Method and apparatus for securing tubes in an air conditioning unit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling an air conditioning unit.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling an air conditioning unit wherein a tight seal is formed where the refrigerant lines pass through the partition.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a partition opening and seal arrangement for securing refrigerant carrying tubes therein.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a safe, economical and reliable apparatus and method of manufacture of an air conditioning unit.
Other objects will be apparent from the description to follow and the appended claims.
The preceeding objects are achieved according to the preferred embodiment of the invention by the provision of an air conditioning unit having a partition dividing the unit into an indoor section and an outdoor section.
The partition additionally defines a partition opening through which refrigerant carrying tubes extend.
A tube seal having vertically extending slits at each end thereof is mounted to the partition by securing the seal to the partition at the edges of the partition adjacent the partition opening such that said edges extend into the slits of the tube seal.
The refrigerant carrying tubes are then slid into a center slit of the seal wherein they are surrounded and encompassed by the tube seal material.
Additionally, the tube seal may have projecting portions which are compressed against the base pan of the unit upon assembly thereby compressing the entire seal to form a tight closure reducing air flow between the indoor section and the outdoor section of the air conditioning unit.