[0001] The present invention relates to a container for flush-mounting, particularly for
air-conditioning system mounting.
[0002] Currently, the provision of an air-conditioning system requires a connection between
an external condensing unit and an internal unit by means of two thermally insulated
pipes which are suitable to convey the refrigerant fluid between the two units.
[0003] The internal unit must also be powered, usually by means of an electric cable, and
has a pipe for discharging the condensed moisture.
[0004] In order to facilitate the installer in positioning the internal unit, it is known
to provide containers for the refrigeration pipes and the electrical cable which are
substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and are flush-mounted in the wall at the
region where the internal unit is positioned.
[0005] Said containers have standardized dimensions so as to allow to position thereat suitable
templates for engaging the internal unit.
[0006] One of the problems that arise is the drainage of condensation: usually, in the case
of provisions for the conditioning system, it is known to flush-mount in the wall
a pipe for draining said water, which must then be connected to the condensation outlet
of the internal unit.
[0007] Therefore, it might happen that the condensation outlet of said internal unit is
arranged on a side which does not correspond to the side where the outlet is flush-mounted,
thus forcing the installer to provide the connection by means of a pipe whose path
is necessarily approximately horizontal in order to reach the other end, thereby causing
the possibility of stagnation of condensation and hence generating possible odors.
[0008] As a partial solution to this drawback, published EPA-0961909 discloses a flush-mounting
box for supplying internal units of conditioning systems being provided with a tray-type
channel, with two passages, which is suitable to receive and drain the condensation
that arrives from an internal unit.
[0009] EPA-0961909, derives from WO 99/06773, which extended the scope of protection while
maintaining the presence of the tray-type channel.
[0010] However, even this solution suffers drawbacks, in that the tray-type channel still
causes water stagnation because it is arranged on a horizontal plane, because the
container has to be arranged levelled, and also because the lateral openings for draining
condensation are constituted by tubular elements having a certain thickness, which
accordingly allows formation of a film of water with respect to the bottom of the
tray-type channel.
[0011] Moreover, the tray-type channel has the same thickness as the container, and this
requires the use of a suitable template for subsequently positioning the internal
unit of the air-conditioning system.
[0012] Finally, it has been found that formation of the film of water at the tray-type channel
causes formation of condensation outside the tray due to the difference in temperature
between the film of water and the tray-type channel; this entails producing dampness
in the wall and thereby formation of unsightly stains on such wall, with consequent
deterioration thereof.
[0013] As a partial solution to this problem, it is known to apply an adhesive sheath under
the tray-type channel, with an increase in production and installation costs.
[0014] Again as a solution to the above noted problems, EP-A-1 024 331 discloses a container
for flush-mounting comprising a box-like containment body for refrigeration pipes
and a power supply cable, characterized in that a condensation conveyance element
is associable below said box-like body so that it can be removed and rotated through
180°, said conveyance element being substantially funnel-shaped with the outlet arranged
at a lateral end. Thus EP-A-1 024 331 forms the basis for the preamble of claim 1.
[0015] In addition to the improvements achieved, which relate for example to better installation
and to complete conveyance of condensation, in the disclosed solution the outlet is
arranged at right angles to the box-like body; although this choice is technically
correct, the need has been found to improve the connection to the condensation outlet
which can be embedded in the wall.
[0016] The aim of the present invention is to solve the noted technical problems, by eliminating
the drawbacks of the cited known art and by providing a container which allows optimum
storage not only for example of the refrigeration pipes and of the power supply cable
for an internal unit, but also of the condensation outlet or pipe of said unit, allowing
both optimum drainage of the condensation and its easy conveyance to a suitable outlet
embedded in the wall.
[0017] Within this aim, an important object is to provide a container which is structurally
simple and has low manufacturing costs.
[0018] This aim and this and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter
are achieved by a container for flush-mounting which comprises a box-like containment
body for refrigeration pipes and a power supply cable, a condensation conveyance element
being associable in a downward region with said box-like body so that it can be removed
and rotated through 180°, said conveyance element being substantially funnel-shaped,
characterized in that said conveyance element has an outlet which is arranged at a
lateral end and is orientated horizontally or is slightly inclined downwardly.
[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent
from the detailed description of a particular embodiment thereof, illustrated only
by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of the container according to the invention
in the assembled condition;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;
Figure 3 is a side view thereof;
Figure 4 is a bottom view thereof;
Figure 5 is a side view thereof with the conveyance element not associated therewith.
[0020] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a container for
flush-mounting which is particularly used for air-conditioning system mounting.
[0021] The container is constituted by a box-like flush-mounting body 2 which is preferably
shaped like a parallelepiped and has, at its lateral surfaces 3a and 3b, adapted openings
4a and 4b for the lateral insertion of suitable refrigeration pipes and of a possible
power supply cable for the internal unit, which is not shown.
[0022] The box-like body 2 has a front opening and, at the perimetric edge 5, adapted first
seats 6 for temporarily accommodating first elastically compressible tabs 7 which
protrude from a suitable cover 8, which can thus be inserted by push-fitting and can
accordingly be removed.
[0023] The box-like body 2 has, at its lower surface 9, a longitudinal opening 10 at the
perimeter of which adapted second seats are provided for the removable engagement
of second tabs 11 which protrude perimetrically and above a condensation conveyance
element 12.
[0024] Said conveyance element, which can be arranged below said body thanks to the provision
of an appropriate recess formed for example in the wall, has a longitudinal extension
which is approximately equal to the longitudinal extension of the box-like body 2
and is substantially funnel-shaped, so as to form two mutually opposite inclined surfaces,
designated by the reference numerals 13a and 13b, which merge proximate to a lateral
end of said conveyance element 12.
[0025] A condensation outlet 14 is formed at the merging region between the two inclined
surfaces 13a and 13b, and its inclination is substantially equal to, or slightly greater
than, the inclination of the adjacent or merging surface 13a and therefore of the
least inclined of said two surfaces.
[0026] The outlet 14 is preferably tubular and preferably does not protrude beyond the lateral
edge of the box-like body 2; moreover, at its end there is provided an annular sealing
element 15 for the hermetic connection of an adapted pipe which is advantageously
flexible at least at one end and is embedded in the wall beforehand; alternatively,
a sleeve for connection to a pipe embedded in the wall can be associated with the
outlet 14.
[0027] The particular arrangement and orientation of the outlet 14 on one hand still allows
an optimum drainage of the condensation and on the other hand allows the installer
to achieve a better interconnection to the outlet embedded in the wall, which is usually
arranged laterally to the seat for positioning the flush-mounting container.
[0028] It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and object,
a container for flush-mounting having been devised which allows both to achieve optimum
collection of condensation and optimum conveyance thereof by means of a rapid, easy
and straightforward connection to a pipe associated in the wall beforehand.
[0029] The materials used, as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the
invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.
[0030] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs,
those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility
of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect
on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference
signs.
1. A container for flush-mounting, comprising a box-like containment body (2) for refrigeration
pipes and a power supply cable, a condensation conveyance element (12) being associable
in a downward region with said box-like body so that it can be removed and rotated
through 180°, said conveyance element (12) being funnel-shaped, characterized in that said conveyance element (12) has an outlet (14) which is arranged at a lateral end
and is orientated horizontally or is slightly inclined downwardly.
2. The container according to claim 1, comprising a removable condensation conveyance
element (12) which is funnel-shaped so as to form two mutually opposite inclined surfaces
(13a,13b) which merge proximate to a lateral end of said conveyance element (12),
characterized in that a condensation outlet (14) is provided at the region where said two inclined surfaces
(13a,13b) merge and is inclined substantially as much as, or slightly more than the
least inclined of said merging surfaces (13a,13b).
3. The container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said outlet (14) is tubular and stops short of the lateral edge of the box-like body
(2).
1. Behälter zum versenkten Einbau mit einem kastenartigen umgebenden Körper (2) für Kühlrohre
und ein Stromversorgungskabel, und mit einem Kondensatförderelement (12), das in einem
unteren Bereich an dem kastenartigen Körper derart anschließbar ist, das es abgenommen
und um 180° gedreht werden kann, das Förderelement (12) ist trichterförmig, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Förderelement (12) einen Auslass (14) aufweist, der an einem Seitenende angeordnet
und horizontal ausgerichtet oder geringfügig abwärts geneigt ist.
2. Behälter nach Anspruch 1, mit einem entfernbaren Kondensatförderelement (12), das
trichterförmig ist, um zwei gegeneinander entgegengesetzt geneigte Oberflächen (13a,
13b) zu bilden, die nahe einem Seitenende des Förderelementes (12) ineinander übergehen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Kondensatauslass (14) in dem Bereich vorgesehen ist, in dem zwei geneigte Oberflächen
(13a, 13b) ineinander übergehen und der im Wesentlichen genauso geneigt ist oder geringfügig
mehr als der geneigte Abschluss der ineinander übergehenden Oberflächen (13a, 13b).
3. Behälter nach Ansprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Auslass (14) rohrförmig ist und kurz nach der Seitenkante des kastenartigen Körpers
(2) endet.
1. Récipient pour un montage à niveau, comprenant un corps de confinement en forme de
boîte (2) pour des tuyaux de réfrigération et un câble d'alimentation, un élément
d'acheminement de condensation (12) pouvant être associé dans une région inférieure
audit corps en forme de boîte de telle sorte qu'il puisse être retiré et tourné de
180°, ledit élément d'acheminement (12) étant en forme d'entonnoir, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément d'acheminement (12) comporte un orifice de sortie (14) qui est disposé
à une extrémité latérale et qui est orienté horizontalement ou qui est légèrement
incliné vers le bas.
2. Récipient selon la revendication 1, comprenant un élément d'acheminement de condensation
amovible (12) qui est en forme d'entonnoir, de façon à former deux surfaces inclinées
mutuellement opposées (13a, 13b) qui se rejoignent à proximité d'une extrémité latérale
dudit élément d'acheminement (12), caractérisé en ce qu'un orifice de sortie de condensation (14) est réalisé dans la région où lesdites deux
surfaces inclinées (13a, 13b) se rejoignent, et est incliné sensiblement autant, ou
légèrement plus, que la moins inclinée desdites surfaces se rejoignant (13a, 13b).
3. Récipient selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit orifice de sortie (14) est tubulaire, et s'arrête à proximité du bord latéral
du corps en forme de boîte (2).