion  276 , the second channel  278 , and the blower cutoff  282  may be similar to that of the first curved portion  272  and the first channel  274 . 
     FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the local unit  102  with the shroud  264  removed to reveal the first motor  284  and the second motor  286 . Each first motor  284  and  286  may be coupled to the wheel motor shafts  288  of  FIG. 21 . The first motor  284  and second motor  286  may be independently operated motors that work towards providing independent operations for each of the first blower wheel  246  and the second blower wheel  248 . 
   As an alternative to the first motor  284  and the second motor  286 , the first blower wheel  246  and the second blower wheel  248  may employ an indirect drive, pulley operated, fan speed reduction system similar to the fan motor system  230  of  FIG. 18 .  FIG. 22A  illustrates a blower wheel motor system  289 . Each wheel motor shaft  288  may be coupled to a first pulley wheel  234 . The pulley belts  238  may extend from each of the first pulley wheel  234  to one of two the second pulley wheels  236  mounted to the shaft  244  of the motor  232 . The motor  232  may be disposed below the wall  270  ( FIG. 21 ) of the shroud  264  to provide a balanced operation. 
   As has been shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 15 ,  18 , and  19 , the local unit is capable of being a stand alone unit. Thus, referring for example, to  FIG. 15 , a HEPA filter  222  may be substituted for the evaporator  220 , and the local unit may be utilized as a stand alone air purifier. Thus, the local unit configuration facilitates the unit functioning as the basis for a saddle mount air conditioner, a split air conditioner, and an air purifier. In each case, the local unit mounts in the save vertical orientation. 
     FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the saddle air conditioner  100  with the parts removed to reveal details of a remote unit  104 . As shown in the view of  FIG. 23 , the remote unit  104  may include a conventional condenser tubes  290 . The condenser  290  may include set of heat exchanging pipes coupled at a first end to the suction line  52  ( FIG. 2A ) through the compressor  292  and at a second end to the expansion line  54  ( FIG. 2A ) through an expansion valve (not shown). The condenser  290  may be disposed about two radii to present a U-shaped configuration. 
     FIG. 24  is a detailed view of the remote unit  104  with the condenser tubes  290  removed. The remote unit  104  further may include the fan orifice  294  disposed about the condenser fan  296 , the brace  297 , and the condensate sump  298 . In conventional split air conditioners, the condensate is discharged to the ground. However, this causes a major inconvenience and wastes a resource that may be used for other purposes. For example, by discharging the condensate  66  ( FIG. 2A ) from the condensate line  68  into the condensate sump  298 , the condenser fan  296  may draw the condensate  66  up with the aid of a slinger ring (not shown) and splash the condensate  66  onto the coils of the condenser tubes  290 . Here, the dispensed condensate  66  may draw heat away from the coils of the condenser tubes  290  through evaporation. This, in turn, increases the efficiency of the saddle air conditioner  100  by as much as seven percent and works to prevent blemishing of a building facade (e.g., wall  22 ) by water stains. 
   The remote unit  104  may further include the condensate removal pump  299  disposed within the remote unit  104 . The condensate removal pump  299  may be used to remove the condensate  66  ( FIG. 2A ) from the pan  221  ( FIG. 21 ). In one embodiment, the condensate removal pump  299  is a water pump. In another embodiment, the condensate removal pump  299  is an air assisted condensate pumping system. Locating the condensate removal pump  299  in the remote unit  104  works towards reducing the amount of indoor noise produced by the split air conditioner  10 . 
     FIG. 25  illustrates an installation bracket  300  of the invention. The installation bracket  300  may simplify installation of the saddle air conditioner  100  into the window  32  ( FIG. 11 ). The installation of the saddle air conditioner  100  into the window  32  may be simplified by the installation bracket  300  in that the installation bracket  300  permits the saddle air conditioner  100  to be installed completely from the indoor area  28 . A consumer need not reach out of the window  32  for installation or adjustment. Additionally, the installation bracket  300  may keep the remote unit  104  away from the wall  22 . Keeping the remote unit  104  away from the wall  22  works to permit air to enter from the back of the remote unit  104  so as to minimize or eliminate the need to draw air into the remote unit  104  from the top of the remote unit  104 . 
   The installation bracket  300  may include the local frame  302  and the remote frame  304 . The local frame  302  may be coupled to the remote frame  304  as detailed below. Moreover, the local frame  302  may be used in relation to the local unit  102  and the remote frame  304  may be used in relation to the remote unit  104 . Each of the local frame  302  and the remote frame  304  may be made from a light weight sheet metal, plastic, or a combination thereof. 
   The local frame  302  may include a brace  306 , a first rib  308 , a first leg  310 , and a second leg  312 . The brace  306  may extend between the first leg  310  and the second leg  312  at a lower end of the first leg  310  and the second leg  312 . The first rib  308  may extend between the first leg  310  and the second leg  312  at a midpoint of the first leg  310  and the second leg  312  to retain the first leg  310  at a fixed distance from the second leg  312 . 
   A top surface of the local frame  302  may include the second rib  310  and the local crossbar  312  disposed between a first bar  314  and a second bar  316 . At a midpoint of the first bar  314  and the second bar  316 , the second rib  310  may retain the first bar  314  at a fixed distance from the second bar  316 . The first bar  314  may be coupled to the first leg  310  at an angle of ninety degrees and the second bar  316  may be coupled to the second leg  312  at an angle of ninety degrees. The local crossbar  312  may be disposed between the first bar  314  and the second bar  316  at a distal location from the first leg  310  and the second leg  312 . 
   The local frame  302  further may include a first spacer  318  and a second spacer  320 . Each of the first spacer  318  and the second spacer  320  may include a shaft  322  disposed between a knob  324  and a pad  326 . The shaft  322  may include the external threads. The knob  324  may be a turning handle. The pad  326  may include rubber. To aid in assembling the local frame  302  into the remote frame  304 , the first bar  314  may include a first slot  328  and the second bar  316  may include a second slot  330 . 
   The remote frame  304  may include a brace  332 , a first rib  334 , a first leg  336 , and a second leg  338 . The first leg  336  and the second leg  338  each may have a first foot  337  and a second foot  339 , respectively, extending ninety degrees from a lower portion towards the local frame  302 . The brace  332  may extend between and ninety degrees up from the first foot  337  and the second foot  339 . The first rib  334  may extend between the first leg  336  and the second leg  338  at a midpoint of the first leg  336  and the second leg  338  to retain the first leg  336  at a fixed distance from the second leg  338 . 
   A top surface of the remote frame  304  may include a second rib  340 , a remote crossbar  342 , and a third rib  343  disposed between a first bar  344  and a second bar  346 . At a midpoint of the first bar  344  and the second bar  346 , the second rib  340  may retain the first bar  344  at a fixed distance from the second bar  346 . The first bar  344  may be coupled to the first leg  336 . Moreover, the second bar  346  may be coupled to the second leg  338 . The remote crossbar  342  may be disposed between the first bar  344  and the second bar  346  at a distal location from the third rib  343 . 
   The arrangements of the brace  332 , the first rib  334 , and the third rib  343  with respect to the first leg  336  and the second leg  338  define openings  347 . The height of the brace  332  and the first rib  334  may be minimized to maximize the size of the openings  347 . In one embodiment, the collective height of the openings  348  accounts for at least 90% of the overall distance the first foot  337  to the third rib  343 . 
   The remote frame  304  further may include a first spacer  348  and a second spacer  350 . Each of the first spacer  348  and the second spacer  350  may include the shaft  322  disposed between the knob  324  and the pad  326 . To aid in assembling the remote frame  304  into the local frame  302 , the first bar  344  may include a first slot  352  (not shown) and the second bar  346  may include a second slot  354  (not shown). The installation bracket  300  may further include a connector such as the bolt and wing nut assembly  356 . 
   To assemble the local frame  302  and the remote frame  304  together, the first slot  328  may be aligned with the first slot  352  to form a first slot group and the second slot  330  may be aligned with the second slot  354  to form a second slot group. At least one bolt and wing nut assembly  356  may be loosely fit into each slot group. When assembled, an upper surface of the installation bracket  300  may define the platform  358 . 
     FIG. 26  illustrates the installation bracket  300  disposed over the bottom rail  196  ( FIG. 11 ) of the wall  22 . In this arrangement, the platform  358  may span a width of the bottom rail  196 . With the installation bracket  300  disposed over the bottom rail  196 , the local frame  302  and the remote frame  304  may be pushed towards one another and each bolt and wing nut assembly  356  tightened. To maintain the remote frame  304  at distance  360  from the wall  22 , each knob  324  of first spacer  348  and second spacer  350  may be turned until each pad  326  engages an exterior surface of the wall  22 . The first spacer  318  and the second spacer  320  may similarly be tightened. 
   The extent of space between a plane formed by the first leg  336  and the second leg  338  and the wall  22  may define distance  360 . The extent of space between the brace  332  and the wall  22  may define distance  361 . The distance  361  is less than the distance  360 . In one embodiment, the distance between the brace  332  and the wall  22  (distance  361 ) is at least fifty to seventy percent of the distance between the first leg  336  and the wall  22  (distance  360 ). 
   As noted above, the structural arrangement of the remote frame  304  may include the first foot  337  and the second foot  339 , each extending at ninety degrees from an associated leg towards the local frame  302 . The first foot  337  and the second foot  339  may serve to bring the brace  332  to a position that is adjacent to the wall  22  at distance  361 . 
   Bringing the brace  332  to a position that is adjacent to the wall  22  provides a number of advantages. For example, bringing the brace  332  to a position that is adjacent to the wall  22  minimizes the number of times knob  324  must be turned for the pads  326  to engage the exterior surface of the wall  22 . This reduces the time it takes to position the installation bracket  300 . As another example, bringing the brace  332  to a position that is adjacent to the wall  22  moves the forces experienced at the pads  326  closer to the brace  332 . This permits using the smaller and cheaper shafts  322  while providing a desired stability. 
     FIG. 27  illustrates the saddle air conditioner  100  disposed over the installation frame  300 . The remote unit  104  of the saddle air conditioner  100  may be compact in width. For example, in one embodiment, the distance between the wall  22  and a distal part of front grill  43  is less than or equal to 9.75 inches.  FIG. 28  illustrates the air path  362  with respect to the remote unit  104 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 27 , the back  202  ( FIG. 14 ) of the remote unit  104  may be retained at the distance  360  from the wall  22  by the installation bracket  300 . The retention of the remote unit  104  from the wall  22  at the distance  360  may permit air to travel along air path  362  ( FIG. 28 ) to the back of the remote unit  104  and enter the first back grill  96  and the second back grill  98 . The entry of air into the first back grill  96  and the second back grill  98  may be in addition to air entering the first louver  41  and the second louver  44 . Drawing air into the remote unit  104  from the back  202  and the sides of the remote unit  104  works towards eliminating the need to draw air from the top of the remote unit  104 . In turn, not drawing air from the top of the remote unit  104  works towards preventing the noise from the condenser fan  296  from propagating to the indoor area  28 . 
   The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided merely to illustrate the principles of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter of the terms of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Moreover, the principles of the invention may be applied to achieve the advantages described herein and to achieve other advantages or to satisfy other objectives, as well.