Adjustable Air Handler Mounting for Condensate Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residential and commercial air handling units often lack proper drainage, leading to moisture accumulation and subsequent mold growth, which poses health risks to occupants due to inadequate installation practices.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system with adjustable elongated rods and support assemblies that allow for secure attachment to floor joists and angled supports, facilitating moisture drainage by tilting the air handling unit to direct condensate away from the unit, using a combination of fasteners, angular supports, and a cork strip to prevent slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air handling units are installed with conventional mounting methods, then installation is simple and quick, but moisture drainage is inadequate leading to mold growth
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: elongated support rods for structural support, angular support assemblies for drainage positioning, and adjustable fastener assemblies for secure attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system reliability for moisture drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is pre-configured with the correct tilt angle through the angular support assemblies during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when the air handling unit is installed, the drainage pathway is already established at the proper angle, eliminating the need for complex field adjustments and ensuring reliable moisture drainage from the outset.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the air handling unit is tilted for proper drainage, then moisture accumulates less and mold growth is prevented, but the mounting system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The angular support assemblies provide localized tilting function specifically at the drainage points of the air handling unit. This local quality approach means that only the necessary portions of the unit are tilted at specific angles to facilitate drainage, while the rest of the unit maintains its structural integrity. This targeted approach prevents mold and mildew accumulation without requiring complex overall restructuring of the mounting system.
3Manufacturing precision
If adjustable fastener assemblies are used, then the air handling unit can be precisely positioned for optimal drainage, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable fastener assemblies incorporate dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow installers to easily modify the position and angle of the support rods during installation. This dynamic capability enables precise positioning of the air handling unit for optimal drainage without requiring complex tools or procedures. The adjustable design accommodates variations in ceiling height and joist positioning, achieving manufacturing precision while maintaining reasonable installation time through user-friendly adjustment mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents mold and mildew accumulation by ensuring proper drainage of moisture, enhancing the health safety of building occupants and potentially influencing regulatory amendments for standardized installation practices.
Implementation Method 1
tilting the air handling unit to direct condensate away from the unit
Implementation Method 2
cork strip to prevent slippage
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting system for an air handling unit comprising four elongated rods attached at the upper ends to floor joists and at the lower ends to a pair of elongated supports disposed below the air handling unit whereby the rods are adjustable to allow for tilting of the air handling unit to prevent accumulation of moisture.