Control board enclosure with sliding platform

• US 10,512,183 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2017
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company (Paloma Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company (Paloma Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Moon, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jinhee J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Ingrid D
• Application Number:
  US15/849,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20190191581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/069 Other details of the casing, e.g. wall structure, passage for a connector, a cable, a shaft
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1417 having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards H05K7/1461 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1418 Card guides, e.g. grooves H05K7/1425 takes precedence

Abstract

A control board enclosure with a slideable platform configured for use within an air handler. The control board enclosure is configured such that the humidity within the enclosure is stabilized or more stable as compared to the more rapid changes in humidity that may be occurring externally. The control board enclosure is substantially sealed or air tight through the use of gaskets, sealant, and/or close fittings that the rapid changes in humidity of the external environment are less likely to affect objects within the enclosure. This humidity stabilization can improve the longevity of the control board stored therein.

Claims

1. A control board enclosure assembly comprising:

a cover configured to couple to a housing wall and define a space between the housing wall and an inner surface of the cover, the cover comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a front wall, a first wall, and a second wall, wherein the first wall and the second wall face each other and wherein the front wall, the first wall, and the second wall extend from the first end to the second end;

an insert comprising a mounting panel, the insert configured to slide inside the cover between a first position within the space and a second position at least partially outside of the space; and

a control board coupled to the mounting panel such that the control board is disposed between the mounting panel and the inner surface of the cover when the insert is in the first position and the control board is at least partially outside the space when the insert is in the second position,

wherein the cover further comprises one or more mounting tabs configured to couple with the housing wall, and

wherein the cover further comprises at least one guide track defining a channel and extending from at least one of the first wall or the second wall and into the space, a portion of the insert configured to slide along the at least one guide track.

2. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the cover is similar to a cross-sectional shape of the insert or wherein a cross-sectional profile of the cover is similar to a cross-sectional profile of the insert.

3. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end abuts a second wall coupled to and adjacent to the housing wall when the cover is installed in an air handler.

4. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end abuts a door adjacent to the housing wall when the cover is installed in an air handler.

5. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 3, wherein a gasket is disposed between the first end and the second wall adjacent to the housing wall.

6. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 4, wherein a gasket is disposed between the second end and the door.

7. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide track is an inwardly rolled or folded section of the first wall or the second wall of the cover.

8. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide track has an interior surface defining the channel and comprises a first portion spaced apart from a second portion and a gap region therebetween.

9. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 8, wherein:

a. the insert comprises a first insert end, a second insert end opposite the first insert end, a first insert wall extending from a first side of the mounting panel, and a second insert wall extending from a second side of the mounting panel,

b. the first insert wall and the second insert wall face each other and extend between the first insert end and the second insert end, and

c. at least a portion of at least one of the first insert wall and the second insert wall is configured to slide into the gap region of the at least one guide track.

10. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 9, wherein the insert comprises a slide bar that extends between the first insert end and the second insert end of the insert and is configured to slide into the channel of the guide track.

11. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 10, wherein the slide bar comprises a cross-sectional profile that is similar to a cross-sectional shape of the channel such that a portion of a surface of the slide bar contacts a portion of the interior surface of the at least one guide track.

12. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 10, wherein the slide bar is an inwardly rolled or folded section of the first insert wall or the second insert wall of the insert.

13. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the first wall or the second wall of the cover defines a slot that extends parallel with the at least one guide track and is sized to receive a cable connectable to the control board.

14. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 13, wherein a sealing material comprising a slit spans the slot.

15. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is coupled to the housing wall of an air handler.

16. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein forming the cover consists essentially of folding and cutting a single sheet of metal.

17. The control board enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein forming the insert consists essentially of folding and cutting a single sheet of metal.

18. A control board enclosure assembly comprising:

a cover configured to couple to a housing wall and define a space between the housing wall and an inner surface of the cover, the cover comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a front wall, a first wall, and a second wall, wherein the first wall and the second wall face each other and wherein the front wall, the first wall, and the second wall extend from the first end to the second end;

an insert comprising a mounting panel, the insert configured to slide inside the cover between a first position within the space and a second position at least partially outside of the space; and

a control board coupled to the mounting panel such that the control board is disposed in the space when the insert is in the first position and the control board is at least partially outside the space when the insert is in the second position,

wherein the cover further comprises one or more mounting tabs configured to couple with the housing wall, and

wherein the cover further comprises at least one guide track defining a channel and extending from at least one of the first wall or the second wall and into the space, a portion of the insert configured to slide along the at least one guide track.

19. A control board enclosure assembly comprising:

a cover configured to couple to a housing wall and define a space between the housing wall and an inner surface of the cover, the cover comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a front wall, a first wall, and a second wall, wherein the first wall and the second wall face each other;

an insert comprising a mounting panel, the insert configured to slide inside the cover between a first position within the space and a second position at least partially outside of the space; and

a control board coupled to the mounting panel such that the control board is disposed in the space when the insert is in the first position and the control board is at least partially outside the space when the insert is in the second position,

wherein the cover further comprises at least one guide track defining a channel and extending from at least one of the first wall or the second wall and into the space, a portion of the insert configured to slide along the at least one guide track, and

wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall defines a slot that extends parallel to the at least one guide track and is sized to receive a cable connectable to the control board.