The present invention refers to an apparatus that provides for the modular separation of the split-type air-conditioner into three independent units: evaporator, condenser and compressor, physically separated and interconnected by way of simple tubes.

The modular apparatus of the present invention has microventi- lators and provides for the use of a same kind of chassis for both the evaporating unit and the condensing unit.

Description of the state of the art

As it is widely known, the main objective of an air-conditioner or air-conditioning apparatus is to provide thermal comfort, for environments, through heating or cooling.

Air-conditioning apparatuses work by changing the temperature of the environment's air with the air-conditioning apparatus, by way of the passage of the air through the evaporator's coil which, by contact, sustains a drop or increase in temperature, depending on the cycle used, lowering the relative humidity of the air.

When the air-conditioning apparatus reaches the desired tem- perature, a sensor located in the evaporator takes the reading and turns off the compressor, forcing the equipment to maintain the temperature. Whenever a variation occurs, in the selected temperature, the compressor is again activated to circulate the cooling gas inside the system.

In cooling operations, the gas leaves the compressor at high pressure and temperature. On its path, when passing through the condenser, it loses heat, and continues to lose heat when it passes through the "expansion element" (the capillary tube and drying filter). When the gas arrives in the evaporator, it is already cold, and is ready to cool the internal environment, carrying heat to the external environment.

In the heating operation, the principle is the same. The difference is that, in this operation, there is a reverse valve that changes the path that the gas will follow. Instead of first going to the condenser as in the cold cycle, the gas first goes to the evaporator. Thus, the condenser and the evaporator change roles. Everything works in the same way, except reversely. It is the evaporator (internal environment) that heats up and the condenser (external environment) that cools down.

There are three types of air-conditioning apparatuses available on the market: window, self-chiller and split. Window apparatuses are compact products with lower value added, which have an evaporator and condenser in the same compartment and also have some installment restrictions in certain buildings or homes such as, for example the requirement of the alteration of the building's facing.

Self-chiller apparatuses are large-capacity equipment designed for specific applications, such as commercial environments.

Split apparatuses have an evaporator and a condenser in separate units. The units are normally interconnected by copper piping, which enables them to be kept apart and also assures flexibility of installation, providing lower noise levels and improved air distribution, due to the large air intake area, whereby making it more economical.

There are various models of split apparatuses on the market, the most well-known commercial models being the multi-split, split floor/ceiling, the built-in split, square split, cassette split, and others.

Split-type air-conditioner apparatuses usually comprise two units: an internal unit and an external unit. The external unit and the internal unit disposed in separate places so as to isolate all the environmental noise, making the internal unit extremely quiet and functional.

Split air-conditioning is a system that provides greater comfort, since most of the noise is in the external unit (condenser), which can be installed at a distance of up to 30 meters away from the acclimatized environment.

With a view to improving split-type air-conditioning apparatuses, decreasing its noise and also providing for the assembly thereof in hard access places, the state of the art presents some probable solutions. One of these solutions is presented in document KR 20040003621 , which describes an air-conditioning apparatus, having an internal evaporator unit, an external unit that comprises a compressor unit, which has a compressor and an expansion valve, and a condensing unit, which has a heat exchanger and a cross flow ventilator.

However, the apparatus described in the document above did not achieve the objectives described previously, since the present embodiment does not provide for a reduction in the compressor noises, as well as the installment of said air-conditioning apparatus in hard access sites, since the external unit only physically separates the compressor unit from the con- densing unit, letting the air-conditioning apparatus tied to the initial project preventing it from being installed distantly from the condensing unit. Furthermore, the air-conditioning apparatus requires a double connection between the compressor unit and the condensing unit.

Japanese document JP 3286193 presents a solution for reduc- ing noise coming from the compressor of air-conditioning apparatuses by the construction of a compressor unit isolated from the condensing unit. The document also describes that the compressor unit has an anti-noise coating and a vibration insulator.

Although the Japanese document seems to be similar to a split- type air-conditioner, it describes an air-conditioner of the Package Terminal Air Conditioner type. This type of apparatus has a physical communication similar to a window air-conditioner and, therefore, quite different from the split-type air-conditioning apparatuses. The air-conditioning apparatus proposed in said document does not have a construction that allows the com- pressor unit to be disposed distantly from the condensing unit, and accordingly it cannot be placed in hard access sites.

Patent US 6.655.161 describes an air-conditioner comprising an external unit, at least an internal unit and a compressor, where the connection between the external unit and the internal unit is by way of high-pressure cooling tubes. The North-American patent also describes that the compressor is disposed in the external unit and has a flow control system.

Therefore, it can be ascertained that the above patent does not solve the problems of noise and installment in hard access sites, separating the compressor from the condensing unit.

By virtue of the foregoing, it can be ascertained that none of the prior art documents presented reveals a split-type air-conditioning apparatus that provides for a separate disposition of the evaporating unit, the condensing unit and the compressor unit, as well as the interconnection of the three units by way of simple connections; the use of the same type of chassis for the evaporator and condenser units; and allowing the compressor unit to be assembled distantly from the evaporation and condensation units, so as to considerably reduce the inconvenient noise generated by the compressor. Objectives of the invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a split-type modular air-conditioning apparatus having three independent units, namely an internal evaporating unit, an external condensing unit and an external compressing unit mounted on an independent chassis disposed separately, so as to enable a significant reduction in noise coming from the compressor unit by way of its disposition in any place.

The objective of the present invention is also to provide a split- type modular air-conditioning apparatus where the interconnection of the units is by means of a simple tube connected between the input connection of a unit with the output connection of the other unit.

Further, another objective of the present invention is a split-type air-conditioning apparatus which enables the control of the speed and the control of the air volume in different regions of the heat exchanger, by the use of microventilators, both in the evaporating unit, and in the condensing unit.

Lastly, the objective of the present invention is to provide a split- type air-conditioning apparatus that provides for the assembly of the evaporating and condensing units on a same type of chassis and with a depth less than 150 millimeters, with a lower numben of components, being easy to manufacture and assemble.

Brief description of the invention

The objectives of the present invention are achieved by a split- type modular air-conditioning apparatus, which comprises an evaporating unit, a condensing unit, a compressor unit, an expansion valve, a four- connection valve with tubes interconnecting the units; an evaporating unit comprising a chassis, a heat exchanger, a ventilation system, a front deflec- tor panel, a grated rear panel and a central control; the condensing unit comprising a chassis, a heat exchanger, a ventilation system and two grated panels; and the compressor unit comprising a compressor; the evaporating unit, the condensing unit and the compressor unit being physically separated , the compressor unit being disposed distantly from the evaporating unit and the condensing unit meaning that the hearing perception of the noise produced by the compressor unit is inaudible in the environment where the evaporating unit is disposed, in addition to the units being associated together exclusively by means of gas conduction ducts.

The objectives of the present invention are also achieved by the compressor of the compressor unit of the modular apparatus being interconnected to the four-connection valve by way of a first tube, the four-connection valve being interconnected to the input connection of the condensing unit by way of a second tube, the expansion valve being disposed in the condensing unit and being connected on one side to a third tube, and on the other side being interconnected to the input connection of the evaporating unit 1 , by means of a fourth tube, the evaporating unit being interconnected to the four- connection valve by way of a fifth tube disposed between the output connection and the four-connection valve, and the four-connection valve being interconnected to the input connection of the compressor unit by way of a sixth tube.

The objectives of the present invention are also achieved by a split-type modular air-conditioning apparatus which comprises microventila- tors both in the evaporating unit and in the condensing unit.

Advantages of the present invention include the possibility of placing the units in separate sites, mounting the evaporating and condensing units in a same type of chassis, the control of the speed and the control of the air volume in different regions of the heat exchanger. Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described in further detail based on an example of execution represented in the drawings. The drawings show:

figure 1 - a schematic illustration of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 2a - a perspective view of the first chassis used in the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 2b - a perspective view of the heat exchanger used in the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 2c - a perspective view of the heat exchanger of the modular apparatus of the present invention, mounted on the first or on the second chassis of the present invention;

figure 2d - a perspective view of the microventilator used in the ventilation assembly of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 2e - a perspective view of the first or second base- assembly formed by the first or second chassis, by the first or second heat exchanger and by the first or second ventilation assembly, used in the modular air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention;

figure 2f - a sectional view of the assembly shown in figure 2e; figure 3a - a perspective view of the first base-assembly, as illustrated in figure 2e, prior to the assembly of the evaporating unit;

figure 3b - a perspective view of the deflector used in the evaporating unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 3c - a perspective view of the evaporating unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 3d - a perspective view of the first grated rear panel used in the evaporating unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 3e - a side sectional view of the evaporating unit shown in figure 3d;

figure 4a - a perspective view of the second base-assembly, before assembling the condensing unit; figure 4b - a perspective view of the second grated panel used in the condensing unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 4c - a perspective view of the condensing unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 4d - a side sectional view of the condensing unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention, shown in figure 4c;

figure 5a - a perspective view of the third chassis used in the compressor unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 5b - a perspective view of the compressor used in the compressor unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention, mounted on the third chassis illustrated in fig. 5a;

figure 5c - a perspective view of the compressor unit of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 5d - an illustration of the compressor unit with the inter- connection tubes of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 6a - a perspective view of the first central control used in the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 6b - a perspective view of the second central control used in the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 6c - a perspective view of the evaporating unit having a first central control of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 6d - a perspective view of the evaporating unit having a second central control of the modular apparatus of the present invention;

figure 6e - a sectional view of the evaporating unit of the mod- ular apparatus of the present invention, shown in figure 6c;

figure 7a - an illustration of the electric working of the modular apparatus of the present invention; and

figure 7b - an illustration of the mechanical working of the modular apparatus of the present invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

According to a preferred embodiment and as can be seen in the figure 1 , the modular air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention bas- ically comprises three separate and distinct units, namely an evaporating unit 1 , normally disposed internally, a condensing unit 2, normally disposed externally, and a compressor unit 3, also disposed externally. However, differently to that found in the state of the art, the compressor is dissociated from the external unit that comprises a condensing unit 2, forming a compressor unit 3, which is disposed on a chassis, which is separate from the condensing unit 2, which allows the compressor unit 3 to be installed significantly distant from the other units, mainly in order to obtain noise reduction.

Figure 1 also illustrates that each of the units should have two tube connections, namely, an input connection and an output connection. Interconnection between the units of the modular apparatus of the present invention is by way of a simple tube and not with two tubes and four connections, as found in the state of the art. Further, the expansion valve 4 which in the state of the art is normally disposed near the compressor, in the modular apparatus of the present invention, it is preferably disposed in the condensing unit 2. However, due to the modularity of the modular air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention, the expansion valve 4 can be disposed in the evaporating unit 1 , this occurs when the condensing unit 2 is installed at a higher level than the evaporating unit 1.

The modular air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention describes the segmentation into three distinct units: evaporating unit, condensing unit and compressor unit, each one disposed modularly on an independent and separate chassis. The present invention is different from the split-type air-conditioning apparatuses of the state of the art, which describe an external unit having an evaporator and a compressor mounted on a same chassis (mechanically associated). It can also be said that the units, in the present invention, are physically separated, that is, having no physical communication/contact between them, or also exempt of intersection points and associated together exclusively by means of gas ducts, and in combination with other characteristics that will be described in greater detail ahead, provide a more versatile, lighter, cheaper, easy-to-operate and more economical split-type air-conditioner. By way of the characteristic mentioned above, the object of the present invention enables the compressor unit to be placed apart at a distance of up to 100 meters from the other two units, letting the hearing perception of the noise produced by the compressor unit inaudible in the envi- ronment where the evaporating unit is disposed.

Figures 2a and 2e show some parts ^that provide the air- conditioner, object of the present invention, with a versatility such that both the evaporating unit 1 and the condensing unit 2 can be assembled on a same type of chassis.

Figure 2a shows a first chassis 101 or a second chassis 201 that basically comprises an upper platform 101a or 201a, a lower platform 101b or 201b and interconnection sections 101c or 201c between the upper 101a, 201a and lower 101b, 201b platforms. Moreover, the first chassis 101 or the second chassis 201 has a depth 101d, 201 d comprised between 100 and 150 millimeters, and can be manufactured in any geometric shape and also be made of any kind of material, such as metal, plastic, polymer or also a combination thereof.

Figure 2b shows a first 102 or a second 202 heat exchanger used in the modular apparatus of the present invention, that mainly provides for the heat exchange between the gas, which is on the inside, and the environment's air. And figure 2c principally shows the assembly of the first heat exchanger 102 or second heat exchanger 202 shown in figure 2b, on the first chassis 101 or second chassis 201 shown in figure 2a.

A microventilator 107,107a, mounted on small shells and inte- grated to a small motor, is shown in figure 2d. This small motor may be fed with a direct current or with an alternating current. The microventilators used in the modular air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention can be axial, as illustrated in the present figure, radial, cross flow, or otherwise. The layout of various microventilators 107, 107a on the structure of the first chas- sis 101 or of the second chassis 201 , forms a first ventilation assembly 103 or a second ventilation assembly 203.

Figure 2e shows the first base-assembly 108 or second base- assembly 208, formed by the first chassis 101 or second chassis 201 , by the first heat exchanger 102 or by the second heat exchanger 202 and by the first ventilation assembly 103 or by the second ventilation assembly 203. This first base-assembly 108 or second base-assembly 208 will subsequent- ly serve to mount both the evaporating unit 1 and the condensing unit 2. Figure 2f shows a side view of the first base-assembly 108 or of the second base-assembly 208, shown in figure 2e, where it is possible to identify the first chassis 101 or second chassis 201 , the first heat exchanger 102 or second heat exchanger 202 and the first ventilation assembly 103 or the second ventilation assembly 203.

As can be seen in figures 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, for the construction of the evaporating unit 1 of the modular apparatus of the present invention, as well as the first base-assembly 108 mentioned previously, it is also necessary to use a deflector panel 104 on the front part of the unit, so that the air flow can be directed, and also a first grated rear panel 105, so as to allow the unit to be fixed onto the wall and allow the first ventilation assembly 103 to suction the environment air.

Figure 3a shows the first base-assembly 108 formed by the first chassis 101 , by the first heat exchanger 102 and by the first ventilation as- sembly 103, used to assemble the evaporating unit 1 of the modular apparatus of the present invention. To assemble the evaporating unit 1 it is necessary to add a deflector panel 104 and a first grated rear panel 105 to the first base-assembly 108.

Figure 3b illustrates the deflector 104a, which has a rectangular shape and the width size of the evaporating unit 1. Further, in another embodiment of the evaporating unit 1 , the deflectors 104a can be sectioned into two or more parts, may have other shapes and also be disposed directly on the first chassis 101.

As can be seen in figure 3c, the deflector panel 104 comprises various deflectors 104a, which have a vertically push-open design, and enable the air flow to be directed in any direction inside the environment where they are installed. There may be other deflector panels which provide for the side directioning of the air flow. Both the deflectors 104a, and the deflector panel 104 can be made of metal, plastic, polymer or a combination thereof, as long as they withstand the temperature requirements of an air- conditioning apparatus.

Additionally, figure 3c shows the evaporating unit 1 with the deflector panel 104 fixed to the first base-assembly 108. To achieve the preferred embodiment, the deflector panel 104 is disposed directly on the structure of the first chassis 101 , however, in another embodiment, the deflectors 104a may be disposed directly on the first chassis 101.

Figure 3d shows the first grated panel 105 to be used in the rear part of the evaporating unit 1 , which can be made of metal, plastic, polymer or a combination thereof, as long as they withstand the temperature requirements of an air-conditioning apparatus.

Figure 3e shows a cutaway of the preferred embodiment of the evaporating unit 1 of the present invention, where it is possible to identify the first chassis 101 , the first heat exchanger 102, the first ventilation assembly 103 and the deflectors 104a. Further, it can be noted that the deflectors 104a are fixed on the front part of the first base-assembly 108 having a push-open design. When they are disposed in parallel to the panel, the def- lectors 104a are closed, and when they are disposed vertically in relation to the panel, the deflectors 104a are open. The deflectors 104a may also move from the parallel to the vertical position, doing a swing movement.

Figure 4a shows the second base-assembly 208, identical to the first base-assembly 108, however, this time for mounting the condensing unit 2 of the apparatus of the present invention. This mounting requires the addition to the second base-assembly 208 of a pair of second grated panels 205, disposed oppositely.

Figure 4b shows the second grated panel 205 used in the assembly of the condensing unit 2, so as to present an arrangement such that permits the input and output of air from the unit 2. The second panel 205 may be formed by one or even two or more parts, as required, and can be made of metal, plastic, polymer or a combination thereof, as long as they withstand the temperature requirements of an air-conditioning apparatus.

Figure 4c shows the condensing unit 2 mounted, now with the two second grated panels 205 fixed to the second base-assembly 208. A cutaway of the preferred embodiment of the condensing unit 2 is shown in figure 4d, where it is also possible to identify all the components of the second base-assembly 208 (second chassis 201 , second heat exchanger 202 and second ventilation assembly 203), the two second grated panels 205 disposed oppositely, and it is also possible to verify the direction 211 of the input and output of the air flow in the condensing unit 2.

Figure 5a shows the third chassis 301 , used in the preferred embodiment of the third and last units of the modular apparatus of the present invention, the compressor unit 3. This third chassis 301 basically comprises a base 301a, side walls 301b and locking devices of the compressor 301c, and can be made in any geometric shape or of any metal, plastic, polymer or also a combination thereof, as long as it withstands the vibration and temperature requirements of a compressor.

Figure 5b shows a compressor 302 mounted and fixed on the third chassis 301 , used in the compressor unit 3. The compressor 302 may be of any kind may use either alternating current - AC or direct current - in- verted DC, and may also use any kind of cooling gas.

Figure 5c shows a compressor unit 3 which, according to one of the possible embodiments of the present invention, essentially comprises the compressor 302.

In a second possible embodiment, the compressor unit may comprise the base 301 , the compressor 302, the four-connection valve 5, an input connection 304, an output connection 305, a power input 306 and a shell 307.

In a third possible embodiment, as can be seen in figure 5d, a compressor unit 3 comprises a base 301 , a compressor 302, a second mi- croventilator 107a, an air gap 308, a discharge tube 6, a two-connection valve 310, a three-connection valve 312, a suction tube 7 and a power input 306. Besides the functions of the basic components, described previously for the third preferred embodiment of the compressor unit 3 of the present invention, it is worth mentioning that the second microventilator 107a, identical to the first 107, is responsible for the ventilation system of the unit 3, that is, it has the duty to cool it when it is necessary. The discharge tube 309, shown in figure 5d, conducts the compressed cooling gas from the compressor to the two-connection valve 310, the suction tube 311 conducts the low-pressure, saturated cooling gas from the compressor 302 to the three-connection valve 312; and the two-connection 310 and the three- connection 312 valves respectively provide the physical connection with the condensing unit 2 and with the evaporating unit 1.

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate two of the innumerous possible embodiments for the central control 106 of the split-type air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention. The central control 106 is the unit responsible for controlling all the functions of the air-conditioning apparatus and also for providing the user with all the information necessary for its operation.

Figures 6c and 6d illustrate two of the innumerous possible embodiments of the disposition of the central control 106 in the evaporating unit 1 of the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention, respectively one fixed on the external part of one of the side walls and the other fixed on the lower part of the evaporating unit 1 , which, alternatively, can be fixed on the upper part.

Figure 6e, in turn, illustrates a cutaway of an evaporating unit 1 of the modular apparatus of the present invention having the central control 106 disposed on the side wall, and also illustrates the first ventilation assembly 103.

The disposition and the positioning of the first microventilators 107 on the first ventilation assembly 103 and on the second ventilation assembly 203, both on the evaporating unit 1 , and on the condensing unit 2, is an unprecedented fact of the present invention and allows the modular air- conditioning apparatus to effectively control all the surfaces where heat exchange occurs, and also allows the control of the speed and consequently the control of the air volume in the different regions of the first heat exchanger 102 and the second heat exchanger 202 and also provides for the possibility of creating the "natural ventilation" effect, by varying the speed of the microventilators 107,107a.

Figure 7a illustrates the electric working and figure 7b illustrates the mechanical working of the split-type modular air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention, based on the concept of three independent units, evaporating unit 1 , condensing unit 2 and compressor unit 3 working jointly, so that the compressor unit 3 can be positioned separately from the others and disposed in any site according to the user's convenience, avoiding the incidence of noise.

The electric working of the modular apparatus comprises the evaporating unit 1 , which is the unit that controls the power input 20 into the apparatus, and distributes it to the condensing unit 2, by way of the cable 21 and to the compressor unit 3, by way of the cable 22.

The mechanical working of the apparatus starts at the compressor unit 3, where the compressor 302 compresses the cooling gas and sends it by way of a first tube 6, interconnected between the compressor 302 and a first input connection of the four-connection valve 5, and also by way of a second tube 7, which interconnects the first output connection of the four- connection valve 5 to the input connection of the condensing unit 2; after the gas passes through the first heat exchanger 102 of the condensing unit 2, it follows by way of a third tube 8, disposed in the condensing unit 2, and between the output connection of the condenser and the input of the expansion valve 4. From the output connection of the expansion valve 4, the gas follows on by way of a fourth tube 9 to the input connection of the evaporating unit 1 ; the gas then flows to the second heat exchanger 202 of the evaporating unit 1 and goes by way of a fifth tube 10, which interconnects the output connection of the evaporating unit 1 to the compressor unit 3, by way of the second input connection of the four-connection valve 5. The second output connection of the four-connection valve 5 is, in turn, interconnected to the input connection of the compressor 302, by means of a sixth tube 11 , making the gas return to begin the process once again.

Another aspect of the object of the present invention is when the modular apparatus is a model of the kind that only cools. In this case, the second tube 7, which connects the compressor unit 3 to the condensing unit 2, can be mounted without thermal insulation, which is necessary in the kind that heats and cools, such that the second tube 7 acts as a heat exchanger, improving the efficiency of the apparatus.

Having described an example of a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations, and is only limited by the content of the accompanying claims, potential equivalents being included therein.