Building structure for crawl space mounted apparatus

Abstract

A building structure for crawl space mounted air conditioning apparatus comprises a crawl space defined by at least one crawl space wall including at least one exterior wall within which a ducted condensing unit (DCU) of the air conditioning apparatus is mountable. The crawl space is configured with at least one through-hole opening formed in the at least one exterior wall for enclosing an element of the air conditioning apparatus which is in fluid communication with the DCU.

1 . A building structure for crawl space mounted air conditioning apparatus, comprising a crawl space defined by a crawl space floor which is a lowermost surface of the building, a crawl space ceiling, and at least one crawl space wall extending upwardly from said crawl space floor and including at least one exterior wall, within which said crawl space a ducted condensing unit of the air conditioning apparatus is mountable, said crawl space being configured with at least one through-hole opening formed in said at least one exterior wall which is in fluid communication with the ducted condensing unit. 
     
     
         2 . The building structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one through-hole opening is a duct opening, wherein an air discharge duct for directing exhaust air discharged from an exhaust opening of the ducted condensing unit adapted to receive air exiting a condenser coil of the ducted condensing unit is fixed within said duct opening. 
     
     
         3 . The building structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the crawl space is additionally configured with at least one penetration formed in the crawl space ceiling, a corresponding conduit through which flows a refrigerant adapted to condition at least one interior room of the building extending upwardly through said at least one penetration to an indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The building structure according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one penetration is formed in a central region of the crawl space ceiling that overlies the ducted condensing unit. 
     
     
         5 . The building structure according to  claim 2 , wherein a vent opening formed in an additional exterior crawl space wall that is spaced from the exterior wall formed with the duct opening within which the air discharge duct is fixed remains unblocked by the ducted condensing unit. 
     
     
         6 . The building structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the additional exterior crawl space wall is formed with an additional duct opening within which an air intake duct extending to an intake opening of the ducted condensing unit is fixed. 
     
     
         7 . The building structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one through-hole opening is a penetration through which passes a corresponding conduit for facilitating the flow therethrough of a refrigerant adapted to condition at least one interior room of the building to an indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The building structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the crawl space is additionally configured with a drain element through which condensate produced by the ducted condensing unit is dischargeable. 
     
     
         9 . The building structure according to  claim 1 , further configured with one or more mounting elements configured to mount a casing of the ducted condensing unit, wherein the casing is adapted to enclose ducted condensing unit components including a freestanding compressor for pressurizing circulating refrigerant and a condenser coil for condensing the pressurizing refrigerant and has a height less than the height of the at least one exterior crawl space wall. 
     
     
         10 . The building structure according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one through-hole opening is an opening through which ducted condensing unit exhaust air is exhausted to the atmosphere and the one or more mounting elements is a frame member surrounding the opening through which ducted condensing unit exhaust air is exhausted to the atmosphere, wherein said frame member is configured in such a way that an exhaust opening of the ducted condensing unit is aligned with the opening through which ducted condensing unit exhaust air is exhausted to the atmosphere. 
     
     
         11 . A building configured with crawl space mounted air conditioning apparatus, comprising:
 a) a crawl space defined by a crawl space floor which is a lowermost surface of the building, a crawl space ceiling, and at least one crawl space wall extending upwardly from said crawl space floor and including at least one exterior wall; and   b) a ducted condensing unit of the air conditioning apparatus which is mounted on said crawl space floor,   wherein said crawl space is configured with at least one through-hole opening formed in said at least one exterior wall which is in fluid communication with the ducted condensing unit.   
     
     
         12 . The building according to  claim 11 , wherein the ducted condensing unit comprises a fan, a freestanding compressor, a condenser coil, and a casing that encloses the compressor and condenser coil and that has a height which is less than one-half of the height of the at least one crawl space wall, to prevent overheating of the fan and of the compressor. 
     
     
         13 . The building according to  claim 12 , wherein the crawl space is located directly below a lowermost floor of the building. 
     
     
         14 . The building according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one through-hole opening is a duct opening within which an air discharge duct extending from an exhaust opening of the ducted condensing unit is fixed. 
     
     
         15 . The building according to  claim 14 , wherein the crawl space is additionally configured with a vent opening formed in an additional exterior crawl space wall that is spaced from the exterior wall formed with the duct opening within which the air discharge duct is fixed, said vent opening remaining unblocked by the ducted condensing unit. 
     
     
         16 . The building structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the crawl space is additionally configured with at least one penetration formed in the crawl space ceiling, a corresponding conduit through which flows a refrigerant adapted to condition at least one interior room of the building extending upwardly through said at least one penetration to an indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The building according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one penetration is formed in a central region of the crawl space ceiling that overlies the ducted condensing unit. 
     
     
         18 . The building according to  claim 12 , wherein the crawl space is further configured with one or more mounting elements configured to mount the casing of the ducted condensing unit onto the crawl space floor. 
     
     
         19 . The building according to  claim 11 , wherein an element of the air conditioning apparatus which is in fluid communication with the ducted condensing unit is enclosed by the at least one through-hole opening. 
     
     
         20 . The building according to  claim 19 , wherein the element of the air conditioning apparatus which is enclosed by the at least one through-hole opening is a corresponding conduit through which flows a refrigerant for use in conditioning at least one interior room of the building.