COMPOSITE ROOF STRUCTURE FOR AIR HANDLING UNITS
20200284447 ยท 2020-09-10
Inventors
- Merle R. Brubaker (York, PA, US)
- Robert A. Amick (York, PA, US)
- Henry L. Urey (Windsor, PA, US)
- Karen M. Brenner (Dallastown, PA, US)
Cpc classification
E04B7/22
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04B7/225
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
F24F1/58
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
A cover for an air handling unit enclosure. The cover may include a panel defining a first surface, an insulating layer connected to the first surface of the panel via a first adhesive, and a waterproof membrane connected to the insulating layer via a second adhesive.
Claims
1. A cover for an air handling unit, comprising: a panel defining a first surface; an insulating layer connected to the first surface of the panel via a first adhesive; and a waterproof membrane connected to the insulating layer via a second adhesive.
2. The cover of claim 1, further comprising: a first frame rail having a first longitudinal axis that extends along a first direction; a second frame rail having a second longitudinal axis that extends along a second direction, wherein the panel extends from the first frame rail to the second frame rail.
3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the waterproof membrane is fastened to the first frame rail and the second frame rail.
4. The cover of claim 1, wherein the first and second adhesive are the same.
5. A cover for an air handling unit, comprising: a first frame rail having a first longitudinal axis that extends along a first direction; a second frame rail having second longitudinal axis that extends along a second direction; a composite roof including: a first panel having a first panel surface and a second panel surface opposite the first panel surface, wherein the first panel is formed of a rigid material and extends from the first frame rail to the second frame rail; an insulating layer connected to the first panel via a first adhesive; and a membrane connected to the insulating layer via a second adhesive, wherein the membrane is fastened to the first frame rail and the second frame rail via a drip rail.
6. The cover of claim 5, wherein the insulating layer is thicker at a location proximal to the first frame rail than at a location proximal to the second frame rail.
7. The cover of claim 5, wherein the first frame rail has a first surface along the first direction and a second non-horizontal surface that extends along the first direction, wherein the first surface and the second non-horizontal surface fall within a respective first plane and a second plane that intersect one another at an angle, wherein the insulating layer is connected to the first surface via the first adhesive and the membrane is connected to the second non-horizontal surface via the drip rail; the second frame rail has a third surface extending along the second direction and a fourth non-horizontal surface that extends along the second direction wherein the third surface and the non-horizontal fourth surface fall within a respective third plane and a fourth plane that intersect one another at an angle, wherein the insulating layer is connected to the third surface via the first adhesive and the membrane is connected to the non-horizontal fourth surface via the drip rail.
8. The cover of claim 5, wherein the membrane comprises a Thermoplastic Polyolefin, an Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer, or a Polyvinyl Chloride.
9. The cover of claim 5, wherein the first and second adhesive are the same.
10. The cover of claim 5, wherein the insulating layer comprises a Polyisocyanurate, an extruded Polystyrene, or an expanded Polystyrene.
11. The cover of claim 5, wherein one of the first and second adhesive is a 2-part adhesive that comprises a Polymeric Isocyanate and Polyol Amines.
12. The cover of claim 5, further comprising a second panel, wherein a portion the second panel is substantially parallel to and spaced from the first panel with an insulating material therebetween.
13. A cover system for an air handing unit, comprising: a first cover and a second cover that are joined to form a single air handling unit cover, wherein each of the first cover and second cover include: a first frame rail having a first longitudinal axis that extends along a first direction; a second frame rail having second longitudinal axis that extends along a second direction; a shipping break extending between the first frame rail and the second frame rail; and a composite roof including: a panel having a first panel surface and a second panel surface opposite the first panel surface, wherein the panel is formed of a rigid material and extends from the first frame rail to the second frame rail and ends at the shipping break; an insulating layer connected to the first panel surface via a first adhesive; and a membrane connected to the insulating layer via a second adhesive, wherein the membrane of the first and second cover ends at the shipping break and is fastened to the first frame rail and the second frame rail via a drip rail, wherein a second membrane covers a seam between the membrane of the first cover and the membrane of the second cover at the shipping break.
14. The cover system of claim 13, wherein the second membrane is connected to the membrane of the first cover and the membrane of the second cover via a third adhesive.
15. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the third adhesive is a peal-and-stick adhesive provided on one side of the second membrane.
16. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the second membrane is fastened to a first frame rail of the first cover and to the first frame rail of the second cover via a first connector drip rail that spans the shipping break and wherein the second membrane is fastened to the second frame rail of the first cover and the second frame rail of the second cover via a second connector drip rail that spans the shipping break.
17. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the insulating layer of each of the first and second cover is thicker at a location proximal to the first frame rail than at a location proximal to the second frame rail.
18. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the insulating layer of the first cover is thickest at the shipping break and thinner at a location distal from the shipping break, and the insulating layer of the second cover is thinnest at the shipping break and thicker at a location distal from the shipping break.
19. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the membrane comprises a Thermoplastic Polyolefin, an Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer, or a Polyvinyl Chloride.
20. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the first and second adhesive are the same.
21. The cover system of claim 14, wherein the insulating layer comprises a Polyisocyanurate, an extruded Polystyrene, or an expanded Polystyrene.
22. The cover system of claim 14, wherein one of the first and second adhesive is a 2-part adhesive that comprises a Polymeric Isocyanate and Polyol Amines.
23. A composite roof structure for covering a frame of an air handling unit, comprising: a first panel having a first panel surface and a second panel surface opposite the first panel surface, wherein the first panel is formed of a rigid material; an insulating layer connected to the first panel via a first adhesive; and a membrane connected to the insulating layer via a second adhesive, wherein the membrane is fastened to a non-horizontal surface of the frame via a drip rail.
24. The composite roof structure of claim 23, wherein the insulating layer is thicker at a first end of the panel and thinner at a second end of the panel.
25. The composite roof structure of claim 23, further comprising a second panel, wherein a portion the second panel is substantially parallel to and spaced from the first panel with an insulating material therebetween.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The novel features believed to be characteristic of aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative aspects of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein. The definitions include various examples and/or forms of components that fall within the scope of a term and that may be used for implementation. The examples are not intended to be limiting. Further, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention. For purposes of the disclosure, directional terms are expressed generally with relation to a standard frame of reference when an AHU is installed and in an in-use orientation.
[0018] The present disclosure is related to an improved cover system for an Air Handling Unit (AHU). Known AHU enclosures may not be sufficiently insulated and/or sufficiently weather tight. Thus, the current disclosure seeks to solve one or more of the aforementioned deficiencies of the present technology by providing an AHU cover system usable with an AHU or an AHU enclosure that provides improved insulation qualities and/or improved weather sealing while decreasing the possibility of inconsistencies during the manufacturing of the AHU cover system and/or during installation of the AHU cover system on site. Specifically, due at least partially to the unique environment within an AHU, water and other environmental ingress through the enclosure may be exacerbated due to negative and/or positive pressure within the enclosure. For example, negative pressure within the AHU enclosure may cause water and other environmental contaminants to be drawn in through the various seams and fasteners in the AHU enclosure, and especially on the roof or cover of the enclosure. Further, positive pressure and/or an alternation between positive and negative pressure within the AHU enclosure can cause any seals or sealing material around seems or fasteners to break down over time, thus causing an increase in environmental ingress as a AHU or AHU enclosure ages.
[0019] In addition, inconsistent assembly of an AHU in an assembly facility and/or on site may result in inadequate sealing of an AHU from the elements. Thus, the current disclosure attempts to remedy the one or more of aforementioned deficiencies by providing an improved AHU cover that includes a composite structure that is free from possible ingress points that could potentially cause leakage. Further the disclosed AHU cover provides improved insulation qualities, resistance to adverse effects of the negative and/or positive pressures within the AHU enclosure. The current disclosure also provides techniques and structures that lead to a decrease in the possibility of inconsistencies during the manufacturing of the AHU cover system and/or during installation of the AHU cover system on site, thereby reducing leakages.
[0020] With reference to
[0021] Additionally, the frame of the AHU enclosure 90 may be configured with a series of infill panels 230, 231, and 232 to enclose the sides and form walls. For example, infill panels 230, 231, and 232 may be formed of sheet metal, a plastic, or a composite material. It should be noted that only a subset of the infill panels are visible in
[0022] Also, the frame of the AHU enclosure 90 may further include a top or cover 100 that includes a composite roof structure 95 supported at the top of the frame by a series of generally horizontal top frame rails, examples of which are shown by reference numbers 111 and 120 in
[0023] As shown in
[0024] Referring to
[0025] The partial perspective view of
[0026] As shown in
[0027] As shown in
[0028] The cover 100 may further include the composite roof structure 95 including an insulating layer 107 connected to a first panel surface of the first panel 113. The insulating layer 107 may be, for example, adhered to the first panel 113 via a first adhesive 101. The first adhesive may be, for example, a 2-part polyurethane foam adhesive which may comprise a Polymeric Isocyanate, Diphenylmethane, Tetraflouroethance, Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate, Isocyanic acid, plymethylenepolyphenylene esther, diazetidine, Tris (2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate, 1-dimethylaminoethanol, triethylenediamine and/or Polyol Amines; In another example, an Acrylic Latex adhesive may be used, for example. The insulating layer 107 may be adhered to the first panel in sheets, for example. The insulating layer may be comprised of Polyisocyanurate, extruded Polystyrene, or expanded Polystyrene, for example. As an alternative, the insulating layer 107 may be, for example, self-adhering and include a coating of adhesive on a single or both sides of the insulating layer. In one aspect of the disclosure, the insulating layer 107 may be adhered to the horizontal or substantially horizontal surfaces of the top frame rails, e.g., first frame rail 111 (
[0029] In one aspect of the disclosure, the insulating layer 107 of the composite roof structure 95 may be configured to provide a slope or pitch to the composite roof of the cover 100. For example, as shown in
[0030] The composite roof structure 95 of cover 100 may further include the membrane 105, which may be waterproof or comprise a waterproof or water-resistant layer. In one example the membrane may be fastened to the aforementioned insulating layer 107 via a second adhesive 103 and/or adhesive layer. The second adhesive 103 may for example be a 2-part adhesive that comprises a Polymeric Isocyanate and Polyol Amines, or an Acrylic Latex, for example. The membrane 105 may for example be self-adhering and include coating of adhesive on a single side of the membrane facing the insulating layer 107. The membrane 105 may for example comprise a Thermoplastic Polyolefin, an Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer, or a Polyvinyl Chloride. In one example, the membrane 105 may be fleece-backed to provide additional surface area for adherence of the second adhesive and/or adhesive layer 103. The membrane 105 may cover the top of the composite roof, the sides of the insulating layer 107, and/or a portion of the frame rails of the cover 100. For example, as shown in
[0031] As shown in
[0032] As shown in
[0033] In one aspect, in order to allow the assembly and subsequent sealing of the shipping break, the membrane 205A of the first cover 200A and the membrane of the second cover 200B may not be connected to a frame rail via a drip rail at a shipping break. For example, as shown in
[0034] Once the first AHU enclosure 290A an second AHU enclosure 290B are joined in a direction denoted by arrow 222, a second membrane 207 may be provided to overlap a portion (e.g., reference 331) of the membrane of the first cover 200A, and to overlap a similar portion of the second cover 200B. The second membrane 207 may comprise a Thermoplastic Polyolefin, an Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer, or a Polyvinyl Chloride to name some examples. Further the second membrane 207 may be adhered to membranes 205A and 205B via an adhesive, which may for example include a 2-part adhesive that comprises a Polymeric Isocyanate and Polyol Amines. In another aspect, the adhesive may for example be a peal-and-stick adhesive provided on one side of the second membrane and configured to permanently adhere to membranes 205A and 205B.
[0035] Once the second membrane 207 is adhered to membranes 205A and 205B, the second membrane 207 may be fastened to the first frame 219A of the first cover 200A and the first frame 219B of the second cover 200B via a connector drip rail 219 that spans the shipping break. While hidden from view in
[0036] The foregoing description of various aspects and examples have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the disclosure to the forms described. The embodiment(s) illustrated in the figures can, in some instances, be understood to be shown to scale for illustrative purposes. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings, including a combination of the abovementioned aspects. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The various aspects were chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the present disclosure and various aspects as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the present disclosure is, of course, not limited to the examples or aspects set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather, it is hereby intended the scope be defined by the claims appended hereto.