Ceiling module perimeter seal

• US 6,351,920 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Clean PAK International Incorporated
• Inventors: Ludwig, Craig S., Hopkins, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Varner, Steve M
• Application Number:
  US09/299,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 522/84, 522/871, 525/060.7, 525/060.8, 555/02, 554/84
• US Class Current: 52/506.08
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/02 having means for ventilation or vapour discharge
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/28 Arrangement or mounting of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements

Abstract

A ceiling module perimeter seal establishes an air-tight seal between modules forming a ceiling structure. The seal includes a groove about the perimeter of modules and aligned relative to a corresponding groove of an adjoining module. Aligned grooves in adjacent ceiling modules establish an enclosure between modules and apertures fluidly couple the enclosure with gel sealant troughs of the ceiling structure. Gel sealant flowing in the troughs enters the enclosure and thereby establishes an air tight seal between adjoining ceiling modules.

Claims

1. In a ceiling structure supporting filtration elements upon a grid of rail elements and constructed using at least two ceiling modules in side-to-side relation, a module perimeter seal comprising:

a first structure;

a second structure along one of said at least two ceiling modules and positioned for alignment with said first structure to establish an enclosed space adjacent said one of said first and second ceiling modules; and

a seal within said enclosed space and establishing an air-tight interface thereat and relative to said one of said first and second ceiling modules.

2. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein said first structure is a portion of a second one of said first and second ceiling modules and said air-tight interface is between said first and second ceiling modules.

3. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein said first structure is a portion of a wall adjacent said one of said first and second ceiling structures and said air-tight interface is between said one of said first and second ceiling modules and said wall.

4. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second structures is a groove formation.

5. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein both of said first and second structures are groove formations.

6. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein said rail elements include at least one trough receiving gel sealant and at least one of said modules includes at least one aperture fluidly coupling said at least one trough and said enclosed space whereby gel sealant flowing in said at least one trough flows through said apertures and into said enclosed space.

7. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein said rail elements include troughs receiving gel sealant and said modules include apertures fluidly coupling said troughs and said enclosed space whereby gel sealant flowing in said troughs flows through said apertures and into said enclosed space.

8. A module perimeter seal according to claim 7 wherein said troughs receive knife structures of said filtration elements.

9. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein said seal is a gasket.

10. A module perimeter seal according to claim 1 wherein said first structure occurs along a second one of said first and second ceiling modules.

11. In a ceiling structure supporting filtration elements upon a grid of rail elements and constructed using at least two ceiling modules in side-to-side relation, a module perimeter seal comprising:

a first groove along a first one of said ceiling modules

a second groove along a second one of said at least two ceiling modules and positioned for alignment with said first groove when said first and second ones of said ceiling modules are in said side-to-side relation to establish an enclosed space between said first and second ones of said ceiling modules; and

a seal within said enclosed space and establishing an air-tight interface thereat between said first and second ceiling modules.

12. A module perimeter seal according to claim 11 wherein said rail elements include at least one trough receiving gel sealant and at least one of said modules includes at least one aperture fluidly coupling said at least one trough and said enclosed space whereby gel sealant flowing in said at least one trough flows through said apertures and into said enclosed space.

13. A module perimeter seal according to claim 12 wherein said troughs receive knife structures of said filtration elements.

14. A module perimeter seal according to claim 11 wherein said seal is a gasket.

15. In a ceiling structure including filter panels supported upon rail elements to establish an air filtration system, each rail element including at least one trough containing a gel sealant coupled to a filter panel, the ceiling structure comprising at least two ceiling modules in side-to-side relation, each module including at least one half-rail element at its perimeter, an improvement comprising:

a first groove along the length of a first one of said half-rail elements, said first groove including at least one first aperture therethrough and fluidly communicating with a trough of said first one of said half-rail elements;

a second groove along the length of a second one of said half-rail elements, said second groove including at least one second aperture therethrough and fluidly communicating with a trough of said second one of said half-rail elements; and

a fastener coupling together said first and second half-rail elements and aligning said first and second grooves whereby gel sealant placed into and flowing along said troughs migrates through said at least one first and second apertures and into a gel receiving space defined by said first and second aligned grooves.