Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (hvac) system for recreational vehicles

Abstract

An HVAC unit for a recreational vehicle includes an enclosure having an ambient air inlet, an exterior outlet, a return air duct connection, and a conditioned air duct connection. An air conditioning system and a heating system are each located within the enclosure. The air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator operably connected for cooling air entering the enclosure through the return air duct connection. The heating system includes a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber and a heat exchanger operably connected to the combustion chamber for heating air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection. A control system is operably connected to the air conditioning system and the heating system to selectively heat or cool air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection and exiting through the conditioned air duct connection.

1 . A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle comprising, in combination:
 an enclosure having an ambient air inlet, an exterior outlet, a return air duct connection, and a conditioned air duct connection;   an air conditioning system for cooling air;   wherein the air conditioning system is located within the enclosure and includes a compressor, a condenser operably connected to the compressor, an expansion device operably connected to the condenser, and an evaporator operably connected to the expansion device and the compressor for cooling air entering the enclosure through the return air duct connection and exiting the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection;   a heating system for heating air;   wherein the heating system is located within the enclosure and includes a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber and a heat exchanger operably connected to the combustion chamber for heating air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection and exiting the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection; and   a control system operably connected to the air conditioning system and the heating system to selectively heat or cool air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection and exiting the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection.   
   
   
       2 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first fan located within the enclosure and drawing ambient air into the enclosure through the ambient air inlet, over the condenser, and out of the enclosure through the exterior outlet and a second fan located within the enclosure and drawing return air into the enclosure through the return air duct connection, over the evaporator and the heat exchanger, and out of the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection. 
   
   
       3 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 2 , further comprising an electric motor operably connected to both the first fan and the second fan for rotating both the first fan and the second fan. 
   
   
       4 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the second fan is located between the evaporator and the heat exchanger so that the second fan draws air over the evaporator and pushes air over the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       5 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating system is located above the air conditioning system within the enclosure. 
   
   
       6 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the ambient air inlet is located at an outboard end of the enclosure, the exterior outlet is located at a bottom of the enclosure, the return air duct connection is located at an inboard end of the enclosure opposite the outboard end, and the conditioned air duct connection is located at the inboard end and above the return air duct connection. 
   
   
       7 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flue gas outlet duct communicating the combustion chamber with an external environment, and a combustion electric blower for drawing combustion air into the combustion chamber and forcing flue gas into the outlet duct and out of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is sized to fit below a floor of the recreational vehicle. 
   
   
       9 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat located within the recreational vehicle and operably connected to the controller to generally maintain air within the recreational vehicle at a desired temperature. 
   
   
       10 . A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle comprising, in combination:
 an air conditioning system for cooling air;   wherein the air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser operably connected to the compressor, an expansion device operably connected to the condenser, and an evaporator operably connected to the expansion device and the compressor for cooling air;   a heating system for heating air;   wherein the heating system includes a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber and a heat exchanger operably connected to the combustion chamber for heating air;   a first fan positioned to draw ambient air in through an ambient air inlet, over the condenser, and out through an exterior outlet;   a second fan positioned to draw return air in through a return air duct connection, over the evaporator and the heat exchanger, and out through a conditioned air duct connection;   an electric motor operably connected to both the first fan and the second fan for rotating both the first fan and the second fan; and   a control system operably connected to the air conditioning system, the heating system, and the electric motor to selectively heat or cool air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection and exiting the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection.   
   
   
       11 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the electric motor is an AC motor. 
   
   
       12 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 10 , further comprising an enclosure having the ambient air inlet, the exterior outlet, the return air duct connection, and the conditioned air duct connection therein and wherein the air conditioning system and the heating system are located within the enclosure. 
   
   
       13 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein the ambient air inlet is located at an outboard end of the enclosure, the exterior outlet is located at a bottom of the enclosure, the return air duct connection is located at an inboard end of the enclosure opposite the outboard end, and the conditioned air duct connection is located at the inboard end and above the return air duct connection. 
   
   
       14 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure is sized to fit below a floor of the recreational vehicle. 
   
   
       15 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the second fan is located between the evaporator and the heat exchanger so that the second fan draws air over the evaporator and pushes air over the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       16 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the heating system is located above the air conditioning system. 
   
   
       17 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 10 , further comprising a flue gas outlet duct communicating the combustion chamber with an external environment, and a combustion electric blower for drawing combustion air into the combustion chamber and forcing flue gas into the outlet duct and out of the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       18 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 10 , further comprising a thermostat located within the recreational vehicle and operably connected to the controller to generally maintain air within the recreational vehicle at a desired temperature. 
   
   
       19 . A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle comprising, in combination:
 an enclosure having an ambient air inlet, an exterior outlet, a return air duct connection, and a conditioned air duct connection;   an air conditioning system for cooling air;   wherein the air conditioning system is located within the enclosure and includes a compressor, a condenser operably connected to the compressor, an expansion device operably connected to the condenser, and an evaporator operably connected to the expansion device and the compressor for cooling air entering the enclosure through the return air duct connection and exiting the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection;   a heating system for heating air;   wherein the heating system is located within the enclosure above the air conditioning system and includes a gas-fired burner assembly located within a sealed combustion chamber and a heat exchanger operably connected to the combustion chamber for heating air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection and exiting the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection;   a first fan positioned to draw ambient air in through an ambient air inlet, over the condenser, and out through an exterior outlet;   a second fan positioned to draw return air in through a return air duct connection, over the evaporator and the heat exchanger, and out through a conditioned air duct connection;   an electric motor operably connected to both the first fan and the second fan for rotating both the first fan and the second fan;   a control system operably connected to the air conditioning system and the heating system to selectively heat or cool air entering the enclosure through the a return air duct connection and exiting the enclosure through the conditioned air duct connection; and   a thermostat operably connected to the control system to generally maintain air within the recreational vehicle at a desired temperature.   
   
   
       20 . The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit for a recreational vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein the ambient air inlet is located at an outboard end of the enclosure, the exterior outlet is located at a bottom of the enclosure, the return air duct connection is located at an inboard end of the enclosure opposite the outboard end, and the conditioned air duct connection is located at the inboard end and above the return air duct connection.