Tilting Support Tray for Air Handling Unit Coil Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning techniques for air handling units are inadequate for thorough cleaning due to the difficulty in accessing finned coils and the risk of damaging electrical components with moisture, leading to inefficient heat transfer and time-consuming processes, especially when dealing with multiple units.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus that includes a support tray and frame for temporarily supporting air handling units, allowing for adjustable positioning and tilting to facilitate access and drainage, along with a suction assembly to capture cleaning fluids and debris, enabling effective cleaning and efficient fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional cleaning techniques are used for air handling units, then the cleaning process can be performed with simple equipment, but the cleaning is inadequate for thorough cleaning due to difficulty in accessing finned coils
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame allows the support tray to be tilted end-to-end and side-to-side, dynamically adjusting the position and angle of the air handling unit to facilitate access to finned coils and other interior surfaces that would otherwise be difficult to reach during cleaning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The tilting mechanism adds rotational degrees of freedom to the support system, allowing the air handling unit to be positioned at various angles relative to the ground. This dimensional adjustment enables cleaners to access coils and components from multiple perspectives that are not available with fixed-position support
2Device complexity
If conventional cleaning techniques are used for air handling units, then the equipment and process are simple, but electrical components are at risk of damage from moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable support tray allows electrical components to be dynamically repositioned to a lower, protected position during the cleaning process, preventing moisture damage while maintaining a relatively simple cleaning equipment setup
Solution Approach 2:
The support tray acts as an intermediary platform that isolates and protects electrical components from direct exposure to cleaning fluids and moisture by allowing the unit to be tilted away from vertical cleaning operations
3Productivity
If multiple air handling units need to be cleaned, then the total cleaning time increases significantly with conventional techniques, but using a support apparatus adds equipment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame and tiltable tray provide universal functionality for positioning and stabilizing air handling units during cleaning operations. The same apparatus can accommodate multiple units and various cleaning scenarios, justifying the added complexity through repeated use and improved efficiency across multiple cleaning tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic tilting capability allows rapid repositioning between different units and cleaning angles, significantly reducing the time required to service multiple air handling units compared to static support methods
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for supporting an air handling unit during servicing may comprise a support tray which defines a space for receiving the unit and may include opposite sides and opposite ends, with a front side and top of the tray being substantially open such that the is movable through the front side into the support tray. The apparatus may also include a support frame supporting the support tray above a ground surface and wheels on the support frame. The support frame may be configured to permit the tray to tilt end to end with respect to the support frame to adjust heights of the ends and to permit the tray to tilt side to side with respect to the support frame to adjust a height of the front side of the tray.