APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR AMATEUR DUCTLESS HVAC INSTALLATION
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing non-expert installation of HVAC systems are provided. The HVAC system includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a first pre-charged refrigerant line-set, a second pre-charged refrigerant line-set, and a line-set coupler, each containing pre-pressurized refrigerant securely positioned therein prior to engagement between two or more of the aforementioned elements. The first pre-charged refrigerant line-set is couplable between an indoor unit refrigerant port of the indoor unit and a first coupler end of the line-set coupler. The second pre-charged refrigerant line-set is couplable between an outdoor unit refrigerant pot of the outdoor unit and a second coupler end of the line-set coupler.
1 - 11 . (canceled)
12 . A self-contained refrigerant connection system for facilitating amateur installation of an HVAC unit comprising:
a copper conduit line-set;
wherein said line-set is equipped with a first end, a midsection, and a second end;
wherein said first end and said second end are identical;
a protective coil, said protective coil disposed such that the line-set is present at a center of said protective coil;
wherein the protective coil is equal in length to that of said line-set;
insulation, said insulation disposed around said midsection of said line-set;
a first female quick-connect connector, said first female quick-connect connector disposed on said first end of said line-set;
a second female quick-connect connector, said second female quick-connect connector disposed on said second end of said line-set;
refrigerant, said refrigerant is pressurized within said line-set;
wherein said first female quick-connect connector is configured to connect to a first male quick-connect connector disposed on an indoor unit of the HVAC system; and
wherein said second female quick-connect connector is configured to connect to a second male quick-connect connector disposed on an outdoor unit of the HVAC system.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said first female quick-connect connector and said second female quick-connect connector are identical iterations of the female quick-connect connector; and
wherein said first male quick-connect connector and said second male quick-connect connector are identical iterations of the male quick-connect connector.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein said refrigerant is sealed within said line-set by said first female quick-connect connector and second quick-connect connector until released upon the mating of the first female quick-connect connector to the first male quick-connect connector and the mating of the second female quick-connect connector to the second male quick-connect connector.
15 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
inner threads, said inner threads disposed on said first female quick-connect connector and said second female quick-connect connector;
outer threads, said outer threads disposed on said first male quick-connect connector and said second male quick-connect connector; and
wherein said inner threads are configured to mate to said outer threads upon connection of the first female quick-connect connector to said first male quick-connect connector and upon connection of the second female quick-connect connector said second male quick-connect connector.
16 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a rod, said rod disposed such that it is fixedly connected to a shaft seat of said female quick-connect connector;
a rod head, said rod disposed on said rod farthest from said shaft seat of said female quick-connect connector;
an sleeve, said sleeve disposed about the rod of said female quick-connect connector;
a first return spring, said first return spring disposed between the shaft seat and the sleeve of said female quick-connect connector; and
wherein said first return spring is configured to apply a force to said sleeve, sealing said sleeve against said rod head when said female quick-connect connector is not mated to said male quick-connect connector.
17 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a valve head, said valve head disposed within said male quick-connect connector, in communication with a valve stem;
a cavity, said cavity containing a second return spring, and said valve head of said male quick-connect connector;
a front support plate;
a rear support plate;
an axial through hole, said axial through hole disposed adjacent to said valve head;
wherein said front support plate and said rear support plate set the bounds for said cavity; and
wherein, upon connection of said male quick-connect connector to said female quick-connect connector, said valve head and said valve stem are pushed inwards into said cavity, compressing said second return spring, permitting passage of refrigerant through said axial through hole.
18 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
inner threads, said inner threads disposed on said first female quick-connect connector and said second female quick-connect connector;
outer threads, said outer threads disposed on said first male quick-connect connector and said second male quick-connect connector; and
wherein said inner threads are configured to mate to said outer threads upon connection of the first female quick-connect connector to said first male quick-connect connector and upon connection of the second female quick-connect connector said second male quick-connect connector.
19 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a rod, said rod disposed such that it is fixedly connected to a shaft seat of said female quick-connect connector;
a rod head, said rod disposed on said rod farthest from said shaft seat of said female quick-connect connector;
an sleeve, said sleeve disposed about the rod of said female quick-connect connector;
a first return spring, said first return spring disposed between the shaft seat and the sleeve of said female quick-connect connector; and
wherein said first return spring is configured to apply a force to said sleeve, sealing said sleeve against said rod head when said of said female quick-connect connector is not mated to said male quick-connect connector.
20 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a valve head, said valve head disposed within said male quick-connect connector, in communication with a valve stem;
a cavity, said cavity containing a second return spring, and said valve head of said male quick-connect connector;
a front support plate;
a rear support plate;
an axial through hole, said axial through hole disposed adjacent to said valve head;
wherein said front support plate and said rear support plate set the bounds for said cavity; and
wherein, upon connection of said male quick-connect connector to said female quick-connect connector, said valve head and said valve stem are pushed inwards into said cavity, compressing said second return spring, permitting passage of refrigerant through said axial through hole.
21 . An HVAC line-set for coupling between an indoor HVAC unit and an outdoor HVAC unit, the HVAC line-set comprising:
a conduit piping having a first piping end, a second piping end, and a piping length defined between the first piping end and the second piping end;
a protective coil circumscribing the conduit piping along the entire piping length;
a first female quick-connect connector coupled to the first piping end, the first female quick-connect connector configured to be coupled with a first male quick-connect connector of the indoor HVAC unit;
a second female quick-connect connector coupled to the second piping end, the second female quick-connect connector configured to be coupled with a second male quick-connect connector of the outdoor HVAC unit;
a refrigerant pressurized within the lineset between the first and second quick-connect connectors, wherein:
the first and second female quick-connect connectors are biased towards a closed position prior to engagement with the first and second male quick-connect connectors, respectively.
22 . The HVAC line-set of claim 21 , wherein:
the first and second female quick-connect connectors are identical; and
the first and second male quick-connect connectors are identical.
23 . The HVAC line-set of claim 21 , wherein:
the refrigerant is sealed within the conduit piping prior to engagement of at least one of the first and second female quick-connect connectors with a corresponding one of the first and second male quick-connect connectors.
24 . The HVAC line-set of claim 21 , wherein:
the protective coil configured to prevent kinking when manipulating the conduit piping to position it between the indoor HVAC unit and the outdoor HVAC unit.
25 . The HVAC line-set of claim 21 , wherein:
each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors include interior threads;
each of the first and second male quick-connect connectors include outer threads; and
the inner threads are configured to mate with the outer threads upon connection of the first female quick-connect connector with the first male quick-connect connector and upon connection of the second female quick-connect connector with the second male quick-connect connector.
26 . The HVAC line-set of claim 21 , wherein:
each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors include a rod and a sleeve, the rod fixedly coupled to a shaft seat within each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors, the rod including a rod head positioned distally to the shaft seat, the sleeve configured to selectively abut the rod head for opening and closing each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors;
the sleeve is biased towards a closed position; and
the sleeve is configured to interact with one of the first or second male quick-connect connectors upon engagement to move the sleeve to an open position.
27 . The HVAC line-set of claim 21 , wherein:
each of the first and second male quick-connect connectors include a valve stem slidably coupled within each of the first and second male quick-connect connectors, the valve stem including a valve head configured to selectively abut an opening for opening and closing the automatic valve of the second valve type;
the valve stem and valve head are biased towards a closed configuration; and
the valve head is configured to interact with one of the first or second quick-connect connectors upon engagement to move the valve head and valve stem to an open position.
28 . The HVAC line-set of claim 21 , wherein:
each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors include a rod and a sleeve, the rod fixedly coupled to a shaft seat within each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors, the rod including a rod head positioned distally to the shaft seat, the sleeve configured to selectively abut the rod head for opening and closing each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors;
each of the first and second male quick-connect connectors include a valve stem slidably coupled within each of the first and second male quick-connect connectors, the valve stem including a valve head configured to selectively abut an opening for opening and closing the automatic valve of the second valve type;
the sleeve of each of the first and second female quick-connect connectors and the valve stem and valve head of each of the first and second male quick-connect connectors are biased toward a closed position;
the rod head of the first female quick-connect connector is configured to interact with the valve head of the first male quick-connect connector to open the first male quick-connect connector while simultaneously the sleeve of the first female quick-connect connector is configured to interact with a 90-degree support rim of the first male quick-connect connector to open the first female quick-connect connector, the 90-degree support rim defined circumferentially about the opening of the first male quick-connect connector; and
the rod head of the second female quick-connect connector is configured to interact with the valve head of the second male quick-connect connector to open the second male quick-connect connector while simultaneously the sleeve of the second female quick-connect connector is configured to interact with a 90-degree support rim of the second male quick-connect connector to open the second female quick-connect connector, the 90-degree support rim defined circumferentially about the opening of the second male quick-connect connector.
29 . An HVAC system comprising:
an indoor unit having at least one indoor unit male quick-connect connector coupled thereto;
an outdoor unit having at least one outdoor unit male quick-connect connector coupled thereto;
at least one line-set coupled between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit comprising:
a conduit piping having a first piping end, a second piping end, and a piping length defined between the first piping end and the second piping end;
a protective coil circumscribing the conduit piping along the entire piping length, the protective coil configured to prevent kinking when manipulating the conduit piping;
a first female quick-connect connector coupled to the first piping end, the first female quick-connect connector configured to be coupled with one of the at least one indoor unit male quick-connect connector;
a second female quick-connect connector coupled to the second piping end, the second female quick-connect connector configured to be coupled with one of the at least one outdoor unit male quick-connect connector; and
a pressurized refrigerant maintained within the at least one line-set using the first and second female quick-connect connectors.
30 . The HVAC system of claim 29 , wherein:
the first and second female quick-connect connectors are identical; and
the at least one indoor unit male quick-connect connector and at least one outdoor unit male quick-connect connector are identical.
31 . The HVAC system of claim 29 , wherein:
the refrigerant is sealed within the conduit piping prior to engagement between one of the first female quick-connect connector or second female quick-connect connector and a corresponding one of the at least one indoor unit male quick-connect connector or the at least one outdoor unit male quick-connect connector.