Exchangeable air-conditioning unit

Abstract

An exchangeable air-conditioning unit ( 1 ) is described for attachment to mobile equipment. The air-conditioning unit includes a compressor ( 5 ) operable to compress a refrigerant and a hydraulic motor ( 17 ) operable to drive the compressor. Hydraulic fittings ( 11 ) are provided in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor for transporting hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fittings ( 11 ) are adapted to be releasably connected to a hydraulic system of the mobile equipment. Refrigerant fittings ( 7 ) are provided in fluid communication with the compressor for transporting refrigerant. The refrigerant fittings ( 7 ) are adapted to be releasably connected to a refrigeration circuit of the mobile equipment. An enclosure ( 3 ) houses the compressor and hydraulic motor and has at least one releasable connector ( 21 ) for releasably connecting the enclosure to the mobile equipment. The exchangeable unit may be pre-charged with gas in and stored in readiness for attachment to the mobile equipment.

1 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit for attachment to mobile equipment, the air-conditioning unit comprising:
 a compressor operable to compress a refrigerant;   a hydraulic motor operable to drive said compressor;   hydraulic fittings in fluid communication with said hydraulic motor for transporting hydraulic fluid, wherein said hydraulic fittings are adapted to be releasably connected to a hydraulic system of the mobile equipment;   an enclosure that houses said compressor and said hydraulic motor and has at least one releasable connector for releasably connecting the enclosure to the mobile equipment.   
     
     
         2 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 1  wherein the air-conditioning unit comprises at least one refrigerant fitting in fluid communication with said compressor for conveying refrigerant, wherein said at least one refrigerant fitting is adapted to be releasably connected to a refrigeration circuit of the mobile equipment. 
     
     
         3 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 1  further comprising a condenser arranged to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor. 
     
     
         4 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 3  comprising a second refrigerant fitting in fluid communication with said condenser for conveying refrigerant, wherein said second refrigerant fitting is adapted to be connected to the refrigeration circuit of the mobile equipment. 
     
     
         5 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 3  that further comprises an evaporator in fluid communication with said compressor and said condenser. 
     
     
         6 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 5  comprising a second enclosure that houses said condenser and said evaporator. 
     
     
         7 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 6  comprising at least one quick-connect refrigerant fitting that, in use, provides fluid communication for refrigerant between the enclosure and the second enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 3  comprising a centrifugal fan operable to blow air past said  15  condenser. 
     
     
         9 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 2  wherein the at least one refrigerant fitting comprises:
 a valve assembly having a plurality of valves that, when closed, define a closed chamber within said valve assembly; and   a vacuum arrangement operable to remove refrigerant from the closed chamber.   
     
     
         10 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 9  wherein the valve assembly comprises a seal to limit the escape of refrigerant from the valve assembly. 
     
     
         11 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 9  wherein said valve assembly comprises:
 a first valve having an open configuration in which a fluid passage is provided for refrigerant flows between the air-conditioning unit and the refrigerant fitting and a closed configuration in which the first valve prevents refrigerant flow between the air-conditioning unit and the fitting;   a second valve having an open configuration in which a fluid passage is provided for refrigerant flows between the refrigeration circuit of the mobile equipment and the refrigerant fitting and a closed configuration in which the second valve prevents refrigerant flow between the refrigeration circuit and the fitting;   a first part including said first valve;   a second part including said second valve; said first and second parts having an assembled configuration wherein the chamber is defined between said first valve and said second valve; and   a third valve formed between the chamber and a vacuum arrangement wherein, in use, said first and second valves are placed in the closed configuration and said third valve is opened to enable the vacuum arrangement to draw refrigerant from the chamber.   
     
     
         12 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 1 , comprising flow control means to control a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         13 . An exchangeable air-conditioning unit according to  claim 1  wherein the air-conditioning unit is pre-charged with refrigerant in readiness for attachment to the mobile equipment. 
     
     
         14 . A method of separating the compressor of the exchangeable air-conditioning unit of  claim 11  from the refrigeration circuit of the mobile equipment with which the air-conditioning unit is used, the method comprising
 closing said first valve and said second valve;   opening said third valve such that the vacuum arrangement draws refrigerant from the chamber;   closing said third valve; and   separating said first part and said second part to thereby separate the compressor and the refrigeration circuit.   
     
     
         15 . A method of connecting the compressor of the exchangeable air-conditioning unit of  claim 11  to the refrigeration circuit of the mobile equipment with which the air-conditioning unit is used, the method comprising:
 placing said first part and said second part in the assembled configuration with said first, second and third valves in the closed configuration;   opening said third valve such that the vacuum arrangement draws air from the chamber;   closing said third valve; and   placing said first and second valves in the open configuration to provide a fluid passageway between the compressor and the refrigeration circuit.   
     
     
         16 . Mobile equipment comprising the exchangeable air-conditioning unit of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . Mobile equipment configured to receive the exchangeable air-conditioning unit of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a cooling circuit arranged to cooperate with the compressor of the air-conditioning unit;   quick-release refrigerant fittings operable to provide fluid communication of refrigerant between the compressor and the cooling circuit;   quick-release hydraulic fittings operable to provide fluid communication of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic motor of the air-conditioning unit and a hydraulic system of the mobile equipment; and   at least one releasable connector arranged to releasably connect the housing to the mobile equipment.   
     
     
         18 . A method of attaching an exchangeable air-conditioning unit to mobile equipment, comprising:
 providing the air-conditioning unit comprising an enclosure comprising a compressor operable to compress a refrigerant and a hydraulic motor operable to drive the compressor;   attaching the enclosure releasably to the mobile equipment using at least one releasable connector;   attaching quick-release hydraulic fittings to provide fluid communication of hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic motor and a hydraulic system of the mobile equipment; and   attaching quick-release refrigerant fittings to provide fluid communication of refrigerant between the compressor and a cooling circuit of the mobile equipment.   
     
     
         19 . A method of attaching an exchangeable air-conditioning unit to mobile equipment as claimed in  claim 18 , comprising:
 pre-charging the air-conditioning unit with refrigerant in readiness for attachment to the mobile equipment.