Filter assembly for HVAC apparatus

• US 10,641,520 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Minh Chau T
• Application Number:
  US15/809,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20190145655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 55490, 55498, 55495, 55502, 55DIG 31, 277616, 277626, 277637, 277641, 277642, 277647
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2271/02 Gaskets, sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/205 Rectangular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/50 for air conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0041 for feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/521 using folded, pleated material
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 12/006 using an air-to-air heat exchanger F24F12/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/28 Arrangement or mounting of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/065 fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct

Abstract

An HVAC system that utilizes an air-to-air heat exchanger includes an HVAC ductwork section including a fan, and a filter assembly in fluid flow communication with the HVAC ductwork section. The filter assembly has a filter compartment having an opening oriented generally transverse to a direction of air flow through the filter assembly. A compressive member is provided on at least a portion of a perimeter extending around the opening. The compressive member is adjustable between an installation configuration in which the compressive member is spaced from a position that is to be occupied by a filter when the filter is installed in the filter compartment and an installed configuration in which the compressive member engages at least a portion of one of an upstream and a downstream face of the filter when the filter is positioned in the filter compartment.

Claims

1. An HVAC system utilizing an air-to-air heat exchanger comprising:

a) an HVAC ductwork section including a fan;

b) a filter assembly in fluid flow communication with the HVAC ductwork section, the filter assembly comprising a compressive member and a filter compartment for removably receiving a filter, the filter compartment comprising a flow path oriented generally transverse to a direction of air flow through the filter assembly and the compressive member wherein when the filter is positioned in the filter compartment, the filter is positioned in the flow path, wherein the compressive member is adjustable between an installation configuration in which the compressive member is spaced from a position that is to be occupied by the filter when the filter is installed in the filter compartment and an installed configuration in which the compressive member engages at least a portion of one of an upstream and a downstream face of the filter when the filter is positioned in the filter compartment.

2. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially all of a periphery of one of the upstream and the downstream face of the filter when the filter is positioned in the filter compartment.

3. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages the downstream face of the filter.

4. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 3 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially all of a periphery of the downstream face of the filter.

5. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially both the upstream and the downstream face of the filter.

6. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages the upstream face of the filter.

7. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 6 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially all of a periphery the upstream face of the filter.

8. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the compressive member is expandable after the filter has been installed in the filter compartment.

9. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the compressive member is inflatable.

10. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portion of the perimeter having the compressive member is moveable towards and away from the position that is to be occupied by a filter when the filter is installed in the filter compartment whereby, in the installation configuration the portion is spaced from the position that is to be occupied by a filter when the filter is installed in the filter compartment.

11. A filter assembly for a HVAC apparatus comprising a filter compartment having:

a) a flow path oriented generally transverse to a direction of air flow through the filter assembly;

b) a perimeter extending around the flow path and,

c) a compressive member,

wherein the compressive member is adjustable between an installation configuration in which the compressive member is spaced from a position that is to be occupied by a filter when the filter is installed in the filter compartment and an installed configuration in which the compressive member engages at least a portion of one of an upstream and a downstream face of the filter when the filter is positioned in the filter compartment.

12. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially all of a periphery of one of the upstream and the downstream face of the filter when the filter is positioned in the filter compartment.

13. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages the downstream face of the filter.

14. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially all of a periphery of the downstream face of the filter.

15. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially both the upstream and the downstream face of the filter.

16. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 11 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages the upstream face of the filter.

17. The HVAC system as claimed in claim 16 wherein, in the installed configuration, the compressive member engages substantially all of a periphery of the upstream face of the filter.

18. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the compressive member is expandable after the filter has been positioned in the filter compartment.

19. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein the compressive member is inflatable.

20. The filter assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the portion of the perimeter having the compressive member is moveable towards and away from the position that is to be occupied by a filter when the filter is installed in the filter compartment whereby, in the installation configuration the portion is spaced from the position that is to be occupied by a filter when the filter is installed in the filter compartment.

21. An HVAC system comprising:

a) an air-to-air heat exchanger, the air-to-air heat exchanger having an outside air inlet port and an inside air inlet port;

b) an inside air HVAC ductwork section positioned upstream from the inside air inlet port, the inside air HVAC ductwork section including an inside air exhaust fan;

c) an outside air HVAC ductwork section positioned upstream from the outside air inlet port, the outside air HVAC ductwork section including an outside air delivery fan; and

,

d) at least one of

i) an inside air filter sealed assembly positioned upstream from the inside air inlet port; and

,

ii) an outside air filter sealed assembly positioned upstream from the inside air outlet port;

wherein the at least one of the inside air filter sealed assembly and the outside air filter sealed assembly comprises a compressive member that is adjustable between an installation configuration in which the compressive member is spaced from a position that is to be occupied by a filter when the filter is installed and an installed configuration in which the compressive member engages at least a portion of one of an upstream and a downstream face of the filter when the filter is installed.

22. The HVAC system of claim 21 comprising both the inside air filter sealed assembly and the outside air filter sealed assembly.

23. The HVAC system of claim 21 comprising the inside air filter sealed assembly wherein the inside air sealed filter assembly is positioned upstream of the inside air exhaust fan.

24. The HVAC system of claim 21 comprising the outside air filter sealed assembly wherein the outside air sealed filter assembly is positioned upstream of the outside air delivery fan.

25. The HVAC system of claim 23 comprising the outside air filter sealed assembly wherein the outside air sealed filter assembly is positioned upstream of the outside air delivery fan.