Refrigerant Sensor Mounting Mechanisms

Abstract

Refrigerant sensor mounting mechanisms are provided herein. The mounting mechanisms allow the refrigerant sensor to be positioned at a bottom portion of a heat exchanger of an air conditioning system such that the refrigerant sensor is proximate to the drain pan of the air conditioning systems. The mounting mechanism may also allow for the refrigerant sensor to be mounted to the top of the drain pan, in some embodiments. By positioning the refrigerant sensor at this location, the refrigerant sensors are more likely to not only detect a refrigerant leak, but also detect the refrigerant leak quickly, as the leaked refrigerant is likely to settle at this location at the bottom of the air conditioning system.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 a heat exchanger;   a drain pan;   a mounting bracket that is mounted at a bottom portion of the heat exchanger and above a drain pan of the heat exchanger; and   a refrigerant sensor that is mounted to the mounting bracket and configured to detect a refrigerant leak from the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a first portion and a second portion that is perpendicular to the first portion. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion includes one or more first apertures for receiving one or more first fasteners to fasten the mounting bracket to the air conditioning system, and wherein the second portion includes one or more second apertures for receiving one or more second fasteners to fasten the refrigerant sensor to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more first fasteners are arranged to receive the refrigerant sensor in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the mounting bracket includes a wire routing hole. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a shroud to protect the refrigerant sensor from condensation produced by the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutout in a tube sheet of the heat exchanger, wherein the cutout is shaped to receive the mounting bracket and the refrigerant sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the drain pan includes one or more troughs to direct refrigerant flow to a location of the refrigerant sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant sensor is an A2L sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant sensor is mounted within an inch of a top of the drain pan. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, wherein the first portion is parallel with the second portion, wherein the third portion is perpendicular with the first portion and second portion, and wherein the third portion connects the first portion and second portion. 
     
     
         12 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 a heat exchanger;   a drain pan;   a mounting bracket that is mounted at a top portion of the drain pan; and   a refrigerant sensor that is mounted to the mounting bracket and configured to detect a refrigerant leak from the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning system of  claim 12 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a wire routing hole. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning system of  claim 12 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a shroud to protect the refrigerant sensor from condensation produced by the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioning system of  claim 12 , further comprising a cutout in a tube sheet of the heat exchanger, wherein the cutout is shaped to receive the mounting bracket and the refrigerant sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioning system of  claim 12 , wherein the drain pan includes one or more troughs to direct refrigerant flow to a location of the refrigerant sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioning system of  claim 12 , wherein the refrigerant sensor is an A2L sensor. 
     
     
         18 . A mounting bracket for a refrigerant sensor of an air conditioning system, the mounting bracket comprising:
 a first portion that includes one or more first apertures for receiving one or more first fasteners to fasten the mounting bracket to the air conditioning system; and   a second portion that is perpendicular to the first portion and includes one or more second apertures for receiving one or more second fasteners to fasten a refrigerant sensor to the mounting bracket,   wherein the refrigerant sensor is configured to detect a refrigerant leak from a heat exchanger of the air conditioning system.   
     
     
         19 . The mounting bracket of  claim 18 , wherein the first portion of the mounting bracket includes a wire routing hole. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting bracket of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a shroud to protect the refrigerant sensor from condensation produced by the air conditioning system.