Apparatus and process for amateur ductless hvac installation

Abstract

A ductless HVAC system solution equipped with quick-connecting connectors and a line-set pre-charged with refrigerant and method of installation thereof. The system is simplified such that an amateur may conduct the installation without professional assistance. Pre-charged refrigerant line-sets, which are designed to contain the recommended pressure of requisite refrigerant are employed. A quick-release connection system housed within quick-connect connectors ensures refrigerant does not leak from the pre-charged refrigerant piping during installation, and ensures manual refrigerant charging is not needed. The quick-connect connectors feature a double-sealing system with a unique automatic safety valve which releases the refrigerant only when the indoor and outdoor components are connected and sealed, avoiding any potential leakage.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for installing a self-contained refrigerant connection system facilitating installation of a ductless HVAC system on a structure by an amateur comprising:
 attaching a mounting plate to an interior wall of the structure at a selected installation location;   drilling through the interior wall until the outdoors is reached forming a hole, the hole being adjacent to the mounting plate;   wherein the hole slopes five degrees downward;   wrapping pre-charged refrigerant line-sets, a drain pipe, and signal cables together with a vinyl wrap;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets are equipped with a protective coil wrapped around the entire length of each line-set;   wherein the protective coil is composed of metal;   wherein the protective coil and the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets are encased in insulation;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets contains pre-balanced refrigerant which does not require additional charging upon installation;   feeding the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets, the drain pipe, and the signal cables through the hole;   attaching an indoor unit to the mounting plate;   wherein the indoor unit is an air handler;   wherein said pre-charged line-sets, drain pipe, and signal cables are connected to the indoor unit;   placing an outdoor unit on a solid surfaced platform outdoors, below the hole;   anchoring the outdoor unit to the solid surfaced platform;   connecting the signal cables to a signal cable terminal of the outdoor unit;   connecting a power cable to a power cable terminal block of the outdoor unit;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets have two ends;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets are equipped with two female quick-connect connectors, one disposed at each end;   wherein the female quick-connect connectors are configured to accept male quick-connect connectors;   wherein male quick-connect connectors are disposed on the outdoor unit and the indoor unit;   connecting the female quick-connect connectors of the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets to the male quick-connect connectors of the outdoor unit;   turning valves disposed on the outdoor unit to an open position, releasing refrigerant from the pre-charged refrigerant piping into the outdoor unit;   turning valves disposed on the indoor unit to an open position, releasing refrigerant from the pre-charged refrigerant piping into the indoor unit;   wherein the outdoor unit contains a condenser;   connecting a power cable of the indoor unit to a power supply; and   connecting the power cable of the outdoor unit to a power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, upon connection of the female quick-connect connectors to the male quick-connect connectors, a seal locking device of the female quick-connect connectors is opened, permitting passage of refrigerant through a through hole;
 wherein the seal locking device comprises a first return spring, an axle sleeve, a shaft seat, a rod head, and a rod;   wherein the rod is configured to slide within the axle sleeve when the seal locking device is opened upon connection of the female quick-connect connector to the male quick-connect connector, and return to a pressurized neutral closed position when the female quick-connect connector is uncoupled from the male quick-connect connector via force of the first return spring; and   a valve head in communication with a valve stem of each male quick-connect connector are depressed and restrained in an open position against a second return spring, opening a sealing mechanism such that refrigerant flows through a through hole of the female quick-connect connectors of the pre-charged refrigerant line-set.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein upon connection of the female quick-connect connectors of the line-set to the male quick-connect connectors of the indoor unit and outdoor unit, outer threads of the male quick-connect connector are seated against inner threads of the female-quick connect connector. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the male quick-connect connectors are equipped with a 90 degree flaring to facilitate an immediate connection between the male quick-connect connectors and the female quick-connect connectors such that a rod head of the female quick-connect connector may slide inwards towards an axial through hole of the male quick-connect connector upon connection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the rod head coming into contact with an O-ring within the female quick-connect connector upon contact of the rod head to the valve stem during connection of the female quick-connect connector to the male quick-connect connector.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the rod compressing the first return spring of the female quick-connect connector upon contact with the valve head of the male quick-connect connector;   the rod entering a shaft seat of the female quick-connect connector;   wherein the shaft seat is disposed within the through hole of the female quick-connect connector; and   a plurality of axial holes present on the shaft seat permit uniform passage of refrigerant through the female quick-connect connector to the male quick-connect connector.   
     
     
         7 . A method for installing a self-contained refrigerant connection system facilitating installation of a ductless HVAC system on a structure by an amateur comprising:
 attaching a mounting plate to an interior wall of the structure at a selected installation location;   drilling through the interior wall until the outdoors is reached forming a hole, the hole being adjacent to the mounting plate;   wherein the hole slopes five degrees downward;   wrapping pre-charged refrigerant line-sets, a drain pipe, and signal cables together with a vinyl wrap;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets are equipped with a protective coils wrapped around the entire length of each line-set;   wherein the protective coils are composed of metal;   wherein the protective coils and the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets are encased in insulation;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets contains pre-balanced refrigerant which does not require additional charging upon installation;   feeding the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets, the drain pipe, and the signal cables through the hole;   attaching an indoor unit to the mounting plate;   wherein the indoor unit is an air handler;   wherein said pre-charged line-sets, drain pipe, and signal cables are connected to the indoor unit;   placing an outdoor unit on a solid surfaced platform outdoors, below the hole;   anchoring the outdoor unit to the solid surfaced platform;   connecting the signal cables to a signal cable terminal of the outdoor unit;   connecting a power cable to a power cable terminal block of the outdoor unit;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets have two ends;   wherein the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets is equipped with two female quick-connect connectors, one disposed at each end;   wherein the female quick-connect connectors are configured to accept male quick-connect connectors;   wherein male quick-connect connectors are disposed on the outdoor unit and the indoor unit;   connecting the female quick-connect connectors of the pre-charged refrigerant line-sets to the male quick-connect connectors of the outdoor unit;   wherein, upon connection of the female quick-connect connectors to the male quick-connect connectors, a seal locking device of the female quick-connect connectors is opened, permitting passage of refrigerant through a through hole;   wherein the seal locking device comprises a first return spring, an axle sleeve, a shaft seat, a rod head, and a rod;   wherein the rod is configured to slide within the axle sleeve when the seal locking device is opened upon connection of the female quick-connect connector to the male quick-connect connector, and return to a pressurized neutral closed position when the female quick-connect connector is uncoupled from the male quick-connect connector via force of the first return spring;   wherein upon connection of the female quick-connect connectors of the line-set to the male quick-connect connectors of the indoor unit and outdoor unit, outer threads of the male quick-connect connector are seated against inner threads of the female-quick connect connector;   wherein the male quick-connect connectors are equipped with a 90-degree flaring to facilitate an immediate connection between the male quick-connect connectors and the female quick-connect connectors such that a rod head of the female quick-connect connector may slide inwards towards an axial through hole of the male quick-connect connector upon connection;   the rod head coming into contact with an O-ring within the female quick-connect connector, present in an O-ring groove, upon contact of the rod head to the valve stem during connection of the female quick-connect connector to the male quick-connect connector;   the rod compressing the first return spring of the female quick-connect connector upon contact with the valve head of the male quick-connect connector;   the rod entering a shaft seat of the female quick-connect connector;   wherein the shaft seat is disposed within the through hole of the female quick-connect connector;   a plurality of axial holes present on the shaft seat permit uniform passage of refrigerant through the female quick-connect connector to the male quick-connect connector;   turning valves disposed on the outdoor unit to an open position, releasing refrigerant from the pre-charged refrigerant piping into the outdoor unit;   turning valves disposed on the indoor unit to an open position, releasing refrigerant from the pre-charged refrigerant piping into the indoor unit;   wherein the outdoor unit contains a condenser;   connecting a power cable of the indoor unit to a power supply; and   connecting the power cable of the outdoor unit to a power supply.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the male quick-connect connector abutting against the rod head of the female quick-connect connector near the valve head of the male quick-connect connector, creating a seal between the female quick-connect connector and male-quick connect connector upon seating of the inner threads of the female quick-connect connector to the outer threads of the male quick-connect connector.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the valve head is slidably fitted within a cavity of the male quick-connect connector, the cavity present between a front support plate and a rear support plate within the male quick-connect connector, disposed behind and around the valve stem. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein an O-ring, present within an O-ring groove adjacent to the rod head facilitates a secure seal upon connection of the male quick-connect connector to the female quick-connect connector. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein an O-ring, present within an O-ring groove adjacent to the rod head facilitates a secure seal upon connection of the male quick-connect connector to the female quick-connect connector. 
     
     
         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 may slide within 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 O-ring, said O-ring disposed within an O-ring groove of said female quick-connect connector;   a first return spring, said first return spring disposed behind said rod of said female quick-connect connector; and   wherein said first return spring is configured to apply a force to said rod, sealing said rod head against said O-ring when said of 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 , a rod, said rod disposed such that it may slide within 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 O-ring, said O-ring disposed within an O-ring groove of said female quick-connect connector;   a first return spring, said first return spring disposed behind said rod of said female quick-connect connector; and   wherein said first return spring is configured to apply a force to said rod, sealing said rod head against said O-ring when said of said female quick-connect connector is not mated to said male quick-connect connector.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , 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.