Hvac access panel latch systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020063989-A1
Application number	US-201816116757-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 29, 2018
Priority date	Aug 21, 2018
Publication date	Feb 27, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a latch assembly for an access panel of a housing includes a latch structure having a first surface, a second surface, and an intermediate step therebetween. The latch assembly also includes a fastener configured to facilitate coupling of the first surface to the access panel, and a locking system configured to engage with a structural support of the housing via the second surface. The locking system is configured to be rotated to secure the second surface to the structural support and rotated to release the second surface from the structural support.

First claim

1 . A latch assembly for an access panel of a housing, comprising:
a latch structure having a first surface, a second surface, and an intermediate step therebetween; a fastener configured to facilitate coupling of the first surface to the access panel; and a locking system configured to engage with a structural support of the housing via the second surface, wherein the locking system is configured to be rotated to secure the second surface to the structural support and rotated to release the second surface from the structural support.

2 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , comprising a seal arranged to engage the access panel and the structural support to facilitate sealing a climate management system within the housing when the locking system secures the second surface to the structural support and the first surface is coupled to the access panel.

3 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is substantially parallel to the second surface.

4 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second surface comprises an elongated slot, and the locking system is configured to extend through the elongated slot to couple with the second surface.

5 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking system comprises a threaded rod, a knob coupled to the threaded rod, and a locking nut coupled to the threaded rod.

6 . The latch assembly of claim 5 , wherein the locking nut of the locking system is configured to abut a receiving nut secured to the structural support when the latch assembly is in a locked configuration.

7 . The latch assembly of claim 6 , wherein the locking nut is configured to abut a lip of the receiving nut in the locked configuration, and wherein the lip is disposed between the locking nut and an outer surface of the structural support when the latch assembly is in the locked configuration.

8 . The latch assembly of claim 6 , comprising the receiving nut, wherein the receiving nut comprises a hex rivet nut.

9 . The latch assembly of claim 5 , wherein the knob comprises a plastic material.

10 . The latch assembly of claim 9 , wherein the latch structure comprises a protective coating.

11 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a receptacle and further comprising a rivet, wherein the first surface is configured to couple to the access panel via the rivet extending through the receptacle.

12 . A climate management system housing, comprising:
an access panel configured to enable access to an interior of the climate management system housing; a gasket coupled to the climate management system housing and configured to provide a sealing engagement with the access panel; and a latch assembly comprising a latch plate having a stepped configuration, a threaded rod coupled to the latch plate, and a locking nut disposed on the threaded rod, wherein the latch assembly is coupled to the access panel and is configured to provide a force on the gasket via the access panel, in a locked configuration of the latch assembly that includes the threaded rod coupling the latch assembly to a structural support of the climate management system housing, to provide the sealing engagement, wherein a position of the locking nut along the threaded rod is adjustable to adjust the force.

13 . The climate management system housing of claim 12 , wherein the latch plate comprises a first flange coupled to the access panel, an intermediate segment extending from the first flange, and a second flange extending from the intermediate segment, and wherein the first flange is offset from the second flange by the intermediate segment to define the stepped configuration.

14 . The climate management system housing of claim 13 , comprising a handle coupled to the threaded rod and configured to be rotated to apply the force to the gasket.

15 . The climate management system housing of claim 13 , wherein the second flange comprises an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the threaded rod is configured to be rotated within the aperture to engage with a receiving nut secured to the climate management system housing and apply the force to the gasket.

16 . The climate management system housing of claim 12 , comprising a receiving nut coupled to a frame of the climate management system housing, wherein the locking nut is positioned on the threaded rod to enable abutment between the receiving nut and the locking nut when the latch assembly is in a locked configuration.

17 . The climate management system housing of claim 16 , wherein the locking nut and the receiving nut each comprise a metal, and wherein the climate management system housing comprises a protective coating adjacent to the receiving nut.

18 . The climate management system housing of claim 12 , wherein the gasket is positioned about a perimeter of an opening of the climate management system housing, wherein the access panel is configured to occlude the opening in a closed position.

19 . A locking assembly for a housing, comprising:
a latch plate comprising a first flange configured to be coupled to a door of the housing, and comprising a second flange having an aperture extending therethrough; a bolt extending through the aperture in the second flange of the latch plate; a locking nut coupled to the bolt and configured to retain the bolt within the aperture of the second flange of the latch plate; and a receiving nut configured to be disposed within a frame of the housing, wherein the locking nut is configured to abut the receiving nut when the locking assembly is in a locked configuration, and wherein the locking assembly is configured to apply a pressure to a gasket of the housing in the locked configuration to create a sealing interface about the door.

20 . The locking assembly of claim 19 , wherein the bolt comprises a handle, and wherein the handle is manually rotatable to implement the locked configuration of the locking assembly.

21 . The locking assembly of claim 19 , wherein the bolt comprises a bolt head, and wherein the bolt head is configured to be rotated by a tool to implement the locked configuration of the locking assembly.

22 . The locking assembly of claim 19 , wherein the aperture comprises an elongated slot, and wherein the bolt is configured to move within the elongated slot to enable alignment between the bolt and the receiving nut.

23 . The locking assembly of claim 19 , wherein the latch plate comprises an S-shaped configuration, wherein the S-shaped configuration of the latch plate is defined by the first flange, the second flange, and an intermediate segment extending between the first flange and the second flange and providing an offset distance between the first flange and the second flange.

24 . The locking assembly of claim 23 , wherein the locking nut is disposed along the bolt between the second flange and a plane defined by the first flange, and wherein a position of the locking nut along the bolt provides a limit to the pressure configured to be applied to the gasket by the locking assembly.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Salunkhe Ravindra B
• Bidari Siddappa R
• Y R Praveen
• Gandevia Kunal J

Classifications

• F24F13/20 Primary

  Casings or covers · CPC title

• F24F1/58 Primary

  Separate protective covers for outdoor units, e.g. solar guards, snow shields or camouflage · CPC title

• E05B63/12

  with means carried by the bolt for interlocking with the keeper · CPC title

• E05C3/041

  rotating about an axis perpendicular to the surface on which the fastener is mounted · CPC title

• E05B17/0025

  Devices for forcing the wing firmly against its seat or to initiate the opening of the wing (E05B15/022, E05B65/0817, E05B81/20, E05C19/14 take precedence) · CPC title