Transition member for heat pump appliance

Abstract

A heat pump water heater appliance is provided including a tank defining an interior volume, a sealed system configured for heating water within the interior volume, and a casing. The casing defines an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust, and the tank and an evaporator of the sealed system are disposed within the casing. A transition member is also provided, including a first end attached to the casing over the airflow inlet and a second end. A passage is defined between the first and second ends. Additionally, a filter tray is removably positioned in the passage of the transition member, allowing, e.g., a user or operator to easily remove and/or replace filter medium supported by the filter tray without disassembling the transition member or any ductwork attached thereto.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A heat pump water heater, comprising:
 a tank defining an interior volume;   a sealed system configured for heating water within the interior volume of the tank, the sealed system having an evaporator;   a casing defining an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust, the tank and the evaporator of the sealed system disposed within the casing;   a transition member including a first end attached to the casing over the airflow inlet and a second end, the transition member defining a passage between the first end and the second end; and   a filter tray removably positioned in the passage of the transition member, the filter tray configured to support a filter medium such that the filter medium is positioned in an airflow provided to the airflow inlet of the casing through the passage of the transition member.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the transition member defines a slot, and wherein the filter tray is slidably received into the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 2 , wherein the heat pump water heater defines a vertical direction and a lateral direction, and wherein the filter tray is slidable along the lateral direction into and out of the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 2 , wherein the transition member comprises of a lower piece including the first end and an upper piece including the second end, wherein the lower piece and the upper piece together define the slot. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump water heater defines a vertical direction, and wherein the airflow inlet is defined in the casing at a top end of the heat pump water heater along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator of the sealed system is positioned within the casing adjacent to the airflow exhaust defined by the casing. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan positioned within the casing, the fan configured to provide an airflow from the airflow inlet to the airflow outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the filter tray is configured to support a disposable filter medium. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a permanent filter medium attached to and supported by to the filter tray. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust transition member positioned over the airflow exhaust defined by the casing. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the transition member generally defines a semicircular shape, and wherein the second end of the transition member generally defines a circular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the filter tray includes a handle. 
     
     
         13 . A transition member for a heat pump appliance, comprising:
 a first end defining a generally semicircular shape and configured to be attached to an airflow inlet defined by a casing of the heat pump appliance;   a second end defining a generally circular shape and configured to be attached to airflow ductwork, the transition member defining a passage extending between the first end and the second end; and   a filter tray removably positioned in the passage of the transition member, the filter tray configured to support a filter medium such that the filter medium is positioned in an airflow provided to the airflow inlet of the casing through the passage of the transition member.   
     
     
         14 . The transition member of  claim 13 , wherein the filter tray is removably positioned in the passage of the transition member between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         15 . The transition member of  claim 13 , wherein the transition member defines a slot, and wherein the filter tray is slidably received into the slot. 
     
     
         16 . The transition member of  claim 15 , further comprising
 a lower piece including first end; and   an upper piece including the second end, wherein the lower piece and the upper piece together define the slot.   
     
     
         17 . The transition member of  claim 13 , wherein the filter tray is configured to support a disposable filter medium. 
     
     
         18 . The transition member of  claim 13 , further comprising a permanent filter medium attached to the filter tray. 
     
     
         19 . The transition member of  claim 13 , wherein the filter tray is a disposable filter cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . The transition member of  claim 13 , wherein the heat pump appliance is a heat pump water heater appliance.