United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 4,727,728
Brown (45. Date of Patent: Mar. 1, 1988
54) BUS AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FOR ROOF 3,889,486 6/1975 Hinckley et al. ................. 62/298 X
TOP MOUNTING 4,098,093 7/1978 Czyl ........... ... 62/243
(75) Inventor: Ronald W. Brown, Minneapolis, 4,201,064 5/1980 Kruget al. ............................ 62/239
Minn. 4,242,876 l/1981 Cooper et al. .......................... 62/89
4,307,655 12/1981 Parks et al. .......................... 98/2.14
(73) Assignee: Thermo King Corporation, Primary Examiner-William E. Tapolcai
Minneapolis, Minn. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-E. C. Arenz
(21) Appl. No.: 493,898 (57) ABSTRACT
22 Filed: May 12, 1983 An air conditioning unit for mounting on the roof of a
(51) Int. Cl.' ............................................... B60H 1/32 bus is comprised of a vehicle air conditioning section 12
(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................ 62/244; 62/298; and a separator condenser section 14 which in their
312/257 A; 312/257 SM installed relation are fastened together along the line 52,
(58) Field of Search ................. 62/239, 244, 298,265; the central part of the unit having a standing space 38
312/257 A, 257 SM, 239, 100, 328; 165/76 between the operating parts of the air conditioning
(56. References Cited section and the condenser section to facilitate ready
access from that standing space to both of the sections.
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS Additionally, side spaces are provided along both the
777,076 12/1904 Chaffin .................................. 62/298 sides of the unit by means of detachable panels spaced
2,751,760 6/1956 Williams, Jr. . ... 62/298 X outwardly from the interior parts of the sections so as to
2,799,143 7/1957 Weigel .......... ... 62/244X provide space for routing of refrigerant and other lines.
3,357,763 12/1967 Toper .... ... 62/298 X
3,766,749 10/1973 Livesay ............................. 62/298 X 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
12s - 6.l 2 48 8 52
O
U.S. Patent Mar. 1, 1988 Sheet 1 of 3 4,727,728
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U.S. Patent Mar. 1, 1988 Sheet 2 of 3 4,727,728
U.S. Patent Mar. 1, 1988 Sheet 3 of 3 4,727,728
1
4,727,728
2
BUS AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FOR ROOF TOP
FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the con
denser section, again with most of the main parts
MOUNTING shown; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section corresponding
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 to one taken along the line V-V of FIG. 2.
This invention pertains to the art of the construction DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
of an air conditioning unit to be mounted on the roof of EMBODIMENT
a bus.
Conventional bus units of which I am aware are con 10
The unit of the invention is mounted on the top of a
structed in a way and have the parts thereof arranged bus roof 10 and comprises two main sections, the vehi
such that there are a number of deficiencies in my esti cle air conditioning section generally designated 12 and
mation. While there are other deficiencies, one of the forwardly on the bus roof, that is, with respect to the
main deficiencies relates to difficulty of service and direction of movement of the bus, and the condenser
maintenance of the relatively large unit located on top 15
section generally designated 14.
of a bus. Some of the advantages of my invention in The major components in the evaporator or air con
obviating such specific deficiencies will be noted here ditioning section 12 include the evaporator coil 16 and
inafter, but generally the aim of my invention is to pro a pair of evaporator blowers 18 driven by electric motor
vide a unit with components advantageously arranged 20 the blowers circulate air from the vehicle interior for
for aerodynamic design purposes, each of manufactur 20 conditioning by the evaporator and then returning it
ing, shipping, installation, service and maintenance, through appropriate outlet ducts 22 to whatever air
while also providing efficient operation. distribution means is provided in the vehicle. The direc
tion of flow of this vehicle air is as indicated by the solid
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION arrows in FIG. 1. Where the climate warrants, a heater
coil 24, fed by hot water from the bus cooling system, is
In accordance with my invention, the unit is of modu 25 also
lar construction which includes a vehicle air condition provided in the air conditioning section.
In the preferred arrangement, a control panel 26 hav
ing section having a first enclosure part which is sub ing electrical
stantially water tight and houses evaporator coil means controls switches and other manually operable
and the evaporator fan means, this section having de is centralized immediately forward of the evap
orator coil in the air conditioning section and below the
tachable side panel means spaced outwardly from the 30 downwardly
sides of the first enclosure part to provide side spaces sloping front panel 28 of the section.
therebetween; and a separate condenser section housing 14The basic elements in the separate condenser section
include forward and rearward condenser coils 30 and
condenser fan coil means and condenser fan means for
circulating ambient air through the condenser coil 35 32, respectively, and a pair of upwardly directed con
denser fans 34. The air flow through the condenser coil
means, the two sections being adapted for attachment to
form a single unit, and the generally central part of the isincludes
as indicated by the dash line arrows in FIG. 1, and
unit is upwardly open over an area sufficiently extensive grille 36 inambient air admitted through an open work
the trailing portion of the condenser section,
to provide standing room for a person to permit work and from the front down through the upwardly open
ing on the unit from the central part. area 38 at the generally central part of the unit and
Additional features include the provision of a hinged through the forward coil 30.
cover for the part of the first enclosure part containing
the evaporator coil and evaporator fan means to permit ofBefore the
passing from FIGS. 1 and 2 to specific details
unit, several general features of the invention will
easy access thereto from the standing location at the be noted. An
central part of the unit. The condenser section also has 45 upwardly openimportantspace 38,
part of the invention is the
which in the described em
detachable side panels spaced sideways from the main bodiment is the forward part
side plates of the condenser section so that there are and is bounded at the front by ofthetheaircondenser section
accessible side spaces to the unit from both sides for tion 12, at the rear by the forward condenser coilsec
conditioning
30,
substantially the front to rear length of the unit. These and at the opposite sides by the forward parts of the side
side spaces accommodate routing refrigerant lines, 50
heater lines, and electrical lines therealong with ready panels 40 and 42 of the condenser section. This open
access thereto, and provides flexibility with respect to vice manprovides
area 38 a very convenient location for a ser
or others to stand on the roof of the bus at the
making connections with lines which extend through
the bus roof and routed to remotely located compo central part of the unit to facilitate access to the con
denser fans 34 and their associated motors to the rear
nents, such as the refrigerant compressor typically 55 upon removal of the detachable top panels 44 and 46.
driven from the bus engine. To obtain access from above to the air conditioning or
Other features will be explained in connection with evaporator
the description of the specific construction of the unit. top panel 48section 12 from the standing location 38, the
is hinged at several locations 50 along its
DRAWING DESCRIPTION forward edge so that the panel may be swung forwardly
to its dash line position 51 as shown in FIG. 1 to thereby
FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic side view of a unit on give access from the top to the evaporator coil 16 and
a bus for the purpose of generally showing the locations the evaporator
of the main components of the unit; fans and motor 18 and 20, respectively.
It is also noted that the two separate sections 12 and
FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic top view of the 14 are of a character which permits shipping them sepa
unit of FIG. 1; 65 rately and joining them at the location where the unit is
FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the vehicle to be applied to the bus. The jointure line is indicated by
air conditioning section of the unit with most of the the numeral 52 in FIG. 1 and the sections are bolted
main parts shown; together as at 54.
4,727,728 4.
3.
Turning now to FIG. 3, the evaporator or air condi sight glass 94 which in turn is connected to the liquid
tioning section 12 includes what is herein termed a first line 96 which passes through the left side space of the
enclosure part formed by the sloping front wall 28, a condenser section for connection to the appropriate line
rear wall 56 and the opposite side walls 58 which are of the air conditioning section.
assembled to each other in substantially water tight 5 The refrigerant gas inlet manifold 98 connects to the
relation, as by welding along all of the connecting right hand ends of the two coils 30 and 32 with the
joints. The upwardly open part of the section is refrigerant gas being delivered to the manifold or
bounded at the front and the two opposite sides by header 98 through the inlet pipe 100 which has a swivel
upwardly open channels 60 (also see FIG. 5) into which connection at 102 with the manifold. With the detach
the depending front and side edge flanges of the hinged 10 able panel arrangement along with the swivel, when the
door 48 is received when the door is closed. The chan panel is removed the inlet pipe can be positioned to
nels 60 form a continuous trough and are open at the extend either forwardly or rearwardly in the second
rear ends of the side troughs so that water received in side space.
the troughs will drain therethrough and into the central With the side spaces available along both sides of the
open part 38 of the unit. The water tight character of 15 unit for its length, and the rear space available between
the first enclosure part of the section, coupled with the the oppositely inclined rear coil 32 and the air inlet
provision for passing rain water and such which de grille 36, there is substantial flexibility in running the
scends upon the unit to the rear of the evaporator sec suction and discharge refrigerant lines to any particular
tion prevents for the most part the entry of any signifi location through those spaces for a connection to lines
cant amount of moisture into the evaporator section. which extend to the remote compressor. The rear space
One of the significant features of the invention is the between the coil 32 and grille 36 is also convenient for
provision of what is herein termed first side spaces 62 at locating the elements such as the receiver and dehydra
the opposite sides of the evaporator section, and to tor. At the same time, with the detachable character of
which ready access may be had by the removal of de all of the panels and the grille (which is hinged along its
tachable panel means which, in the illustrated embodi 25 upper edge as at 37), ready access can be had to all these
ment in FIG. 3 include a triangular panel 64 and a gen spaces for service and maintenance of any part therein.
erally rectangular panel 66 for each of the opposite sides This, coupled with the convenient central standing
of the section. While the detachable panel means may be space 38 providing access to the top parts of both the
fastened in various ways, in the illustrated embodiment evaporator section and the condenser section results in
the triangular panel 64 makes an end slip connection 30 relatively easy access to all parts which may require
along its top and bottom edges by simply slipping it maintenance and service.
forwardly, and the panel 66 may have a similar end slip The provision of the two condenser coils in their
sheet metal joint connection along its lower edge and be inclined relation to each other results in the provision of
held along its upper edge by any of various fasteners. adequate coil face area without increasing the height of
The side spaces 62 for the evaporator section 12 are 35 the condenser section beyond that of the evaporator
convenient to providespace for the routing of various section, and also provides space at the rear for the re
- refrigerant and other lines such as the liquid line 68 to frigerant components and lines.
the expansion valve 70, water lines 71, one of which is The provision of the hinged top cover 48 (FIGS. 1
connected to the water control valve 72, all of these and 2) for the evaporator section, and the two separate
lines being adapted to be supported at one end by a top covers 44 and 46 for the condenser section provides
connector plate 74 mounted to the section at its rear so easy manipulation and removal of these parts for access,
that connections may conveniently be made from corre in contrast with some prior art units of which I am
sponding lines coming from the condenser section. The aware of which the entire upper surface is covered by a
side space opposite that from the one having the enu single panel which may be in the order of six feet by
merated lines is provided with the suction gas line 76 45 eight feet so as to result in significant difficulty in han
which leads from the evaporator coil 16 to the rear dling.
portion of the air conditioning section. The grille 36 has a forwardly-directed upper flange
Turning now to FIG. 4, the independent frame and 39 which, with the grille installed, is higher than the
panel means for the condenser section include the pair condenser top panels 44 and 46 so that with the bus
of left side plates 78 at the left end of the two condenser SO moving, air is scopped down into the space between the
coils 30 and 32, the pair of right side plates 80 at the rear coil and grille to insure against an unduly low
right ends of the two condenser coils, the left detach pressure condition when the bus is moving.
able panel 82 and the right detachable panel 84, these By concentrating all of the manipulatable controls at
panels having a construction so that second side spaces control panel 26 in the forward part of the air condition
are defined between the respective plates and panels on 55 ing section, ready access to all of these controls may be
each side of the condenser section. The plates 78 and 80 had by the bus operator from a location in the bus and
are bolted to the central fan motor base 86 to which the below the air conditioning section by removing the
condenser fan motors are also mounted. return air filter.
It will be seen from both FIGS. 1 and 4 that the I claim:
condenser coils 30 and 32 extend transverse to the direc 60 1. An air conditioning unit for on the roof of a vehi
tion of vehicle movement, and that the coils are ori cle, such as a passenger bus, comprising:
ented in oppositely-slanted relation to each other with a vehicle air conditioning section comprising a first
the spacing between them increasing in an upward di enclosure part including front, rear and opposite
rection. sidewalls assembled to each other in substantially
The second side space at the left of the condenser 65 water tight relation and housing evaporator coil
provides room for the refrigerant outlet manifold 88 means, evaporator fan means for circulating air
which is connected to the refrigerant receiver 90 which from the vehicle interior for conditioning and re
has an outlet connected through a dehydrator 92 and turning it to the interior, an openable top panel in
5
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substantially water tight relation on said first enclo for scooping air for said rear coil when said bus is
sure part, and detachable side panel means spaced moving.
outboard of each of said opposite sidewalls to pro 5. A unit according to claim 3 wherein:
vide first side spaces therebetween; said condenser coils are oriented in oppositely-slanted
a condenser section, physically separate from said air relation to each other with the space in between
conditioning section, and having an independent them increasing in an upward direction.
frame and panel means forming a separate housing 6. A unit according to claim 1 including:
containing condenser coil means, and condenser means hingedly securing said top panel along its for
fan means for circulating ambient air through said ward edge to said first enclosure part; and
condenser coil means; 10 said first enclosure part includes upwardly open
means for attaching said sections together to form the channel means disposed to receive the front and
unit with said air conditioning and condenser sec side edges of said panel, said channel means being
tions spaced apart to provide a generally central joined to form a continuous trough along the front
part of said unit which is upwardly open over an and side edges, and open at the rear of the two side
area sufficiently extensive to provide standing 15 channels to carry water to said open central part of
room on said roof for a person to permit working said unit.
on the unit from the central part. 7. A unit according to claim 1 including:
2. A unit according to claim 1 wherein: said first enclosure part includes hot water heater coil
eaS.
said unit is disposed on said vehicle roof with said air 20 8. A unit according to claim 1 wherein:
conditioning section forwardly of said condenser said independent frame and panel means for said con
section.
3. A unit according to claim 2 wherein: denser section includes opposite side plates at the
said condenser section includes two condenser coils, opposite ends of said condenser coil means, and
spaced apart in front-to-rear direction, and extend detachable opposite side panels disposed outboard
ing transverse to the direction of vehicle move
25 from said side plates to provide second side spaces
ment, said condenser fan means being located be therebetween;
tween said coils and disposed to discharge air up said side spaces of said air conditioning section and
wardly, said condenser section housing including said condenser section accommodating the routing
first condenser air inlet opening means in its trailing of refrigerant and electrical lines along the sides of
30 said units.
portion to admit ambient air to the rear coil, and 9. A unit according to claim 8 including:
second condenser air inlet opening means for refrigerant gas inlet header means in one of said sec
wardly of the forward coil and fronting on said ond side spaces connected to said condenser coil
generally central part to admit ambient air to said means; and
forward coil. 35 a refrigerant gas inlet pipe connected to said header
4. A unit according to claim 3 wherein: means in swivel relation thereto to permit said inlet
said condenser section includes openwork grille pipe to be positioned to extend either forwardly or
means providing said first air inlet opening means, rearwardly in said second sidek space.
the upper edge of said grille means including means k k x
45
50
55
65
