Patent Abstract:
A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly that includes a duct and a coil assembly coupled to the duct. A supply line and return line are connected to the coil assembly. A first hanger assembly encircles the supply line, and a second hanger assembly encircles the return line. A support bracket has a first raised channel with a hole and second raised channel with a hole. A first threaded connector is secured using a square nut located in under the raised channel of the bracket, and a second threaded connector is connected to the threaded hole of the second hanger assembly and the second hole in a raised channel of a bracket and secured using a square nut located in under the raised channel of the bracket.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to heating and cooling equipment, and more specifically to a valve package for heating and cooling equipment that prevents attached supply and return lines from being damaged during shipping. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heating and cooling equipment is typically assembled in the field from basic components such as ductwork and conduits, because assemblies can be easily damaged during shipping. As such, the cost savings that might be realized from pre-assembling such equipment is offset by the additional cost that is needed to repair assemblies that are damaged during shipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) fan powered or non-fan powered assembly that includes a duct and a coil assembly coupled to the duct is provided. A supply line and return line are connected to the coil assembly, such as to provide heated or chilled water. The HVAC assembly could have either one set or two sets of supply and return lines. A first hanger assembly that includes a hinged frame, a hinge, a screw, a threaded hole, and a support hole encircles the supply line, and a second hanger assembly that includes a hinged frame, a hinge, a screw, a threaded hole, and a support hole encircles the return line. A support bracket is connected to the duct and has a first raised channel with a hole and second raised channel with a hole. A first threaded connector is connected to the threaded hole of the first hanger assembly and the first hole in the raised channel of the support bracket and threaded into a square nut located under support bracket channel between the support bracket and duct. A second threaded connector is connected to the threaded hole of the second hanger assembly and the second hole in the raised channel of the support bracket and threaded into a square nut located under support bracket channel between the support bracket and duct. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly with a valve package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of a support in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing a support in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawing figures might not be to scale and certain components can be shown in generalized or schematic form and identified by commercial designations in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning non-fan powered (HVAC) assembly  100  with a valve package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. HVAC assembly  100  includes an inlet assembly  102 , which is installed in duct  112 . Duct  112  is coupled to coil housing  110 , which can contain a suitable arrangement of tubing coils to allow a heat exchange medium to be supplied to air flowing through duct  112 , as supplied by inlet assembly  102 . 
     HVAC assembly  100  includes manual and automated valve assemblies that are fed by supply line  104  and return line  106 , which can be suitable metal or non-metallic conduits that carry a suitable heat exchange medium, such as water. Supply line end  114  and return line end  116  are expanded and sealed, which simplifies forming a connection to the heated or chilled water supply and return pipes by eliminating the need for a coupling and by reducing the number of joints that require brazing. In addition, supply line end  114  and return line end  116  allows HVAC assembly to be shipped with a positive or negative pressure inside of the sealed pipes, and Schrader valve  118  can be used to determine whether the positive or negative pressure has been maintained during shipping, so as to be able to detect whether any leaks or other damage might be present. 
     The heat exchange medium is provided to coil housing  110  by supply line  104 , circulates through the coils contained within coil housing  110  where it heats or cools air from duct  112  and inlet assembly  102 , and returns through return line  106 , where it can be heated or cooled, respectively. In this manner, a heated heat exchange medium can be used to heat air from duct  112  (in which case the heat exchange medium is cooled) and a chilled heat exchange medium can be used to cool air from duct  112  (in which case the heat exchange medium is heated). In addition, although a single set of supply lines is shown, two sets of supply lines can be used, such as where one set is used for heating and a second set is used for cooling. In this exemplary embodiment, two sets of coils can also be provided, or suitable valve connections can be used to switch between the heating supply lines and the cooling supply lines, but in any configuration, support  108  can be used to prevent the supply lines from being damaged during shipment. 
     In order to allow supply line  104 , return line  106  and the associated valves and actuators to be pre-installed onto coil housing  110  and the associated coils, it is necessary to provide support to supply line  104  and return line  106  in a manner that facilitates shipping while preventing shipping-related damage. Prior solutions have utilized a handle structure that also functions as a support for the associated duct, but such handle structures can contribute to shipping-related damage by facilitating use of supply line  104  and return line in a manner for which they were not designed. In order to prevent such use, the present disclosure provides support  108 , which can be contained within shrink wrap or other materials that can also cover supply line  104 , return line  106  and the associated valves and actuators. In this manner, personnel are not provided with a handle or other means for grasping supply line  104  or return line  106  during shipping or installation, and damage to supply line  104 , return line  106 , the associated valves or actuators or coils contained within coil housing  110  can be prevented. Support  108  utilizes duct  112  for support, and does not support duct  112 , which allows support  108  to be smaller and less expensive than prior solutions that utilize a handle structure that also functions as a support for the associated duct. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of support  108  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Support  108  includes hangers  202  and  210 , which can be fabricated from copper or other suitable materials. Hanger  210  encloses supply line  104  and hanger  202  encloses return line  106 , so as to provide a firm support for supply line  104  and return line  106  without providing an area that can be readily grasped, so as to prevent misuse or mishandling of support  108  during shipping or installation. 
     Support  108  includes lateral supports  204  and  208 , which are coupled to hangers  202  and  210 , respectively. In one exemplary embodiment, lateral supports  204  and  208  can be all-thread connectors, which can be screwed into a threaded hole in each of hangers  202  and  210 , respectively, or which can be brazed, welded, riveted or otherwise suitably attached. Lateral supports  204  and  208  are also coupled to support bracket  206 , such as by being inserted into holes in a raised channel of support bracket  206  and screwed into squared threaded nuts  220  and  222 , respectively, located in the raised channel of support bracket  206  located between support bracket  206  and duct  112 , or by being brazed, welded, riveted or otherwise suitably attached to support bracket  206 . In one exemplary embodiment, the use of all thread connectors with coordinated threads on hangers  202  and  210  and support bracket  206  can allow the tension between supply line  104 , return line  106  and support bracket  206  to be adjusted, so as to provide a firm support for supply line  104  and return line  106  without providing too much lateral force, which can cause supply line  104 , return line  106  or the connection of supply line  104  and return line  106  to coil housing  110  or the coils contained within coil housing  110  to be damaged. 
     Support bracket  206  includes installation holes  212 , which allow support bracket  206  to be bolted, riveted or otherwise attached to duct  112  at a suitable location. Likewise, support bracket  206  can be brazed, welded or otherwise suitably connected to duct  112  or other suitable structures. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view showing support  108  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In this exemplary embodiment, hangers  202  and  210  can each include a hinged frame  214 , having a hinge  216  and associated screw  218 . Hangers  202  and  210  can be attached to supply line  104  return line  106  at a suitable location by closing hinged frame  214  around supply line  104  or return line  106 , and then by installing screw  218  into hinged frame  214  or otherwise connecting the mating ends of hinged frame  214  opposite hinge  216 , such as welding, brazing or with a bolt. In this manner, lateral supports  204  and  208  can be installed in hangers  202  and  210  and support  206  before hangers  202  and  210  are secured to supply line  104  and return line  106 , where suitable. 
     In operation, support  108  allows supply line  104  and return line  106  to be installed on duct  112  and coil housing  110  in a manner that allows supply line  104  and return line  106  to be encased in packaging or otherwise protected from being used to move the assembly that includes duct  112  and coil housing  110 , so as to protect supply line  104  and return line  106  from being damaged or from causing damage to duct  112  and coil housing  110  during shipment and installation. Support  108  thus allows complex HVAC assemblies to be manufactured in a single location and shipped to diverse installations without creating an incentive for workers to improperly handle the assembly in a manner that can damage the components of the assembly, which can require subsequent and expensive rework or replacement. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5