Heat exchanger assembly

Abstract

A heat exchanger mounting assembly for use in an HVAC system includes a frame for mounting a heat exchanger operably coupled to at least two sides of a heat exchanger housing, the frame having at least two mounting rails, each mounting rail having a first mounting rail side, and second mounting rail side, a proximate end and a distal end; and at least two coil support members extending from the first mounting rail side; and at least one connection member located on the second mounting rail side; and at least one support rail configured to engage the second mounting rail side of the at least two mounting rails; and at least two cross rails operably coupled to each of the at least two coil support members; and a heat exchanger, comprising at least one coil header operably coupled to at least two coil support members.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger assembly, comprising: a frame for mounting a heat exchanger operably coupled to at least two sides of a heat exchanger housing, said frame comprising: at least two mounting rails, each mounting rail comprising: a first mounting rail side, and a second mounting rail side, a first end and a second end distal from the first end; and at least two coil support members extending from the first mounting rail side; and at least one connection member located on the second mounting rail side; and at least one support rail configured to engage the second mounting rail side of the at least two mounting rails; and at least two cross rails operably coupled to each of the at least two coil support members; and the heat exchanger, comprising at least one coil header, wherein the at least one coil header is operably coupled to the at least two coil support members and to the at least two cross rails.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one mounting rail of the at least two mounting rails and the at least one support rail, are movably adjustable.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting rail of the at least two mounting rails and the at least one coil header form a seal preventing air bypass.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least two mounting rails, the at least one support rail, or the at least two cross rails are constructed from a material having low thermal conductivity, including plastic.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least two mounting rails, the at least one support rail, the at least two cross rails or the at least one coil header have a thermal barrier coating.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one support rail includes an upwardly open channel along its horizontal length for receiving a corresponding one of the at least two mounting rails.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a first coil support member of the at least two coil support members extends from the first mounting rail side, of one of the at least two mounting rails, at the first end of the mounting rail, and a second coil support member of the at least two coil support members extends from the first mounting rail side, of one of the at least two mounting rails, at the second end of the mounting rail.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger and frame are disposed in the heat exchanger housing.

9. A frame for mounting a heat exchanger, comprising: at least two mounting rails, each mounting rail comprising: a first mounting rail side, and a second mounting rail side, a first end and a second end distal from the first end; a first coil support member extending from the first mounting rail side at the proximate end; a second coil support member extending from the first mounting rail side at the distal end; and a connection member located on the second mounting rail side; and at least one support rail configured to engage the second mounting rail side of the at least two mounting rails; a first cross rail operably coupled to each of the first coil support members; and a second cross rail operably coupled to each of the second coil support members.

10. The frame of claim 9, wherein the at least two mounting rails are movably adjustable.

11. The frame of claim 9, wherein the at least one support rail is movably adjustable.

12. The frame of claim 9, wherein one or more of the mounting rails, the at least one support rail, the first cross rail or the second cross rail are constructed of a non-heat conductive material.

13. The frame of claim 9, wherein the at least one support rail includes an upwardly open channel along its horizontal length for receiving a mounting rail of the at least two mounting rails.

14. The frame of claim 9, wherein the first mounting rail side of the at least two mounting rails further comprises at least one more coil support member in addition to the first coil support member and the second coil support member.

15. The frame of claim 9, wherein the first coil support member of the at least two mounting rails and the second coil support member of the at least two mounting rails are fasteners.

16. The frame of claim 15, wherein the first or the second support coil members of the at least two mounting rails is a hook for coupling the heat exchanger to the frame.

17. The frame of claim 15, wherein said first coil support member of the at least two mounting rails has a protruding connector for joining said first coil support member to a void at a first end of the first cross rail and a second end distal from the first end, said void being one of a channel, cavity, notch, slit, groove or slot.

18. The frame of claim 15, wherein said second coil support member of the at least two mounting rails has a protruding connector for joining said second coil support member to a void at a first end of the second cross rail and a second end distal from the first end, said void being one of a channel, cavity, notch, slit, groove or slot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

(2) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the heat exchanger assembly, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

(3) FIG. 1B is a side view of a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

(5) FIG. 3 is perspective view of a frame for mounting a heat exchanger, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a frame for mounting a heat exchanger, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a frame for mounting a heat exchanger, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

(8) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the heat exchanger assembly, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

(9) The detailed description explains embodiments of the present disclosure, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Referring now to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a heat exchanger assembly 100 is schematically illustrated. The perspective view of FIG. 1A and side view of FIG. 1B show an exemplary heat exchanger 104 in a “V” configuration within a heat exchanger housing 102. An exemplary fastener assembly (FIG. 1A, 108) secures a support rail (FIG. 1B, 112) to the heat exchanger housing 102. The fastener assembly (FIG. 1A, 108) is duplicated on the side opposite to that which is illustrated here, but not shown. A mounting rail (FIG. 1B, 114) is operably coupled to a support rail (FIG. 1B, 112). At least one coil support member 116, extends from the mounting rail (FIG. 1B, 114) to receive and to secure in place, a coil header 106. The at least one coil support member 116 operably couples to at least one cross rail 110, said cross rail further securing the coil header (FIG. 1A, 106) within the frame 200.

(11) FIG. 2 illustrates the slidable feature of the heat exchanger assembly. Support rails 112 are fastened to a heat exchanger housing (not shown). The heat exchanger coils 106 are mounted and secured by the mounting rail 114, the coil supports (not shown) and cross rails (110).

(12) Turning to FIG. 3, a frame 300 for mounting a heat exchanger (FIG. 1A, 104) is shown. The frame 300 is secured to a heat exchanger housing (FIG. 1A, 102) by fastening at least two support rails 112 at two or more locations long the proximal length 112a of the support rails 112. At least two mounting rails 114 operably couple to the at least two support rails 112, the mounting rail 114, having a connector 115 that may slide or be inserted into a support rail 112 upwardly open channel (FIG. 4, 402). The at least two mounting rails 114 each have extending therefrom, at least two coil support members 116 that operably connect to at least two cross rails 110 joining the operably coupled support rails 112 and mounting rails 114.

(13) Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of a left front end of a frame (See, FIG. 3, 300) for mounting a heat exchanger is shown. An upwardly open channel 402, along the horizontal length of the support rail 112, is configured to receive a mounting rail 114 having a complimentary shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 115 engages channel 402 while the mounting rail 114 slidably engages with the support rail 112 at structure 406 thereby allowing a heat exchanger (FIG. 6, 104) to be installed in or removed from a housing (not shown). The structure 406, may be a track, ledge or other means for guiding the mounting rail and provides structural support for the heat exchanger (not shown).

(14) Turning to FIG. 5, a connector 404 extends from a coil support member 116. Connector 404 is configured to join the coil support member 116 to a cavity 502 within cross rail 110 as shown in FIG. 5. The distal and proximal ends of each cross rail 110 conforms to the shape of a coil header (not shown). By way of example and not limitation, a cross rail 110 having a substantially concave end 504 is shown, however, it being understood that that cross rail 110 end 504 may be of any complimentary shape for receiving and securing a coil header (FIG. 6, 106).

(15) Turning to FIG. 6, mounting rail 114 operably couples with support rail 112. A coil support member 116 extends from said mounting rail 114 receiving a coil header 106 of a heat exchanger 104. A coil support member operably couples with a cross rail 110. The coil support member 116, cross rail 110 and mounting rail 114 secure the heat exchanger coil 106 to the frame (FIG. 3, 300) while also providing a means for easy removal of the heat exchanger 104 from the heat exchanger housing (FIG. 1A, 102), allowing the mounting rails (FIG. 2, 114) to slidably disengage from the support rails 112 as shown in FIG. 2.

(16) While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.