Patent Grant
11898772
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, and are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
HVAC systems are utilized in residential, commercial, and industrial environments to control environmental properties, such as temperature and humidity, for occupants of the respective environments. An HVAC system may control the environmental properties through control of an air flow delivered to the environment. For example, the HVAC system may place the air flow in a heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant to condition the air flow. In some cases, a portion of the HVAC system, such as an air handling unit, may be coupled to a curb of a structure to enable the HVAC system to utilize ambient air as a portion of the air flow, to exhaust return air into an ambient environment, and/or to supply conditioned air to a conditioned space within the structure.
An HVAC system, such as an air handler, configured to be positioned on a curb of a structure may include a large housing that contains HVAC equipment, such as fans, blowers, filters, sound attenuation components, and/or heat transfer devices (e.g., heat exchangers, coils, furnaces, adiabatic coolers, etc.). The housing may have several structural components, such as a base foundation, frame members, beams, wall panels, floor panels, and so forth, that are coupled to one another to provide a rigid structure within which the HVAC equipment is disposed. Unfortunately, manufacturing of HVAC system housings may be complicated. Additionally, existing housing designs may provide limited rigidity and may be susceptible to thermal inefficiencies.
In an embodiment, a base system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a frame configured to support a housing of the HVAC system, where the frame includes a base rail configured to define a portion of a perimeter of the frame. The base rail includes a base segment having a base rail face configured to abut a curb in an installed configuration of the HVAC system, an external wall extending transversely from the base segment, a top segment extending transversely from the external wall and over the base segment, an internal wall extending transversely from the top segment toward the base segment, and a recessed flange extending from the internal wall and away from the external wall.
In another embodiment, an enclosure for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a frame having a plurality of base rails defining a perimeter of the enclosure, where a base rail of the plurality of base rails includes a base segment configured to be disposed on a curb in an installed configuration of the enclosure, an external wall extending from the base segment, a top segment extending from the external wall and toward an interior of the enclosure, an internal wall extending from the top segment toward the base segment, and a recessed flange extending from the internal wall toward the interior of the enclosure. The enclosure also includes a floor panel captured between the plurality of base rails, where the floor panel is disposed on and secured to the recessed flange of the base rail.
In a further embodiment, a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system housing includes a plurality of base rails coupled to one another to define a base frame of the HVAC system housing. A base rail of the plurality of base rails includes a base segment configured to be disposed on a curb in an installed configuration of the HVAC system housing, an external wall extending vertically from the base segment, a top segment extending horizontally from the external wall and over the base segment, an internal wall extending vertically from the top segment toward the base segment, and a recessed flange extending horizontally from the internal wall and away from the external wall.
One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.
The present disclosure is directed to heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and, more particularly, to a base system for an HVAC system configured to be disposed on and/or coupled to a curb of a structure or building to enable fluid communication between components of the HVAC system with ductwork of the structure that delivers conditioned air to various locations within the structure. For example, the HVAC system may be an indoor or outdoor air handling unit coupled to openings of the ductwork, such that the HVAC system may direct conditioned air toward or into the structure and/or receive return air from the structure. In general, an air handling unit includes a housing that contains HVAC equipment, such as fans, blowers, filters, sound attenuation components, and/or heat transfer devices (e.g., heat exchangers, coils, furnaces, adiabatic coolers, etc.), configured to enable the circulation, conditioning, and/or supply of an air flow to or from a conditioned space. The housing may include a base or foundation configured support additional elements of the housing (e.g., walls), as well as components (e.g., HVAC equipment) disposed within the housing. As will be appreciated, the base of the housing should be structurally rigid to provide support for other components of the air handling unit and to withstand deformation, such as during transportation or other re-location of the air handling unit. Unfortunately, manufacturing air handling units having adequate structural rigidity may be costly, time-intensive, and/or procedurally complicated.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a base system for a housing of an air handling unit or other HVAC system that provides desired structural rigidity for the air handling unit and that may be manufactured and/or assembled more efficiently (e.g., faster, at reduced cost, etc.). Base system configurations disclosed herein may also have reduced height dimensions (e.g., vertical dimensions) and/or reduced weights, as compared to traditional air handling unit bases or foundations. Further, the embodiments disclosed herein enable improvements in operational efficiency of the air handling unit, such as by providing improved thermal breaks or barriers between an interior of the air handling unit and an environment surrounding the air handling unit. For example, the base system of the air handling unit includes one or more base channels or rails having a geometry with an increased moment of inertia that provides improved rigidity and/or stiffness of the base system. These and additional features of the base system are described in further detail below.
Turning now to the drawings,
In the illustrated embodiment, a building 10 is air conditioned by a system that includes an HVAC unit 12. The building 10 may be a commercial structure or a residential structure. As shown, the HVAC unit 12 is disposed on the roof of the building 10; however, the HVAC unit 12 may be located in other equipment rooms or areas adjacent the building 10. The HVAC unit 12 may be a single package unit containing other equipment, such as a blower, integrated air handler, and/or auxiliary heating unit. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be part of a split HVAC system or may be another type of HVAC system, such as an air handling unit.
The HVAC unit 12 may be an air cooled device that implements a refrigeration cycle to provide conditioned air to the building 10. Specifically, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more heat exchangers across which an air flow is passed to condition the air flow before the air flow is supplied to the building. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a rooftop unit (RTU) that conditions a supply air stream, such as environmental air and/or a return air flow from the building 10. After the HVAC unit 12 conditions the air, the air is supplied to the building 10 via ductwork 14 extending throughout the building 10 from the HVAC unit 12. For example, the ductwork 14 may extend to various individual floors or other sections of the building 10. In certain embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be a heat pump that provides both heating and cooling to the building with one refrigeration circuit configured to operate in different modes. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more refrigeration circuits for cooling an air stream and a furnace for heating the air stream.
A control device 16, one type of which may be a thermostat, may be used to designate the temperature of the conditioned air. The control device 16 also may be used to control the flow of air through the ductwork 14. For example, the control device 16 may be used to regulate operation of one or more components of the HVAC unit 12 or other components, such as dampers and fans, within the building 10 that may control flow of air through and/or from the ductwork 14. In some embodiments, other devices may be included in the system, such as pressure and/or temperature transducers or switches that sense the temperatures and pressures of the supply air, return air, and so forth. Moreover, the control device 16 may include computer systems that are integrated with or separate from other building control or monitoring systems, and even systems that are remote from the building 10.
It should be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be incorporated with the HVAC unit 12 or other HVAC systems, such as air handling units. Additionally, while the features disclosed herein are described in the context of embodiments that directly condition and/or circulate a supply air stream provided to a building or other load, embodiments of the present disclosure may be applicable to other HVAC systems as well. For example, the features described herein may be applied to mechanical cooling systems, free cooling systems, chiller systems, or other heat pump or refrigeration applications.
An HVAC system, such as the HVAC unit 12 or an air handling unit, may be positioned on a curb of a structure. As used herein, a “curb” may refer to an interface between ductwork of the structure and the HVAC system. The curb may include openings extending through a wall, roof, ceiling, floor, or other portion of the structure. For example, the openings may enable fluid communication between the ductwork and the HVAC system and/or an ambient environment external to the structure. In some embodiments, the curb may include a first opening that is fluidly coupled to a first terminal end of a supply air duct within the structure and a second opening that is fluidly coupled to a second terminal end of a return air duct within the structure. The first opening may receive supply air, or conditioned air, from the HVAC system, and the supply air may ultimately be returned to the HVAC system, via the second opening, as return air. However, in other embodiments, the HVAC system may have other configurations to receive and discharge air flows.
As mentioned above, the HVAC system may include a housing configured to contain components of the HVAC system that are configured to condition, circulate, and/or otherwise control air flow directed through the HVAC system. For example,
The housing 102 includes a base system 114 positioned on the curb 104. In other words, the housing 102 engages with the curb 104 via the base system 114. The base system 114 is configured to support additional components of the housing 102 (e.g., wall panels 116 of the housing 102), as well as components disposed within the housing 102, including the HVAC equipment 108. The base system 114 may be an assembly formed by multiple components, such as channels, rails, panels, pans, plates, etc. that are coupled to one another. As discussed in detail below, the base system 114 includes components, features, and/or configurations that provide improved structural rigidity for the housing 102 and the air handling unit 100. The improved structural rigidity enables more efficient manufacture and assembly of the air handling unit 100 and also increases resistance of deformation in the air handling unit 100 during transportation or other re-location of the air handling unit 100.
The base system 114 also includes interior cross rails 128 that extend between and couple to base rails 120 disposed opposite one another. For example, the interior cross rails 128 may be welded, brazed, or otherwise mechanically secured to the base rails 120. Thus, the interior cross rails 128 provide structural connection between base rails 120 that are not directly coupled to one another. The base system 114 may include any suitable number of interior cross rails 128. For example, the number of interior cross rails 128 may be selected based on a size of the air handling unit 100, equipment (e.g., HVAC equipment 108) to be contained within the housing 102, and/or other variables. As described in further detail below, the base rails 120 and the interior cross rails 128 may cooperatively support floor panels, isolator rails, equipment installed within the housing 102, and/or other components of the air handling unit 100.
As mentioned above, the base rails 120 disclosed herein include a geometry that provides increased stiffness (e.g., increased moment of inertia) compared to traditional rails or beams (e.g., standardized structural members) typically utilized to form a base of an HVAC unit. Thus, the base system 114 has improved structural rigidity compared to existing systems. The geometry of the base rails 120 is described in detail below. The base rails 120 having the geometry or configuration described herein may be formed from steel (e.g., 3/16″ steel, plate steel, structural steel, etc.), another metal, or other suitable material. In some embodiments, the base rails 120 may be formed via a forming or roll-forming process. Thus, the base rails 120 may be manufactured more precisely and more consistently as compared to traditional standardized structural members. It should be noted that the interior cross rails 128 may be formed from similar materials and with a similar manufacturing process as the base rails 120.
Furthermore, as the base rails 120 and interior cross rails 128 may be formed with a material having a reduced thickness (e.g., 3/16″ steel), the base rails 120 and interior cross rails 128 may be readily modified to include additional features that facilitate more efficient assembly, manufacturing, and/or transportation of the base system 114 and/or air handling unit 100. For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the base rails 120 and/or the interior cross rails 128 may include holes 130 (e.g., punched holes), which may be formed via a punching process. The holes 130 may be utilized as alignment features to facilitate more efficient assembly of the base system 114, as shown in inset 132 of
Other features may also be readily formed in the base rails 120 and/or the interior cross rails 128, such as via a punching process. For example, one or more of the base rails 120 may include lifting holes 132 (e.g., lifting points, ISO lifting container points, etc.) formed therein that enable use of standardized lifting devices to lift and move the air handling unit 100. Therefore, lifting lugs or other components that typically extend outward from a base may not be incorporated with the air handling unit 100. In this way, a footprint of the air handling unit 100 may be reduced, and transportation of the air handling unit 100 may be improved. The number of lifting holes 132 may also be increased compared to the number of lifting lugs included with existing HVAC units, which may further facilitate or improve the transportation or relocation of the air handing unit 100. In some embodiments, the base rails 120 may be reinforced at the lifting holes 132, such as via backing plates positioned about the lifting holes 132 on an interior-facing surface 134 of the base rail 120.
The floor panels 152 and the isolator rails 154 may be formed from the same or similar material as the base rails 120 and the interior cross rails 128. For example, the floor panels 152 and the isolator rails 154 may be formed from steel or other metal. The floor panels 152 and the isolator rails 154 may have the same or different thicknesses of material. In some embodiments, the isolator rails 154 may be formed from a thicker material than the floor panels 152 in order to enable support of components (e.g., HVAC equipment 108) mounted or secured to the isolator rails 154. As shown, the isolator rails 154 may also include additional features, such as mounting lugs 156 (e.g., mounting points) to enable mounting of components to the isolator rails 154.
The air handling unit 100 may also include a curb adapter 174 (e.g., curb angle, curb rest, etc.) positioned on an underside 175 of the base system 114 (e.g., a base rail face of the base rail 120). The curb adapter 174 may facilitate alignment of the air handling unit 100 with the curb 104 during installation of the air handling unit 100. In some embodiments, one or more gaskets may be positioned between the curb adapter 174 and the curb 104 to provide a seal between the air handling unit 100 and the curb 104. In some embodiments, the underside 175 of the base system 114 additionally or alternatively abuts the curb 104 in an installed configuration of the air handling unit 100.
In the assembled configuration, the floor panel 152 is captured between opposing base rails 120 of the base system 114. Each base rail 120 includes a recessed flange 176 (e.g., internal flange) upon which the floor panel 152 is positioned, such that the base rails 120 are disposed laterally outward or external to the floor panel 152 (e.g., relative to the internal volume 110). More specifically, the floor panel 152 includes a base portion 178 positioned on the recessed flange 176 and an upturned lip 180 (e.g., flange, extension, etc.) that extends from an edge of the base portion 178 and that also engages with the base rail 120, as described below with reference to
In the configuration described herein, the floor panel 152 is internal to the base rails 120 (e.g., fully within the housing 102) and is not exposed to an external environment 184 surrounding the air handling unit 100. For example, the floor panel 152 does not extend laterally outward (e.g., relative to the internal volume 110) between the base rails 120 and the wall panels 116 as provided in existing air handling unit designs. The arrangement of the base rails 120 and floor panels 152 described herein reduces or eliminates a direct conduction path (e.g., heat conduction path) between the internal volume 110 and the external environment 184 and thus provides a thermal break (e.g., thermal break joint) therebetween. Thus, conditioned air within the air handling unit 100 is further insulated from the external environment 184, which improved efficient operation of the air handling unit 100.
The floor panel 152 may be secured to the base rails 120 and/or to the interior cross rails 128 via an adhesive (e.g., a structural adhesive). Thus, the floor panel 152 may be installed in the base system 114 without mechanical fasteners and without a welding or brazing process, which reduces time and costs associated with assembly of the air handling unit 100. However, in some embodiments, welding or other bonding process may utilized to secure at least a portion of the floor panel 152 to the frame 150 (e.g., at certain intermediate rails or seams). Moreover, use of an adhesive to secure the floor panel 152 to the frame 150 (e.g., the base rails 120 and/or to the interior cross rails 128) also provides an improved barrier (e.g., thermal barrier) between the floor panel 152 and the frame 150, which reduces thermal conduction therebetween.
As discussed above, the present techniques also provide a thermal break between the internal volume 110 of the air handling unit 100 and the external environment 184 surrounding the air handling unit 100, for example, by incorporating the floor panel 152 that does not extend between the base rail 120 and the wall panel 116. The thermal break may be further improved via incorporation of gaskets, seals, or other insulating elements with the base system 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the base system 114 includes a gasket 204 positioned between the floor panel 152 and the base rail 120 in an assembled configuration of the base system 114. For example, the gasket 204 may be made from a foam, a polymer, or other suitable material. The gasket 204 extends between the floor panel 152 and the base rail 120 along the base portion 178 and the upturned lip 180 of the floor panel 152. The gasket 204 further extends between the base rail 120 and the wall panel 116. While the gasket 204 extending between the floor panel 152, the base rail 120, and the wall panel 116 in the illustrated embodiment is a continuous gasket, other embodiments of the air handling unit 100 may incorporate multiple, separate gaskets 204 or other sealing or insulation elements positioned between components of the base system 114. For example, a gasket 206 is also positioned between the base rail 120 and the mounting flange 170 of the wall panel 116.
As mentioned above, the base rail 120 has a geometry and/or configuration that provides improved structural rigidity for the base system 114, the housing 102, and the air handling unit 100. Specifically, in addition to the recessed flange 176, the base rail 120 includes a base portion 208, an external wall 210, a top portion 212, and an internal wall 214 in an arrangement that has an increased moment of inertia. The base portion 208 may be a base segment (e.g., first segment, horizontal segment, base wall, etc.) that is coupled to the curb adapter 174 and is positioned on the curb 104 in an installed configuration of the air handling unit 100. Additionally, interior cross rails 128 of the base system 114 may be disposed on and coupled to the base portion 208 in an assembled configuration of the frame 150. The external wall 210 may be a second segment (e.g., vertical segment, vertical wall, etc.) that extends from the base portion 208 and is exposed to the external environment 184 in the installed configuration of the air handling unit 100. The top portion 212 may be a third segment (e.g., top segment, horizontal segment, top wall, etc.) that extends from the external wall 210. As shown, the base portion 208, the external wall 210, and the top portion 212 form a generally C-shaped configuration. Thus, the base portion 208 and the top portion 212 may extend generally parallel with one another (e.g., in horizontal directions). In an assembled configuration of the air handling unit 100, the wall panel 116 is positioned on the top portion 212 of the base rail 120. Thus, the top portion 212 of the base rail 120 defines an uppermost surface or segment of the base rail 120 in the assembled configuration. The internal wall 214 may be a fourth segment (e.g., vertical segment, vertical wall, etc.) that extends from the top portion 212 and faces the internal volume 110 of the air handling unit 100. That is, the internal wall 214 faces an interior of the base system 114, as compared to the external wall 210, which faces an exterior of the base system 114. The internal wall 214 extends from the top portion 212 towards the base portion 208, and the internal wall 214 may extend generally parallel to the external wall 210 (e.g., in a vertical direction). Further, the recessed flange 176 extends (e.g., extends horizontally) from the internal wall 214 towards the internal volume 110 of the air handling unit 100 (e.g., in a direction opposite the external wall). The base rail 120 having the base portion 208, the external wall 210, the top portion 212, the internal wall 214, and the recessed flange 176 in the illustrated configuration may be formed, such as via forming, bending, or roll-forming, from a single piece of material (e.g., 3/16″ structural steel). This configuration of the base rail 120 may be formed with improved precision and repeatability and also at a reduced cost.
As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the disclosed configuration of the base rail 120 provides an increase in the moment of inertia, and thus the stiffness, of the base rail 120. In particular, the stiffness and structural rigidity of the base rail 120 is increased without a corresponding increase in an overall height 216 of the base rail 120. By limiting the overall height 216 of the base rail 120, the total height of the air handling unit 100 is also limited. A lower total height of the air handling unit 100 enables improved wind resistance of the air handling unit 100 when the air handling unit 100 is installed on the curb 104 and enables more manageable transportation and relocation of the air handling unit 100. Furthermore, the disclosed configuration of the base rail 120 provides increased stiffness and structural rigidity while also limiting or reducing an overall weight of the air handling unit 100. For example, the base rail 120 having the illustrated geometry may be more lightweight than a base rail having a traditional design or geometry and a similar stiffness.
Dimensions of the various segments or portions of the base rail 120 may be selected based on desired characteristics and/or operating parameters of the base system 114 and/or the air handling unit 100. For example,
Other dimensions of the base rail 120 may be selected based on other desired characteristics of the air handling unit 100 and/or base system 114. For example, a height 228 of the internal wall 214 may be selected based on a desired or selected height of the floor panel 152. In some embodiments, the height 228 of the internal wall 214 is selected such that the floor panel 152 is substantially recessed within the base rail 120 (e.g., relative to a direction of gravity) in an assembled configuration of the base system 114. Thus, the floor panel 152, which may have a height or depth of approximately 2 inches, may be dropped within and secured to the base rail 120. Further, as the floor panel 152 does not extend between the base rail 120 and the wall panel 116, as in existing designs, the floor panel 152 may be removed and replaced within the base system 114 without disassembling other components (e.g., the wall panel 116) of the air handling unit 100, and the air handling unit 100 may provide improved thermal insulation.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to the base system 114 for the housing 102 of the air handling unit 100 or other HVAC system. The base system 114 includes the base rail 120 that provides desired structural rigidity for the air handling unit 100 and that may be manufactured and/or assembled more efficiently (e.g., faster, at reduced cost, etc.). For example, the base rail 120 has a geometry with an increased moment of inertia that provides improved rigidity and/or stiffness of the base system 114. Base system 114 configurations disclosed herein may also have reduced height dimensions (e.g., vertical dimensions) and/or reduced weights, as compared to traditional air handling unit bases or foundations. Further, the embodiments disclosed herein enable improvements in operational efficiency of the air handling unit 100, such as by providing improved thermal breaks or barriers between the internal volume 110 of the air handling unit 100 and the external environment 184 surrounding the air handling unit 100.
While only certain features and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters (e.g., temperatures, pressures, etc.), mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described (i.e., those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the invention, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed invention). It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.
The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).
This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/162,795, entitled “BASE SYSTEM FOR AIR HANDLER,” filed Jan. 29, 2021, which claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/968,428, entitled “BASE SYSTEM FOR AIR HANDLER,” filed Jan. 31, 2020, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20230221036 A1 | Jul 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62968428 | Jan 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17162795 | Jan 2021 | US |
| Child | 18120917 | US |
