HVAC BASE AND RETURN AIR SYSTEM

Abstract

A base is provided for installation of an HVAC system which allows for high efficiency air intake. The HVAC base and air return system provides for intake of air simultaneously through the bottom and side of a furnace unit. The HVAC base and air return system allow for installation and use of a wider filter box.

Claims

1. A furnace base for high efficiency airflow comprising: a first lateral wall member that is substantially rectangular in shape; a second lateral wall member that is substantially rectangular in shape; a third lateral wall member that is substantially rectangular in shape; a bottom side member that is substantially rectangular in shape; one or more furnace support members; wherein the first and second wall members are configured substantially at right angles to each other and the second and third lateral wall members are configured substantially at right angles to each other, the first, second and third lateral wall members forming three lateral walls of a rectangular box; wherein a first perimeter edge of the first lateral wall member, a first perimeter edge of the second lateral wall member, and a first perimeter edge of the third lateral wall member are respectively coupled to the bottom side member substantially along a first, second, and third perimeter edge of the bottom side member; wherein a fourth side of the rectangular box is defined by an opening to permit air to pass through said forth side of the rectangular box; wherein the one or more support members are disposed in an interior portion of the rectangular box for supporting a furnace unit; and wherein one or more rims extend from a plurality of the first, second and third lateral wall members, said one or more rims configured to extend over at least a portion of a furnace unit.

2. The furnace base of claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the first, second and third lateral wall members, the bottom side member, the one or more furnace support members, and the one or more rims configured to extend over at least a portion of a furnace unit are comprised of a temperature resistant material.

3. The furnace base of claim 2, wherein the temperature resistant material is a high-composite polymer.

4. The furnace base of claim 2, wherein the temperature resistant material is a heat resistant plastic.

5. The furnace base of claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the first, second and third lateral wall members, the bottom side member, the one or more furnace support members, and the one or more rims configured to extend over at least a portion of a furnace unit are comprised of a castable material.

6. The furnace base of claim 1, wherein at least one or more of the first, second and third lateral wall members, the bottom side member, the one or more furnace support members, and the one or more rims configured to extend over at least a portion of a furnace unit are comprised of a machinable material.

7. The furnace base of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third lateral wall members, the bottom side member, the one or more furnace support members, and the one or more rims configured to extend over at least a portion of a furnace unit comprise a singularly cast body.

8. The furnace base of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third lateral wall members, the bottom side member, the one or more furnace support members, and the one or more rims configured to extend over at least a portion of a furnace unit comprise a singularly machined body.

9. A high-efficiency HVAC return air system comprising: a furnace base comprised of a singularly cast rectangular body wherein said singularly cast rectangular body includes a first lateral side defined by an opening to permit air to pass through said first lateral side of the furnace base, one or more interior braces for supporting a furnace unit, and second, third, and fourth lateral side members forming second, third, and fourth lateral walls which extend to form a rim above the one or more interior braces; a furnace unit including an opening through a first lateral side of said furnace unit to permit air to pass through the first lateral side of the furnace unit and an opening through a bottom side of said furnace unit to permit air to pass through the bottom side of the furnace unit; wherein the furnace unit is disposed on the furnace base so that the rim of the furnace base covers at least a portion of the furnace unit, and wherein the furnace unit and furnace base are configured so that the first lateral side of the furnace base and the first lateral side of the furnace unit are substantially adjacent and parallel to each other; a filter box having a first lateral side simultaneously disposed over the opening in the first lateral side of the furnace and over the opening forming the first lateral side of the furnace base; and a return air duct having an air return opening disposed to a second lateral side of the filter box; wherein the return air duct, the filter box, the furnace unit, and the furnace base are configured to permit air to flow from the return air duct into the filter box and then pass simultaneously through the first lateral side of the furnace unit and the bottom side of the furnace unit.

10. The high-efficiency HVAC return air system of claim 9, wherein the width of the filter box between the return air duct and the furnace unit is about 5 inches.

11. The high-efficiency HVAC return air system of claim 9, wherein the vertical height of the furnace base is about four inches.

12. The high-efficiency HVAC return air system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more interior braces is A-frame shaped.

13. The high-efficiency HVAC return air system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more interior braces is tubular-shaped.

14. A method of installing an HVAC system comprising: selecting a furnace base having a singularly cast rectangular body wherein said singularly cast rectangular body includes a first lateral side defined by an opening to permit air to pass through said first lateral side of the furnace base, one or more interior braces for supporting a furnace unit, and second, third, and fourth lateral side members forming second, third, and fourth lateral walls which extend to form a rim above the one or more interior braces; selecting a furnace unit having an opening through a first lateral side of said furnace unit to permit air to pass through the first lateral side of the furnace unit and an opening through a bottom side of said furnace unit to permit air to pass through the bottom side of the furnace unit; disposing the furnace unit on the on the one or more interior braces in the furnace base so that the rim of the furnace base covers at least a portion of the furnace unit and so that the first lateral side of the furnace base and the first lateral side of the furnace unit are substantially adjacent and parallel to each other.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: selecting a filter box and disposing a first lateral side of the filter box simultaneously over the opening in the first lateral side of the furnace unit and the opening forming the first lateral side of the furnace base; and selecting a return air duct having an air return opening and disposing the air return opening of the return air duct to a second lateral side of the filter box.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: selecting a sealant; selecting one or more junctions between the furnace base and the furnace unit; and applying the sealant to the one or more junctions between the furnace base and the furnace unit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the sealant is silicone.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the sealant is mastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an HVAC system base according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway view of the HVAC system base of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the HVAC system base of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a side view of an HVAC system base in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the HVAC system base of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 6 shows a furnace unit disposed in an HVAC system base in accordance with the present invention; and

[0025] FIG. 7 shows a side view of an HVAC system and base configured with a filter box and return air duct in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims.

[0028] Turning now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a furnace base 10 for an HVAC system in accordance with the present invention is shown. The furnace base 10 may be comprised of three lateral wall members 12, 14, 16, a bottom side member 18, and one or more support members 24, 26, 28. The furnace base is generally in the shape of a rectangular box. A fourth side of the rectangular furnace base is comprised of an opening 20 to allow air to pass into the furnace base where it may subsequently travel up through the bottom of a furnace unit 30 as shown in FIG. 7, which furnace unit 30 may be installed in the furnace base on the support members 24, 26, 28.

[0029] The support members 24, 26, 28 shown in FIG. 1 include A-frame shaped support members 26 and tubular shaped support members 24, 28.

[0030] FIG. 3 provides a top view of the furnace base 10 of FIG. 1 and shows another perspective of various shapes that may be used for the support members 24, 26, 28. However, it should be appreciated that support members having other shapes may also be used. Furthermore, while it is preferable to use a plurality of support members, it should also be appreciated that a single support member extending along a plurality of sides within the interior of the furnace base could be used.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the furnace base 10 of the present invention may include a rim 22 extending from the lateral wall members above the support members 24, 26, 28. The rim 22 may be part of the lateral wall member or may be a separate component of the furnace base 10 extending above the support members 24, 26, 28. It should also be appreciated that the furnace base 10 may include more than a single rim 10. The rim 10 may be configured to cover a portion of the furnace unit 30, as shown in FIG. 6, providing a seal between the furnace base 10 and the furnace unit 30 and reducing air leakage.

[0032] FIG. 2 provides a cutaway view of the furnace base 10 of FIG. 1 and shows another perspective of the rim 22 extending above the support members 24, 26, 28 of the furnace base 10. FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the present invention facing the fourth lateral side of the furnace base 10 and the opening 20 defining the fourth lateral side. FIGS. 4 and 5 show two different embodiments of the rim 22. As shown in FIG. 4, in one embodiment the rim 22 may extend around onto the fourth lateral side of the furnace base 10. As shown in FIG. 5, in another embodiment the rim 22 does not extend around onto the fourth lateral side of the furnace base 10.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rim 22 is comprised of a three quarter inch lip; however it should be appreciated that the rim may extend such distance above the support members 24, 26, 28 as may be optimal to secure the furnace unit 30 in the furnace base 10 and to prevent air from leaking from juncture between the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base 30 when the furnace unit 30 is installed in the furnace base 10.

[0034] The furnace base 10, including the side wall members 12, 14, 16, the bottom side member 18, the support members 24, 26, 28, and the rim 22 may be composed of any number of heat resistant materials, including heat resistant plastics and high-composite polymers. Preferably, the heat resistant materials will be castable or machinable so that the furnace base 10 and its components may be made using injection molding or by way of machining. It is also preferable that the furnace base 10 and its components be composed of rust or corrosion resistant materials.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, the furnace base 10 and its components are made using injection molding. In another embodiment of the present invention the furnace base is made by machining the components using tooling. It should be appreciated that the furnace base 10 and other components of the present invention can be made using any tools, techniques, and materials available to one skilled in the art.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the furnace base 10, including the side wall members 12, 14, 16, the bottom side member 18, the support members 24, 26, 28, and the rim 22 may be cast as a singular integrated body. In another embodiment of the present invention, the furnace base 10, including the side wall members 12, 14, 16, the bottom side member 18, the support members 24, 26, 28, and the rim 22 may be machined as a singular integrated body.

[0037] Turning now to FIG. 6, a perspective view is shown of a furnace unit 30 installed in a furnace base 10 to provide enhanced air intake according to the present invention. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the furnace unit 30 may be installed in the furnace base 10 by simply lowering the furnace unit 30 into the furnace base 10 so that the frame of the furnace unit rests on the support members 24, 26, 28 of the furnace base 10.

[0038] Prior to disposing the furnace unit 30 in the furnace base 10, a metal plate commonly found underneath furnace units should be removed so that intake and return air passing through the air intake opening 20 of the furnace base 10 may travel from underneath the furnace unit 30 up through the bottom side of the furnace unit 30 as shown by the arrowed lines in FIG. 7.

[0039] The furnace unit 30 should be configured in the furnace base 10 so that the air intake opening 32 of the furnace unit aligns substantially adjacent and parallel to the air intake opening 20 of the furnace base 10, as shown in FIG. 6. The air intake opening 32 of the furnace unit may be formed by cutting an opening in the side of the furnace unit 30 where indicated by cut lines, which typically consist of depressed points or lines on the side of the metal frame of the furnace unit 30.

[0040] After configuring the furnace unit 30 in the furnace base 10 on the support members 24, 26, 28, the rim 22 should prevent or reduce air leaking through the junctures between the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base; however, any number of sealants, such as mastic or silicone, may be used on or in the junctures to ensure that the junctures are sealed and prevent air from leaking.

[0041] Typically, the furnace base 10 may be free standing without securing it to the floor. However, if desired, the furnace base 10 may be secured to the floor using any number of methods available to one skilled in the art. For example, the furnace base 10 may be secured to a cement floor using cement screws that may be driven through the furnace base 10 into the cement floor. The furnace base 10 may be secured to a wood floor using wood screws that may be drive through the furnace base into the wood floor.

[0042] Turning now to FIG. 7, an HVAC air return system is shown according to the present invention. The furnace unit 30 and furnace base 10 shown in FIG. 7 have been configured as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the HVAC air return system of the present invention may also be configured so that a first lateral side of the filter box 34 is disposed adjacent to or secured on the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base 10. The first lateral side of the filter box 34 should simultaneously cover the air intake opening 32 of the furnace unit and the air intake opening 20 of the furnace base 10 so that air passing through the air filter box 34 may simultaneously travel into the furnace unit through the air intake opening 32 on the lateral side of the furnace unit and into the air intake opening 20 of the furnace base 10 where the air may subsequently travel from underneath the furnace unit 30 up through the bottom side of the furnace unit 30 as shown by the arrowed lines in FIG. 7.

[0043] The first lateral side of the filter box 34 may be secured to the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base 10 by driving or screwing zip screws or bit tip screws through the metal frame of the filter box 34 and into the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base 10 respectively. After the filter box 34 has been secured to the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base 10, a sealant, such as mastic or silicone, may be applied to the seam of the juncture between the filter box 34 and the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base 10 to prevent air leakage.

[0044] As also shown in FIG. 7, a return air duct 36 may be disposed adjacent to or secured on a second lateral side of the filter box 34 so that intake and return air may be directed into the filter box 34. The return air duct 36 may be may be secured to the second lateral side of the filter box 34 by driving or screwing zip screws or bit tip screws through the metal frame of the open end of the return air duct 36 and into the metal frame of the filter box 34. After the return air duct 36 has been secured to the filter box 34, a sealant, such as mastic or silicone, may be applied to the seam of the juncture between the return air duct 36 and the filter box 34 to prevent air leakage.

[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the filter box 34 is configured vertically on the side of the furnace unit 30 and the furnace base 10, which allows installation of a filter box having a width that is not limited by the height of the ceiling. Thus, the size of a filter box mounted in an HVAC air return system shown in FIG. 7 according to the present invention will not be limited by the height of the ceiling of the room where the HVAC system is installed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a five inch filter box 34 is used; however, it should be appreciated that a smaller or larger sized filter box 34 may be used according as desired or specified.

[0046] The present invention provides several benefits. The present invention allows a person to easily and inexpensively install a furnace unit on a base without making modifications to the furnace base before installing the furnace unit. The invention is also advantageous because the rim on the furnace base improves sealing at junctures between the furnace base and the furnace unit, reducing potential airflow leaks. Another advantage of the present invention is that it allows intake of filtered air into the furnace unit simultaneously through both the side and the bottom of the furnace unit, increasing airflow efficiency. The present invention also allows installation of a wider filter box on HVAC units installed in structures with standard or lower ceilings, thus allowing for improved air quality.

[0047] There is thus disclosed an improved HVAC base and return system for high-efficiency airflow. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.