Air Conditioning Unit with Economizer and Filter Assembly

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an air conditioning (AC) unit including a pre-filter and a water-repellent filter. The water-repellent filter prevents moisture and dirt in the outdoor air from entering the AC unit through depth filtration. The AC unit also includes a vertical partition separating an outside section from an inside section, with a vent allowing air flow between the outside section and the inside section, and an economizer assembly including a damper.

1 . An air conditioning unit for circulating outdoor air into an enclosure, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an economizer assembly;   an intake vent allowing outdoor air into the air conditioning unit;   a pre-filter positioned near the intake vent substantially preventing dust and small particles in the outdoor air from entering the air conditioning unit; and   a water-repellent filter positioned downstream from the pre-filter, the water-repellent filter substantially preventing moisture and dirt in the outdoor air from entering the air conditioning unit through depth filtration.   
   
   
       2 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1  and further comprising at least two impeller fans pulling the outdoor air across the pre-filter and the water-repellent filter. 
   
   
       3 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1  and further comprising a shroud removably coupled to the air conditioning unit, the shroud housing the pre-filter, and the water-repellent filter. 
   
   
       4 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 3  and further comprising louvers on the shroud directing air out of the air conditioning unit. 
   
   
       5 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1  wherein the air conditioning unit is side-mounted to the enclosure. 
   
   
       6 . An air conditioning unit for cooling an enclosure in an outdoor environment, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an outside section in communication with the outdoor environment;   an inside section in communication with the enclosure;   a vertical partition separating the outside section from the inside section, the vertical partition including a vent allowing air flow between the outside section and the inside section; and   an economizer assembly including a damper coupled to the vertical partition, the damper capable of substantially covering the vent and temporarily separating the outside section from the inside section.   
   
   
       7 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 6  wherein the damper is rotatable. 
   
   
       8 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 6  and further comprising an actuator crank arm assembly controlling the damper. 
   
   
       9 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 8  and further comprising a control assembly controlling the actuator crank arm assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 9  wherein the control assembly is positioned within the inside section. 
   
   
       11 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 6  and further comprising at least one impeller fan positioned in the inside section. 
   
   
       12 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 6  and further comprising two impeller fans positioned in the outside section, wherein the two impeller fans are staggered in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. 
   
   
       13 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 6  wherein the air conditioning unit is side-mounted to the enclosure. 
   
   
       14 . An air conditioning unit for an enclosure located in an outside environment, the air conditioning unit comprising:
 an inside section in communication with the enclosure;   an outside section in communication with the outside environment, the outside section adjacent to the inside section and separated from the inside section by a partition; and   at least two outside impeller fans positioned in the outside section, the at least two outside impeller fans staggered in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.   
   
   
       15 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 14  wherein the at least two outside impeller fans are coupled to the partition. 
   
   
       16 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 14  wherein the partition includes at least two vents providing openings between the outside section and the inside section; and further comprising an economizer assembly including a damper to modulate the openings of the at least two vents. 
   
   
       17 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 16  and further comprising an outside intake vent allowing ambient air into the air conditioning unit; and a filter filtering the air entering the outside intake vent. 
   
   
       18 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 14  and further comprising at least one inside impeller fan positioned in the inside section. 
   
   
       19 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 18  and further comprising a control assembly modulating the speed of the at least two outside impeller fans and the at least one inside impeller fan. 
   
   
       20 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 19  wherein the control assembly is positioned within the inside section.