Patent Application
20210037974
The present invention generally relates to a platform having a leveling system for supporting a mechanical device.
Typically, mechanical devices such as furnaces, air handlers and other equipment are installed on the floor of a utility room. Because the utility room typically includes a floor drain, the floor within the room is sloped to drain towards the floor drain. As such, the floor is not level; however, the mechanical device, i.e. furnace needs to be installed level. Spacers, such as bricks, rocks, shims, etc. are typically used to level the furnace by appropriately putting spacers under the corner(s) that needs to be raised to level the furnace. However, the furnace is usually placed in between other mechanical equipment, such as an air cleaner, another furnace, a water heater, etc. As such, the space around the furnace is usually very tight. It is therefore difficult to level the rear of the furnace because the space is usually too tight to reach the rear of the furnace once the furnace is put in place. Installers typically try to approximate what would make the furnace level by placing a block under a rear corner and then placing the furnace on top and checking for level. Often, the furnace then will need to be removed to re-level, which becomes a trial and error process that is time consuming, error prone and tedious. Therefore, improvements are desirable.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a pad includes a support structure for supporting a mechanical device. The support structure includes a horizontal layer supported by vertical members. The pad also includes a leveling mechanism for leveling the pad such that during installation of the mechanical device, an installer can level the pad.
In another aspect, a pad includes a support structure for supporting a mechanical device. The support structure includes a horizontal layer supported by vertical members. The pad also includes a leveling mechanism for leveling the pad. The leveling mechanism includes first, second, third and fourth leveling legs near a first, second, third and fourth corner, respectively of the pad. The leveling legs can be screwed into or out of the pad such that during installation of the mechanical device, an installer can level the pad by screwing in or out the first, second, third and fourth leveling legs until the pad is level.
In another aspect, a pad includes a support structure for supporting a mechanical device. The support structure includes a horizontal layer supported by vertical members. The pad also includes a leveling mechanism for leveling the pad. The leveling mechanism includes first, second, third and fourth leveling legs near a first, second, third and fourth corner, respectively of the pad. During installation of the mechanical device, an installer can level the pad by using the leveling legs.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the concepts and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
For a more complete understanding of the disclosed system and methods, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In general, a platform, or pad, with a leveling mechanism is disclosed. The pad is shaped and sized to fit under a mechanical device, such as a furnace, air handler or air conditioner, and configured to support the weight of the mechanical device. Preferably, the pad includes a leveling mechanism that allows the pad to be leveled while in place. For example, the pad could have four leveling legs—one at each corner. Preferably, the leveling mechanism would also allow the four corners of the pad to be leveled independently. Other configurations are also possible. For example, the pad may only have leveling legs at the front of the pad. The leveling mechanism could also have other leveling devices, such as angled blocks that slide relative to one another or have a rocker at the back that would allow the back to self-level while having leveling legs at the front. It is also possible that the leveling legs could be optional and used as needed to save cost and/or weight. If the floor the pad is installed on is level, the leveling mechanism would not be needed. For example, the legs could be press fit into the pad when necessary or removed when unnecessary.
Turning now to the figures,
Referring now to
The pad 100 also has a leveling mechanism 121. Preferably, the leveling mechanism 121 has first and second front legs 122, 124 and first and second rear legs 126, 128. The leveling legs 122, 124, 126, 128 are fitted within the support structure 110 but are designed to extend down below the support structure 110 as shown in
The leveling mechanism 121 is used during installation to help level the pad 100 on an uneven floor. Preferably, the front legs 122, 124 are standard screw down/up legs found on most appliances and other devices for leveling. These legs could be made of plastic, metal or other suitable material. The legs could also be press fitted into place by, for example, having a hex pocket in the pad for press fitting a nut into the hex pocket. The screw legs would then screw into the nut once it is retained in the hex pocket. The legs could also be a separate module that is press fitted in the pad 100.
During installation, the rear legs 126, 128 are harder to reach due to space restrictions in most mechanical or utility rooms. Therefore, as shown, the rear legs 126, 128 have horizontal leveling rods 136, 138, respectively. Typically, these rods 136, 138 are screws that interact with the rear legs 126, 128 to turn the rear legs up and down such that the front and rear can be leveled from the front 140 of the pad 100.
Referring to
In practice, the installer would level the front legs 122, 124 by hand and use a tool to turn the end caps 146, 148 one way or another causing the rods 136, 138, respectively, to corresponding spin. The rods 136, 138 would then interact with the rear legs 126, 128, respectively, to go up or down as desired. Alternatively, the front legs 122, 124 could also have a mechanism to cause them to go up or down with a tool to further ease installation and time of installation. The support structure 110 of the pad 100 has a depth of between 1 and 3 inches, and typically is 2 inches. The leveling legs 122, 124, 126, 128 extend down from the bottom of the pad, for example ½″ below the bottom of the pad. In the case of manual legs, this allows room for the pad to raise or lower by turning the screw in or out.
The leveling mechanism 121 of
Referring to
Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present invention, disclosure, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62883844 | Aug 2019 | US |
