Air conditioner units having improved apparatus for providing make-up air

Abstract

Air conditioner units and methods for providing make-up air are provided. An air conditioner unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger and a bulkhead. The air conditioner unit further includes a vent aperture defined in a rear wall of the bulkhead. The air conditioner unit further includes a dehumidification system, the dehumidification system including an evaporator assembly configured for removing heat from outdoor air flowing therethrough and a condenser assembly configured for adding heat to outdoor air flowing therethrough. The air conditioner unit further includes a movable panel disposed proximate the vent aperture. The movable panel is movable between an open position wherein air flow through the vent aperture is permitted and a closed position wherein air flow through the vent aperture is restricted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion;   a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion, the bulkhead comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall along a lateral direction, and a rear wall extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the rear wall comprising an indoor facing surface and an opposing outdoor facing surface;   a vent aperture defined in the rear wall;   a dehumidification system disposed at least partially within the outdoor portion, the dehumidification system comprising an evaporator assembly configured for removing heat from outdoor air flowing therethrough and a condenser assembly configured for adding heat to outdoor air flowing therethrough; and   a movable panel disposed proximate the vent aperture, the movable panel movable between an open position wherein air flow through the vent aperture is permitted and a closed position wherein air flow through the vent aperture is restricted.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable panel is a plurality of movable panels. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable panel is connected to the dehumidification system. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable panel is connected to the bulkhead. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable panel is rotatable between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable panel is passively movable. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and a drive assembly, the drive assembly connected to the movable panel, the controller in communication with the drive assembly and configured to actuate the drive assembly to move the movable panel between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable panel is movable to the open position when the dehumidification system is active. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator assembly is in fluid communication with the vent aperture for flowing outdoor air from the evaporator assembly through the vent aperture, and the condenser assembly is spaced from the vent aperture for flowing outdoor air from the condenser assembly into the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator assembly comprises an evaporator, an evaporator duct, and an evaporator fan. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 10 , wherein the evaporator fan is operable within and independently of the dehumidification system. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein a flow path for outdoor air through the evaporator assembly is directed towards the vent aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser assembly comprises a condenser, a condenser duct, and a condenser fan. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein a flow path for outdoor air through the condenser assembly is directed away from the vent aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in communication with the dehumidification system, the controller configured to activate the dehumidification system when a humidity level in the outdoor portion is above a predetermined humidity threshold and a temperature level in the outdoor portion is above a predetermined temperature threshold. 
     
     
         16 . An air conditioner unit, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in an outdoor portion;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor portion;   a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead defining the indoor portion and the outdoor portion, the bulkhead comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall along a lateral direction, and a rear wall extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the rear wall comprising an indoor facing surface and an opposing outdoor facing surface;   a vent aperture defined in the rear wall;   a dehumidification system disposed at least partially within the outdoor portion, the dehumidification system comprising an evaporator assembly configured for removing heat from outdoor air flowing therethrough, a condenser assembly configured for adding heat to outdoor air flowing therethrough, a compressor, and an expansion device; and   a plurality of rotatable panels disposed proximate the vent aperture, each of the plurality of rotatable panels rotatable between an open position wherein air flow through the vent aperture is permitted and a closed position wherein air flow through the vent aperture is restricted.   
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of movable panels is passively movable. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 16 , further comprising a controller and a drive assembly, the drive assembly connected to the plurality of movable panels, the controller in communication with the drive assembly and configured to actuate the drive assembly to move each of the plurality of movable panels between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of movable panels is movable to the open position when the dehumidification system is active. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 16 , wherein the evaporator assembly is in fluid communication with the vent aperture for flowing outdoor air from the evaporator assembly through the vent aperture, and the condenser assembly is spaced from the vent aperture for flowing outdoor air from the condenser assembly into the outdoor portion.