HVAC localized air filter assembly system

• US 6,814,660 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curtis D. Cavett
• Original Assignee: Curtis D. Cavett
• Inventors: Cavett, Curtis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US10/379,199
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 454/289, 454/291, 454/284, 454/337, 454/328, 454/309, 554/80, 554/81, 554/86, 554/90
• US Class Current: 454/284
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2273/30 Means for generating a circulation of a fluid in a filtration system, e.g. using a pump or a fan
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/009 Identification of filter type or position thereof, e.g. by transponders or bar codes
• 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 13/28 Arrangement or mounting of filters

Abstract

A heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) localized air filter assembly system for capturing particulate material and contaminants distributed through HVAC systems. The system includes a least one frame assembly positionable over a HVAC duct and having a front wall and a perimeter wall extending from the front wall. The front wall has at least one opening for facilitating airflow through said frame assembly. Additionally, at least one filter assembly is positionable within the at least one frame assembly. The filter assembly is designed for capturing particulate matter in ambient air being conducted through the HVAC duct.

Claims

1. A room ventilation filtration system for capturing particulate matter in conjunction with a conventional forced air heating, ventilation and cooling system, comprising:

at least one frame assembly positionable over a heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) duct, said frame assembly having a front wall and a perimeter wall extending from said front wall, said front wall having at least one opening for facilitating airflow through said frame assembly;

at least one filter assembly positionable within said frame assembly, said filter assembly being adapted for capturing particulate matter in ambient air being conducted through said HVAC duct;

wherein said frame assembly includes at least one key portion for facilitating mating with said filter assembly; and

wherein said filter assembly includes at least one key portion for facilitating mating with said frame assembly, said key portion being slideably received by said keyway, said key and keyway insuring proper orientation of said filter assembly within said frame assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said perimeter wall further comprises an opening for facilitating slideably inserting and removing said filter assembly from said frame assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said frame assembly further comprises a louver assembly operationally coupled to said perimeter wall, said louver assembly being positioned opposite said front wall whereby said filter assembly is positionable between said front wall and said louver assembly, said louver assembly being for selectively inhibiting airflow through said frame assembly.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said louver assembly further comprises:

a plurality of louver members operationally coupled to said frame assembly, each one of said louver members being pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position being defined by a front surface of said louver member being substantially perpendicular to said front wall, said closed position being defined by said front surface being substantially parallel to said front wall;

a louver actuator extending through said frame assembly, said louver actuator facilitating pivoting said plurality of louvers between said open and said closed position, said louver actuator being operationally coupled to said plurality of louver members.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said front wall having a plurality of grate members extending along said opening, said plurality of grate members protecting said filter assembly from abrasion, said plurality of grate members inhibiting visual observance of said filter assembly.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said filter assembly includes at least one keyway for facilitating mating with said frame assembly; and

wherein said frame assembly includes at least one key portion for facilitating mating with said filter assembly, said key portion being slideably received by said keyway, said key and keyway insuring proper orientation of said filter assembly within said frame assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring assembly, positioned within said frame assembly, said monitoring assembly monitoring static pressure behind said filter assembly, said monitoring assembly detecting when said filter assembly has collected enough particulate matter that operational efficiency of the HVAC system is being impeded and said filter assembly should be replaced.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an alarm assembly operationally coupled to said monitoring assembly, said alarm assembly providing a user detectable signal that said filter assembly should be replaced.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

wherein said frame assembly includes a lower keyed portion and an upper keyway portion, said lower keyed portion being operationally coupled to a side of said frame assembly, said upper keyway being substantially aligned with said lower keyed portion;

wherein said filter assembly includes a lower keyway and an upper keyed portion, said filter being slidably positionable within said frame assembly whereby said filter assembly lower keyway slideably receives said frame assembly lower keyed portion and said filter assembly upper keyed portion is slideably received by said frame assembly upper keyway; and

said filter assembly lower keyway and upper keyed portion and said frame assembly lower keyed portion and upper keyway forming an alignment combination facilitating proper alignment of said filter assembly within said frame assembly with respect to front to back orientation and side to side orientation, said alignment combination inhibiting placement of said filter assembly upside-down in said frame assembly, said alignment combination inhibiting placement of said filter assembly facing backwards into said frame assembly.

19. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of register filter assemblies, each one of said register filter assemblies being couplable to a forced air register of a HVAC system;

a plurality of vent filter assemblies, each one of said vent filter assemblies being positionable over a cold air return of the HVAC system;

wherein each one of said plurality of register assemblies further comprises;

a register frame assembly positionable over a forced air register of a HVAC system, said register frame assembly having a register front wall and a register perimeter wall extending from said register front wall, said register front wall having at least one register opening for facilitating airflow through said register frame assembly, said register perimeter wall having an register wall opening for facilitating slideably inserting and removing said register filter assembly from said register frame assembly;

a register filter assembly positionable within said register frame assembly, said register filter assembly being adapted capturing particulate matter in ambient air being conducted through said HVAC forced air register

wherein said register frame assembly further comprises a register louver assembly operationally coupled to said register perimeter wall, said register louver assembly being positioned opposite said register front wall whereby said register filter assembly is positionable between said register front wall and said register louver assembly, said register louver assembly being for selectively inhibiting airflow through said register frame assembly;

wherein said register louver assembly further comprises;

a plurality of register louver members operationally coupled to said register frame assembly, each one of said register louver members being pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position being defined by a register front surface of said register louver member being substantially perpendicular to said register front wall, said closed position being defined by said register front surface being substantially parallel to said register front wall;

a register louver actuator extending through said register frame assembly, said register louver actuator facilitating pivoting said plurality of register louvers between said open and said closed position, said register louver actuator being operationally coupled to said plurality of register louver members;

said register front wall having a plurality of register grate members extending along said register opening, said plurality of register grate members protecting said register filter assembly from abrasion, said plurality of grate members inhibiting visual observance of said register filter assembly;

said register frame assembly includes at least one keyway for facilitating mating with said register filter assembly;

said register filter assembly includes at least one key portion for facilitating mating with said register frame assembly, said key portion being slideably received by said keyway, said key and keyway insuring proper orientation of said register filter assembly within said register frame assembly;

wherein each one of said plurality of assemblies further comprises;

a vent frame assembly positionable over a cold air return of a HVAC system, said vent frame assembly having a vent front wall and a vent perimeter wall extending from said vent front wall, said vent front wall having at least one vent opening for facilitating airflow through said vent frame assembly, said vent perimeter wall having an vent wall opening for facilitating slideably inserting and removing said vent filter assembly from said vent frame assembly;

a vent filter assembly positionable within said vent frame assembly, said vent filter assembly being adapted for capturing particulate matter in ambient air being conducted through the HVAC cold air return;

wherein said vent frame assembly further comprises a vent louver assembly operationally coupled to said vent perimeter wall, said vent louver assembly being positioned opposite said vent front wall whereby said vent filter assembly is positionable between said vent front wall and said vent louver assembly, said vent louver assembly being for selectively inhibiting airflow through said vent frame assembly;

wherein said vent louver assembly further comprises;

a plurality of vent louver members operationally coupled to said vent frame assembly, each one of said vent louver members being pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position being defined by a vent front surface of said vent louver member being substantially perpendicular to said vent front wall, said closed position being defined by said vent front surface being substantially parallel to said vent front wall;

a vent louver actuator extending through said vent frame assembly, said vent louver actuator facilitating pivoting said plurality of vent louvers between said open and said closed position, said vent louver actuator being operationally coupled to said plurality of vent louver members;

said vent front wall having a plurality of vent grate members extending along said vent opening, said plurality of vent grate members protecting said vent filter assembly from abrasion, said plurality of grate members inhibiting visual observance of said vent filter assembly;

said vent frame assembly includes at least one keyway for facilitating mating with said vent filter assembly; and

said vent filter assembly includes at least one key portion for facilitating mating with said vent frame assembly, said key portion being slideably received by said keyway, said key and keyway insuring proper orientation of said vent filter assembly within said vent frame assembly.

9. A room ventilation filtration system for capturing particulate matter in conjunction with a conventional forced air heating, ventilation and cooling system, comprising:

at least one frame assembly positionable over a heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) duct, said frame assembly having a front wall and a perimeter wall extending from said front wall, said front wall having at least one opening for facilitating airflow through said frame assembly;

at least one filter assembly positionable within said frame assembly, said filter assembly being adapted for capturing particulate matter in ambient air being conducted through said HVAC duct;

wherein said perimeter wall further comprises an opening for facilitating slideably inserting and removing said filter assembly from said frame assembly;

wherein said frame assembly further comprises a louver assembly operationally coupled to said perimeter wall, said louver assembly being positioned opposite said front wall whereby said filter assembly is positionable between said front wall and said louver assembly, said louver assembly being for selectively inhibiting airflow through said frame assembly;

wherein said louver assembly further comprises;

a plurality of louver members operationally coupled to said frame assembly, each one of said louver members being pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position, said open position being defined by a front surface of said louver member being substantially perpendicular to said front wall, said closed position being defined by said front surface being substantially parallel to said front wall;

a louver actuator extending through said frame assembly, said louver actuator facilitating pivoting said plurality of louvers between said open and said closed position, said louver actuator being operationally coupled to said plurality of louver members;

wherein said front wall having a plurality of grate members extending along said opening, said plurality of grate members protecting said filter assembly from abrasion, said plurality of grate members inhibiting visual observance of said filter assembly;

wherein said frame assembly includes at least one keyway for facilitating mating with said filter assembly; and

wherein said filter assembly includes at least one key portion for facilitating mating with said frame assembly, said key portion being slideably received by said keyway, said key and keyway insuring proper orientation of said filter assembly within said frame assembly;

a monitoring assembly, positioned within said frame assembly, said monitoring assembly monitoring static pressure behind said filter assembly, said monitoring assembly detecting when said filter assembly has collected enough particulate matter that operational efficiency of the HVAC system is being impeded and said filter assembly should be replaced; and

an alarm assembly operationally coupled to said monitoring assembly, said alarm assembly providing a user detectable signal that said filter assembly should be replaced.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said frame assembly being adapted for being operationally coupled to a cold air return for the HVAC system whereby said filter assembly captures particulate material from a room prior to the particulate material entering the HVAC system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said opening in said perimeter wall being positioned on a side of said frame assembly to facilitate insertion and removal of said filter assembly from said frame assembly without manipulating said frame assembly.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said frame assembly being adapted for coupling to a forced air register for the HVAC system whereby said filter assembly captures particulate material from said HVAC system prior to the particulate material entering a room.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said front wall having a perimeter lip extending outwardly from said front wall, said perimeter lip abutting a surface of a structure, said perimeter wall being positionable within said forced air register.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said opening in said perimeter wall being positioned on a side portion of said wall for facilitating insertion and removal of said filter assembly with respect to said frame assembly.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said filter assembly further comprises a filter support portion and a filter member, said filter support portion being slidably receivable by said frame assembly, said filter member being operationally coupled to said filter support portion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said filter member having a arcuate cross-section for increasing an effective surface area of said filter member.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said filter member being pleated to increase an effective surface area of said filter member.