Front access panel for an energy recovery ventilator of an air conditioning appliance

Abstract

An energy recovery ventilator for an air conditioner unit includes a ventilator cabinet defining a primary flow path, an energy recovery path, and an access opening providing access to a heat exchanger cavity, a heat exchanger positioned within the heat exchanger cavity within the ventilator cabinet, wherein the primary flow path and the energy recovery path are fluidly isolated and thermally coupled within the heat exchanger, an access cover removably mounted over the access opening for providing selective access into the heat exchanger cavity, and a plurality of rotatable clips positioned on an outside of the ventilator cabinet, the plurality of rotatable clips being movable configured to secure the access cover to the ventilator cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet defining an indoor inlet and an indoor outlet;   a bulkhead mounted within the cabinet to define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion; and   an energy recovery ventilator mounted to the cabinet, the energy recovery ventilator comprising:
 a ventilator cabinet defining a primary flow path, an energy recovery path, and an access opening providing access to a heat exchanger cavity; 
 a heat exchanger positioned within the heat exchanger cavity within the ventilator cabinet, wherein the primary flow path and the energy recovery path are fluidly isolated and thermally coupled within the heat exchanger; 
 an access cover removably mounted over the access opening for providing selective access into the heat exchanger cavity; and 
 a plurality of rotatable clips positioned on an outside of the ventilator cabinet, the plurality of rotatable clips being movable configured to secure the access cover to the ventilator cabinet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the energy recovery ventilator further comprises:
 a plurality of retainer brackets that define a boundary of the heat exchanger cavity; and   a plurality of mounting gaskets positioned between the plurality of retainer brackets and a sidewall of the ventilator cabinet, wherein the heat exchanger is securely received within the plurality of retainer brackets in an installed position.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of rotatable clips is mounted to the plurality of retainer brackets, and wherein the plurality of mounting gaskets are compressible to permit the plurality of retainer brackets and the plurality of rotatable clips to slide away from the access opening during installation of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of retainer brackets and the plurality of rotatable clips are slidable about ⅛ of an inch. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retainer brackets defines a plurality of studs and each of the plurality of rotatable clips define a mounting aperture for rotatably coupling to a respective stud of the plurality of studs. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rotatable clips comprises four rotatable clips. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket positioned on inner face of the access cover.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle extending from a front of the heat exchanger, wherein the access cover defines an aperture for receiving the handle.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilator cabinet is an insulated housing. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a crossflow air-to-air heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioner unit is a single package vertical unit, a vertical terminal air conditioner unit, or a packaged terminal air conditioner unit. 
     
     
         12 . An energy recovery ventilator for an air conditioner unit, the air conditioner unit comprising a bulkhead mounted within a cabinet to define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, the energy recovery ventilator comprising:
 a ventilator cabinet defining a primary flow path, an energy recovery path, and an access opening providing access to a heat exchanger cavity;   a heat exchanger positioned within the heat exchanger cavity within the ventilator cabinet, wherein the primary flow path and the energy recovery path are fluidly isolated and thermally coupled within the heat exchanger;   an access cover removably mounted over the access opening for providing selective access into the heat exchanger cavity; and   a plurality of rotatable clips positioned on an outside of the ventilator cabinet, the plurality of rotatable clips being movable configured to secure the access cover to the ventilator cabinet.   
     
     
         13 . The energy recovery unit of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of retainer brackets that define a boundary of the heat exchanger cavity; and   a plurality of mounting gaskets positioned between the plurality of retainer brackets and a sidewall of the ventilator cabinet, wherein the heat exchanger is securely received within the plurality of retainer brackets in an installed position.   
     
     
         14 . The energy recovery unit of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of rotatable clips is mounted to the plurality of retainer brackets, and wherein the plurality of mounting gaskets are compressible to permit the plurality of retainer brackets and the plurality of rotatable clips to slide away from the access opening during installation of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The energy recovery unit of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of retainer brackets defines a plurality of studs and each of the plurality of rotatable clips define a mounting aperture for rotatably coupling to a respective stud of the plurality of studs. 
     
     
         16 . The energy recovery unit of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of rotatable clips comprises four rotatable clips. 
     
     
         17 . The energy recovery unit of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a gasket positioned on inner face of the access cover.   
     
     
         18 . The energy recovery unit of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a handle extending from a front of the heat exchanger, wherein the access cover defines an aperture for receiving the handle.   
     
     
         19 . The energy recovery unit of  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is a crossflow air-to-air heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . An air conditioner unit defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet defining an indoor inlet and an indoor outlet;   a bulkhead mounted within the cabinet to define an indoor portion and an outdoor portion; and   an energy recovery ventilator mounted to the cabinet, the energy recovery ventilator comprising:
 a ventilator cabinet defining a primary flow path, an energy recovery path, and an access opening providing access to a heat exchanger cavity; 
 a heat exchanger positioned within the heat exchanger cavity within the ventilator cabinet, wherein the primary flow path and the energy recovery path are fluidly isolated and thermally coupled within the heat exchanger; and 
 a handle extending from a front of the heat exchanger for facilitating installation or removal of the heat exchanger from the heat exchanger cavity.