Systems and methods for a heating and cooling unit and components thereof

Abstract

A heating and cooling unit (as well as individual components of the heating and cooling unit) is disclosed herein. Methods of installing and using the heating and cooling unit are also disclosed. The heating and cooling unit may include, among other things, a base member, a tube chase, a convertible drain, a system for mounting a burner box in a sideways orientation to a vestibule panel, a system for removably attaching a control panel to a collector box, a compressor supply plug, or a combination thereof.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A base member for a heating and cooling unit, the base member comprising:
 a substantially horizontal main body configured to support one or more components of the heating and cooling unit thereon, wherein the main body comprises a conditioned space portion about a first side of the main body and a non-conditioned space portion about a second side of the main body;   a substantially vertical separation wall extending up from the main body, wherein the separation wall separates the conditioned space portion from the non-conditioned space portion;   a lip formed at least partially about the non-conditioned space portion;   at least one drainage hole extending through the non-conditioned space portion, wherein a surface of the non-conditioned space portion is sloped towards the at least one drainage hole;   a drain pan disposed about the conditioned space portion;   at least on drainage tube in fluid communication with the drain pan, wherein a surface of the drain pan is sloped towards the at least one drainage tube;   
     
     
         2 . The base member of  claim 1 , further comprising a substantially vertical sealing rib within the drain pan configured to make contact with and deform one or more fins on a coil of an evaporator to create a seal between the coil and the sealing rib to force liquid forward into the drain pan towards the at least one drainage tube and to prevent airflow therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The base member of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one molded handle is disposed beneath the drain pan. 
     
     
         4 . The base member of  claim 1 , wherein the separation wall and the drain pan at least partially form an evaporator compartment therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The base member of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more integrated holes disposed about the drain pan for mounting a filter catch. 
     
     
         6 . The base member of  claim 1 , further comprising a ridge disposed on a bottom of the main body opposite the separation wall for forming a seal under the main body between the conditioned space portion and the non-condition spaced portion. 
     
     
         7 . A tube chase for a heating and cooling unit, the tube chase comprising:
 a tube chase main body comprising at least one tube slot and at least one wire slot;   a removable tube chase cover configured to mate with the tube chase main body; and   a grommet positionable within the tube chase main body, wherein the grommet comprising at least one tube passage and at least one wire passage.   
     
     
         8 . The tube chase of  claim 7 , wherein the tube chase main body comprises an attachment groove for attaching the tube chase main body to a panel of the heating and cooling unit. 
     
     
         9 . The tube chase of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one tube passage is alignable with the at least one tube slot, and the at least one wire passage is alignable with the at least one wire slot when the removable tube chase cover is attached to the tube chase main body. 
     
     
         10 . The tube chase of  claim 7 , wherein the tube chase main body comprises at least one attachment protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . The tube chase of  claim 10 , wherein the removable tube chase cover comprises at least one attachment hole configured to mate with the at least one attachment protrusion. 
     
     
         12 . The tube chase of  claim 7 , wherein the tube chase main body comprises at least one attachment bore configured to receive an attachment mechanism therein. 
     
     
         13 . The tube chase of  claim 12 , wherein the removable tube chase cover comprises at least one arm having an attachment hole therethrough configured to receive an attachment mechanism therein when the at least one attachment bore is aligned with the attachment hole. 
     
     
         14 . The tube chase of  claim 7 , wherein the tube chase cover comprises an exterior surface configured to form a seal with a side panel of the heating and cooling unit. 
     
     
         15 . A convertible drain for a heating and cooling unit, the convertible drain comprising:
 a hose;   a drain adapter comprising a first end having an inlet and a second end having an outlet, wherein the hose is attachable to the inlet, wherein the drain adapter comprises an attachment bracket; and   a key hole disposed in a division panel of the heating and cooling unit, wherein the attachment bracket is configured to mate with the key hole in a first configuration with the outlet facing a side of the heating and cooling unit and a second configuration with the outlet facing a front of the heating and cooling unit.   
     
     
         16 . The convertible drain of  claim 15 , wherein the hose is flexible. 
     
     
         17 . The convertible drain of  claim 15 , wherein the hose comprises a fixed bend along its length. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible drain of  claim 15 , wherein the drain adapter comprises:
 a bottom platform comprising an attachment hole therethrough;   a flange extending from the bottom platform and disposed about the outlet, wherein the flange is configured to form a seal about an opening in a side panel of the heating and cooling unit when in the first configuration or form a seal about an opening in a removable front panel of the heating and cooling unit when in the second configuration; and   a front surface extending out from the flange to from a lip therebetween and configured to mate with the opening in the side panel of the heating and cooling unit when in the first configuration or mate with the opening in the removable front panel of the heating and cooling unit when in the second configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The convertible drain of  claim 15 , wherein the inlet is angled relative to the outlet. 
     
     
         20 . A system for mounting a burner box in a sideways orientation to a vestibule panel in a heating and cooling unit, the system comprising:
 a first mounting bracket attachable to the vestibule panel and an inner wall on a first side of the burner box; and   a second mounting bracket attachable to the vestibule panel and an outer wall on a second side of the burner box, wherein the first mounting bracket is spaced apart from the second mounting bracket such that the burner box is slidable between the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second mounting brackets comprise:
 an alignment protrusion configured to mate with a corresponding alignment hole in the vestibule panel;   at least one vestibule attachment hole; and   at least one burner box attachment hole.   
     
     
         22 . A system for removably attaching a control panel to a collector box in a heating and cooling unit, the system comprising:
 at least one channel disposed about the collector box;   at least one slot disposed about the control panel, wherein the at least one slot is configured to slidably mate with the at least one channel; and   a tab that removably secures the at least one slot within the at least one channel.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the control board comprises an L-shaped base. 
     
     
         24 . A compressor supply plug for a compressor having an electric feedthrough and capture stud, the compressor supply plug comprising:
 a main body attachable to an electric feedthrough of the compressor for forming an electrical connection therewith;   a flange extending from the main body; and   an aperture extending through the flange, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a stud for securing the main body to the compressor.   
     
     
         25 . The compressor supply plug of  claim 24 , wherein the aperture and stud collectively ensure that the main body is properly aligned with the electric feedthrough. 
     
     
         26 . The compressor supply plug of  claim 24 , wherein the main body and flange are single molded piece. 
     
     
         27 . A heating and cooling unit, comprising:
 a conditioned space portion and a non-conditioned space portion;   a condensing heat exchanger disposed at least partially within the non-conditioned space portion; and   a condensate drain in fluid communication with the condensing heat exchanger, wherein the condensate drain is at least partially disposed within the non-conditioned space portion and routed to an interior space.