U.S. patent application number 14/290098 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for air handler with a leak free controls enclosure.
This patent application is currently assigned to Carrier Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Carrier Corporation. Invention is credited to James Amick, Matthew Freers, Barry W. Lee, Kevin Mercer, Alice R. Walker.
Application Number | 20150034290 14/290098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52426586 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150034290 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mercer; Kevin ; et
al. |
February 5, 2015 |
AIR HANDLER WITH A LEAK FREE CONTROLS ENCLOSURE
Abstract
An air handler configured with a second enclosure disposed
within the first enclosure to create a continuous airflow
passageway, wherein access to the second enclosure does not
interrupt the continuous airflow passageway.
Inventors: |
Mercer; Kevin; (Danville,
IN) ; Lee; Barry W.; (Greenwood, IN) ; Walker;
Alice R.; (Plainfield, IN) ; Amick; James;
(Coatesville, IN) ; Freers; Matthew; (Pittsboro,
IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carrier Corporation |
Farmington |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Carrier Corporation
Farmington
CT
|
Family ID: |
52426586 |
Appl. No.: |
14/290098 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61861116 |
Aug 1, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/177 ;
454/254; 454/338 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/007 20130101;
F28D 1/024 20130101; F24F 13/20 20130101; F24F 1/0007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/177 ;
454/254; 454/338 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/007 20060101
F24F007/007; F28D 1/02 20060101 F28D001/02 |
Claims
1. An air handler comprising: a first enclosure having a first
interior volume; a second enclosure having a second interior
volume; and wherein the second enclosure is affixed to the first
enclosure such that the second interior volume is disposed within
the first interior volume;
2. The air handler of claim 1, further comprising: at least one
component disposed within the second interior volume; a fan
disposed within the first interior volume; wherein the at least one
component is in operable communication with the fan; and wherein
the at least one component is operative to control the fan to cause
air to move through the first enclosure.
3. The air handler of claim 1, further comprising a coil disposed
within the first interior volume.
4. The air handler of claim 3, wherein the coil is configured to
allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough.
5. The air handler of claim 4, wherein the second enclosure is
affixed to the first enclosure above the coil.
6. The air handler of claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is
affixed to the first enclosure via at least one fastener.
7. The air handler of claim 1, wherein an insulation material is
affixed to at least one exterior side of the second enclosure.
8. The air handler of claim 7, wherein the insulation material
comprises a foam material.
9. The air handler of claim 1, wherein at least one side of the
second enclosure is removable.
10. The air handler of claim 2, wherein the at least one component
comprises a controller.
11. An HVAC system comprising: an air handler comprising: a first
enclosure having a first interior volume; a coil disposed within
the first interior volume; and a second enclosure having a second
interior volume; wherein the second enclosure is affixed to the
first enclosure such that the second interior volume is disposed
within the first interior volume; wherein the air handler is
disposed inside an interior space.
12. The HVAC system of claim 11, further comprising an outdoor unit
assembly operatively coupled to the air handler for exchange of a
refrigerant therebetween.
13. The HVAC system of claim 11, further comprising at least one
conduit affixed to the air handler to distribute air to the
interior space.
14. The HVAC of claim 11, wherein the second enclosure is affixed
to the first enclosure via at least one fastener.
15. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the second enclosure is
affixed to the first enclosure above the coil.
16. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein an insulation material is
affixed to at least one exterior side of the second enclosure.
17. The HVAC system of claim 16, wherein the insulation material
comprises a foam material.
18. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein at least one side of the
second enclosure is removable.
19. An air handler comprising: a first enclosure having a first
enclosure interior volume; a second enclosure, having a second
enclosure interior volume, disposed within the first enclosure to
create a continuous airflow passageway; wherein access to the
second enclosure interior volume does not interrupt the continuous
airflow passageway.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to, and claims the
priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/861,116 filed Aug. 1, 2013, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated in their entirety into the present disclosure
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0002] The presently disclosed embodiments generally relate to
heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, and
more particularly, an air handler with a leak free controls
enclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0003] In a typical residential, ducted heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning ("HVAC") system, a single blower in an indoor air
handler circulates air to various parts of the home through a
system of ducts. Any service or diagnostic performance of such air
handlers typically requires the removal of at least one casing
panel, or door of the enclosure to expose the fan, controls and
other electrical components. Removal of this panel either renders
the air handler inoperable, or allows ambient air to enter the
airflow passageway; thus, altering the operational characteristics
of the air handler while service is being performed. This
configuration may alter the performance of the air handler while
diagnostics or service is attempted to be performed. Moreover, the
controls and other electrical components may be exposed to the
moist, conditioned air as it passes through the airflow passageway,
depending on the orientation of the air handler. There is,
therefore, a need for an air handler with a separate enclosure for
the controls and other electrical components that isolates these
items from the airflow passageway.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0004] In one aspect, an air handler with a leak free controls
enclosure is provided. The air handler includes a first enclosure
including a first interior volume. The air handler also includes a
second enclosure including a second interior volume, wherein the
second enclosure may be affixed to the first enclosure such that
the second interior volume may be disposed within the first
interior volume to create a continuous airflow passageway, wherein
access to the second enclosure interior volume does not interrupt
the continuous airflow passageway.
[0005] In one embodiment, the air handler includes a fan and a coil
disposed within the first interior volume. In one embodiment, the
coil is configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough.
[0006] In one embodiment, the second enclosure may be affixed to
the first enclosure above the coil. In one embodiment, the second
enclosure may be affixed to the first enclosure via at least one
fastener. In one embodiment, an insulation material may be affixed
to at least one exterior side of the second enclosure. In one
embodiment, the insulation material may be a foam material. In one
embodiment, at least one panel of the second enclosure may be
removable.
[0007] In one embodiment, the air handler includes at least one
component disposed within the second interior volume. In one
embodiment, the at least one component may be in operable
communication with the fan. In one embodiment, the at least one
component may be operative to control the fan to cause air to move
through the first enclosure.
[0008] In another aspect an HVAC system including an air handler
with a leak free controls enclosure is provided. The HVAC system
includes an air handler with a leak free controls enclosure
operatively coupled to an outdoor unit assembly. In one embodiment,
the air handler and the outdoor unit assembly are configured to
circulate a refrigerant therethrough. In one embodiment, the
outdoor unit assembly unit may be a heat pump, while in another
embodiment, the outdoor unit assembly may be an air conditioner. In
one embodiment, the HVAC system includes at least one conduit
coupled to the air handler to distribute air into an interior
space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The embodiments and other features, advantages and
disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them,
will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better
understood by reference to the following description of various
exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an air handler unit of the
present disclosure with the leak free controls enclosure and the
front panels removed;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an air handler with a leak
free controls enclosure;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an air handler unit with a
leak free controls enclosure with the controls enclosure panel
removed; and
[0013] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an HVAC system using an air
handler with a leak free controls enclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to
the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language
will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is
thereby intended.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of the
present disclosure, indicated generally at 10. The air handler with
a leak free controls enclosure 10 includes a first enclosure 12
including a first interior volume 14, and a fan 16 disposed within
the first interior volume 14. In one embodiment, the air handler 10
includes an electrical heating element 18 disposed within the first
interior volume 14 to provide auxiliary heat within the first
enclosure 12. In one embodiment, the air handler 10 includes a coil
20 disposed within the first interior volume 14. In one embodiment,
the coil 20 is configured to allow a refrigerant to flow
therethrough.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the air handler 10 also includes a
second enclosure 22 including a second interior volume 26, wherein
the second enclosure 22 may be affixed to the first enclosure 12
such that the second interior volume 26 may be disposed within the
first interior volume 14. In one embodiment, the second enclosure
22 may be affixed to the first enclosure 12 above the coil 20. In
one embodiment, the second enclosure 22 may be affixed to the first
enclosure 12 via at least one fastener 28. In one embodiment, an
insulation material 30 may be affixed to at least one exterior side
of the second enclosure 22. In one embodiment, the insulation
material 30 may be a foam material, or fiber-glass to name a couple
of non-limiting examples. As the second enclosure 22 is affixed to
first enclosure 12, the insulation material 30 creates a sealed
airflow passageway through first interior volume 14 of the air
handler 10. In one embodiment, at least one panel 32 of the second
enclosure 22 may be removable. In one embodiment, the air handler
10 includes a second enclosure 22, having a second enclosure
interior volume 26, disposed within a first enclosure 12 to create
a continuous airflow passageway; wherein access to the second
enclosure interior volume 26 does not interrupt the continuous
airflow passageway.
[0017] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the air handler 10
also includes at least one component 34 disposed within the second
interior volume 26. In one embodiment, the at least one component
34 may be a controller, to name one non-limiting example. In one
embodiment, the at least one component 34 may be in operable
communication with the fan 16. In one embodiment, the at least one
component 34 may be operative to control the fan 16 to cause air to
move through the first enclosure 12. When the at least one panel 32
is removed from the second enclosure 22, access may be gained to
the at least one component 34 without disrupting the sealed airflow
passageway within the first interior volume 14.
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a
HVAC system, generally indicated at 36. The HVAC system 36 includes
an air handler with a leak free controls enclosure 10 operatively
coupled to an outdoor unit assembly 38 via a conduit circuit 40.
The air handler 10 and the outdoor unit assembly 38 are configured
to circulate a refrigerant therethrough. In one embodiment, outdoor
unit assembly unit 38 may be a heat pump, while in another
embodiment, outdoor unit assembly 38 may be an air conditioner, to
name just two non-limiting examples. In one embodiment. the HVAC
system 36 includes at least one conduit 42 coupled to the air
handler 10 to distribute air into an interior space 44.
[0019] In an exemplary embodiment of the HVAC system 36, the at
least one component 34 receives a signal from a sensor designating
a demand to condition the interior space 44. The demand to
condition the interior space 44 may come from one or multiple
sensors (not shown) placed throughout the interior space 44. For
example, when a demand call is initiated, the at least one
component 34 may send a signal to the outdoor unit assembly 38 to
begin circulating the refrigerant through the conduit circuit 40 to
the coil 20. Once the refrigerant has circulated through the coil
20 for a specified period of time, the at least one component 34
may send an electrical signal to begin rotating the fan 16 to
circulate air. The fan 16 circulates the conditioned air from the
first interior volume 14 to the interior space 44, via conduit 42,
to satisfy the demand. After the demand is satisfied, controller 34
may send an electrical signal to remove power from fan 16. The at
least one component 34 additionally sends an electrical signal to
the outdoor unit assembly 38 to stop circulating the
refrigerant.
[0020] If auxiliary heating is required, power is supplied by the
at least one component 34 to an auxiliary heating component (not
shown) positioned above the air handler 10. The at least one
component 34 sends a signal to begin rotating fan 16 to circulate
air. The fan 16 circulates the conditioned air through the first
interior volume 14 to the interior space 44, via conduit 42, to
satisfy the demand. After the demand is satisfied, the at least one
component 34 sends an electrical signal to remove power from the
auxiliary heating component (not shown). The at least one component
34 also sends an electrical signal to remove power from fan 16. It
will be appreciated that other auxiliary components may be added to
the HVAC system 36 for humidification, de-humidification,
ventilation, etc.
[0021] It will be appreciated that access may be gained to the at
least one component 34, while the air handler 10 is operating, by
removing the at least one panel 32 from the second enclosure 22
without disrupting the airflow passageway through the first
interior volume 14. It will also be appreciated that, access to the
fan 16 may be gained by removal of the second enclosure 22.
[0022] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and
described and that all changes and modifications that come within
the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
* * * * *