Condenser Fan Orifice Rings

Abstract

A compressor-condenser unit for use in a residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system includes a condenser orifice ring sized to receive one or more fan blades. The condenser orifice ring includes an annular member having an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The annular member includes a wall that flares outward at the upstream edge and flares outward at the downstream edge with a narrow middle section. The flare of the wall at the upstream edge is between 5 and 20 degrees from vertical, and the flare of the wall at the downstream edge is between 15 and 30 degrees from vertical. Other condenser orifice rings and systems are presented.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A compressor-condenser unit for use in a residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, the compressor-condenser unit comprising:
 a cabinet having a plurality of walls including a top panel;   a fan motor coupled to the cabinet;   one or more fan blades coupled to the fan motor;   an orifice opening formed in the top panel;   a condenser orifice ring disposed within the orifice opening, wherein the condenser orifice ring is sized to receive the one or more fan blades; and   the condenser orifice ring comprising:   an annular member having a height extending between an upstream edge and a downstream edge,   the annular member comprising a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the wall flares outward at the upstream edge and flares outward at the downstream edge,   wherein the flare of the wall at the upstream edge is between 5 and 20 degrees from a vertical, and   wherein the flare of the wall at the downstream edge is between 15 and 30 degrees from the vertical.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 , wherein the wall of the annular member has a middle-portion that comprises between 2-5 percent of the height of the annular member and wherein the middle-portion substantially parallels the vertical. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 , the annular member further comprising a plurality of positioning tabs, the plurality of positioning tabs coupled to the downstream edge of the exterior surface of the wall for securing the annular member to the top panel with the annular member. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fan blades are coupled to the fan motor such that the one or more fan blades are suspended within an interior of the condenser orifice ring between 70 and 80 percent of the height of the annular member from the downstream edge. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan-connectivity notch formed in the downstream edge of the annular member and a lip extending from the annular member on the downstream edge. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of strengthening ribs formed on the exterior surface of annular member, the plurality of strengthening ribs facing outward. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 , wherein the upstream edge of the wall has a curled initial portion. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 , wherein an inside diameter of the annular member forms a predetermined gap of at least 0.2 inches between the annular member and a distal end of the one or more fan blades. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor-condenser unit of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wall of the annular member has a middle-portion that comprises between 2-5 percent of the height of the annular member and wherein the middle-portion substantially parallels the vertical;   the annular member further comprising a plurality of positioning tabs coupled to the downstream edge the wall for securing the annular member to the top panel with the annular member in a desired position;   wherein the one or more fan blades are coupled to the fan motor such that the one or more fan blades are suspended within an interior of the condenser orifice ring between 70 and 80 percent of the height of the annular member from the downstream edge;   wherein the annular member is formed with a fan-connectivity notch on the downstream edge and a lip is formed on the downstream edge;   wherein the annular member comprises a plurality of strengthening ribs formed on the wall facing outward;   wherein the upstream edge of the wall has a curled initial portion; and   wherein an inside diameter of the annular member forms a predetermined gap of at least 0.2 inches between the annular member and a distal end of the one or more fan blades.   
     
     
         10 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system comprising:
 a closed conduit circuit for moving a refrigerant;   a compressor fluidly coupled to the closed conduit circuit;   a condenser fluidly coupled to the closed conduit circuit;   an expansion valve fluidly coupled to the closed conduit circuit;   an evaporator fluidly coupled to the closed conduit circuit; and   a compressor-condenser unit comprising the compressor and the condenser, the compressor-condenser unit further comprising:   a cabinet having a plurality of walls including a top panel,   a fan motor coupled to the cabinet,   one or more fan blades coupled to the fan motor,   an orifice opening formed in the top panel,   a condenser orifice ring disposed within the orifice opening, wherein the condenser orifice ring is sized to receive the one or more fan blades, and   the condenser orifice ring comprising:   an annular member having a height extending between an upstream edge and a downstream edge,   the annular member comprising a wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the wall flares outward at the upstream edge and flares outward at the downstream edge,   wherein the flare of the wall at the upstream edge is between 5 and 20 degrees from a vertical, and   wherein the flare of the wall at the downstream edge is between 15 and 30 degrees from the vertical.   
     
     
         11 . The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of  claim 10 , wherein the wall of the annular member has a middle-portion that comprises between 2-5 percent of the height of the annular member and wherein the middle-portion substantially parallels the vertical. 
     
     
         12 . The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of  claim 10 , the annular member further comprising a plurality of positioning tabs coupled to the downstream edge of the wall for securing the annular member to the top panel with the annular member in a desired position. 
     
     
         13 . The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more fan blades are coupled to the fan motor such that the one or more fan blades are suspended within an interior of the condenser orifice ring between 70 and 80 percent of the height of the annular member from the downstream edge. 
     
     
         14 . The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of  claim 10 , further comprising a fan-connectivity notch formed in the downstream edge of the annular member and a lip extending from the annular member on the downstream edge. 
     
     
         15 . The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of strengthening ribs formed on the exterior surface of the annular member, the plurality of strengthening ribs facing outward. 
     
     
         16 . The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of  claim 10 , wherein the upstream edge of the wall has a curled initial portion. 
     
     
         17 . The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of  claim 10 , wherein a predetermined gap of at least 0.2 inches is formed between the annular member and a distal end of the one or more fan blades. 
     
     
         18 . A compressor-condenser orifice ring for use with an HVAC system, the compressor-condenser orifice ring comprising:
 a substantially circular member having a wall with a height H, which is a vertical dimension when in an installed position, and having an upstream edge and a downstream edge;   an inner portion of the substantially circular member forming an area to accommodate one or more fan blades and to provide fluid passage; and   wherein the wall has an entry portion, a middle portion, and an exit portion, and wherein the entry portion has an entry inside diameter Den, the middle portion has a middle diameter Dm, and the exit portion has an exit inside diameter Dex, and wherein Den >Dm by at least five percent and Dex>Dm by at least five percent.   
     
     
         19 . The compressor-condenser orifice ring of  claim 18 , wherein the entry portion has at least a portion that forms an angle between 12 and 18 degrees to the vertical and the exit portion has at least a portion that forms an angle between 18 and 22 degrees to the vertical. 
     
     
         20 . The compressor-condenser orifice ring of  claim 18 , wherein the compressor-condenser orifice ring further comprises a plurality of tabs coupled to the substantially circular member proximate the downstream edge.