Multi-layer wall sleeve for a packaged terminal air conditioner unit

Abstract

A packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a bulkhead and a sealed system mounted at least partially within a wall sleeve. The wall sleeve is positioned in an opening on the side of a building and includes at least a portion that includes a plurality of layers formed from at least two materials. For example, the wall sleeve may include inner and outer metal layers sandwiching a middle layer of viscoelastic polymer material for damping noise generated by the sealed system during operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaged terminal air conditioner unit comprising:
 a bulkhead defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;   a sealed system comprising a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion, an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion, and an expansion device, the sealed system being operable to transfer thermal energy between the indoor portion and the outdoor portion; and   a wall sleeve configured for receiving at least a portion of the sealed system, at least a portion of the wall sleeve comprising a plurality of layers formed from at least two materials for damping noise generated by the sealed system.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the entire wall sleeve is formed from the plurality of layers. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of layers are positioned on the wall sleeve only within the indoor portion. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of layers is formed separately and attached to the wall sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of layers comprises a rigid layer and a resilient layer. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of layers comprises an outer layer, a middle layer, and an inner layer stacked adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 6 , wherein the middle layer is entirely enclosed between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 6 , wherein the outer layer and the inner layer are formed from a metal material and the middle layer is formed from a viscoelastic polymer material. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 6 , wherein the outer layer defines an outer thickness, the inner layer defines an inner thickness, and the middle layer defines a middle thickness, and wherein both the outer thickness and the inner thickness are greater than the middle thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 9 , wherein both the outer thickness and the inner thickness are greater than five times the inner thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 9 , wherein the outer thickness and the inner thickness are approximately 0.024 of an inch and the middle thickness is approximately 0.004 of an inch. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 6 , wherein the outer layer has an outer hardness and the middle layer has a middle hardness, the outer hardness being greater than the middle hardness. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein an outer layer of the wall sleeve is made from stainless steel or painted steel. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged terminal air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the wall sleeve is mountable within an opening in a building wall. 
     
     
         15 . A wall sleeve for a packaged terminal air conditioner unit, the wall sleeve comprising:
 an outer layer formed from an outer material;   an inner layer formed from an inner material; and   a middle layer formed from a middle material and being positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer.   
     
     
         16 . The wall sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the outer layer, the inner layer, and the middle layer are defined only on a portion of the wall sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The wall sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the outer material and the inner material comprise a metal material and the middle material is a viscoelastic polymer material. 
     
     
         18 . The wall sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the outer layer defines an outer thickness, the inner layer defines an inner thickness, and the middle layer defines a middle thickness, and wherein both the outer thickness and the inner thickness are greater than three times the middle thickness. 
     
     
         19 . The wall sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the wall sleeve is mountable within an opening in a building wall and is configured for at least partially receiving a sealed system, the sealed system comprising:
 a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger positioned within an indoor portion, an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within an outdoor portion, and an expansion device.   
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a packaged terminal air conditioner unit, the method comprising:
 installing a wall sleeve in an opening in a building wall, the wall sleeve comprising at least two layers formed from different materials for damping noise;   mounting a bulkhead within the wall sleeve to define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion; and   installing a sealed system at least partially within the wall sleeve, the sealed system comprising a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion, an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion, and an expansion device.