Condensing unit attachment feature

Abstract

The present invention relates to a condenser or other component that is attached to the base plate by means of integral torque tabs that are twisted underneath the base plate to draw the condenser or other component downwardly against the upper surface of the base plate. In a preferred embodiment, the torque tabs are located on the lower ends of the condenser or other component end plates. The tabs are preferably designed to be machine twisted to provide enough holding force to maintain the condenser or other component and base plate in a rigid condition.

1 . A condensing unit, comprising:
 a base plate having a plurality of components mounted on an upper surface thereof, said components including a compressor and a condenser;   at least one of said components including a plurality of tabs extending through a corresponding plurality of slots in said base plate;   said tabs including distal portions that are twisted underneath said base plate, said tab distal portions including respective camming surfaces that tightly engage an undersurface of said base plate to tightly fix said at least one component to the upper surface of said base plate.   
     
     
         2 . The condensing unit of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said components is a condenser that comprises a pair of end plates having a plurality of apertures, a pair of side edges, and a lower end, said plurality of tabs extending from said lower end of each of said end plates. 
     
     
         3 . The condensing unit of  claim 2 , wherein said condenser further comprises:
 a coil extending through said plurality of apertures of said pair of end plates.   
     
     
         4 . The condensing unit of  claim 1 , wherein each said camming surface comprises an internal distal upper edge, and each tab further includes an internal proximal edge and an internal lateral edge, said internal proximal edge, said internal lateral edge, and said internal distal upper edge defining a notch. 
     
     
         5 . The condensing unit of  claim 4 , wherein said internal distal upper edge and said internal lateral edge are oriented non-orthogonally relative to said base plate undersurface at a given angle. 
     
     
         6 . The condensing unit of  claim 5 , wherein said given angle is 10 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The condensing unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said tabs further includes a side edge and a lower edge, wherein at least one of said distal portions is defined by said lower edge and said side edge. 
     
     
         8 . A condensing unit, comprising:
 a base plate having a condenser mounted on an upper surface thereof, said condenser including a plurality of tabs extending through a corresponding plurality of slots in said base plate;   said tabs including distal portions that are twisted underneath said base plate, said tab distal portions including respective camming surfaces that tightly engage an undersurface of said base plate to tightly fix said condenser to the upper surface of said base plate.   
     
     
         9 . The condensing unit of  claim 8 , wherein said condenser further comprises a pair of end plates having a plurality of apertures, a pair of side edges, and a lower end, said plurality of tabs extending from said lower end of each of said end plates. 
     
     
         10 . The condensing unit of  claim 9 , wherein said condenser further comprises a coil extending through said plurality of apertures of said pair of end plates. 
     
     
         11 . The condensing unit of  claim 8 , wherein each of said camming surfaces comprises an internal distal upper edge, and each tab further includes an internal proximal edge and an internal lateral edge, said internal proximal edge, said internal lateral edge, and said internal distal upper edge defining a notch. 
     
     
         12 . The condensing unit of  claim 11 , wherein said internal distal upper edge and said internal lateral edge are oriented non-orthogonally relative to said base plate undersurface at a given angle. 
     
     
         13 . The condensing unit of  claim 12 , wherein said given angle is 10 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The condensing unit of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said tabs further includes a side edge and a lower edge, wherein at least one of said distal portions is defined by said lower edge and said side edge. 
     
     
         15 . A condensing unit comprising:
 a base plate having an undersurface and a condenser mounted on an upper surface thereof, said condenser including one or more attachment elements extending through one or more corresponding attachment receiving means in said base plate; and   said one or more attachment elements including means for engaging said base plate such that, upon deformation, said one or more attachment means tighten against said undersurface of said base plate.   
     
     
         16 . The condensing unit of  claim 15 , said condenser further comprising a pair of end plates having a lower end, wherein said pair of attachment elements extends from said lower end of each of said end plates. 
     
     
         17 . A method of attaching a condenser of a condensing unit to a base plate of the condensing unit, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning the condenser to abut a base plate, the condenser having a plurality of tabs, each tab having an internal distal upper edge, and the base plate having an undersurface;   aligning each tab with a corresponding slot on the base plate;   inserting each tab through the corresponding slot on the base plate such that each tab extends through the corresponding slot;   then twisting each tab to thereby draw the internal distal upper edge of each tab tightly against the undersurface of the base plate such that the condenser is locked to the base plate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises bending each tab about a bending axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises applying a bending force, wherein the bending axis lies on a plane having a minimum amount of resistance towards the bending force. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises bending each tab about a bending axis that intersects a contact point at which the internal distal upper edge contacts the base plate and at which the internal distal upper edge of each tab is positioned on the same horizontal plane as the undersurface of the base plate. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the internal distal upper edge of each said tab is oriented non-orthogonally relative to the base plate undersurface, and the step of twisting exerts a camming action between the internal distal upper surface and the base plate undersurface to draw the condenser tightly against an upper surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of twisting each tab comprises machine twisting each tab.