HVAC system with selective flowpath

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10648693-B2
Application number	US-201715790806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2017
Priority date	Feb 7, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes: a furnace having a furnace heat exchanger; and an indoor HVAC unit having a refrigerant heat exchanger. At least one of a component of the furnace and a component of the indoor HVAC unit are selectively removable from an airflow path of the HVAC system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
an airflow path; and
a baffle disposed within the airflow path, wherein an orientation of the baffle is selectively adjustable in response to at least one of a mode of operation of the HVAC system and a temperature of air flowing through the airflow path;
wherein the baffle further comprises an adjuster comprising an electricity responsive material configured to selectively move the baffle.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises an operational position and a passive position and wherein the passive position, relative to the operational position, reduces a resistance to flow along the air flow path.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is adjustable in response to electricity applied to the adjuster.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is oriented relatively parallel to an airflow direction during an activation of a heating mode.

5. The HVAC system of claim 4 , wherein a position of the baffle during the heating mode is different from the position of the baffle during a cooling mode.

6. The HVAC system of claim 5 , wherein the baffle obstructs the airflow path during the cooling mode, and does not obstruct the airflow path during the heating mode.

7. The HVAC system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cabinet, wherein the baffle is coupled to the cabinet; and
a heat exchanger positioned in the cabinet.

8. The HVAC system of claim 7 , wherein the airflow path extends through the cabinet and bypasses the heat exchanger.

9. The HVAC system of claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a furnace heat exchanger.

10. The HVAC system of claim 9 , wherein the baffle obstructs the airflow path during an activation of a heating mode of the HVAC system, and does not obstruct the airflow path during an activation of a cooling mode of the HVAC system.

11. The HVAC system of claim 7 , further comprising a fan within the cabinet, and wherein the heat exchanger comprises a refrigerant heat exchanger.

12. The HVAC system of claim 11 , wherein the baffle obstructs the airflow path during an activation of a cooling mode of the HVAC system, and does not obstruct the airflow path during an activation of a heating mode of the HVAC system.

13. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the adjuster comprises a temperature responsive material configured to selectively move the baffle.

Assignees

• Trane Int Inc

Inventors

• Bicknell Kirby Neal

Classifications

• F24F3/044

  Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems · CPC title

• F24F11/70 Primary

  Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof · CPC title

• Y02B30/767

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F24F11/81 Primary

  by controlling the air supply to heat-exchangers or bypass channels · CPC title

• F24F11/86

  by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits · CPC title