Low-Profile Window-Mountable Climate Control Systems Comprising AC-Heating Units, Mount Frames, and Modular Seals and Methods of Installing Such Systems

Abstract

A low-profile window-mountable air conditioning-heating system, described herein, comprises an air conditioning-heating unit formed by interior and exterior housings and interconnected by a bridge housing that encloses flexible fluid lines and sliding bridge rails. The system also comprises a mounting frame that supports the unit across a building wall without permanent attachment or wall penetration. The frame also enables pivoting and extension to simplify installation and accommodate different wall thicknesses. The system comprises a window-frame seal with a center seal module and stackable seal modules to accommodate varying window widths. The center seal module comprises a rigid base configured to interlock with other bases thereby filling the gap in different window sizes while enhancing thermal insulation, water resistance, and durability. The modular aspect of the window-frame seal provides improved weather sealing, simplifies installation, and avoids the limitations of conventional seals.

1 . A low-profile window-mountable climate control system for installing across a window opening defined by a window frame positioned in a building wall, the low-profile window-mountable climate control system comprising:
 an air conditioning-heating unit comprising an interior housing, an exterior housing, a bridge housing, and a service loop, wherein:
 the bridge housing defines an interior cavity, and 
 the service loop extends through the interior cavity and operatively couples the interior housing and the exterior housing; 
   a mounting frame configured to engage the window frame and the building wall and support the air conditioning-heating unit in the window opening; and   a window-frame seal comprising a center seal module configured to position between the window frame and at least the bridge housing to fill and seal gaps between the window frame and at least the bridge housing, wherein the window-frame seal further comprises a side foam unit configured to the positioned between the center seal module and the window frame.   
     
     
         2 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the air conditioning-heating unit further comprises a pivot mechanism, and   the pivot mechanism allows the exterior housing to pivot relative to the bridge housing about a pivot axis.   
     
     
         3 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge housing comprises bridge rails allowing for the interior housing and the exterior housing to translate relative to each other to accommodate different thicknesses of the building wall. 
     
     
         4 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the center seal module comprises a bottom rubber seal, forming a surface of the center seal module facing away from the bridge housing and being configured to interface with the window frame. 
     
     
         5 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the center seal module comprises a center seal shell and weatherstripping piles supported by the center seal shell and configured to engage and seal against the bridge housing and the mounting frame. 
     
     
         6 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the side foam unit is configured to directly interface with the center seal module and the window frame. 
     
     
         7 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the window-frame seal further comprises a set of rigid side blocks, each block in the set of rigid side blocks is configured to interlock with at least one of the center seal module or another block in the set of rigid side blocks. 
     
     
         8 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 7 , wherein at least two blocks in the set of rigid side blocks have different widths. 
     
     
         9 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 7 , wherein the side foam unit is configured to be positioned between and directly interface with one block in the set of rigid side blocks and the window frame. 
     
     
         10 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the side foam unit comprises a side-foam-unit base and plastic covers. 
     
     
         11 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the side foam unit is configured to directly interface with the center seal module and the window frame. 
     
     
         12 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the window-frame seal further comprises a channel foam for filling between the center seal module and the window frame. 
     
     
         13 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mounting frame comprises an interior frame section and a longitudinal frame section,   the interior frame section comprises a first interior vertical frame element and a second interior vertical frame element,   the longitudinal frame section comprising a first longitudinal frame element, configured to engage the first interior vertical frame element, and a second longitudinal frame element, configured to second interior vertical frame element,   the interior frame section comprises a first interior vertical frame element and a second interior vertical frame element,   the first interior vertical frame element is configured to engage and attached to the first longitudinal frame element, and   the second interior vertical frame element is configured to engage and attached to the second longitudinal frame element.   
     
     
         14 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the interior frame section further comprises an interior cross-member and sill tighteners, attached to the interior cross-member and configured to engage the building wall and adjust position of the interior cross-member relative to the building wall, and   the interior cross-member extends between and is attached to each of the first interior vertical frame element and the second interior vertical frame element.   
     
     
         15 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting frame further comprises one or more springs that support some portion of weight of the exterior unit. 
     
     
         16 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge housing comprises a bridge insulator configured to thermally and acoustically isolate the interior housing from the exterior housing. 
     
     
         17 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the service loop comprises a fluid supply line and a fluid return line fluidically interconnecting the interior housing and the exterior housing and having a length selected to accommodate both translational and pivoting movement of the interior housing relative to the exterior housing. 
     
     
         18 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the fluid supply line and the fluid return line comprises a braided insulated refrigerant line anchored at rigid ferrules positioned adjacent to ends of the bridge housing. 
     
     
         19 . The low-profile window-mountable climate control system of  claim 17 , wherein the exterior housing comprises a fluid-line guider biasing the fluid supply line and the fluid return line in a direction parallel to a window frame. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a low-profile window-mountable climate control system through a window opening formed by a window frame in a building wall comprising an interior wall and a exterior wall, the low-profile window-mountable climate control system comprising an air conditioning-heating unit, a mounting frame, and a window-frame seal, the method comprising:
 configuring the mounting frame, wherein:
 the mounting frame comprises an interior frame section, a longitudinal frame section, an exterior frame section, and a pivoting exterior support section, and 
 configuring the mounting frame comprises attaching at least a center seal module of the window-frame seal to the longitudinal frame section; 
   positioning the mounting frame within the window opening;   securing the mounting frame to the building wall such that the interior frame section comes in contact with the interior wall, the exterior frame section comes in contact with the exterior wall, and the center seal module is positioned between the window frame and the longitudinal frame section;   positioning the air conditioning-heating unit on the mounting frame while the longitudinal frame section and the pivoting exterior support section are co-planar, wherein the air conditioning-heating unit comprises an interior housing, an exterior housing, and a bridge housing extending between and interconnecting the interior housing and the exterior housing, and;   pivoting the exterior housing relative to the bridge housing such that the pivoting exterior support section also pivots relative to the longitudinal frame section; and   sealing a portion of the window opening between the window frame and the center seal module by positioning a side foam unit on each of two sides of the center seal module between the center seal module and the window frame.