Hvac filter locking systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023043565-A1
Application number	US-202217887816-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 15, 2022
Priority date	May 30, 2017
Publication date	Feb 9, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a filter housing system of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes an enclosure configured to support a filter, a connecting channel disposed within a corner of the enclosure and coupled to the enclosure, and a locking system configured to couple to the connecting channel and configured to secure the filter within the enclosure. The locking system is configured to secure the filter within the enclosure via rotation of a screw.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A locking system for a filter system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a bracket configured to couple to a connecting channel of the filter system, wherein the bracket is configured to abut an internally-facing surface of the connecting channel, and the bracket comprises an aperture; and a fastener configured to extend through the aperture of the bracket, wherein the fastener is configured to apply a force to a filter of the filter system to secure the filter in engagement with the connecting channel.

22 . The locking system of claim 21 , comprising a nut configured to be positioned within the aperture of the bracket, wherein the nut comprises an opening configured to receive the fastener to enable extension of the fastener through the aperture.

23 . The locking system of claim 22 , wherein the bracket comprises a base, the aperture is formed through the base, and the nut comprises a head configured to abut the base with the nut positioned within the aperture.

24 . The locking system of claim 23 , wherein the aperture comprises a polygonal shape, and the head of the nut comprises a corresponding polygonal shape, such that the base captures the head to block rotation of the head within the aperture.

25 . The locking system of claim 21 , wherein the bracket is configured to extend into a hemmed portion of the connecting channel to couple the bracket to the connecting channel.

26 . The locking system of claim 21 , wherein the fastener is configured to rotate in a first direction within the aperture to move toward the filter and to increase the force applied to the filter, and the fastener is configured to rotate in a second direction within the aperture to move away from the filter and to reduce the force applied to the filter.

27 . The locking system of claim 21 , wherein the fastener comprises a thumb screw.

28 . A filter locking system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a bracket comprising a base and a flange extending crosswise to the base, wherein the base comprises an aperture formed therethrough, and the flange is configured to engage with a connecting channel of a filter system of the HVAC system; a nut configured to extend into the aperture of the bracket, wherein the nut comprises an opening; and a screw configured to extend through the opening of the nut, wherein the screw is configured to apply a force to a filter of the HVAC system.

29 . The filter locking system of claim 28 , wherein the opening comprises a threaded bore, and the screw comprises threads configured to engage the threaded bore to couple the screw and the nut to one another.

30 . The filter locking system of claim 29 , wherein the screw is configured to rotate relative to the nut to adjust extension of the screw through the opening and to adjust the force applied to the filter via engagement between the threaded bore of the nut and the threads of the screw.

31 . The filter locking system of claim 28 , wherein the flange is a first flange, the bracket comprises a second flange extending crosswise to the base, and the second flange is configured to engage with the connecting channel.

32 . The filter locking system of claim 31 , wherein the first flange and the second flange extend crosswise from one another.

33 . The filter locking system of claim 32 , wherein the first flange and the second flange extend from one another and from the base.

34 . The filter locking system of claim 28 , wherein the nut is rotationally fixed within the aperture.

35 . A locking system for a filter system of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
a bracket configured to couple to a connecting channel of the filter system, wherein the bracket comprises a base and a flange extending crosswise to the base, the base comprises an aperture formed therethrough, and the flange is configured to be retained within a hemmed portion of the connecting channel to couple the bracket to the connecting channel; and a screw configured to extend through the aperture of the bracket, wherein the screw is configured to apply a force to a filter of the filter system to retain the filter within the filter system.

36 . The locking system of claim 35 , wherein the flange is configured to engage with an internally-facing surface of the connecting channel, and the screw is configured to apply the force to the filter to secure the filter in engagement with the internally-facing surface of the connecting channel.

37 . The locking system of claim 36 , wherein the bracket comprises an additional flange extending crosswise to the base and to the flange, and the additional flange is configured to engage with an additional internally-facing surface of the connecting channel extending crosswise to the internally-facing surface of the connecting channel.

38 . The locking system of claim 37 , wherein the additional flange is configured to be retained within the hemmed portion of the connecting channel.

39 . The locking system of claim 35 , comprising a nut configured to engage with the bracket via the aperture, wherein the nut comprises a bore configured to receive the screw to enable the screw to extend through the aperture of the bracket.

40 . The locking system of claim 39 , wherein the nut and the screw comprise corresponding threads to enable rotation of the screw relative to the nut to cause the screw to adjust the force applied to the filter

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP

Inventors

• Nath Nivedita
• Bidari Siddappa R

Classifications

• F24F13/0254

  characterised by their mounting means, e.g. supports · CPC title

• F24F13/28 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of filters · CPC title

• F24F13/20 Primary

  Casings or covers · CPC title