Adaptable HVAC Base Plate for Multi-Curb Duct Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC units face installation challenges due to unique footprints and duct configurations from different manufacturers, requiring additional adapter curbs that increase costs, height, and can lead to downtime due to limited availability.
Innovation Solution
An adaptable base with multiple openings and seals that can align and seal with various return and supply duct configurations, allowing a single HVAC unit to fit multiple roof curb designs without additional adapters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single HVAC unit design is used, then manufacturing and inventory costs are reduced, but it cannot accommodate different roof curb configurations without adapter curbs
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is designed with multiple openings (first opening for supply air, second opening for return air, third opening for exhaust air) that can accommodate different roof curb configurations. This universal design allows a single base plate to serve multiple functions across different HVAC system layouts without requiring adapter curbs, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is segmented into multiple functional openings that can be independently configured. Each opening can be selectively used or sealed based on the specific roof curb configuration, allowing the base plate to adapt to different system requirements while maintaining a unified structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adapter curbs are used to accommodate different roof curbs, then compatibility is improved, but installation cost and height increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate integrates multiple openings that eliminate the need for separate adapter curbs. By incorporating supply, return, and exhaust openings in various configurations within a single base plate, the system achieves compatibility with different roof curbs without additional components, thereby reducing installation cost and simplifying manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adapter curbs are used to accommodate different roof curbs, then compatibility is improved, but unit height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate consolidates multiple opening configurations into a single component that sits directly on the roof curb. This eliminates the need for stacked adapter curbs that would increase unit height, while still providing compatibility with different roof curb configurations through its multi-opening design.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple opening configurations are included in the base plate, then adaptability to different roof curbs is improved, but sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each opening in the base plate is equipped with its own seal (first seal for supply opening, second seal for return opening, third seal for exhaust opening). This local quality approach ensures that each opening can be independently sealed according to its specific configuration requirements, simplifying the overall sealing mechanism while maintaining adaptability to different roof curb configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptable base of the HVAC unit can allow an HVAC unit to align and seal with multiple duct opening configurations. Such opening configurations may be different footprints in different HVAC systems, such as may be employed for example in different roof curbs of rooftop HVAC units. The adaptable base includes a base plate, a supply air duct opening, a return air duct opening, where there is at least one additional opening for one or both of the supply air opening and the return air duct opening. Each opening has a seal around its perimeter. A seal is also arranged and located on the base plate about a perimeter around the supply air duct opening(s) and the return air duct opening(s). A cover can be connected to close one or more openings that are not being used with the unit.