HVAC Sensor Mount for External Access and Installation Simplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The placement and accessibility of sensors within HVAC systems are challenging, leading to increased complexity and time for installation and replacement due to limited interior access.
Innovation Solution
A sensor mounting assembly that includes a cover to couple with the HVAC unit's panel, occluding an opening and extending a sensor support into the unit, allowing for improved external access and installation of multiple sensors without interior access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are installed inside the HVAC unit housing, then sensor measurement accuracy is improved, but installation complexity and time increase due to limited interior access
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting assembly is divided into separate components: a cover that attaches to the exterior panel and a sensor support that extends through the opening. This segmentation allows the sensor to be positioned inside the housing for accurate measurement while the mounting mechanism remains accessible from the exterior, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor mounting assembly acts as an intermediary structure that bridges the exterior panel and interior sensor placement. The cover and sensor support create a pathway that allows the sensor to extend into the housing interior while being mounted from the exterior, eliminating the need for interior access during installation
2Measurement precision
If sensors are installed inside the HVAC unit housing, then sensor measurement accuracy is improved, but installation time increases due to limited interior access
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is pre-configured with the sensor support structure before installation. The sensor support is already positioned and oriented correctly on the cover, so when the cover is attached to the panel, the sensor is automatically placed in the correct position inside the housing. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming interior adjustment work
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor mounting assembly serves as a pre-fabricated intermediary that encapsulates the sensor positioning function. By preparing the mounting structure externally with all necessary components, the installation process is reduced to a simple attachment operation, dramatically reducing installation time while maintaining accurate sensor placement
3Reliability
If a cover is used to occlude the opening in the panel, then sensor protection and sealing are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the opening in the panel to protect against environmental contaminants, provides a mounting surface for the sensor support, and structurally reinforces the panel area. By combining these functions into a single component, protection is improved without adding significant complexity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is related to a sensor mounting assembly for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit that includes a cover configured to couple to a panel of the HVAC unit and occlude an opening formed in the panel and a sensor support configured to couple to the cover and support a sensor coupled to the sensor support. The sensor support is also configured to extend into the HVAC unit via the opening in an installed configuration of the sensor mounting assembly.