Raceway construction for an air handing unit

• US 7,334,377 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: York International Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Dubensky, Harold J., Smith, Dennis Wayne, Pears, Nathan E., Jia, Jack Yue, Edgell, Robert H., Diamond, Dennis Timothy, Stein, Kevin Lee, Runkle, Dennis R., Weatherd, Martin Dale, Pierjok, Wayne Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chi Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/916,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20050034390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 527/62, 522/381, 522/43, 527304-7305, 527/306, 527/312, 527/314, 527/315, 527/316, 527/317, 527/318, 527/323, 52/791.2, 527/64, 527/80, 526/532, 527/321, 312/265.1, 312/265.2, 312/265.3, 312/265.4, 312/406, 312/400
• US Class Current: 52/780
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3483 the supporting structure consisting of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/5825 with a closed cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/7633 Dowels with enlarged insulation retaining head
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2415 Brackets, gussets, joining plates
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2451 Connections between closed section profiles
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2457 Beam to beam connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2481 Details of wall panels
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/2484 Details of floor panels or slabs
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/292 composed of insulating material and sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 17/04 Air-ducts or air channels heating in general F24; ventilating rooms in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2001/1283 Small buildings of the ISO containers type
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 5/02 Buildings or groups of buildings for industrial purposes, e.g. for power-plants or factories buildings forming part of cooling plants E04H5/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/0442 with volume control at a constant temperature

Abstract

An air handling unit (AHU) for housing a number of components used in a heating or cooling system to provide forced air for climate control in a particular structure includes a single raceway construction having both low thermal conductivity and enhanced mechanical properties for use with lifting the AHU; a single insulated panel construction having a minimum number of components as well as enhanced mechanical properties for use as the floor in an AHU compartment; to minimize costs associated with fabrication and installation.

Claims

1. A structural member for constructing an air handling unit, the structural member comprising:

a first segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first segment including a first recessed portion being disposed adjacent the second end;

a second segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the second segment being coincident with the first end of the first segment, the second segment including a second recessed portion being disposed adjacent the second end of the second segment;

a plane of symmetry coincident with the first ends of the first segment and the second segment, wherein the second segment and the second recessed portion being symmetrical with the first segment and the first recessed portion about the plane of symmetry;

a third segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the third segment being coincident with the second end of the first segment;

a fourth segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the fourth segment being coincident with the second end of the second segment, the second end of the fourth segment being disposed adjacent to the second end of the third segment to form an edge portion; and

wherein the first segment, the second segment, the third segment and the fourth segment defining a closed geometry, the closed geometry extending for a predetermined length wherein the second ends of the third segment and the fourth segment form a flange portion; and

wherein the flange portion and the first segment are substantially parallel.

2. The structural member of claim 1 wherein the first segment and the second segment are orthogonal.

3. The structural member of claim 1 wherein the closed geometry is formed from a single sheet of material.

4. The structural member of claim 3 wherein the sheet of material comprises a sheet of a metal material.

5. The structural member of claim 4 wherein the metal material is stainless steel.

6. The structural member of claim 1 wherein the second segment, the second recessed portion and the fourth segment are symmetrical with the first segment, the first recessed portion and the third segment about the plane of symmetry.

7. The structural member of claim 1 wherein the second end of the fourth segment comprises a third recessed portion, the third recessed portion and the second end of the third segment form the edge portion.

8. The structural member of claim 7 wherein the third recessed portion and the second end of the third segment form a flange portion.

9. The structural member of claim 8 wherein the first segment and the second segment are orthogonal.

10. The structural member of claim 9 wherein the portion flange and the first segment are substantially parallel.

11. The structural member of claim 1 wherein the closed geometry comprises opposed ends and an aperture arrangement disposed adjacent to both of the opposed ends.

12. The structural member of claim 11 wherein the aperture arrangement is configured to be mated with a structural fitting to connect adjacent structural members.

13. The structural member of claim 12 wherein the aperture arrangement is configured to be mated with a corner structural fitting to construct a corner of an air handling unit.

14. The structural member of claim 13 wherein the aperture arrangement is configured to ensure the corner of an air handling unit forms continuous joints with adjacent structural members.

15. The structural member of claim 1 wherein the closed geometry is filled with insulating material.

16. The structural member of claim 15 wherein the insulating material compromises a foam.

17. The structural member of claim 16 wherein the foam comprises polyurethane.

18. A framework for constructing an air handling unit compartment, the framework comprising:

a plurality of structural members, each structural member comprising;

a first segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first segment including a first recessed portion disposed adjacent the second end;

a second segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the second segment being coincident with the first end of the first segment, the second segment including a second recessed portion disposed adjacent the second end of the second segment;

a plane of symmetry coincident with the first ends of the first segment and the second segment, wherein the second segment and the second recessed portion being symmetrical with the first segment and the first recessed portion about the plane of symmetry;

a third segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the third segment being coincident with the second end of the first segment;

a fourth segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the fourth segment being coincident with the second end of the second segment, the second end of the fourth segment being disposed adjacent to the second end of the third segment to form an edge portion; and

wherein the first segment, the second segment, the third segment and the fourth segment defining a closed geometry, the closed geometry extending for a predetermined length; and

a plurality of structural fittings, each structural fitting configured to receive an end of at least two structural members to connect the at least two structural members, the plurality of structural fittings and the plurality of structural members being interconnected to form the framework wherein the third recessed portion and the second end of the third segment form a flange portion; and

wherein the flange portion and the first segment are substantially parallel.

19. The framework of claim 18 wherein the plurality of structural fittings comprise a plurality of corner members and a plurality of lifting lugs.

20. The framework of claim 18 wherein the second end of the fourth segment comprises a third recessed portion, the third recessed portion and the second end of the third segment form the edge portion.

21. The framework of claim 20 wherein the flange portion provides structural support for internal air handling unit components.

22. The framework of claim 21 wherein the internal air handling unit components include wire ways.

23. The framework of claim 22 wherein the first segment and the second segment are orthogonal.

24. The framework of claim 21 wherein the second segment, the second recessed portion and the fourth segment being symmetrical with the first segment, the first recessed portion and the first third segment about the plane of symmetry.

25. An air handling unit construction comprising:

a plurality of structural members comprising;

a first segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first segment including a first recessed portion being disposed adjacent the second end;

a second segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the second segment being coincident with the first end of the first segment, the second segment including a second recessed portion being disposed adjacent the second end of the second segment;

a plane of symmetry coincident with the first ends of the first segment and the second segment, wherein the second segment and the second recessed portion being symmetrical with the first segment and the first recessed portion about the plane of symmetry;

a third segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the third segment being coincident with the second end of the first segment;

a fourth segment having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the fourth segment being coincident with the second end of the second segment, the second end of the fourth segment being disposed adjacent to the second end of the third segment to form an edge portion; and

wherein the first segment, the second segment, the third segment and the fourth segment defining a closed geometry, the closed geometry extending for a predetermined length; and

a plurality of structural fittings, each structural fitting configured to receive an end of at least two structural members to connect the at least two structural members, the plurality of structural fittings and the plurality of structural members being interconnected to form the framework;

a plurality of panels each being received by a frame of the plurality of frames to form an enclosed panel structure wherein the third recessed portion and the third segment forming a flange portion; and

wherein the flange portion and the first segment are substantially parallel.

26. The air handling unit construction of claim 25 wherein the second end of the fourth segment comprises a third recessed portion, the third recessed portion and the second end of the third segment form the edge portion.

27. The air handling unit construction of claim 26 wherein the flange portion provides structural support for internal components.

28. The air handling unit construction of claim 27 wherein the internal components include a wire way.

29. The air handling unit construction of claim 26 wherein the flange portion provides supplemental support for panels of the plurality of panels contacting both the first recessed portion and the flange portion.

30. The air handling unit construction of claim 26 wherein the flange portion provides a supplemental seal between panels contacting both the first recessed portion and the flange portion.

31. The air handling unit construction of claim 26 wherein the second segment, the second recessed portion and the fourth segment being symmetrical with the first segment, the first recessed portion and the third segment about the plane of symmetry.

32. The air handling unit construction of claim 26 wherein the first segment and the second segment are orthogonal.

33. The air handling unit construction of claim 25 wherein at least one panel of the plurality of panels defining a roof for the panel structure, the roof having sloped halves.

34. The air handling unit construction of claim 25 further comprising a seismic snubber.

35. The air handling unit construction of claim 25 further comprising a motor tensioning mount.