Window-mounted climate control system and method

Abstract

A climate control system configured to be coupled within an opening of a structure with the opening separating an internal area within the structure and an exterior area external to the structure and with the climate control system straddling the opening. The climate control system includes an interior unit disposed at the opening within the internal area; an exterior unit disposed at the opening in the exterior area; a mounting bracket for at least the exterior unit; and a service bridge that extends through the opening to connect the exterior unit and the interior unit. The service bridge fluidically connects an interior heat exchanger and an exterior heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A climate control system coupled within an open window of a building, with the window separating an indoor area within the building and an outdoor area external to the building, the climate control system straddling a sill of the window and consisting essentially of:
 an interior unit disposed at the window within the indoor area below a horizontal level of the sill, the interior unit including:
 an interior heat exchanger, 
 an interior fan to circulate air across the interior heat exchanger, and 
 one or more heat sensors; 
   an exterior unit disposed at the window in the outdoor area below the horizontal level of the sill, the exterior unit including:
 an exterior heat exchanger, 
 an exterior fan to circulate air across the exterior heat exchanger, and 
 a compressor; 
   a mounting bracket for at least the exterior unit, the mounting bracket mounted to the sill of the window suspended like a saddle straddling the sill of the window and engaging a vertical or horizontal surface about the sill of the window; and   a service bridge that extends through the window and over the sill to connect the exterior unit and the interior unit, the service bridge fluidically and physically connecting the interior heat exchanger and the exterior heat exchanger, and comprising:
 a first fluid supply lumen, 
 a second fluid return lumen, 
 a third lumen for power and control signals between the interior unit and the exterior unit, and 
 a fourth lumen that serves as a conduit to convey condensate to the exterior unit from the interior unit via a condensate pump, which prevents the need for a condensate drain in the interior unit such that a condensate drain is absent from the interior unit, 
 wherein the interior unit is configured to collect a condensate and convey the condensate to the exterior unit via the fourth lumen, where the condensate is ejected by the exterior unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The climate control system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the interior unit further comprises an interior unit housing having a cuboid shape, with the interior unit housing enclosing:
 the interior heat exchanger, 
 the interior fan to circulate air across the interior heat exchanger, and 
 the one or more heat sensors; and 
   wherein the exterior unit further comprises an exterior unit housing having a cuboid shape with a height and width that is greater than a depth of the exterior unit housing, with the exterior unit housing enclosing:
 the exterior heat exchanger, 
 the exterior fan to circulate air across the exterior heat exchanger, and 
 the compressor. 
   
     
     
         3 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior unit further comprises one or more movable louvers for directing airflow of the interior unit. 
     
     
         4 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the interior unit and exterior unit comprises a control system, the control system configured to:
 control the speed of the compressor,   modulate the speed of the interior fan and exterior fan to increase or decrease the rate of heat exchange by the interior heat exchanger and the exterior heat exchanger,   cause and control cooling of the indoor area within the building by the interior unit, and   cause and control heating of the indoor area within the building by the interior unit.   
     
     
         5 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior unit is positionable by a user. 
     
     
         6 . A climate control system configured to be coupled within an open window of a building, with the window separating an indoor area within the building and an outdoor area external to the building, the climate control system straddling a sill of the window and comprising:
 an interior unit disposed at the window within the indoor area below a horizontal level of the sill;   an exterior unit disposed at the window in the outdoor area below the horizontal level of the sill;   a mounting bracket for at least the exterior unit, the mounting bracket mounted to the sill of the window suspended like a saddle straddling the sill of the window; and   a service bridge that extends through the window and over the sill to connect the exterior unit and the interior unit, the service bridge fluidically connecting an interior heat exchanger and an exterior heat exchanger, and comprising:
 a first fluid supply lumen, 
 a second fluid return lumen, 
 a third lumen for power and control signals between the interior unit and the exterior unit, and 
 a fourth lumen that serves as a conduit to convey condensate to the exterior unit from the interior unit via a condensate pump, which prevents the need for a condensate drain in the interior unit such that a condensate drain is absent from the interior unit. 
   
     
     
         7 . The climate control system of  claim 6 , wherein the interior unit comprises:
 the interior heat exchanger,   an interior fan to circulate air across the interior heat exchanger, and   one or more heat sensors.   
     
     
         8 . The climate control system of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior unit comprises:
 the exterior heat exchanger,   an exterior fan to circulate air across the exterior heat exchanger, and   a compressor.   
     
     
         9 . The climate control system of  claim 6 , wherein the interior unit is configured to collect a condensate and convey the condensate to the exterior unit via the fourth lumen, where the condensate is ejected by the exterior unit. 
     
     
         10 . The climate control system of  claim 6 , wherein the mounting bracket engages a vertical or horizontal surface about the sill of the window. 
     
     
         11 . A climate control system configured to be coupled within an opening of a structure, with the opening separating an internal area within the structure and an exterior area external to the structure, with the climate control system straddling the opening and comprising:
 an interior unit disposed at the opening within the internal area;   an exterior unit disposed at the opening in the exterior area;   a mounting bracket for at least the exterior unit; and   a service bridge that extends through the opening to connect the exterior unit and the interior unit, the service bridge fluidically connecting an interior heat exchanger and an exterior heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the interior unit comprises:
 the interior heat exchanger, and   an interior fan to circulate air across the interior heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the exterior unit comprises:
 the exterior heat exchanger, and   an exterior fan to circulate air across the exterior heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the interior unit is configured to collect a condensate and convey the condensate to the exterior unit. 
     
     
         15 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting bracket is mounted within the opening and suspended like a saddle within the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the service bridge comprises:
 a first fluid supply lumen,   a second fluid return lumen,   a third lumen for power and control signals between the interior unit and the exterior unit, and   a fourth lumen that serves as a conduit to convey condensate to the exterior unit from the interior unit via a condensate pump, which prevents the need for a condensate drain in the interior unit such that a condensate drain is absent from the interior unit.   
     
     
         17 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the service bridge comprises a lumen that serves as a conduit to convey condensate to the exterior unit from the interior unit via a condensate pump. 
     
     
         18 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein a condensate drain is absent from the interior unit. 
     
     
         19 . The climate control system of  claim 11 , wherein the exterior unit is configured to eject a condensate collected at the interior unit.