Panel for an air handling unit, method for assembling such a panel, and air handling unit including such a panel

This panel (6) for an air handling unit defines a main axis (X6) perpendicular to its surface and includes at least two first plates (8), each provided with at least two folded-over edges, and at least two second plates (10), each provided with at least two folded-over edges. The plates are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the main axis of the panel. The panel includes at least one internal joining element (14) inserted between the first and second plates along the main axis.

The present invention relates to a panel for an air handling unit. The present invention further relates to a method for assembling such a panel as well as to an air handling unit including such a panel.

In the field of air handling, it is known to use an air handling unit including a plurality of components, each pertaining to an air handling function. These components are arranged in a structural framework, which ensures the rigidity of the air handling unit. The structural framework defines several surfaces of the unit. On each surface, several panels of small or medium size are placed and attached. These panels are removable, or provided with handles or hinges, so that an operator can remove or open one or more of them and easily perform actions on the components of the air handling unit for maintenance purposes.

On this subject, it is known, for example, from EP-A-2 578 959, to provide each panel with a joining element arranged all around it. According to this approach, the joining element is made of metal and comprises either a male connector or a female connector, so that the panels can be assembled and aligned one with respect to the other. In other words, two types of joining elements have to be manufactured and mounted on the panels, namely a “male” part and a “female” part, which results in relatively high production costs and long assembly times. In addition, such a panel is heavy, which makes the handling of the panel by an operator difficult and dangerous. Thus, the air handling unit that is provided both with such panels and with the structural framework is very heavy.

On this subject, it is known to reduce the size of the panels in order to limit their weight. Consequently, the number of panels mounted on the unit increases. This has negative consequences on the tightness of the unit, since leaks or intrusions of air occur between the panels.

It is these disadvantages that the invention aims to overcome more particularly by proposing a novel panel having dimensions such that it can completely cover a surface of the air handling unit.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a panel for an air handling unit, the panel defining a main axis perpendicular to its surface and including at least two first plates, each provided with at least two folded-over edges, and at least two second plates, each provided with at least two folded-over edges, the plates being parallel to one another and perpendicular to the main axis of the panel. According to the invention, the panel includes at least one internal joining element inserted between the first and the second plates along the main axis.

By means of the invention, the panel has large dimensions and, once mounted, it ensures the rigidity necessary for the air handling unit. In addition, each panel is assembled from light-weight components of reduced dimensions, such as plates and internal joining elements, which can be handled easily by an operator. Thus, such an air handling unit needs no structural framework. This results in advantageous production costs and lighter units. Finally, the number of panels of the unit decreases, which appreciably reduces air leaks between the panels.

According to advantageous but nonobligatory aspects of the invention, such a panel includes one or more of the following features, considered in all the technical acceptable combinations:The internal joining element comprises both a first niche and a second niche, and folded-over edges adjacent to two adjacent first plates are arranged in the first niche, and folded-over edges adjacent to two adjacent second plates are arranged in the second niche.The internal joining element comprises at least one bore, the first plates each comprise at least one opening aligned with the bore, the bore and the openings being configured to receive the same attachment means.Once mounted, the second plates hide the attachment means in place in the openings of the first plates and in the bore of the internal joining element.Each second plate is mounted on the internal joining element by means of its own attachment means.The adjacent folded-over edges of the adjacent first plates and second plates are provided with a curved end configured to exert a resilient bearing force in the first and second niches.The panel includes, in addition, a peripheral joining element arranged around the panel and inserted between the first and second plates along the main axis, nonadjacent folded-over edges of the first and second plates being arranged in respective niches of the peripheral joining element.The peripheral joining element comprises both a male assembly device formed by a protruding rib and a female assembly device formed by a hollow groove, and the protruding rib of the peripheral joining element is configured to fit in the hollow groove of another peripheral joining element of identical transverse cross section, belonging to another panel.

The invention further relates to a method for assembling a panel as described above, the method including, at least, steps consisting in:a) positioning the first plates on the internal joining element, the adjacent folded-over edges of the first plates being arranged in the first niche of the internal joining element;b) positioning the attachment means of the first plates;c) positioning the second plates on the internal joining element, the adjacent folded-over edges of the second plates being arranged in the second niche of the internal joining element;d) positioning attachment means of the second plates on the external joining element.

Finally, the invention relates to an air handling unit including panels and a plurality of components, these components being a ventilation unit, a heating battery and/or a cooling battery, at least one filter, movable slat shutters, a recuperation unit and/or a humidification unit. The unit is characterized in that at least one panel is as described above or assembled as mentioned above.

InFIG. 1, an air handling unit1is represented. The unit1includes a plurality of modules2and a plurality of components. The unit1also includes vertical bars3, which are also referred to as “joining T bars.”

The joining T bars3are positioned vertically between two modules2and are configured to firmly connect panels6by means of assembly screws. The joining T bars3do not form a structural framework for the unit1, since they are not sufficiently rigid and resistant to the loads of the unit1.

Each module2of the unit1is configured to include at least one component of the unit1. The components of the unit1are, for example, a ventilation unit, a heating battery, a cooling battery, filters, movable slat shutters, a recuperation unit and/or a humidifier.

The ventilation unit is configured to set in motion, or ventilate, the air handled by the unit1. The ventilation unit functions by means of an electric fan unit including one or more electric motors which are equipped with one or more turbines.

The heating battery is configured to implement the heating of the air handled by the unit1. In the heating battery, a heat-exchanging fluid circulates, such as water or a gas, for example. In addition, the heating of the air is ensured, for example, by one or more resistors or by a gas-fired boiler.

The cooling battery is configured to implement the cooling of the air handled by the unit1. In the cooling battery, a heat-exchanging fluid circulates, such as, for example, water or refrigerant liquid.

The filters are configured to implement the filtration of the air handled by the unit1. The filters used depend on the application of the unit1.

The shutters with the movable slats are configured to implement the closing and the opening of one or more air circuits of the unit1. Their function is to enable or to prevent the passage of the air as needed.

The recuperation unit is configured to recuperate the thermal energy of the air handled by the unit1. The recuperation unit then includes a recuperator such as, for example, a plate recuperator, a rotary recuperator, a thermodynamic recuperator, a heat pipe, or glycolated water batteries.

The humidifier is configured to regulate the humidity of the air handled by the unit1. The humidifier includes, for example, a system for injecting water in the form of drops or steam in order to ensure the humidification of the air.

The air handling unit1comprises several surfaces4, which have different sizes depending on their position in the unit1. The surfaces4are each covered by a panel6. Each panel6is then of different size, depending on the surface4on which it is positioned.

InFIGS. 2 and 6, a panel6of the unit1is represented. The following description is based on the panel6of theseFIGS. 2 and 6, but is applicable to any other panel6, regardless of its size or of the number of its components.

The panel6defines a main axis X6perpendicular to its surface. In addition, the panel6includes six first plates8, six second plates10, six layers12made of insulating material, five internal joining elements14, a peripheral joining element15, and a plurality of attachment means16A,16B,16C,17A and17B. For the sake of the clarity of the drawing, the layers12are represented only inFIG. 3.

The attachment means16A,16B,16C,17A and17B are, for example, attachment rivets, as can be seen in the figures.

In a variant which is not shown, some or all the attachment means16A,16B,16C,17A and/or17B are screws provided to be arranged in corresponding threads.

The plates8and10and the layers made of insulating material12are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the main axis X6of the panel6.

The first plates8and the second plates10are made of metal. In a variant, the plates8and10are made of polymer materials.

The first plates8are also referred to as interior plates, since they are positioned inside the air handling unit1in a mounted configuration of the panel6on the unit1. The second plates10are referred to as exterior plates, since they are positioned outside the unit1in a mounted configuration of the panel.

Each first plate8is provided with four folded-over edges18. In particular, the folded-over edges18of the first plates8are oriented parallel to the main axis X6of the panel6and towards the second plates10. The folded-over edges18are divided into longitudinal folded-over edges parallel to the larger dimension of a first plate8and transverse folded-over edges perpendicular to this dimension. The longitudinal folded-over edges18of each first plate8are each provided with an end22curved towards the main sheet of this plate and configured to exert a resilient bearing force.

In addition, the longitudinal folded-over edges18of the first plates8of the panel6comprise a plurality of openings20. Each of the openings20is configured to receive an attachment rivet16A during the assembly of the panel6.

Each second plate10comprises a plurality of openings24arranged in its main sheet, along its circumference, and it is provided with four folded-over edges26. In particular, the folded-over edges26of the second plates10are oriented parallel to the main axis X6of the panel6and towards the first plates8. The folded-over edges26are divided into longitudinal folded-over edges parallel to the larger dimension of a second plate10and transverse folded-over edges perpendicular to this dimension. In addition, the longitudinal folded-over edges26of each second plate10are each provided with an end28curved towards the main sheet of this plate and configured to exert a resilient bearing force.

Each of the openings24is configured to receive an attachment rivet16C during the assembly of the panel6.

The layers made of insulating material12are configured to thermally isolate the panels6. In practice, the layers12are configured to reduce the passage of heat from the interior to the exterior and from the exterior to the interior of the air handling unit1. To achieve this, the layers12are, for example, blocks of fibers, mineral, plant-based or synthetic foam. Each layer made of insulating material12is arranged between a first plate8, a second plate10, and two internal joining elements14, or between an internal joining element and the peripheral joining element15. Each layer made of insulating material12is firmly connected, for example, by means of a self-adhesive band, to the corresponding first plate8and/or second plate10.

The internal joining elements14and the peripheral joining elements15are configured to implement the mounting of a panel6. Each joining element14and15is also configured to reduce the passage of heat from the interior to the exterior or from the exterior to the interior of the unit1. For this purpose, each internal joining element14and15is made of thermally insulating material, in particular polymer material.

The internal joining elements14and the peripheral joining elements15form a structural framework of the unit1. Such a framework consists exclusively of the joining elements14and15which are sufficiently rigid and solid to resist the load of the unit1.

The internal joining elements14are inserted between the first plates8and the second plates10along the main axis X6. Thus, the internal joining elements14are configured to firmly connect the first plates8and the second plates10to one another.

In particular, each internal joining element14comprises a profile30, which defines a closed volume V1of the internal joining element14, stiffening ribs32arranged inside the closed volume V1, and an angle bar42external to the profile30.

The external angle bar42is provided with a sole43A bearing against the first plate8, with two tabs43B bearing against the element15, and with a plurality of openings44.

33is used to designate a first portion of the profile30of each element14which is configured to bear against the first plates8.35is used to designate a second portion of the profile30which is configured to bear against the second plates10. The profile30of the internal joining element14defines a first niche34, at the level of the second portion33, and a second niche36, at the level of its second portion35. Moreover, the profile30comprises a plurality of bores38,39and40.

The bores38are produced on the first portion33in a direction perpendicular to the axis X6of the panel6. During the assembly of the panel6, the bores38are aligned with the openings20of the first plates8. They are configured to receive the first attachment rivets16A. These rivets16A firmly connect the plates8to the joining element14.

The bores39are produced on a wall41of the profile30in a direction perpendicular to the axis X6of the panel6. The external angle bar42bears against the wall41. During the assembly of the panel6, the bores39are aligned with the openings44of the external angle bar42. They are configured to receive the second attachment rivets16B. These rivets16B firmly connect the external angle bar42to the profile30.

The bores40are produced on the second portion35of the profile30in a direction parallel to the axis X6of the panel6. During the assembly of the panel6, the bores40are aligned with the openings24of the two plates10. They are configured to receive the third attachment rivets16C. these rivets16C firmly connect the plates10to the internal joining element14.

In this example, the first niche34of the internal joining element14is in the form of a dihedron. It is configured to receive the adjacent longitudinal folded-over edges18of two adjacent first plates8of the panel6. During the assembly of the panel6, these longitudinal folded-over edges18are arranged in the first niche34. In particular, the curved end22of a first plate8comes in contact with the profile30and it exerts a resilient bearing force in the first niche34, while the curved end22of the other first plate8comes in contact with the attachment rivets16A and exerts a resilient bearing force against them. The curved ends22are thus provided in order to limit the vibrations or deformations of the first plates8and thus to reduce air leaks.

In this example, the second niche36is in the form of a groove and is configured to receive the adjacent longitudinal folded-over edges26of two adjacent second plates10of the panel6. During the assembly of the panel6, these longitudinal folded-over edges26are arranged in the second niche36, and the curved ends28exert a resilient bearing force in the second niche36.

Thus, the folded-over edges18are immobilized in the first niche34by the attachment rivets16A which are common to the first plates8, since they pass through their openings20, while the folded-over edges26are immobilized in the second niche36by the attachment rivets16C each of which belongs to a second plate10, since they pass through a single opening24.

At the level of the two niches34and36, the curved ends22and28prevent vibration noises and the leaks.

The peripheral joining element15is arranged around the panel6and is also inserted between the first and second plates8and10, along the main axis X6. The element15comprises a plurality of bores45and46. In addition, attachment rivets17A and17B are used in order to firmly connect the plates8and10and the internal joining elements14to the peripheral joining element15.

The internal joining elements14are thus attached on the peripheral joining element15. In practice, each tab43B of the external angle bar42comprises two openings47which, during the assembly of the panel6, are aligned with two bores45of the element15. The attachment rivets17B are provided in order to firmly connect the tabs43B to the joining element15.

The peripheral joining element15comprises four profiles48of identical cross sections and of different lengths. The length of the profiles48is defined depending on the panel6for which they are configured.

The four profiles48are thus arranged in the form of a rectangle and four corners are provided to fit with ends of the profiles48, so as to immobilize the profiles48and construct the peripheral joining element15.

In this case, the panel6, represented inFIGS. 2 and 6, is rectangular. In practice, the panels6can be rectangular or square.

During the mounting of the panel6, the bores46of the peripheral joining element15are in correspondence, along the main axis X6, with the openings20and22of the plates8and10. The attachment rivets17A are provided in order to firmly connect the plates8and10to the element15.

In reference to the cross section of a profile48represented inFIG. 8, the peripheral joining element15comprises an external periphery50which defines a closed volume V2of the peripheral joining element15. The peripheral joining element15also comprises stiffening ribs52arranged inside the closed volume V2.

The periphery50of the peripheral joining element15defines a first niche54and a second niche56.

The first niche54receives the transverse folded-over edges18of the first plates8. The second niche56is perpendicular to the first niche54and receives the transverse folded-over edges26of the second plates10.

In addition, the peripheral joining element15comprises both a male assembly device58and a female assembly device60. The male assembly device58is formed by a protruding rib, while the female assembly device60is formed by a hollow groove.

The protruding rib58is produced on a first wall62of the periphery50of the element15. This wall62is arranged perpendicularly to the main axis X6of the panel6and parallel to the plates8and10.

The hollow groove60is provided on a second wall64of the periphery50of the element15. The wall64is arranged parallel to the main axis X6of the panel6and perpendicularly to the wall62.

As shown inFIG. 9, the protruding rib58of the peripheral joining element15is configured to fit in the hollow groove60of another peripheral joining element15of identical cross section, belonging to another panel6′. In particular, the hollow groove60of the peripheral joining element15of the panel6′ of a first surface4receives the protruding rib58of the peripheral joining element15of the panel6of a second surface4adjacent to the first surface4and perpendicular to it.

According to a variant not shown in the figures, the first niche34of the internal joining element14is also in the form of a groove and comprises a plurality of bores similar to the bores38on its two sides. During the assembly of the panel6, these bores38are aligned with the openings20of the first plates8. Each opening is thus configured for the passage of a tool for positioning an attachment rivet16A which is positioned in one of the bores38and the openings20of the adjacent first plates8.

According to another variant not shown in the figures, the panel6comprises no peripheral joining element15, only the elements14being present. In this case, the transverse folded-over edges of the plates8and10of the panel6overlap one another and are firmly connected by means of rivets or staples.

According to yet another variant not shown in the figures, a gap with a thickness parallel to the main axis X6of the panel6is defined between each layer made of insulating material12and the corresponding first plate8and/or the corresponding second plate10.

According to yet another variant not shown in the figures, the longitudinal folded-over edges18and26do not have curved ends.

In order to assemble a panel6as described above, an assembly method is used.

This assembly method includes a preliminary step z) consisting in assembling the internal joining elements14and peripheral joining elements15of the panel6. In particular, an angle bar42is assembled with each internal peripheral element14by means of the attachment rivets16B which are positioned in the openings44of the angle bar42and the bores39of the element14. Then, the tab43B of each angle bar42is assembled with the peripheral joining element15by means of the attachment rivets17B which are positioned in the openings47of the tab43B and the bores45of the element15. In practice, the attachment rivets16B and17B firmly connect the elements14to the element15.

Next, the assembly method includes a step a) consisting in positioning the first plates8on the joining elements14and15, the adjacent longitudinal folded-over edges18being arranged in the first niche34of the internal joining elements14, and the non-adjacent transverse folded-over edges18being arranged in the first niche54of the peripheral joining element15.

Next, the assembly method includes a step b) consisting in positioning attachment rivets16A in the bores38of the element14and the corresponding openings20of the first plates8. Access to the attachment rivets16A is possible, since the second plates10have not yet been positioned. In practice, the attachment rivets16A firmly connect the first plates8to the elements14and15.

Next, the assembly method next includes a step c) consisting in positioning the second plates10on the joining elements14and15, the adjacent longitudinal folded-over edges26being arranged in the second niche36of the internal joining elements14, and the non-adjacent transverse folded-over edges26being arranged in the second niche56of the peripheral joining element15. Once mounted, the second plates10hide the attachment rivets16A in place in the openings20of the first plates8and in the bores38of the internal joining element14.

Finally, the assembly method includes a step d) consisting in positioning the attachment rivets16C in the bores40of the element14and the corresponding openings24of the second plates10. Next, attachment rivets17A are positioned in the bores46of the element15and the corresponding openings24. In practice, the attachment rivets16C and17A firmly connect the second plates10to the elements14and15.

The embodiments and the variants of the above text can be combined to generate new embodiments.