Mounting bracket and ventilation unit

Abstract

Retaining part for a sealing element that seals an air duct (6) against at least one adjacent air duct (6), characterized • by a dimensionally stable plate (10) with at least one opening (13) for an air duct (6), • by means of a sealing collar (14) circumferential at the edge of a penetration (13) as a sealing element and • by at least one support rail (15) fixed to the plate (10) for further functional elements.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation unit and a mounting element for such a ventilation unit. The ventilation units typically have several air ducts. Since large static pressure differences can exist in the various air ducts, it is necessary for the ventilation unit to seal the air ducts against each other for proper function. In ventilation units, at least one air duct is connected to a fan and thus forms a so-called fan duct. In addition to this fan duct, another air duct is usually arranged. This additional adjacent air duct can, for example, be a bypass duct to the side or an outside air duct in the depth direction of the ventilation unit. To seal these two air ducts against each other, a sealing element is arranged in the fan duct, sealing the fan duct to the outside.

[0002] The housing of the ventilation unit is made of a foam material, namely expanded polystyrene (EPS) or expanded polypropylene (EPP). A heat exchanger is also located inside the ventilation unit. The heat exchanger is covered externally by a cover plate. For maintenance purposes, the cover plate is detachably attached to the housing. For this purpose, retaining elements made of sheet metal, plastic, or similar materials are provided on the housing, to which the cover plate can be attached, preferably by screwing it in place.

[0003] Finally, it is necessary to seal the heat exchanger against the air ducts to prevent air from flowing back into the system. Retaining elements are also required in the unit housing for attaching this seal.

[0004] From DE 10 2018 003 956 A1 a ventilation device with a housing is known, with a heat exchanger arranged in the housing, a supply air duct, an exhaust air duct, an outside air duct, a first fan arranged in the supply air duct, a second fan arranged in the exhaust air duct and a silencer attachment with at least one lateral surface.

[0005] Based on this, the invention aims to design a ventilation device in such a way that it is structurally simple and simplifies the attachment of functional elements such as seals, covers or the like, and ensures stable fixation of these functional parts during device operation.

[0006] This problem is solved by the respective combinations of features in claims 1 and 8. The dependent claims further develop this invention advantageously and inventively.

[0007] The present invention is based on the fundamental concept of providing a central retaining element to which all functional elements are attached. According to the invention, the retaining element comprises a dimensionally stable plate with at least one opening for an air channel. A circumferential sealing collar is attached to the edge of this opening as a sealing element. Furthermore, a support rail is fixed to the dimensionally stable plate, to which further functional elements are attached. The use of such an integral component as a retaining element for several functional elements is advantageous because all fastenings for the functional elements are concentrated on a single part. If one of these fastenings is defective, the entire integral component can be easily replaced. In other embodiments, a permanent, non-removable bond can also be provided.Furthermore, it is advantageous that the device housing, which consists of molded plastic parts, namely expanded polystyrene (EPS) or expanded polypropylene (EPP), only requires a functionally reliable seat for this central retaining element. In this way, the connection between the molded plastic device housing and the retaining element can be optimized during the design phase.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, the dimensionally stable plate is made of plastic or sheet metal. A plastic solution can preferably integrate additional functions, such as a sensor holder. The sealing collar surrounding the edge of a penetration can be made of plastic and fixed to the dimensionally stable plate. However, it is also possible to fold over the edge of the penetration, thus producing a sealing collar, also made of sheet metal, that is formed integrally with the sheet metal plate or the sealing sheet.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment, an edge region of the plate is pivoted by 90° relative to the plate plane and then acts as a support rail for additional functional elements. When using a plate made of sheet metal, the plate edge can simply be bent by ninety degrees to create the support rail.

[0010] In a further advantageous embodiment, a sealing strip is fixed to the support rail. If the support rail extends over the entire width of the sheet metal plate or the sealing sheet, the entire area behind it is advantageously sealed by the sealing strip. In a further advantageous embodiment, the area of ​​the sheet metal plate adjoining the support rail, namely the plate base rotated 90° relative to the support rail, is provided with an adhesive surface. In this way, the retaining element can be positively connected, i.e., bonded, to the underside of the sheet metal plate or the underside of the sealing sheet with a molded plastic part of the device housing.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one tab is provided on the support rail. This tab serves to attach the cover plate for the heat exchanger. It is particularly advantageous for this purpose to bend the ends of the support rail by ninety degrees, creating two tabs. The plate can then be used for mounting the cover plate on either side. Each of these tabs is provided with a bore. Either an internal thread can be cut into the bore, or a press-fit nut, aligned with the bore, can be pressed into the bore. A rivet nut can also be added. In this way, the cover plate for the heat exchanger can be easily screwed onto or off one of these tabs.

[0012] In this way, the retaining part according to the invention fulfills and combines three functions, namely sealing to the heat exchanger, sealing the fan duct and thus the fan assembly, and fixing a cover wall for the heat exchanger to a ventilation unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the invention relates to a ventilation device with at least one holding part as described above.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, this ventilation device according to the invention has two parallel air channels on one side of the device, which penetrate the device housing. One of these air channels is designed as a fan duct connected to a fan.

[0015] The device housing consists of a base and a top section mounted on the base. The device housing is preferably made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) or expanded polypropylene (EPP).

[0016] Advantageously, the aforementioned retaining element is positioned in the joint between the housing base and the housing top. The retaining element can be placed and glued between the base and the top. In this ventilation unit, the retaining element, preferably made of plastic or sheet metal, has two openings for the two air ducts, with the sealing collar projecting into the air duct designed as a fan duct. Finally, in the final assembly position, the underside of the retaining element is glued to the upper surface of the housing base facing the retaining element.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, a heat exchanger is arranged in the device housing next to the mounting bracket. When the heat exchanger is mounted, the sealing strip, which is fixed to the mounting rail, lies sandwiched between the heat exchanger and the mounting rail against the mounting bracket, thus sealing the heat exchanger against the fan and the air ducts and preventing air from flowing back during device operation.

[0018] To enable the ventilation unit to be used in as many different configurations as possible, for example, in a right-hand or left-hand arrangement, the ventilation unit is preferably designed with mirror symmetry. It therefore has two air ducts arranged side by side on each of two opposite sides of the unit. Furthermore, a mounting space for a fan is provided on both sides of the unit housing. Finally, a retaining element according to the invention is fixed to each side of the unit, providing a seal for a fan duct, a seal between the air ducts and the fan against the heat exchanger, and a retaining tab for the cover plate in front of the heat exchanger on each side of the unit. Both retaining elements are bonded to the base of the unit housing using the adhesive surface.

[0019] The invention is explained in further detail with reference to the following drawings. These show: Fig. 1. A perspective view of a case base with a built-in fan, but without a heat exchanger. Fig. 2. Place the device housing onto the housing base according to Fig. 1 attached housing attachment, Fig. 3 a perspective view of the holding part according to the invention, Fig. 4 a front view of the holding part according to the invention as shown by arrow IV in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 a top view of the holding part according to arrow V in Fig. 4, Fig. 6 the device housing according to Fig. 2 with a hexagonal heat exchanger inserted into the interior of the housing, Fig. 7 a detailed representation of the tab bent from the end of the support rail molded onto the retaining part, with press-fit nut and sealing strip arranged next to it, Fig. 8 the device housing with built-in heat exchanger and with the inserted cover wall closing the interior of the device as well as Fig. 9. Detailed representation of a through hole on the cover wall aligned with the press-fit nut molded onto the tab for the insertion of a fastening screw to hold the cover wall on the retaining part.

[0020] Identical and structurally identical parts are identified by identical reference numbers in the figures. Some figures contain simplified or schematic representations. Different views of the same parts may be scaled differently.

[0021] The in Fig. The housing base 1 shown is a molded plastic part made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) or expanded polypropylene (EPP). The housing base 1 has a front wall 2, two opposing side walls 3 adjoining the front wall 2 laterally, and a rear wall 4 opposite the front wall 2 and connecting the side walls 3. Two air ducts 6 are arranged in the area of ​​each of the side walls 3, extending vertically 5 through the housing base. The interior of the housing 7 is also visible. A fan 8 is arranged in the area of ​​the side walls 3 and the air ducts 6 located in each of the side walls 3. One of the air ducts 6 is connected to the fan 8, thus forming a fan duct 9.

[0022] Furthermore, a dimensionally stable plate 10, made of sheet metal or plastic and forming a sealant, is visible, its underside 11 resting on the housing base 1. The underside 11 bears at least a partial adhesive layer to form an adhesive surface 12. The plate 10 is bonded to the housing base 1 via this adhesive surface 12.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment, the plate 10 has two opposing openings 13. The outline of the openings 13 is adapted to the air channels 6 that are aligned with them. The opening facing the air channel 6, which is designed as a fan channel 9, is Fig. The opening 13 on the left has a downwardly projecting sealing collar 14. When the plate 10 is mounted according to... Fig. The sealing collar 14 projects into the fan duct 9 and thus seals the fan duct 9 against the adjacent air duct 6 and the housing interior 7. The other of the openings 13 can also additionally or alternatively have a sealing collar 14.

[0024] The plate 10 carries a support rail 15 along its edge, which extends over the entire depth of the housing interior 6. The support rail 15 is formed by folding the edge, which extends over the entire length of the plate 10, at a 90° angle to the plate plane. A sealing strip 16 is fixed to the side of the support rail 15 facing the housing interior 7. Finally, the ends of the support rail 15 are each bent at right angles towards the body of the plate 10 to form a tab 17. Each tab 17 has a bore 18 through which a press-fit nut 19 is pressed. The plate 10, the sealing collar 14, and the support rail 15 with the tabs 17 are thus combined into an integral component and form the retaining element according to the invention.

[0025] In Fig. Housing extension 20 is placed on the housing base 1, thus completing the housing base 1 to form the device housing. Four rectangular receiving openings 21 are formed in the front wall 2 of the housing extension 20. Device components such as heating elements and / or filter elements can be inserted into the receiving openings 21. Advantageously, these device components (not shown) are designed as inserts, preferably as identical inserts. The inserts can be easily slid into the receiving openings 21 and are held behind the receiving openings 21 in the interior of the device 7.

[0026] The device components preferably have covers on their end faces which, in the final assembly state, are flush with the front wall 2 of the device housing and close the receiving openings 21. If no device component is inserted into a receiving opening 21, the corresponding receiving opening 21 is simply closed with a blanking plate.

[0027] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 2 shows the sealing strip 16 adapted to the mounting rail 15 of the respective plate 10. The sealing strip 16 and the plate 10 are arranged in the area of ​​the separation joint 22 between the housing base 1 and the housing top 20. A slot-like recess for the plate 10 is formed in the area of ​​the separation joint 22. The plate 10 can thus be easily pulled out of this slot-like recess towards the housing interior 7 or inserted into the slot-like recess from the housing interior 7. This is, of course, only possible if the plate 10 is not glued to the housing base 1 or the housing top 20.

[0028] In Fig. A hexagonal heat exchanger 23 is inserted into the housing interior 7. In this final assembly state of the heat exchanger 23, the sealing strip 16 is compressed between the heat exchanger 23 and the plate 10. The sealing strip 16 seals the air ducts 6 and the fan duct 9 against the heat exchanger 23, thus preventing air from flowing from the heat exchanger 23 towards the air ducts 6 and the fan duct 9.

[0029] Fig. Figure 7 shows the tab 17 with the press-fit nut 19 pressed into the bore 18. Fig.Finally, the hexagonal opening in the front wall 2 for the heat exchanger 23 is closed by a hexagonal cover 24. The hexagonal cover 24 is perforated by through-holes 25. When the cover 24 is installed, the through-holes 25 align with the press-fit nuts 19 on the tabs 17. Fastening screws can thus be screwed through the through-holes 25, engaging the threads of the press-fit nuts 19 and thereby releasably fixing the cover 24 to the front wall 2 of the appliance housing. If the heat exchanger 23 needs to be removed from the appliance housing for servicing, the fastening screws are unscrewed from the press-fit nuts 19, allowing the cover 24 to be lifted off the opening in the front wall 2 of the appliance housing. Once the front wall 2 of the device housing is opened in this way, the heat exchanger 23 can simply be pulled out of the device housing.The heat exchanger 23 slides along the sealing strip 16. As soon as the heat exchanger 23 is pulled out of the device housing, it releases the sealing strip 16 and its support rail 15, so that the plate 10 can be pulled out of its slot-shaped seat in the area of ​​the separation joint 22 between the housing base 1 and the housing top 20, if the plate 10 is not bonded to the housing base 1 and / or the housing top 20. Reference symbol list 1 housing base 2 Front wall 3 side wall 4 Back panel 5 Vertical direction 6 air duct 7 Interior of the housing 8 fans 9 fan duct 10 plates 11. Bottom 12 adhesive surfaces 13 Breakthrough 14 sealing collars 15 support rail 16 sealing strips 17 tab 18 bore 19 Press-fit nuts 20 Housing attachment 21 Intake opening 22 Separation joint 23 heat exchangers 24 Cover wall 25 through holes

Claims

[1] Holding part for a sealing element that seals an air duct (6) against at least one adjacent air duct (6), characterized • by a dimensionally stable plate (10) with at least one opening (13) for an air duct (6), • by means of a sealing collar (14) circumferential at the edge of a penetration (13) as a sealing element and • by at least one support rail (15) fixed to the plate (10) for further functional elements. [2] Holding part according to claim 1, characterized by that the dimensionally stable plate (10) is made of or consists of plastic or sheet metal. [3] Holding part according to claim 2, characterized by a folded-over opening edge as a sealing collar (14) made of sheet metal. [4] Holding part according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a curved, in particular folded edge area of ​​the plate (10) as a support rail (15) relative to the plane of the plate (10). [5] Holding part according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a sealing strip (16) fixed to the support rail (15) as a functional element. [6] Holding part according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by an adhesive surface (12) preferably extending perpendicular to the support rail (15) and flanking the support rail (15). [7] Holding part according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by at least one tab (17) on the support rail (15), preferably two tabs (17) each with a thread, preferably a press-fit nut (19) or rivet nut, at both ends of the support rail (15) as a functional element. [8] Ventilation device with at least one holding part according to any one of claims 1 to 7. [9] Ventilation device according to claim 8 with two parallel air ducts (6) passing through the device housing on one side of the device, one of which air ducts (6) is connected to a fan (8) as a fan duct (9) and with a device housing composed of a housing base (1) and a housing top (20) placed on the housing base (1), wherein the housing base (1) and the housing top (20) are preferably made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) or expanded polypropylene (EPP), characterized by , • that the retaining part is inserted into the separation joint (22) between the housing base (1) and the housing top (20) and is preferably bonded to the upper side of the housing base (1) facing it, • that the sealing collar (14) protrudes into the fan duct (9) and • that the adhesive surface (12) seals against a heat exchanger (23). [10] Ventilation device according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by, that a heat exchanger (23) arranged in the device housing is located next to the holding part and that a sealing strip (16) fixed to the support rail (15) is arranged as a seal between the heat exchanger (23) and the holding part.

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