Hvac system and method of installing hvac system

Abstract

An HVAC includes a first HVAC unit, a second HVAC unit, and a refrigerant line set. The refrigerant line set includes a high-pressure refrigerant line and a low-pressure refrigerant line. The refrigerant lines may be connected to one or both of the first and second HVAC units at a pre-installation location such that all components are precharged at the pre-installation location. The refrigerant lines may be disconnected from one of the first and second HVAC units and shipped to an installation location. The first high pressure line end and the first low pressure line end may be then coupled to the one of the first and second HVAC units by a user at an installation location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A partially-assembled HVAC system provided to be readily assembled by a user at an installation location, comprising:
 a first HVAC unit having a first high-pressure line stem and a first low-pressure line stem ( 16 );   a second HVAC unit having a second high-pressure line stem and a second low-pressure line stem; and,   a refrigerant line set including a high-pressure refrigerant line and a low-pressure refrigerant line, the high-pressure refrigerant line having a first high-pressure line end and a second high-pressure line end, the low-pressure refrigerant line having a first low-pressure line end and a second low-pressure line end, wherein:
 the second high-pressure line end is coupled to the second high-pressure line stem ( 20 ) such that the high-pressure refrigerant line is fluidly connected to the second HVAC unit ( 18 ) at a pre-installation location, 
 the second low-pressure line end is coupled to the second low-pressure line stem such that the low-pressure refrigerant line is fluidly connected to the second HVAC unit at the pre-installation location, 
 the low-pressure refrigerant line and the high-pressure refrigerant line being connected to the second HVAC unit, the low-pressure refrigerant line, the high-pressure refrigerant line, and the second HVAC unit being precharged with refrigerant at the pre-installation location, wherein the first high pressure line end and the first low pressure line end may be coupled to the first HVAC unit by the user at the installation location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first high-pressure line connector connected to the first high-pressure line end of the high-pressure line;   a first high-pressure stem connector connected to the first high-pressure stem, the first high-pressure line connector and the first high-pressure stem connector being self-sealing and configured to be connected by the user during installation;   a first low-pressure line connector connected to the first low-pressure line end of the low-pressure line; and   a first low-pressure stem connector connected to the first low-pressure stem, the first low-pressure line connector and the first low-pressure stem connector being self-sealing and configured to be connected by the user during installation.   
     
     
         3 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector, the first high-pressure line connector, and the first low-pressure line connector are valves having an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as forth in  claim 3 , wherein the connectors are composed from steel or brass. 
     
     
         5 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as set forth in  claim 1 , where the first HVAC unit is an indoor HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit is an outside HVAC unit, the first and second HVAC units forming a split HVAC system configured to operate as an air-conditioner and/or heat pump. 
     
     
         6 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as forth in  claim 5 , wherein the first HVAC unit has a terminal block, further including a communications & control wire harness preinstalled and coupled at one end to the terminal block. 
     
     
         7 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the communications & control wire harness includes a waterproof twist-lock connector. 
     
     
         8 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a power cord connected to the second HVAC unit, the power cord configured to plug into a power outlet and to provide power to the second HVAC unit. 
     
     
         9 . The partially-assembly HVAC system, as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the communications & control wire harness is preinstalled at the pre-installation location. 
     
     
         10 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a DC disconnect box configured to be connected to DC power source(s) and to allow the HVAC system to be manually switched from/between the DC power source(s) or to an off position. 
     
     
         11 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as forth in  claim 10 , wherein the DC disconnect box may be connected to solar panel(s) and battery/batteries. 
     
     
         12 . The partially-assembled HVAC system, as forth in  claim 2 , wherein the connectors are configured to be hand-tightened. 
     
     
         13 . A method for assembling a partially-assembled HVAC system, the HVAC system including a first HVAC unit, a second HVAC unit, and a refrigerant line set, the refrigerant line set includes a high-pressure refrigerant line and a low-pressure refrigerant line, the method including the steps of:
 at a pre-installation location, connecting the high-pressure refrigerant line to the second HVAC unit;   at the pre-installation location, connecting the low-pressure refrigerant line to the second HVAC unit;   at the pre-installation location, pre-charging the high-pressure refrigerant line, and the low-pressure refrigerant line with refrigerant;   shipping the partially-assembled HVAC system to an installation location;   at an installation location, installing the first HVAC unit and the second HVAC unit in respective installation positions;   at the installation location, connecting the high-pressure refrigerant line to the first HVAC unit; and,   at the installation location, connecting the low-pressure refrigerant line to the first HVAC unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method, as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein prior the step of shipping the partially-assembled HVAC system to an installation location, the method includes the steps of:
 at the pre-installation location, temporarily connecting the low-pressure refrigerant line to the first HVAC unit;   at the pre-installation location, temporarily connecting the high-pressure refrigerant line to the first HVAC unit, thereby allowing refrigerant to enter and pre-charge the first HVAC unit;   and,   disconnecting the low-pressure refrigerant line and the high-pressure refrigerant line from the first HVAC unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method, as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein prior to disconnecting the low-pressure refrigerant line and the high-pressure refrigerant line from the first HVAC unit, the method includes the step of operating the HVAC system for testing purposes. 
     
     
         16 . The method, as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein
 the high-pressure refrigerant line having a first high-pressure line end and a second high-pressure line end, the low-pressure refrigerant line having a first low-pressure line end and a second low-pressure line end,   the second HVAC unit has a second high-pressure line stem and a second low-pressure line stem,   the step of connecting the high-pressure refrigerant line to the second HVAC unit includes the step of coupling the second high-pressure line end to the second high-pressure line stem such that the high-pressure refrigerant line is fluidly connected to the second HVAC unit, and   the step of connecting the low-pressure refrigerant line to the second HVAC unit includes the step of coupling the second low-pressure line end to the second low-pressure line stem such that the low-pressure refrigerant line is fluidly connected to the second HVAC unit.   
     
     
         17 . The method, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the first HVAC unit has a first high-pressure line stem and a first low-pressure line stem, a first high-pressure stem connector connected to the first high-pressure stem, a first high-pressure line connector connected to the first high-pressure refrigerant line end, the first high-pressure line connector and the first high-pressure stem connector being self-sealing and configured to be connected by the user during installation, a first low-pressure stem connector connected to the first low-pressure stem, a first low-pressure line connector connected to the first low-pressure refrigerant line end, the first low-pressure line connector and the first low-pressure stem connector being self-sealing and configured to be connected by the user during installation. 
     
     
         18 . The method, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector, the first high-pressure line connector, and the first low-pressure connector are service valves having an open position and a closed position, prior to the step of shipping the partially-assembled HVAC system to an installation location, the method includes the steps of including the steps of:
 at the pre-installation location, with the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector, the first high-pressure line connector, and the first low-pressure line connector in the off position, connecting the first high-pressure stem connector and the first high-pressure line connector and connecting the first low-pressure stem connector, and the first low-pressure line connector;   placing the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector ( 40 ), the first high-pressure line connector, and the first line low-pressure connector in the on position, thereby pre-charging the first HVAC unit;   placing the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector ( 40 ), the first high-pressure line connector, and the first low-pressure line connector in the off position;   disconnecting the first high-pressure stem connector and the first high-pressure line connector and   disconnecting the first low-pressure stem connector and the first low-pressure connector.   
     
     
         19 . The method, as set forth in  claim 18 , where in the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector, the first high-pressure line connector, and the first low-pressure line connector are self-sealing connectors such that the first first high-pressure stem connector the first high-pressure line connector are automatically in the on position when fully connected and the first low-pressure stem connector ( 40 ) and the first low-pressure line connector are automatically in the on position when fully connected and in the off position when disconnected. 
     
     
         20 . The method, as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein at the pre-installation location, after the step of placing the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector, the first high-pressure line connector, and the first line low-pressure line connector in to the on position, thereby pre-charging the first HVAC unit, the method includes the steps of operating the HVAC unit for testing purposes. 
     
     
         21 . The method, as set forth in  claim 18 , including the steps of applying a vacuum to the refrigerant line with the first high-pressure stem connector, the first low-pressure stem connector, the first high-pressure line connector, and the first line low-pressure connector in the on position to pre-charge the first HVAC unit and the refrigerant lines. 
     
     
         22 . A partially-assembled HVAC system provided to be readily assembled by a user at an installation location, comprising:
 a first HVAC unit having a first high-pressure line stem and a first low-pressure line stem;   a second HVAC unit having a second high-pressure line stem and a second low-pressure line stem, wherein one of the first and second HVAC units is an indoor HVAC unit and an other one of the first and second HVAC units is an outdoor HVAC unit and form a split HVAC system configured to operate as an air-conditioner and/or heat pump, the first HVAC unit including a terminal block;   a communications & control wire harness preinstalled and coupled at one end to the terminal block, the communications & control wire harness includes a waterproof twist-lock connector;   a DC disconnect box configured to be connected to DC power source(s) and to allow the HVAC system to be switched on or off from the DC power source(s), wherein the DC disconnect box may be connected to solar panel(s) and/or battery/batteries;   a refrigerant line set including a high-pressure refrigerant line and a low-pressure refrigerant line, the high-pressure refrigerant line having a first high-pressure line end and a second high-pressure line end, the low-pressure refrigerant line having a first low-pressure line end and a second low-pressure line end, wherein:
 the second high-pressure line end is coupled to the second high-pressure line stem such that the high-pressure refrigerant line is fluidly connected to the second HVAC unit at a pre-installation location, 
 the second low-pressure line end is coupled to the second low-pressure line stem such that the low-pressure refrigerant line is fluidly connected to the second HVAC unit at the pre-installation location, 
 the low-pressure refrigerant line and the high-pressure refrigerant line being connected to the second HVAC unit, the low-pressure refrigerant line, the high-pressure refrigerant line, and the second HVAC unit being precharged with refrigerant at the pre-installation location, wherein the first high pressure line end and the first low pressure line end may be coupled to the first HVAC unit by the user at the installation location; 
   a first high-pressure line connector connected to the first high-pressure line end of the high-pressure line;   a first high-pressure stem connector connected to the first unit high-pressure stem, the first high-pressure line connector and the first high-pressure stem connector being self-sealing and configured to be connected by the user during installation;   a first low-pressure line connector connected to the first unit low-pressure end of the low-pressure line; and   a first low-pressure stem connector connected to the first unit low-pressure stem, the first low-pressure line connector and the first low-pressure stem connector being self-sealing and configured to be connected by the user during installation at the installation location, wherein the first high-pressure stem connector, the first high-pressure line connector, the first low-pressure stem connector, and the first low-pressure line connector are valves having an open position and a closed position.