Air filtration system with quick connect

• US 8,419,837 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Huntair Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Schreiber, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US13/012,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 553/852, 554/71, 554/73, 554/80, 554/82, 555/05, 454/187, 454/228, 454/236, 454/292, 454/296, 454/338
• US Class Current: 95/273
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2271/02 Gaskets, sealings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0005 Mounting of filtering elements within casings, housings or frames B01D46/2422 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/113 the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/0209 characterised by their connecting means, e.g. flanges
• 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

An air filtration system includes a housing that is interchangeably positioned within a plenum that is in fluid communication between the housing and a room. A fan is positioned within the housing and configured to draw contaminated air from the plenum. At least one filter member is positioned within the housing and configured to filter the contaminated air. A flexible duct is configured to channel filtered air from the housing to the room. The flexible duct is configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

Claims

1. An air filtration system comprising:

a housing that is interchangeably positioned within a plenum that is in fluid communication between the housing and a room;

a fan positioned within the housing and configured to draw contaminated air from the plenum;

at least one filter member positioned within the housing and configured to filter the contaminated air; and

a flexible duct configured to channel filtered air from the housing to the room, the flexible duct configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

2. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to the housing, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

3. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to a ceiling grid, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the ceiling grid.

4. The air filtration system of claim 3 further comprising a gasket positioned between the male ring and the female ring to form an airtight interface.

5. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising an open return, the fan configured to draw the contaminated air from the plenum through the open return.

6. The air filtration system of claim 1, wherein the interchangeability of the housing enables the air filtration system to be positioned within the plenum so as to avoid existing structures.

7. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to a ceiling grid.

8. The air filtration system of claim 1 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

25. The air filtration system of claim 1, wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of supply vents in panels of a ceiling grid, wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

26. The air filtration system of claim 1, further comprising a ceiling grid including a plurality of supply vents formed in a plurality of panels, wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is coupled to one of the plurality of supply vents, and wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

9. An air filtration system comprising:

a plenum in fluid communication with a room;

a housing interchangeably positioned within the plenum and in fluid communication with the room;

a fan positioned within the housing and configured to draw contaminated air from the plenum;

at least one filter member positioned within the housing and configured to filter the contaminated air; and

a flexible duct configured to channel filtered air from the housing to the room, the flexible duct configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

10. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to the housing, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

11. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect including a female ring having slots and a male ring having protrusions, the male ring coupled to the flexible duct and the female ring coupled to a ceiling grid, the slots configured to receive the protrusions to couple the flexible duct to the ceiling grid.

12. The air filtration system of claim 11 further comprising a gasket positioned between the male ring and the female ring to form an airtight interface.

13. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising an open return, the fan configured to draw the contaminated air from the plenum through the open return.

14. The air filtration system of claim 9, wherein the interchangeability of the housing enables the air filtration system to be positioned within the plenum so as to avoid existing structures.

15. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to a ceiling grid.

16. The air filtration system of claim 9 further comprising a quick connect that rotates about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

27. The air filtration system of claim 9, wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of supply vents in panels of a ceiling grid, wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

28. The air filtration system of claim 9, further comprising a ceiling grid including a plurality of supply vents formed in a plurality of panels, wherein the flexible duct includes a quick connect on an outer end thereof, wherein the quick connect is coupled to one of the plurality of supply vents, and wherein the quick connect is configured to be interchanged among the plurality of supply vents.

17. A method of providing an air filtration system for a room, the method comprising

interchangeably positioning a housing within a plenum that is in fluid communication with the room;

positioning a fan within the housing to draw contaminated air through the plenum from the room;

positioning at least one filter member within the housing to filter the contaminated air; and

channeling the filtered air through a flexible duct from the housing to the room, the flexible duct configured to enable the interchangeability of the housing.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

coupling a male ring to the flexible duct, the male ring having protrusions; and

coupling a female ring to the housing, the female ring having slots configured to receive the protrusions of the male ring to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

coupling a male ring to the flexible duct, the male ring having protrusions; and

coupling a female ring to a ceiling grid, the female ring having slots configured to receive the protrusions of the male ring to couple the flexible duct to the ceiling grid.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising positioning a gasket between the male ring and the female ring to form an airtight interface.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising drawing the contaminated air from the plenum through an open return.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the interchangeability of the housing enables the air filtration system to be positioned within the plenum so as to avoid existing structures.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising rotating a quick connect about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to a ceiling grid.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising rotating a quick connect about the flexible duct to couple the flexible duct to the housing.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the interchangeably positioning operation comprises switching a quick connect of the flexible duct among different supply vents in panels of a ceiling grid.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing a first mating fastener on an outer end of the flexible duct; and

providing second mating fasteners on each of a plurality of supply vents formed in a plurality of panels of a ceiling grid,

wherein the interchangeably positioning a housing operation comprises switching the first mating fastener among the second mating fasteners.