Ceiling-mountable heat pump system

Abstract

An example heat pump system includes a low-height cabinet configured to be mounted to a ceiling. The low-height cabinet includes a frame and a plurality of panels that define a compressor compartment, a blower compartment, and a plenum compartment. The frame includes one or more dividers that separate the blower compartment, the plenum compartment, and the compressor compartment from each other. The example heat pump system also includes a compressor installed horizontally in the compressor compartment, a heat exchanger installed vertically in the compressor compartment, a blower assembly installed in the blower compartment, and an air coil installed in the blower compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump system, comprising:
 a cabinet configured to be mounted to a ceiling, the cabinet comprising:
 a frame comprising a plurality of panels; 
 an integrated plenum compartment; 
 a compressor; 
 a heat exchanger; 
 a blower assembly positioned in a blower compartment horizontally adjacent the integrated plenum compartment, the blower assembly comprising one or more blowers and a blower motor; and 
 an air coil positioned horizontally adjacent the blower assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is horizontally-oriented in the cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the compressor is a rotary compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is vertically-oriented in the cabinet. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger is a brazed-plate heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the air coil comprises a plurality of horizontally-oriented heat exchange tubes with heat exchange passes stacked vertically above one another. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the air coil is a refrigerant-to-air heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor, the heat exchanger, the one or more blowers, and the blower motor are located in the cabinet separate from the integrated plenum compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a first divider that separates the blower assembly from the integrated plenum compartment, and a second divider that separates the compressor from the integrated plenum compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a first bottom panel that partially forms the blower compartment and is detachable from the frame to facilitate a technician in accessing the blower compartment from below the cabinet when the cabinet is mounted to the ceiling. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pump system of  claim 10 , comprising a drain pan that is installed below the air coil in the blower compartment, wherein the drain pan is configured to be removable from the blower compartment when the cabinet is mounted to the ceiling. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the blower assembly further includes slider brackets to which the blower assembly is slidably mounted, wherein the blower assembly is configured to be lowered at least partially out of the blower compartment when the first bottom panel is detached from the frame to facilitate the technician in accessing the one or more blowers and the blower motor from below the cabinet when the cabinet is mounted to the ceiling. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pump system of  claim 12 , comprising a latch configured to engage the frame to secure the blower assembly in a retracted position in the blower compartment, wherein the latch is configured to disengage from the frame to enable the blower assembly to lower into an extended position. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes an end panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel that partially form the compressor compartment, wherein each of the end panel, the at least one side panel, and the at least one bottom panel is detachable from the frame to facilitate a technician in accessing the compressor compartment when the cabinet is mounted to the ceiling. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet further includes a control panel coupled to a cover panel, the control panel and the cover panel being rotatable between a first position, oriented to facilitate access to the control panel from below, and a second position, oriented to facilitate access to the control panel horizontally from a side or an end of the cabinet. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump system of  claim 15 , comprising a curved slot configured to receive a pin associated with the cover panel, wherein the pin is configured to slide in the curved slot to enable the control panel to be rotated between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pump system of  claim 15 , further comprising a disconnect switchbox that includes a switch extending outward from a bottom side of the cabinet to enable a technician to engage the switch before accessing an interior of the cabinet. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes a top panel extending along a top side of the cabinet, wherein the top includes opposing flanges, wherein each of the opposing flanges defines mount holes such that one of the mount holes is located at each corner of the top panel. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump system of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of grommet assemblies configured to provide hanger mounts for the cabinet, wherein each of the plurality of grommet assemblies are configured to extend through a respective one of the mount holes and couple to a corresponding one of the opposing flanges to mount the cabinet to respective hanger rods. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet has a maximum height of about 9 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one panel of the plurality of panels form at least part of the integrated plenum compartment, wherein the at least one panel includes one or more knockout panels that are removable to enable ductwork to fluidly connect to the integrated plenum compartment.