MULTI-POSE MOUNTING BRACKET

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which 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.

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may be used to thermally regulate an environment, such as a space within a building, home, or other structure. The HVAC system generally includes a vapor compression system having heat exchangers, such as a condenser and an evaporator, which transfer thermal energy between the HVAC system and the environment. Typically, a compressor is fluidly coupled to a refrigerant circuit of the vapor compression system and is configured to circulate a working fluid (e.g., refrigerant) between the condenser and the evaporator. In this way, the compressor facilitates heat exchange between the refrigerant, the condenser, and the evaporator. In some cases, the HVAC system may be a heat pump configured to enable reversal of refrigerant flow through the refrigerant circuit. As such, the heat pump enables the condenser to operate as an evaporator (e.g., a heat absorber) and the evaporator to operate as a condenser (e.g., a heat rejector). Accordingly, the HVAC system may operate in multiple operating modes (e.g., a cooling mode, a heating mode) to provide both heating and cooling to the building with one refrigerant circuit. The HVAC system may include a furnace, and the HVAC system may operate the refrigerant circuit in a cooling mode and may operate the furnace in a heating mode.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the subject matter may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a bracket for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may be configured to mount an electronic board on a housing of HVAC equipment in a plurality of installed configurations, where each of the plurality of installed configurations may correspond to a respective mounting location of a plurality of mounting locations on the HVAC equipment. The bracket may include a body including a first side, and a second side, where the first side may be opposite the second side, the first side may be configured to couple with the electronic board, and the second side may be configured to face a mounting surface of the housing. The bracket may also include a mounting hole extending from the first side to the second side of the body, where the mounting hole may be configured receive a fastener therethrough to mount the bracket in a first installed configuration of the plurality of installed configurations, and where the mounting hole may be configured to be aligned with an opening on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener in the first installed configuration.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a bracket for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may be configured to mount an electronic board on a housing of HVAC equipment in a plurality of installed configurations, where each of the plurality of installed configurations may correspond to a respective mounting location of a plurality of mounting locations on the HVAC equipment. The bracket may include a body including a first side, and a second side, where the first side may be opposite the second side, the first side may be configured to couple with the electronic board, and the second side may be configured to face a mounting surface of the housing. The bracket may also include a mounting hole extending from the first side to the second side of the body, where the mounting hole may be configured receive a fastener therethrough to mount the bracket in a first installed configuration of the plurality of installed configurations, and where the mounting hole may be configured to be aligned with an opening on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener in the first installed configuration. The bracket may further include an additional mounting hole extending from the first side to the second side of the body, where the additional mounting hole may be configured to receive the fastener to mount the electronic board in a second installed configuration of the plurality of installed configurations differing from the first installed configuration, where the additional mounting hole may be configured to be aligned with the opening on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener in the second installed configuration.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a method may include coupling an electronic board to a bracket, where the bracket may be configured to mount the electronic board on a housing of heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment in a plurality of installed configurations, where each of the plurality of installed configurations may correspond to a respective mounting location of a plurality of mounting locations on the HVAC equipment. The bracket may include a body including a first side, and a second side, where the first side may be opposite the second side, the first side may be configured to couple with the electronic board, and the second side may be configured to face a mounting surface of the housing. The bracket may also include a mounting hole extending from the first side to the second side of the body, where the mounting hole may be configured receive a fastener therethrough to mount the bracket in a first installed configuration of the plurality of installed configurations, and where the mounting hole may be configured to be aligned with an opening on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener in the first installed configuration. The method may further include mounting the bracket on the housing in the first installed configuration by orientating the bracket to align the mounting hole with an opening on the mounting surface and inserting the fastener through the mounting hole to secure the bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a building incorporating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system in a commercial setting, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a packaged HVAC unit, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a split, residential HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a right perspective view of an embodiment of an HVAC system including a HVAC unit, where an electronic board is installed on an exterior surface of a right panel of the HVAC unit via a bracket, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a left perspective view of the embodiment of the HVAC system including the HVAC unit illustrated in FIG. 4, where an electronic board is installed on an exterior surface of a left panel of the HVAC unit via the bracket, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a right perspective view of the embodiment of the HVAC system including the HVAC unit illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, where an electronic board is installed on an interior surface of the left panel of the HVAC unit via the bracket, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a left perspective view of the embodiment of the HVAC system including the HVAC unit illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, where an electronic board is installed on an interior surface of the right panel of the HVAC unit via the bracket, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A is a front view of the bracket illustrated in FIGS. 4-9, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a rear view of the bracket illustrated in FIGS. 4-9, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8C is a right side view of the bracket illustrated in FIGS. 4-9, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are front views of the bracket illustrated in FIGS. 4-9 in opposing orientations, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a quarter-turn screw being inserted into an embodiment of a furnace including a bracket, where the bracket includes mounting holes with quarter-turn nuts, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a diagram including a perspective view and enlarged views of certain features of the bracket illustrated in FIG. 10, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12A is a front view of an embodiment of a bracket with a single mounting hole, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12B is a rear view of an embodiment of a bracket with a single mounting hole, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12C is a right side view of an embodiment of a bracket with a single mounting hole, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.

As used herein, the terms “approximately,” “generally,” and “substantially,” and so forth, are intended to convey that the property value being described may be within a relatively small range of the property value, as those of ordinary skill would understand. For example, when a property value is described as being “approximately” equal to (or, for example, “substantially similar” to) a given value, this is intended to mean that the property value may be within +/−5%, within +/−4%, within +/−3%, within +/−2%, within +/−1%, or even closer, of the given value. Similarly, when a given feature is described as being “substantially parallel” to another feature, “generally perpendicular” to another feature, and so forth, this is intended to mean that the given feature is within +/−5%, within +/−4%, within +/−3%, within +/−2%, within +/−1%, or even closer, to having the described nature, such as being parallel to another feature, being perpendicular to another feature, and so forth. Further, it should be understood that mathematical terms, such as “planar,” “slope,” “perpendicular,” “parallel,” and so forth are intended to encompass features of surfaces or elements as understood to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, and should not be rigidly interpreted as might be understood in the mathematical arts. For example, a “planar” surface is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be substantially flat or smooth (within related tolerances) using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, a surface having a “slope” is intended to encompass a surface that is machined, molded, or otherwise formed to be oriented at an angle (e.g., incline) with respect to a point of reference using techniques and tools available to one of ordinary skill in the art.

As briefly discussed above, a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may be used to thermally regulate a space within a building, home, or other suitable structure. For example, the HVAC system may include a vapor compression system that transfers thermal energy between a working fluid, such as a refrigerant, and a fluid to be conditioned, such as air.

The HVAC system may include HVAC equipment. For example, the vapor compression system includes heat exchangers, such as a condenser and an evaporator, which are fluidly coupled to one another via one or more conduits of a working fluid loop or circuit. A compressor (e.g., a variable speed compressor) may be used to circulate the working fluid through the conduits and other components of the working fluid circuit (e.g., an expansion device) and, thus, enable the transfer of thermal energy between components of the working fluid circuit (e.g., between the condenser and the evaporator) and one or more thermal loads (e.g., an environmental air flow, a supply air flow). Additionally or alternatively, the HVAC system may include a heat pump (e.g., a heat pump system) having a first heat exchanger (e.g., a heating and/or cooling coil, an indoor coil, the evaporator) positioned within the space to be conditioned, a second heat exchanger (e.g., a heating and/or cooling coil, an outdoor coil, the condenser) positioned in or otherwise fluidly coupled to an ambient environment (e.g., the atmosphere), and a pump (e.g., the compressor) configured to circulate the working fluid (e.g., refrigerant) between the first and second heat exchangers to enable heat transfer between the thermal load and the ambient environment, for example.

Additionally or alternatively, the HVAC system may include a furnace system in addition to the vapor compression system. In such embodiments, the HVAC system may operate a furnace in the furnace system to provide heating to a thermal load in a heating mode of the HVAC system, and the HVAC system may operate the vapor compression circuit to facilitate cooling of the thermal load in a cooling mode of the HVAC system.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a HVAC system. The HVAC system may be provided with a range of electronic boards (e.g., control boards, display interfaces, communication interface boards) to facilitate operations of HVAC equipment therein. For example, a HVAC unit may be couple with a Wi-Fi module board to enable wireless communications and controls, in addition to or in lieu of other communications and controls. A housing of the HVAC equipment may be configured to enable installation of such electronic boards. For example, the housing of the HVAC equipment may be provided with one or more preexisting openings (e.g., apertures, channels, mounting holes, housing holes) configured to mount the electronic boards through certain coupling components (e.g., brackets, clamps, fasteners). However, placement of the electronic boards may be subject to many restrictions, such as the design and structural requirements of the HVAC equipment itself, the electronic boards to be installed, and/or the building where the HVAC system operates. As such, the electronic boards may be installed on the HVAC equipment in a range of positions and configurations. For example, an electronic board may be required to be installed on an exterior surface of a left panel of a first HVAC unit, but on an interior surface of a right panel of a second HVAC unit, due to different sets of restrictions imposed on the respective installations. Thus, the ability to install electronic boards within a range of configurations with respect to the HVAC system may be desirable.

However, existing approaches for installing electronic boards within HVAC systems may be complex and/or costly. For example, a substantial number of different coupling options may be utilized to couple a specific electronic board to different HVAC units or even same HVAC units at different locations. As a more specific example, HVAC equipment manufacturers may need to maintain various different store keeping unit (SKU) types of brackets, where each SKU type supports installation in a specific installed configuration, thereby increasing a cost associated with manufacture and/or installation of the HVAC system. In other scenarios, the HVAC equipment manufacturers may only provide limited options of coupling components to select from, which may not be compatible with any preexisting openings in the HVAC units, prompting installation technicians to puncture new openings to accommodate the limited options of coupling components during installation processes. However, puncturing additional openings may compromise the structural integrity of the HVAC equipment, leading to undesirable issues such as corrosion and leakage.

Thus, it is now recognized that an improved system for securing the electronic boards within the HVAC system is desirable. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a multi-pose bracket configured to mount an electronic board on a housing of HVAC equipment in a plurality of installed configurations, where each of the plurality of installed configurations corresponds to a respective mounting location of a plurality of mounting locations on the HVAC equipment. In particular, the multi-pose bracket is configured to mount components in a range of orientations and positions, such as on an interior side or an exterior side of a left panel or a right panel of a housing of HVAC equipment. The multi-pose bracket may include a body comprising a first side, and a second side, where the first side is opposite the second side, the first side is configured to couple with the electronic board, and the second side is configured to face a mounting surface of the housing. The multi-pose bracket may also include a mounting hole extending from the first side to the second side of the body, where the mounting hole is configured receive a fastener therethrough to mount the bracket in a first installed configuration of the plurality of installed configurations, and where the mounting hole is configured to be aligned with a preexisting opening on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener in the first installed configuration. The multi-pose bracket may further include an additional mounting hole extending from the first side to the second side of the body, where the additional mounting hole is configured receive a fastener therethrough to mount the bracket in a second installed configuration of the plurality of installed configurations, and where the additional mounting hole is configured to be aligned with the preexisting opening on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener in the second installed configuration.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system for environmental management that employs one or more HVAC units in accordance with the present disclosure. As used herein, an HVAC system includes any number of components configured to enable regulation of parameters related to climate characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, air flow, pressure, air quality, and so forth. For example, an “HVAC system” as used herein is defined as conventionally understood and as further described herein. Components or parts of an “HVAC system” may include, but are not limited to, all, some of, or individual parts such as a heat exchanger, a heater, an air flow control device, such as a fan, a sensor configured to detect a climate characteristic or operating parameter, a filter, a control device configured to regulate operation of an HVAC system component, a component configured to enable regulation of climate characteristics, or a combination thereof. An “HVAC system” is a system configured to provide such functions as heating, cooling, ventilation, dehumidification, pressurization, refrigeration, filtration, or any combination thereof. The embodiments described herein may be utilized in a variety of applications to control climate characteristics, such as residential, commercial, industrial, transportation, or other applications where climate control is desired.

In the illustrated embodiment, a building 10 is air conditioned by a system that includes an HVAC unit 12 with a reheat system in accordance with present embodiments. 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, such as the system shown in FIG. 3, which includes an outdoor HVAC unit 58 and an indoor HVAC unit 56.

The HVAC unit 12 is an air cooled device that implements a refrigeration cycle to provide conditioned air to the building 10 and incorporates a bracket in accordance with present embodiments to secure with a control board or the like. 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.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the HVAC unit 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a single package unit that may include one or more independent refrigeration circuits and components that are tested, charged, wired, piped, and ready for installation. The HVAC unit 12 may provide a variety of heating and/or cooling functions, such as cooling only, heating only, cooling with electric heat, cooling with dehumidification, cooling with gas heat, or cooling with a heat pump. As described above, the HVAC unit 12 may directly cool and/or heat an air stream provided to the building 10 to condition a space in the building 10.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, a cabinet 24 encloses the HVAC unit 12 and provides structural support and protection to the internal components from environmental and other contaminants. In some embodiments, the cabinet 24 may be constructed of galvanized steel and insulated with aluminum foil faced insulation. Rails 26 may be joined to the bottom perimeter of the cabinet 24 and provide a foundation for the HVAC unit 12. In certain embodiments, the rails 26 may provide access for a forklift and/or overhead rigging to facilitate installation and/or removal of the HVAC unit 12. In some embodiments, the rails 26 may fit into “curbs” on the roof to enable the HVAC unit 12 to provide air to the ductwork 14 from the bottom of the HVAC unit 12 while blocking elements such as rain from leaking into the building 10.

The HVAC unit 12 includes heat exchangers 28 and 30 in fluid communication with one or more refrigeration circuits. Tubes within the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may circulate refrigerant, such as R-410A, through the heat exchangers 28 and 30. The tubes may be of various types, such as multichannel tubes, conventional copper or aluminum tubing, and so forth. Together, the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may implement a thermal cycle in which the refrigerant undergoes phase changes and/or temperature changes as it flows through the heat exchangers 28 and 30 to produce heated and/or cooled air. For example, the heat exchanger 28 may function as a condenser where heat is released from the refrigerant to ambient air, and the heat exchanger 30 may function as an evaporator where the refrigerant absorbs heat to cool an air stream. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may operate in a heat pump mode where the roles of the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may be reversed. That is, the heat exchanger 28 may function as an evaporator and the heat exchanger 30 may function as a condenser. In further embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include a furnace for heating the air stream that is supplied to the building 10. While the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 shows the HVAC unit 12 having two of the heat exchangers 28 and 30, in other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include one heat exchanger or more than two heat exchangers.

The heat exchanger 30 is located within a compartment 31 that separates the heat exchanger 30 from the heat exchanger 28. Fans 32 draw air from the environment through the heat exchanger 28. Air may be heated and/or cooled as the air flows through the heat exchanger 28 before being released back to the environment surrounding the HVAC unit 12. A blower assembly 34, powered by a motor 36, draws air through the heat exchanger 30 to heat or cool the air. The heated or cooled air may be directed to the building 10 by the ductwork 14, which may be connected to the HVAC unit 12. Before flowing through the heat exchanger 30, the conditioned air flows through one or more filters 38 that may remove particulates and contaminants from the air. In certain embodiments, the filters 38 may be disposed on the air intake side of the heat exchanger 30 to prevent contaminants from contacting the heat exchanger 30.

The HVAC unit 12 also may include other equipment for implementing the thermal cycle. Compressors 42 increase the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant before the refrigerant enters the heat exchanger 28. The compressors 42 may be any suitable type of compressors, such as scroll compressors, rotary compressors, screw compressors, or reciprocating compressors. In some embodiments, the compressors 42 may include a pair of hermetic direct drive compressors arranged in a dual stage configuration 44. However, in other embodiments, any number of the compressors 42 may be provided to achieve various stages of heating and/or cooling. As may be appreciated, additional equipment and devices may be included in the HVAC unit 12, such as a solid-core filter drier, a drain pan, a disconnect switch, an economizer, pressure switches, phase monitors, and humidity sensors, among other things.

The HVAC unit 12 may receive power through a terminal block 46. For example, a high voltage power source may be connected to the terminal block 46 to power the equipment. The operation of the HVAC unit 12 may be governed or regulated by a control board 48, which is coupled to the HVAC unit 12 via a bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The control board 48 may include control circuitry connected to a thermostat, sensors, and alarms. One or more of these components may be referred to herein separately or collectively as the control device 16. The control circuitry may be configured to control operation of the equipment, provide alarms, and monitor safety switches. Wiring 49 may connect the control board 48 and the terminal block 46 to the equipment of the HVAC unit 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates a residential heating and cooling system 50, also employing a bracket in accordance with present techniques. The residential heating and cooling system 50 may provide heated and cooled air to a residential structure, as well as provide outside air for ventilation and provide improved indoor air quality (IAQ) through devices such as ultraviolet lights and air filters. In the illustrated embodiment, the residential heating and cooling system 50 is a split HVAC system. In general, a residence 52 conditioned by a split HVAC system may include refrigerant conduits 54 that operatively couple the indoor unit 56 to the outdoor unit 58. The indoor unit 56 may be positioned in a utility room, an attic, a basement, and so forth. The outdoor unit 58 is typically situated adjacent to a side of residence 52 and is covered by a shroud to protect the system components and to prevent leaves and other debris or contaminants from entering the unit. The refrigerant conduits 54 transfer refrigerant between the indoor unit 56 and the outdoor unit 58, typically transferring primarily liquid refrigerant in one direction and primarily vaporized refrigerant in an opposite direction.

When the system shown in FIG. 3 is operating as an air conditioner, a heat exchanger 60 in the outdoor unit 58 serves as a condenser for re-condensing vaporized refrigerant flowing from the indoor unit 56 to the outdoor unit 58 via one of the refrigerant conduits 54. In these applications, a heat exchanger 62 of the indoor unit functions as an evaporator. Specifically, the heat exchanger 62 receives liquid refrigerant, which may be expanded by an expansion device, and evaporates the refrigerant before returning it to the outdoor unit 58.

The outdoor unit 58 draws environmental air through the heat exchanger 60 using a fan 64 and expels the air above the outdoor unit 58. When operating as an air conditioner, the air is heated by the heat exchanger 60 within the outdoor unit 58 and exits the unit at a temperature higher than it entered. The indoor unit 56 includes a blower or fan 66 that directs air through or across the indoor heat exchanger 62, where the air is cooled when the system is operating in air conditioning mode. Thereafter, the air is passed through ductwork 68 that directs the air to the residence 52. The overall system operates to maintain a desired temperature as set by a system controller. When the temperature sensed inside the residence 52 is higher than the set point on the thermostat, or the set point plus a small amount, the residential heating and cooling system 50 may become operative to refrigerate additional air for circulation through the residence 52. When the temperature reaches the set point, or the set point minus a small amount, the residential heating and cooling system 50 may stop the refrigeration cycle temporarily. The outdoor unit 58 includes a reheat system in accordance with present embodiments.

The residential heating and cooling system 50 may also operate as a heat pump. When operating as a heat pump, the roles of heat exchangers 60 and 62 are reversed. That is, the heat exchanger 60 of the outdoor unit 58 will serve as an evaporator to evaporate refrigerant and thereby cool air entering the outdoor unit 58 as the air passes over the outdoor heat exchanger 60. The indoor heat exchanger 62 will receive a stream of air blown over it and will heat the air by condensing the refrigerant.

In some embodiments, the indoor unit 56 may include a furnace system 70. For example, the indoor unit 56 may include the furnace system 70 when the residential heating and cooling system 50 is not configured to operate as a heat pump. The furnace system 70 may include a burner assembly and heat exchanger, among other components, inside the indoor unit 56. Fuel is provided to the burner assembly of the furnace 70 where it is mixed with air and combusted to form combustion products. The combustion products may pass through tubes or piping in a heat exchanger, separate from heat exchanger 62, such that air directed by the blower 66 passes over the tubes or pipes and extracts heat from the combustion products. The heated air may then be routed from the furnace system 70 to the ductwork 68 for heating the residence 52.

It should be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be incorporated with the HVAC unit 12, the residential heating and cooling system 50, or other HVAC systems. Additionally, while the features disclosed herein are described in the context of embodiments that directly heat and cool a supply air flow 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.

As briefly discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a multi-pose bracket for an HVAC system configured to mount supporting equipment (e.g., an electronic board) on HVAC equipment in a plurality of installed configurations. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment of an HVAC system 400 including a furnace 402 (i.e., the HVAC unit 12 shown in FIG. 1), in accordance with present embodiments. FIG. 4 shows a right perspective view of the furnace 402, while FIG. 5 shows a left perspective view of the furnace 402. It should be noted that the furnace 402 is representative of any of various types of the HVAC system 400. In other embodiments, the HVAC system 400 may be or include a furnace and/or any other HVAC equipment unit on which supporting equipment, such as an electronic board (e.g., a controller or control board), may be mounted.

The furnace 402 may include components such as a housing 404, a blower (e.g., the blower or the fan 66 shown in FIG. 3), and a heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the furnace 402 may be a gas furnace and include a burner. The furnace 402 may be configured to provide heating to an environment. During operation, the furnace 402 may receive a working fluid, such as an air flow, and circulate the working fluid through the furnace 402, such that the working fluid may be treated (e.g., heated) and supplied to the environment. For example, the blower may suck the air flow into the furnace 402 and propel the air flow into a heat exchanger, where the air flow is treated through transfer of heat. In some embodiments, the heat transferred to the air flow is provided by combustion products, which may be produced in the burner and pushed into the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the blower may deliver a variable amount of the working fluid through the tubes 406.

The components of the furnace 402 may be in fluid communications with each other via ductwork. The ductwork may include a return duct, through which the air flow is directed into the furnace. The ductwork may also include a supply duct, through which the air flow is directed into the environment.

In accordance with present techniques, the blower of the furnace 402 may be controlled to further enable more efficient operation of the furnace 402. For example, the blower may be controlled based on an operating mode of the furnace 402, based on operating conditions or parameters of the furnace 402, and/or based on other suitable factors. To this end, the HVAC system 400 includes a controller 420 (e.g., a control system, a thermostat, a control panel, control circuitry) that is communicatively coupled to one or more components of the furnace 402 (e.g., the blower) and is configured to monitor, adjust, and/or otherwise control operation of the components of the furnace 402 via a communication circuitry 422. For example, one or more control transfer devices, such as wires, cables, wireless communication devices, and the like, may communicatively couple the blower, the burner, the control device 16 (e.g., a thermostat), and/or any other suitable components of the HVAC system 400 to the controller 420. That is, the blower, the burner, and/or the control device 16 may each have one or more communication components that facilitate wired or wireless (e.g., via a network) communication with the controller 420. In some embodiments, the communication components may include a network interface that enables the components of the HVAC system 400 to communicate via various protocols such as EtherNet/IP, ControlNet, DeviceNet, or any other communication network protocol.

Alternatively, the communication components may enable the components of the HVAC system 400 to communicate via mobile telecommunications technology, Bluetooth®, near-field communications technology, and the like. As such, the blower, the burner, and/or the control device 16 may wirelessly communicate data between each other. In other embodiments, operational control of certain components of the furnace 402 may be regulated by one or more relays or switches (e.g., a 24 volt alternating current [VAC] relay).

In some embodiments, the controller 420 may be a component of or may include a control panel. In other embodiments, the controller 420 may be a standalone controller, a dedicated controller, or another suitable controller included in the HVAC system 400. In any case, the controller 420 is configured to control components of the HVAC system 400 in accordance with the techniques discussed herein. The controller 420 includes processor 424, such as a microprocessor, which may execute software for controlling the components of the HVAC system 400. The processor 424 may include multiple microprocessors, one or more “general-purpose” microprocessors, one or more special-purpose microprocessors, and/or one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICS), or some combination thereof. For example, the processor 424 may include one or more reduced instruction set (RISC) processors.

The controller 420 may also include a memory 426 (e.g., a memory device) that may store information, such as instructions, control software, look up tables, configuration data, etc. The memory 426 may include a volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and/or a nonvolatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM). The memory 426 may store a variety of information and may be used for various purposes. For example, the memory 426 may store processor-executable instructions including firmware or software for the processor 424 execute, such as instructions for controlling components of the HVAC system 400 (e.g., the blower). In some embodiments, the memory 426 is a tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable-medium that may store machine-readable instructions for the processor 424 to execute. The memory 426 may include ROM, flash memory, a hard drive, or any other suitable optical, magnetic, or solid-state storage medium, or a combination thereof. The memory 426 may store data, instructions, and any other suitable data.

The controller 420 or components thereof may be secured to the furnace in any of various different orientations using a bracket in accordance with present embodiments. In accordance with present techniques, the controller 420 is configured to control operation of the blower of the furnace 402 to enable improved operation of the furnace 402 in different operating modes and in different operating conditions of the furnace 402. The controller 420 enables more efficient operation of the furnace 402 across a wider range of operating conditions in both heating and cooling modes of the furnace 402. For example, the controller 420 may regulate flow of the working fluid through the tubes 406 entering the heat exchanger by controlling operation of the blower, such as to achieve a desired quality or characteristic of working fluid exiting the heat exchanger. To this end, the furnace 402 may include one or more sensors 428 configured to detect one or more operating parameters of the furnace 402, and the controller 420 may control operation of the blower (e.g., adjust a speed of the blower) based on feedback received from the one or more sensors 428. In some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 428 may be disposed along the tubes 406 and may be configured to detect a temperature and/or a pressure of the working fluid entering and/or exiting the heat exchanger. Further, the sensors 428 may also be mounted using a bracket in accordance with present embodiments.

As mentioned above, the controller 420 may be configured to regulate operation of the blower based on various factors, such as an operating mode of the furnace 402 and/or operating parameters or conditions of the furnace 402 (e.g., of components of the furnace 402). In some embodiments, the controller 420 may regulate operation of the blower according to a selected control sequence, which may be based on the furnace 402 operating mode and/or operating conditions.

The housing 404 of the furnace 402 may be any suitable shape and/or size. In some embodiments, the housing 404 may be substantially shaped as a rectangular prism. In view of FIGS. 4 and 5, the housing 404 may be constructed by a plurality of panels, such as a right panel 408A, a left panel 408B, and a front panel 408C. In some embodiments, the plurality of panels may be attached to one another via any suitable method of attachment to form the housing 404. For example, the plurality of panels may be attached to one another via welding. Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of panels may be attached to one another via fasteners.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of the furnace 402 may also include other components, such as a variable speed drive (VSD) and a motor. The motor may drive the blower and may be powered by the VSD. The VSD receives alternating current (AC) power having a particular fixed line voltage and fixed line frequency from an AC power source, and provides power having a variable voltage and frequency to the motor. In other embodiments, the motor may be powered directly from an AC or direct current (DC) power source. The motor may include any type of electric motor that can be powered by the VSD or directly from an AC or DC power source, such as a switched reluctance motor, an induction motor, an electronically commutated permanent magnet motor, or another suitable motor.

The housing 404 may contain components of the furnace 402, such as the blower, the heat exchanger, the tubes 406, the burner, and/or other components of the furnace 402. The housing 404 may also define an interior volume 410 of the furnace 402 and separate the interior volume 410 from an exterior environment 412. The components of the furnace 402 may be configured to receive an air flow from outside of the housing 404 and heat the air flow within the interior volume 410. In some embodiments, the blower may draw the air flow into the interior volume 410 from an air source outside the housing 404 (e.g., the exterior environment 412, ductwork fluidly coupled to the housing 404) into the interior volume 410 and direct the air flow towards the tubes 406 of the heat exchanger. The housing 404 may be provided with one or more inlets (not shown) for receiving the air flow. In some embodiments, the housing 404 may be further provided with one or more outlets (not shown) to direct the air flow out of the housing 404 (e.g., the exterior environment 412, ductwork fluidly coupled to the housing 404). In some embodiments, the exterior environment 412 may be an outdoor space, a conditioned space, a utility area of a building, or any other suitable location. The exterior environment 412 may contain other components of the HVAC unit 12 of the HVAC system 400 that may interface or interact with the furnace 402 (e.g., a burner, a controller, a compressor, an air handling unit, the blower). The housing 404 may include one or more inlets for receiving the air flow from e.g., the exterior environment 412, or another suitable air source.

Accordingly, each of the plurality of panels may have an exterior surface and an interior surface. In the illustrated embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5, the right panel 408A is disposed opposite the left panel 408B and spaced apart about the interior volume 410; an interior surface 416A of the right panel 408A and an interior surface 416B of the left panel 408B face each other toward the interior volume 410, while an exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A and an exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B face away from each other toward the exterior environment 412.

The plurality of panels of the housing 404 may have one or more preexisting openings (e.g., apertures, channels, mounting holes, housing holes) formed therein. In the illustrated embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5, the right panel 408A has a first opening 414A formed therein and the left panel 408B has a second opening 414B formed therein.

The one or more preexisting openings may be utilized to mount an electronic board 504 to the furnace 402 to enable certain functionality to the HVAC units (e.g., furnace 402). In some embodiments, the electronic board 504 may include a communication interface board, a control panel board, a digital display board, a user interface board, or a combination thereof. For example, the electronic board 504 may be a Wi-Fi module board to enable wireless communications and controls through a Wi-Fi enabled device (e.g., a laptop, a tablet, a phone, a wearable device, any other device capable of connecting to a Wi-Fi network).

Further, the one or more preexisting openings may be utilized to mount an electronic board 504 to the furnace 402 to provide improved and/or additional functionality to the HVAC units (e.g., furnace 402). For example, the electronic board 504 may be a Wi-Fi module board to enable wireless communications and controls through a Wi-Fi enabled device (e.g., a laptop, a tablet, a phone, a wearable device, any other device capable of connecting to a Wi-Fi network), in addition to or in lieu of existing communications and controls (e.g., through a preexisting thermostat).

The one or more preexisting openings may be utilized to mount the electronic board 504 at a plurality of mounting locations. For example, the electronic board 504 may be mounted on interior surfaces and/or exterior surfaces of the plurality of panels, such as the interior surface 416A and the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A and the interior surface 416B and the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B.

The placement of the electronic board 504 on the housing 404 and the like may be subject to certain restrictions. Accordingly, the electronic board 504 may be mounted in a plurality of installed configurations. More specifically, the electronic board 504 may be mounted in a certain installed configuration (e.g., orientation and position) at each of the plurality of mounting locations. For example, in FIG. 4, the electronic board 504 is mounted on the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A in a first installed configuration, where a cover 505 of the electronic board 504 faces away from the right panel 408A and can be swung open via a hinge 507 of the electronic board 504 clockwise toward the front panel 408C. As another example, in FIG. 5, the electronic board 504 is mounted on the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B in a second installed configuration, where the cover 505 of the electronic board 504 faces away from the left panel 408B and can be swung open via the hinge 507 of the electronic board 504 counterclockwise toward the front panel 408C. The electronic board 504 in the first installed configuration is oriented and positioned differently from the second installed configuration. Similarly, the electronic board 504 may be mounted in other distinct installed configurations depending on the mounting locations of the electronic board 504 on the housing 404.

A bracket 502 may be provided to accommodate the mounting of the electronic board 504 on the furnace 402 in the plurality of installed configurations. The electronic board 504 may include one or more coupling components or couplers 508 (e.g., screws, rivets, snap fit connectors, hinged clamping components, friction fit connectors), and the electronic board 504 may be secured to the bracket 502 via the one or more couplers 508. The bracket 502 is then mounted to the furnace 402. In some embodiments, the bracket 502 may be mounted to the furnace 402 as a factory installed option and the electronic board 504 may be mounted or installed on the mounted bracket 502 as a retrofit option. In some other embodiments, the bracket 502 and the electronic board 504 may both be mounted or installed to the furnace 402 as a retrofit option or a factory installed option.

As discussed previously, conventional brackets may include one or more SKU types of the bracket (e.g., one or more configurations), where each SKU type supports installation in a respective installed configuration, thereby increasing a cost associated with manufacture and/or installation of various configuration of the HVAC system 400. In contrast, the bracket 502 in accordance with present embodiments (e.g., as represented in FIGS. 4-5) includes a single universal configuration, which may support installation in the plurality of installed configurations, where each of the plurality of installed configurations corresponds to a respective mounting location of a plurality of mounting locations on the furnace 402.

For example, the bracket 502 may support installation of the electronic board 504 on the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A of the furnace 402. As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic board 504 is secured to the bracket 502 to form a coupling assembly such that the hinge 507 is placed in proximity and parallel to a long edge of the bracket 502 to serve as a hinge. The electronic board 504 and the bracket 502 are positioned and oriented to be installed on the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A of the furnace 402 in the first installed configuration. The coupling assembly may be mounted to the first opening 414A formed in the right panel 408A using a coupling component or fastener 506 (e.g., a rivet, a bolt, a screw, any other suitable fastener). As such, that the bracket 502 may be mounted on the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A of the furnace 402 in the first installed configuration. Once installed in the first installed configuration, the cover 505 of the electronic board 504 may face away from the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A. Further, the cover 505 may be swung open via the hinge 507 of the electronic board 504 clockwise toward the front panel 408C.

As another example, the bracket 502 may support installation of the electronic board 504 on the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B of the furnace 402. As shown in FIG. 5, the electronic board 504 is secured to the bracket 502 to form the coupling assembly such that the hinge 507 is placed in proximity and parallel to a long edge of the bracket 502. The electronic board 504 and the bracket 502 are positioned and oriented to be installed on the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B of the furnace 402 in the second installed configuration. The coupling assembly may be mounted to the second opening 414B formed in the left panel 408B using the fastener 506. As such, the bracket 502 may be mounted on the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B of the furnace 402 in the second installed configuration. Once installed in the second installed configuration, the cover 505 of the electronic board 504 may face away from the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B. Further, the cover 505 may be swung open via the hinge 507 of the electronic board 504 counterclockwise toward the front panel 408C.

Further, the bracket 502 may support installation of the electronic board 504 on the interior surfaces (e.g., surfaces 416A and 416B) of the furnace 402. FIGS. 6 and 7 are close-up perspective views of an embodiment of the furnace 402 in FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrating the electronic board 504 installed on the interior surfaces (e.g., surfaces 416A and 416B) of the furnace 402 in accordance with present embodiments. The furnace 402 is substantially the same as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, the furnace 402 in each figure has the same components and functionality as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Therefore, like elements are shown with like numbers.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the bracket 502 may support installation of the electronic board 504 on the interior surface 416B of the left panel 408B of the furnace 402. The electronic board 504 is secured to the bracket 502 to form the coupling assembly such that the hinge 507 is placed in proximity and parallel to a long edge of the bracket 502. The electronic board 504 and the bracket 502 are positioned and oriented to be installed on the interior surface 416B of the left panel 408B of the furnace 402 in the third installed configuration. The coupling assembly may be mounted to the second opening 414B formed in the left panel 408B using the fastener 506. As such, that the bracket 502 may be mounted on the interior surface 416B of the right panel 408B of the furnace 402 in the third installed configuration. Once installed in the third installed configuration, the cover 505 of the electronic board 504 may face away from the interior surface 416B of the left panel 408B. Further, the cover 505 may be swung open via the hinge 507 of the electronic board 504 clockwise toward the front panel 408C.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the bracket 502 may support installation of the electronic board 504 on the interior surface 416A of the right panel 408A of the furnace 402. The electronic board 504 is secured to the bracket 502 to form the coupling assembly such that the hinge 507 is placed in proximity and parallel to a long edge of the bracket 502. The electronic board 504 and the bracket 502 are positioned and oriented to be installed on the interior surface 416A of the right panel 408A of the furnace 402 in the fourth installed configuration. The coupling assembly may be mounted to the first opening 414A formed in the right panel 408A using the fastener 506. As such, the bracket 502 may be mounted on the interior surface 416A of the right panel 408A of the furnace 402 in the fourth installed configuration. Once installed in the fourth installed configuration, the cover 505 of the electronic board 504 may face away from the interior surface 416A of the right panel 408A. Further, the cover 505 may be swung open via the hinge 507 of the electronic board 504 counterclockwise toward the front panel 408C.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the bracket 502 supports mounting of the electronic board 504 on different mounting surfaces (e.g., the interior surface 416A and the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A and the interior surface 416B and the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B). The electronic board 504 may be oriented differently using the one or more preexisting openings (e.g., the first opening 414A and the second opening 414B). As such, the bracket 502 supports universal installation of the electronic board 504 on the furnace 402 in a plurality of installed configurations.

Though FIGS. 4-7 describe exemplary uses of the bracket 502 in the context of the furnace 402, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to utility of the bracket 502 in such context. In some embodiments, the brackets 502 may also be used to mount any other HVAC component other than the electronic board 504 on any other HVAC unit other than the furnace 402 (e.g., a chiller, an air handling unit), without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the utility of the bracket 502 is not limited to HVAC equipment. In other embodiments, the bracket 502 may be utilized to mount an electronic board or any other component to any other equipment or any other building structure without deviating from the scope of the disclosure.

Features of the bracket 502 are further described in detail herein in conjunction with FIGS. 8A-8C, which illustrate various distinct views of the bracket 502, in accordance with present embodiments. The bracket 502 is substantially the same as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4-7. Accordingly, like elements are shown with like numbers.

FIG. 8A shows a front view of the bracket 502, which includes a body 602. The body may include a first side 604 that may be configured to couple with an electronic board (e.g., the electronic board 504). For example, a mounting frame 606 may be disposed on the first side 604 to mount the electronic board 504 on the bracket via including one or more mounting bosses 608 formed therein. In some embodiments, the mounting frame 606 may provide structural support to the bracket 502 and/or the electronic board 504. In such embodiments, the mounting frame 606 may include a plurality of members, where the plurality of members may be configured in a certain arrangement based on structural requirements for the bracket 502. The one or more mounting bosses 608 may be arranged to extend perpendicularly relative to the first side 604 and parallel to each other. The one or more mounting bosses 608 may be configured to receive fasteners along the direction of extension such that the bracket 502 and the electronic board 504 may form a coupling assembly. In some embodiments, fasteners may include screws, rivets, snap fit connectors, hinged clamping components, friction fit connectors, and the like. Though, in the illustrated embodiment, the mounting frame 606 has four mounting bosses 608, in some embodiments, the mounting frame may have more than four mounting bosses or less than four mounting bosses without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the one or more mounting bosses 608 may be integral to the mounting frame 606 at fixed positions. In some other embodiments, the one or more mounting bosses 608 may be detachably mounted on the mounting frame 606. In certain other embodiments, positions of the one or more mounting bosses 608 on the mounting frame 606 may be adjusted to facilitate engagement with the electronic board, which may include various different sizes of electronic boards. For example, the one or more mounting bosses 608 may be configured to slide along crossed tracks or groves of the mounting frame 606 to facilitate transitioning the mounting bosses 608 between different configurations for coupling a variety of types of the electronic board. Further, the one or more mounting bosses may comprise one or more retentioners 509 (e.g., clamps, screws) to prevent movement of the one or more mounting bosses 608. For example, the one or more retentioners 509 (e.g., clamps, screws) may secure the one or more mounting bosses 608 in desired positions to couple with the couplers 508 of the electronic board 504.

As such, the bracket 502 may be formed by one or more components. The bracket 502 may be formed from materials used with injection molding, additive formation (e.g., 3D printing), or other suitable forming process. The bracket 502 may be formed from any appropriate material or combination of materials (for example, plastic, metal, alloy, or the like) depending upon application of the bracket 502. For example, if the bracket 502 is to be used in high temperature applications, the bracket 502 may be made of a heat resistant material. In another example, the bracket 502 may be formed from a material having damping characteristics, such as a plastic and/or a rubber, to block, mitigate, and/or reduce relative movement between the electronic board 504 and the housing 404. As will be appreciated, operation of the HVAC system 400 may induce vibrations in the electronic board 504, the housing 404, and/or other components that may otherwise be propagated throughout the HVAC system 400. Thus, the material of the bracket 502 may be selected to reduce transmission of such vibrations. In some embodiments, the material of the bracket 502 may further include one or more surface treatments or properties, such as an ultraviolet stabilized material, to increase a useful life of the bracket 502. For example, a material of the bracket 502 may be selected based on an application or installed environment of the bracket 502 and/or a location of the HVAC unit 12 (e.g., within an ambient environment).

The body 602 may further include a second side 620 (shown in FIG. 8B) opposite the first side 604. The second side 620 may be configured to face a mounting surface (e.g., the interior surface 416A and the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A and the interior surface 416B and the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B) of the housing (e.g., the housing 404).

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first side 604 and the second side 620 of the body 602 assume substantially trapezoidal circumferences, each having a first edge 614 and a second edge 616. The second edge 616 is substantially parallel to and shorter than the first edge 614.

The bracket 502 may include at least one mounting hole extending from the first side 604 to the second side 620 of the body 602. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket includes a first mounting hole 610A and a second mounting hole 610B formed therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the first mounting hole 610A and the second mounting hole 610B are positioned symmetrically about a transverse plane of the body 602; as such, the first mounting hole 610A and the second mounting hole 610B are formed at respective acute corners 612A and 612B of the body 602, which are proximal to the first edge 614. In some embodiments, one of the at least one mounting hole may be utilized for coupling the bracket 502 to the mounting surface (e.g., the interior surface 416A and the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A and the interior surface 416B and the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B).

In some embodiments, the first mounting hole 610A may include a first mounting sleeve 618A, and the second mounting hole 610B may include a second mounting sleeve 618B. In some embodiments, the first mounting sleeve 618A and the second mounting sleeve 618B may extend outwardly (transverse to a general plane of the body 602) from the first side 604 and the second side 620. In some embodiments, inner surfaces of the first and second mounting sleeves 618A and 618B may be threaded to receive a fastener (e.g., the fastener 506). In some embodiments, the first mounting sleeve 618A and the second mounting sleeve 618B may be integral to the body 602.

In some other embodiments, the bracket 502 may not include the first mounting sleeve 618A and the second mounting sleeve 618B. In such an embodiment, the fastener 506 may be directly received in the one or more mounting holes and the fastener 506 may be a bolt or any other suitable fastener.

FIG. 8B shows a rear view of the bracket 502. As described above, the body 602 may include the second side 620, configured to face the mounting surface (e.g., the interior surface 416A and the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A and the interior surface 416B and the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B). In the illustrated embodiment, the second side is substantially planar.

FIG. 8C shows a right side view of the bracket 502. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the first mounting sleeve 618A and the second mounting sleeve 618B may extend outwardly from the first side 604 and the second side 620. In some embodiments, the first mounting sleeve 618A and the second mounting sleeve 618B may be configured to contact the mounting surface. For example, the first mounting sleeve 618A and the second mounting sleeve 618B may be sized to have inner diameters substantially equal to a diameter of the one or more preexisting openings (e.g., the first opening 414A and the second opening 414B). As such a circular side of the first mounting sleeve 618A or a circular side of the second mounting sleeve 618B abuts the mounting surface in the installed configurations.

As discussed above, the bracket 502 shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C may be utilize to mount the electronic board 504 on the housing 404 in a plurality of installed configurations. Each of the plurality of the installed configurations may correspond to a respective mounting location of a plurality of mounting locations on the HVAC equipment. Further, each of the plurality of installed configurations may indicate an orientation of the bracket 502 and/or the electronic board 504. Specifically, the bracket 502 may be oriented in a plurality of orientations. The plurality of orientations is described herein in conjunction with FIGS. 9A and 9B, which illustrate front views of the bracket 502 in the plurality of orientations, in accordance with present embodiments. The bracket 502 is substantially the same as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C. For example, the bracket 502 in each figure has the same components and functionality as described above with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8C. Therefore, like elements are shown with like numbers.

FIG. 9A illustrates a front view of the bracket 502 in a first orientation. In the first orientation, the first mounting hole 610A is positioned above the second mounting hole 610B. Accordingly, the first mounting hole 610A is aligned with an opening (e.g., the first opening 414A, the second opening 414B) on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener 506. For example, the bracket 502 is depicted as oriented in the first orientation in the first installed configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, where the bracket 502 is mounted on the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A, and in the third installed configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, where the bracket 502 is mounted on the interior surface 416B of the left panel 408B.

FIG. 9B illustrates a front view of the bracket 502 in a second orientation. In the second orientation, the second mounting hole 610B is positioned above the first mounting hole 610A. Accordingly, the second mounting hole 610B is aligned with an opening (e.g., the first opening 414A, the second opening 414B) on the mounting surface and secured with the fastener 506. For example, the bracket 502 is depicted as oriented in the second orientation in the second installed configuration illustrated in FIG. 5, where the bracket 502 is mounted on the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B, and in the fourth installed configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, where the bracket 502 is mounted on the interior surface 416A of the right panel 408A.

With reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the bracket 502 can transform between the first orientation and the second orientation through simple rotation. For example, the bracket 502 may be rotated from the first orientation to achieve the second orientation through a first rotation 702, where the first rotation 702 includes a first 180° rotation about an axis orthogonal to a frontal plane of the body 602 (e.g., the first side 604). As such, the first mounting hole 610A is repositioned to be below the second mounting hole 610B, as in the second orientation. Similarly, the bracket 502 may be rotated from the second orientation to achieve the first orientation through a second rotation 704, where the first rotation 702 includes a second 180° rotation about the axis orthogonal to a frontal plane of the body 602 (e.g., the first side 604). As such, the second mounting hole 610B is repositioned to be above the first mounting hole 610A, as in the first orientation.

While the illustrated one or more mounting holes (e.g., the first mounting hole 610A and the second mounting hole 610B) both have a substantially cylindrical shape, the one or more mounting holes may employ a different shape in other embodiments. For example, FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment 750 of a furnace including a bracket 752 having two mounting holes (e.g., a first mounting hole 754A and a second mounting hole 754B), each mounting hole with a quarter-turn nut, in accordance with present embodiments. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bracket 752 with enlarged illustrations of certain features; it is provided in conjuncture of FIG. 10 to facilitate a discussion of the features of the bracket 752, in accordance of present embodiments. Certain aspects of the bracket 752 in FIGS. 10 and 11 have the same components and functionality as those of the bracket 502 as described above with reference to FIGS. 4-9. Certain aspects of the furnace 750 have the same components and functionality as those of the furnace 402 as described above with reference to FIGS. 4-7, such as the housing 404. The electronic board 504 in FIGS. 10 and 11 are substantially the same as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4-7. Therefore, like elements are shown with like numbers.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the bracket 752 is utilized to secure the electronic board 504 to the furnace 750. Each of the first mounting hole 754A and the second mounting hole 754B of the bracket 752 has the quarter-turn nut. As such, a fastener 756 including a corresponding quarter-turn fastener may be employed to mount the bracket 752 by rotating the fastener 756 clockwise by 90°, thereby locking the fastener 756 in place within a mounting hole (e.g., the first mounting hole 754A or the second mounting hole 754B). In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first mounting hole 754A and the second mounting hole 754B of the bracket 752 includes a pair of curved grooves 758, and the fastener 756 has a pair of flanges 760. During installation, the pair of flanges 760 may collaboratively glide along the pair of curved grooves 758, as the fastener 756 is inserted in to one of the mounting holes (e.g., the first mounting hole 754A and/or the second mounting hole 754B). The pair of curved grooves 758 may be configured to restrict how the fastener 756 must be installed to secure the bracket 752. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 756 must be inserted into the curved grooves 758 in a beginning orientation, where the pair of flanges 760 are horizontally aligned to each other. As the fastener 756 is rotated within the curved grooves 758 to secure the bracket 752, the fastener 756 is reoriented about its longitudinal axis. Once fully installed, the fastener 756 is oriented in a final orientation, where the pair of flanges 760 are vertically aligned to each other.

In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic board 504 is to be installed on an interior surface 416B of a left panel 408B in an installed configuration similar to the third installed configuration. The couplers 508 of the electronic board 504 are aligned with the mounting bosses 608 of the bracket 752 to form a coupling assembly, where the electronic board 504 is disposed on the first side 604 of the bracket 752. The coupling assembly including the electronic board 504 and the bracket 752 is positioned and oriented to be mounted to the second opening 414B formed in the left panel 408B. That is, the first mounting hole 754A is positioned above the second mounting hole 754B in the first orientation of the bracket, and the first mounting hole 754A is aligned with the second opening 414B to be used for securing the bracket via the fastener 756.

In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic board 504 is a Wi-Fi module board for enabling wireless controls of the furnace 402 and/or communications between the furnace 402 and other components of the HVAC system 400. To better facilitate the wireless controls and communications, a Wi-Fi antenna assembly is provided and is a component of the fastener 756. The Wi-Fi antenna assembly may include antennas that are required to be oriented in a certain way about a ground during operation (e.g., perpendicular to the ground). Thus, the first mounting hole 754A and the second mounting hole 754B of bracket 752 may be configured such that the fastener 756 may be installed in a certain desired orientation when it is fully engaged with the quarter-turn nut. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the Wi-Fi antenna assembly requires the fastener 756 to be oriented such that the flanges are vertically aligned to each other in the installed configuration.

Accordingly, each of the first mounting hole 754A and the second mounting hole 754B of bracket 752 may have a front circumference 762 and a back circumference 764 that are distinct from each other, as illustrated in FIG. 11. As such, the fastener 756 must be inserted into the curved grooves 758 in a beginning orientation, where the pair of flanges 760 are horizontally aligned to each other. As the fastener 756 is rotated within the curved grooves 758 to secure the bracket 752, the fastener 756 is reoriented about its longitudinal axis. Once fully installed, the fastener 756 is oriented in a final orientation, where the pair of flanges 760 are vertically aligned to each other.

Further, while the illustrated embodiments shown previously include two openings (i.e., the first opening 216 and the second opening 218), embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may include additional mounting holes or less mounting holes. For example, FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C illustrate an embodiment 800 of the bracket with a single mounting hole, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 12A shows a front view of the bracket 800. The bracket 800 includes a body 802. The body 802 includes a first side 804 with a mounting frame 806 disposed thereon. The mounting frame 806 includes a first plurality of mounting bosses 808. The mounting frame 806 and the first plurality of mounting bosses 808 may be similar to the mounting frame 606 and the plurality of mounting bosses 608 described in the foregoing description of FIG. 8A. Unlike the body 602, the body 802 has a single mounting hole 810 formed at one corner 812 thereof. The mounting hole 810 may be structurally similar to the first mounting hole 610A and a second mounting hole of bracket 502, each of which has a circular circumference therethrough, or the first mounting hole 754A and the second mounting hole 754B of the bracket 752, each of which has the front circumference 762 and the back circumference 764. In some embodiments, the body 802 may be trapezoidal in shape having two parallel sides 814 and 816 that are perpendicular to a bottom side 817. The short side 816 may be shorter than the long side 814 and the mounting hole 810 is formed at the corner 812 that is proximal to the long side 814 and is opposite the bottom side 817. The mounting hole 810 may receive a fastener (e.g., the fastener 506, the fastener 756) so as to secure and mount the bracket 800 to a mounting surface (e.g., the interior surface 416A and the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A, the interior surface 416B and the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B) of a HVAC unit (e.g., furnace 402, furnace 750).

In some embodiments, the body 802 may further include a mounting sleeve 818 for the mounting hole 810. The mounting sleeve 818 may be structurally similar to the first mounting sleeve 618A or the second mounting sleeve 618B of the bracket 502 or the bracket 752.

FIG. 12B shows a rear view of the bracket 800. The body 802 may further comprise a second side 820. Unlike the bracket 502, the second side 820 of the bracket 800 may include an additional mounting frame 807. The additional mounting frame 807 disposed on the second side 820 may include a second plurality of mounting bosses 822. The second plurality of mounting bosses 822 may be similar to the plurality of mounting bosses 608 described in the foregoing description of FIG. 8A and the first plurality of mounting bosses 808.

FIG. 12C shows a right side view of the bracket 800. As illustrated in FIG. 8C, the mounting sleeve 818 extends outwardly from the first side 804 and the second side 820. In some embodiments, the mounting sleeve 818 may be configured to insert into the one or more openings in a HVAC unit to provide additional structural support of the bracket when fully installed. As such, the first side 804 or the second side 820 abuts the mounting surface in the installed configurations.

The bracket 800 shown in FIGS. 12A-12C is mountable in a plurality of installed configurations via the mounting hole 810. Each of the plurality of the installed configurations may correspond to a respective mounting location of a plurality of mounting locations on the HVAC equipment. Further, each of the plurality of installed configurations may indicate an orientation of the bracket 800 and/or the electronic board 504. Specifically, the bracket 800, similar to the bracket 502, may be oriented in a plurality of orientations. For example, the bracket 800 may be oriented as shown in FIG. 12A in a third orientation, where the long side 814 is positioned to the left of the short side 816. In this orientation, the electronic board 504 may be installed in the first installed configuration, where the electronic board 504 is mounted on the exterior surface 418A of the right panel 408A, and in the third installed configuration, where the bracket 800 is mounted on the interior surface 416B of the left panel 408B, as previously discussed in reference to FIG. 9A. As another example, the bracket 800 may be oriented as shown in FIG. 12B in a fourth orientation, where the long side 814 is positioned to the right of the short side 816. In this orientation, the electronic board 504 may be installed in the second installed configuration, where the bracket 800 is mounted on the exterior surface 418B of the left panel 408B, and in the fourth installed configuration, where the bracket 800 is mounted on the interior surface 416A of the right panel 408A, as previously discussed in reference to FIG. 9B.

With reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the bracket 800 can transform between the third orientation and the fourth orientation through simple rotation. For example, the bracket 800 may be rotated from the third orientation to achieve the fourth orientation through a third rotation 830, where the third rotation 830 includes a third 180° rotation about a longitudinal axis 828. As such, the long side 814 is repositioned to the right of the short side 816, as in the fourth orientation. Similarly, the bracket 800 may be rotated from the fourth orientation to achieve the third orientation through a fourth rotation 830, where the fourth rotation 830 includes a fourth 180° rotation about the longitudinal axis 828. As such, the long side 814 is repositioned to the left of the short side 816, as in the third orientation.

Though in FIGS. 12A-12C, the mounting hole 810 is shown to be disposed above the mounting frame 806, the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. In some other embodiments, the mounting hole 810 may be disposed below the mounting frame 806, without deviating from the scope of the disclosure.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. 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. It should be appreciated that any features shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1-12 may be combined in any suitable manner.

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).

MULTI-POSE MOUNTING BRACKET

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (1)