Wire retainer

Abstract

An outdoor unit for an air conditioner/heat pump is provided with a bracket which is attached to the tube sheet of the heat exchanger coil for routing the electrical leads from the electronic components within the unit to a control box located outside thereof. The bracket is mounted without fasteners and is preferably clipped onto a planar structure on the tube sheet by way of opposing tabs on the bracket. The bracket is preferably secured to the planar wall by way of dimples that engage with holes formed in the planar wall.

1 . An outdoor unit for an air conditioner/heat pump system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger defining an outer periphery of the outdoor unit and having a tube sheet at each of two ends thereof;   a plurality of electrical components disposed within said heat exchanger, each of said electrical components having at least one electrical wire connected thereto;   an electrical control box located outside of said heat exchanger and being electrically connected to said plurality of electrical components by said electric wires; and   a bracket mounted within said unit, said bracket having an opening therein to receive and retain said electrical wires as they extend between said plurality of electrical components and said electrical control box.   
     
     
         2 . An outdoor unit as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said tube sheet has an exposed edge and said bracket is attached to said exposed edge. 
     
     
         3 . An outdoor unit as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said bracket is attached to said exposed edge without fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . An outdoor unit as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said bracket is attached to said exposed edge by clipping said bracket to said exposed edge. 
     
     
         5 . An outdoor unit as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said bracket includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs that are disposed on one side of said exposed edge and another plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs that are disposed on the other side of said exposed edge. 
     
     
         6 . An outdoor unit as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said at least one of said tabs has a dimple, and said exposed edge has at least one opening formed therein and further wherein said at least one dimple engages with said at least one opening. 
     
     
         7 . An outdoor unit as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plurality of electrical components includes a compressor and a fan motor. 
     
     
         8 . A method of routing a plurality of wire leads from internal electrical components within the confines of an outdoor heat exchanger coil to a control box located outside the coil, comprising the steps of:
 providing a wire retainer device which has an opening therein for receiving the plurality of wire leads;   providing at least one tube sheet for said heat exchanger coil, said tube sheet having a planar wall forming an extension thereof;   mounting said wire retainer on said planar wall at a location near the control box; and   routing the plurality of wire leads to and through said wire retainer device opening and then to the control box.   
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said wire retainer device is attached to said tube sheet planar wall without fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said wire retainer device is attached to said planar wall by clipping the retainer device to said planar wall. 
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said wire retainer device is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs that are disposed on one side of said planar wall and another plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs that are disposed on the other side of said planar wall. 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein at least one of said tabs has a dimple formed thereon, and wherein said planar wall has at least one opening formed therein, and further wherein said at least one dimple is made to engage said at least one opening. 
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said internal electrical components includes a compressor and a fan motor.