Installation systems and methods for self-contained heat pump room conditioning units

Abstract

A room conditioning unit including a deflatably inflatable cushion located underneath the bridge portion for installing and uninstalling the room conditioning unit. A crane cart can be used to raise and lower the room conditioning unit via a lifting apparatus configured to attach to the anchor points such that a lift attachment point of the lifting apparatus is located above the center of mass of the room conditioning unit. Telescopic closeout panels can seal gaps between the room conditioning unit and the sides of the corresponding window. A mounting pad system having a mounting pad and an actuator can extend and retract to contact a wall and secure the room conditioning unit in place.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A room conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the room conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be position on an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil;   an outdoor portion configured to be position on an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil;   a bridge portion connecting the indoor portion and the outdoor portion; and   an inflatable and deflatable cushion which is configured to be selectively transitioned between an inflated state and deflated state, to raise or lower the room conditioning unit relative to a support structure in the opening of the building.   
     
     
         2 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion is mounted to a lower side of the bridge portion. 
     
     
         3 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion comprises one or more pleats that facilitate folding of the cushion as it is deflated. 
     
     
         4 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an air pump which is selectively operable to inflate the cushion. 
     
     
         5 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 4 , wherein the air pump is in electronic communication with a controller for the room conditioning unit, which enables a user to inflate or deflate the cushion via a user interface of the room conditioning unit. 
     
     
         6 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein, in the inflated state, the cushion substantially fills a space defined underneath the bridge portion and between the indoor portion and the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         7 . A system for sealing about a bridge portion of a room conditioning unit positioned in a building opening, the system comprising:
 telescopic closeout panels which comprise:
 a first elongate portion having a first end configured to attach to the bridge portion and an opposing second end; and 
 a second elongate portion having a first end and an opposing second end which is configured to form a seal with a vertical side of the building opening, wherein the second end of the first elongate portion is configured to at least partially, slidably receive the first end of the second elongate portion. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second end of the second elongate portion comprises a foam end cap. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second end of the first elongate portion comprises a foam end cap and/or a gasket, which is/are configured to provide sliding resistance between the first and second elongate portions to maintain a snug fit between the closeout panels and the building opening. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first foam strip configured to be positioned and/or adhered across a window sill or other foundational surface of the building opening and configured to receive the bridge portion of the room conditioning unit thereon; and   a second foam strip configured to be positioned and/or adhered to a top of the bridge portion and the closeout panels.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 telescopic window receiver closeout panels which comprise:
 a first portion having a first end and an opposing second end; 
 a second portion having a first end and an opposing second end, 
   wherein the second end of the first portion is configured to at least partially, slidably receive the first end of the second portion.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second portions of the telescopic window receiver closeout panels have a substantially U-shape, the interior of which is configured to accommodate (i) a window receiver portion of a window frame, or (ii) a bottom of the window frame. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the first portion of the telescopic window receiver closeout panels comprises an adjustable endplate configured to sandwich a window frame to prevent rotation of the telescopic window receiver closeout panels. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein telescopic window receiver closeout panels are configured to provide a tilt angle that is angled downwardly in an outdoor direction to help facilitate drainage away from a window. 
     
     
         15 . A room conditioning unit for use in an opening of a building, the room conditioning unit comprising:
 an indoor portion configured to be position on an internal portion of the building and having an indoor heat exchanging coil;   an outdoor portion configured to be position on an external portion of the building and having an outdoor heat exchanging coil;   a bridge portion connecting the indoor portion and the outdoor portion; and   an actuable mounting pad system configured to secure the outdoor portion or the indoor portion of the room conditioning unit against a vertical exterior or interior wall, respectively.   
     
     
         16 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 15 , wherein the actuable mounting pad system comprises:
 at least one mounting pad;   an actuator configured to transition the at least one mounting pad between a retracted position and an extended position; and   a controller in electric communication with the actuator and configured to output instructions for the actuator to extend or retract the at least one mounting pad based on input from a user received at a user interface of the room conditioning unit.   
     
     
         17 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 16 , wherein the actuable mounting pad system further comprises a tilt sensor configured to measure an angle of the room conditioning unit relative horizontal and to send corresponding tilt data to the controller. 
     
     
         18 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 15 , wherein the actuable mounting pad system comprises two or more of the mounting pads and two or more actuators therefor. 
     
     
         19 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 15 , further comprising an inflatable and deflatable cushion which is configured to be selectively transitioned between an inflated state and deflated state, to raise or lower the room conditioning unit relative to a support structure in the opening of the building. 
     
     
         20 . The room conditioning unit of  claim 19 , further comprising an air pump in electronic communication with a controller for the room conditioning unit, which enables a user to inflate or deflate the cushion via a user interface of the room conditioning unit.