U.S. patent application number 14/050540 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-16 for sound attenuation module and oversized grill.
The applicant listed for this patent is GRAYSON GRIFFIN, YONGHUI XU. Invention is credited to GRAYSON GRIFFIN, YONGHUI XU.
Application Number | 20150101883 14/050540 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52808708 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150101883 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
XU; YONGHUI ; et
al. |
April 16, 2015 |
SOUND ATTENUATION MODULE AND OVERSIZED GRILL
Abstract
A Sound Attenuation Module and Oversized Grill is disclosed
which prevents noise generated by an HVAC system from traveling
through the duct system and into the room to which the air is
directed. The goal is accomplished by use of oversized duct grills
and an module placed between the wall and HVAC System, and uses an
enclosure designed to expand the distance that the noise must
travel.
Inventors: |
XU; YONGHUI; (Longview,
TX) ; GRIFFIN; GRAYSON; (Longview, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
XU; YONGHUI
GRIFFIN; GRAYSON |
Longview
Longview |
TX
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52808708 |
Appl. No.: |
14/050540 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/24 20130101;
F24F 13/082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
181/224 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/24 20060101
F24F013/24 |
Claims
1. A method of attenuating noise generated by an HVAC system,
comprising: a) choosing an HVAC system to be mounted on the
exterior wall of a building; b) creating holes in that same
exterior wall between the interior of a building and the exterior
of the building which match the hole and duct pattern of the chosen
HVAC system; c) mounting a Sound Attenuation Module ("SAM", an
enclosed box on the exterior side of the wall, said SAM equipped
with: i) a hole pattern on one side of the box that match the holes
previously constructed in the exterior wall and the HVAC system;
ii) an additional hole pattern matching the same holes on the
opposite side of the box; iii) two air ducts constructed within the
box which connect matching holes on either side of the box that
creates a physically longer air duct in at least one of the
connected pathways; d) mounting the HVAC system to the SAM.
2. The method of attenuating noise generated by an HVAC system as
described in claim 1, with the additional component in the SAM of
Attenuating Panels, which are placed in the ducting within the
SAM.
3. An apparatus to attenuate noise generated by an HVAC system,
comprising: a) an enclosure with two matching external hole pattern
on two sides of the enclosure which also match the duct connection
holes of an HVAC system; b) ducts within the enclosure which
connect the matching holes that constitute the hole pattern
previously identified; c) where at least one interior duct
connecting two of the matching holes leading to the enclosure's
exterior duct openings are physically constructed to be
deliberately longer than is necessary.
4. An apparatus as in claim 3, in which the enclosure is shaped
like a rectangular prism.
5. An apparatus as in claim 4, in which the external duct holes are
on opposing sides of the enclosure rectangular prism.
6. An apparatus as in claim 3, in which the two pairs of external
duct holes are constructed on two adjacent side.
7. An apparatus as in claim 3, in which sound attenuating panels or
material are installed within the ducts to both assist diversion of
the air in a desired direction within the duct, and to absorb
sound.
8. An Oversized Grill designed to cover an air duct, comprising an
oversized duct grill and louvers, and an installation mechanism
which deliberately holds the grill out from the wall.
9. An Oversized Grill as in claim 8 in which the Louvers is
installed and held in place by an extension from the wall that is
made of such material as wood and sheetrock.
10. An Oversized Grill as in claim 8, in which the Louvers are
framed, and that frame is sufficiently large that it covers the
open duct without substantial other materials.
11. An apparatus as in claim 3, in which the Sound Attenuation
Module is installed on the exterior of an exterior wall.
12. An apparatus as in claim 3, in which the Sound Attenuation
Module is installed inside a room to be continued.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of air
conditioning and ducting.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
have moving parts that cause noise that is bothersome to those in
the rooms which receive treated air.
[0003] The HVAC industry has struggled with the balance of desired
attributes in such systems; a system that moves air more quickly
necessarily creates more noise than one that moves air more slowly.
This is not due solely to the fan, but to other moving parts as
well, include motors, compressors, vibration of metal parts, and
even refrigerant flow.
[0004] One of the solutions that the HVAC industry uses to lessen
the noise caused in a space receiving treated air includes simply
increasing the distance from the moving parts to the
air-conditioned space. Use of this approach requires distance, and
is difficult to employ in a wall-mount unit that is often used in
temporary buildings. This approach also requires substantial labor,
as routing a longer path duct between the blower or fan outlet to
the desired location becomes a task requiring an expensive skilled
and experienced worker in the field.
[0005] As conditions change over time in temporary buildings, the
equipment used in an HVAC system must change. Many conditions can
trigger these changes, including a need to condition the air in a
higher volume of, or new government regulations require a change in
a system's components, or a failed system has to be replaced. In
these situations, industry vendors and service personnel need parts
that are backwards compatible with the existing building structure
as much as possible.
[0006] The construction industry needs an apparatus that allows for
sound attenuation of an HVAC system, and easy retrofitting of that
system into existing products and systems.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] The present disclosure includes a Sound Attenuation Module
and Oversized Grill used to reduce the sound of an HVAC system by
adding an apparatus to add distance between the fan and the space,
without elongating the physical system unduly, while also allowing
for a retro-fit installation.
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will
be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reference to
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] For a better understanding of the disclosure, and to show by
way of example how the same may be carried into effect, reference
is now made to the detailed description of the disclosure along
with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in
the different figures refer to corresponding parts in one
embodiment of the invention, as follows:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view of the mounted Oversized Grill 100
with Mounting Structure 200.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the mounted Oversized
Grill 100 with Grill Mounting Mechanism 200, as shown in FIG. 1
along section lines B-B.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a front view of the mounted Oversized Grill 100
without a Grill Mounting Mechanism 200.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the mounted Oversized
Grill 100 without a Grill Mounting Mechanism, as shown in FIG. 3
and along section lines A-A.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view of an air conditioner unit and Sound
Attenuation Module (SAM) 500 combination. (The SAM is not visible
in this view.)
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of an air conditioner unit
and SAM 500 combination, as shown in FIG. 5, along section lines
A-A.
[0016] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a Sound Attenuation Module
500.
[0017] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the Sound Attenuation Module 500
as provided in FIG. 7.
[0018] FIG. 9 shows a front view of a Sound Attenuation Module 500
as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0019] FIG. 10 shows a side sectional view of the Sound Attenuation
Module 500 as shown in FIGS. 7-9 along section lines C-C.
[0020] FIG. 11 shows a front view of one embodiment of an indoor
embodiment of the Sound Attenuation Module 500.
[0021] FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of the
Sound Attenuation 500 as shown in FIG. 11.
[0022] FIG. 13 shows a front view of an outdoor-mounted HVAC System
600 with built-in SAM 500.
[0023] FIG. 14 shows a sectional view of the outdoor-mounted HVAC
System 600 with built-in SAM 500, as shown in FIG. 13, along
section lines A-A.
[0024] FIG. 15 shows a sectional view of a generic single-path
Sound Attenuation Module ("Half-SAM") combined with an Oversized
Grill.
[0025] FIG. 16 shows a top view of a 90-SAM.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0026] While the making and using of various embodiments of the
present disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be
appreciated that the present disclosure provides many applicable
inventive concepts, which can be embodied in a wide variety of
specific contexts. The disclosure is primarily described and
illustrated hereinafter in conjunction with various embodiments of
an HVAC system comprising a Sound Attenuation Module 500 and
Oversized Grill 100. The specific embodiment discussed herein is,
however, merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the
disclosure and do not limit the scope of the disclosure to the
specific context disclosed.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows an Oversized Grill 100 that is set off from the
surrounding Wall Foundation 300 by a Grill Mounting Mechanism 200,
through which supply air exits though a Mounting Structure 110
through Louvers 110. In typical use, grills are mounted as flush as
possible to walls in effort to make them less visible, but this
invention benefits from a larger grill that extends from the wall
on the so that an Oversized Grill 100 can be used. In the FIG. 1
embodiment, Louvers 110 are mounted flush to a section of wall that
has been built out from the wall with a larger opening for larger
Louvers 110 than would otherwise be used.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the
invention shown in FIG. 1 along the B-B section lines.
[0029] In using an Oversized Grill 100 instead of the typical grill
that merely covers the Return Opening 630, the flow of air has a
larger area in the Louvers 110 through which to travel. This
increased area through the Louvers 110 creates less sound than
would be created if the Louvers 110 were smaller.
[0030] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 depicts a second embodiment of the
installed device. This embodiment differs from that shown on FIG. 1
and FIG. 2 by mounting the Oversized Grill 100 directly on the
Foundational Wall 300, avoiding the use of a Grill-Mounting
Mechanism 200. In this construction, the Louvers 110 are embedded
in a frame that connects directly to the Wall Foundation 300.
[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a typical HVAC system is
shown as installed on a commercial building, including an HVAC
System 600 mounted with Sound Attenuation Module 500 between the
HVAC system and the exterior Wall 300. This view shows the
inobvious appearance of the unit, not noticeable as distinct from
the HVAC System 600 to the casual viewer.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of an HVAC System 600 with
installed Sound Attenuation Module (SAM) 500 between the HVAC
System 600 and exterior Wall 300. This view shows the flow of air
through the system, starting the Return Air 620 (so called because
it is returning to the HVAC system 600) going through the Return
Opening 630, then the air is diverted by a panel of Attenuation
Panel 660 (which can be constructed of any number of materials,
preferably sound absorbent), then into the HVAC System 600 where
the air is conditioned, and then back out of the system through the
upper pathway of the SAM 500 after a second diverting Attenuation
Panel 660, and through the Supply Opening 650 to become Supply Air
610 which is conditioned for human comfort in the space on the
interior side of the Wall 300. Though the Attenuation Panel 660 is
shown to extend across the entire width of the duct in this
embodiment, other embodiments allow for different shapes, including
the Panels 660 to include a slots at the sides of the Panels 660 so
they do not attach to the side of the ducts, or alternative
vertical or horizontal slots. One of the important aspects of the
invention is that Attenuation Panels 660 are placed in the SAM 500
to reduce sound from the HVAC system into the air-conditioned
room.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a side view of the SAM 500, showing placement of
the Attenuation Panels 660 and the openings in the SAM 500 through
with the air flows, including the lower return path constituting
the Return Opening 630, Attenuation Panel 660 and out through HVAC
Return 635, and then the upper supply path constituted by the HVAC
Supply 655, a second Attenuation Panel 660 and out through the
Supply Opening 650.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a top view of the SAM 500, showing the central
location of the Attenuation Panels 660.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a front view of the uninstalled SAM 500, showing
the openings of the device, and the lower edge of the diverting
Attenuation Panels 660.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment in
FIG. 9, similar to FIG. 7.
[0037] The disclosure thus far has detailed an interior SAM 500
installed on the exterior wall, and to which an HVAC System 600 is
installed. However, the SAM 500 can be installed on the interior of
an air-conditioned room as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. In
practice, this may be an effective method of retrofitting a
building with the SAM 500.
[0038] Finally, the SAM 500 and HVAC System 600 may be constructed
as one combined piece, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 shows a
front view of an outdoor-mounted Combination SAM-HVAC 750, without
the details of ducting. FIG. 14 shows the cross-sectional view
defined by A-A in FIG. 13.
[0039] The SAM 500 is built so that an already installed HVAC
System can be retrofit. Though the drawings reflect a particular
build, it is considered within the art to construct similar designs
which match up with the inlet and outlet openings of various
systems to enable an easy, ductless interjection between the Wall
300 and HVAC System 600.
[0040] FIG. 15 shows a Half-SAM 800 in which the module has only
one internal extended air path with an Attenuation Panel 660 in
either the supply or receive air path, depending on space or other
design constraints. Use of the Oversized Grill 100 is shown on this
embodiment in the Return Opening 630, but it could also be
installed on the Supply Opening 650. The noise generated by air
flow in a path can be attenuated by use of the Oversized Grill 100,
so an HVAC System 600 might employ both the Oversized Grill 110 and
one or both elongated air pathways created by a full-sized SAM 500
or on a Half-SAM 800.
[0041] It is assumed that an individual experienced in the art
could modify the embodiments disclosed in this application to fit a
number of needs that are variations of the embodiments disclosed.
For example, the disclosed embodiments discuss SAMs which fit
sandwiched between an external wall and HVAC system, but one in the
art could easily construct a 90-Degree SAM 850 that turns the air
ducting 90 degrees to one side, so that the HVAC System 600 is
turned 90 degrees, placing one side of the HVAC System 600 against
the exterior Wall 300, as seen in the top view of FIG. 16. Many
other similar arrangements embodying the invention are available to
those in the art.
[0042] LEGEND to drawings and items referenced: [0043] 100
Oversized Grill [0044] 110 Louvers [0045] 200 Grill Mounting
Mechanism [0046] 300 Wall Foundation [0047] 310 Wall Opening [0048]
500 SAM [0049] 600 HVAC system [0050] 610 Supply Air [0051] 620
Return Air [0052] 630 Return Opening [0053] 635 HVAC Return [0054]
640 Supply open [0055] 650 Supply Opening [0056] 655 HVAC Supply
[0057] 660 Attenuation Panel [0058] 700 Floor [0059] 750
Combination SAM-HVAC System [0060] 800 Half-SAM [0061] 850
90-Degree SAM
* * * * *