# US 10,371,408 B2 · Flame arrestors for use with a HVAC/R system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,408 B2 - Document ID: US10371408B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/903,850 - Filed: 2014-07-15 - Published: 2016-06-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-15 - Assignees: Carrier Corporation - Applicants: Carrier Corporation - Inventors: Paul Papas; Parmesh Verma; Richard G. Lord; William F. Walter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371408B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/89: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - A62C 4/02: in gas-pipes (safety valves F16K17/00) - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/35: by closing air passages - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10) ## Abstract An HVAC/R system including an HVAC component configured to allow a flammable refrigerant to flow therethrough, at least one supply flame arrestor positioned within the supply air steam, and at least one return flame arrestor positioned within the return air stream, wherein each flame arrestor includes an open area greater than 60%. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system comprising: an HVAC component configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough; at least one supply flame arrestor positioned within a supply air stream; and at least one return flame arrestor positioned within a return air stream, wherein each of the at least one supply flame arrestor and each of the at least one return flame arrestor includes a mesh pitch of approximately 0.1 mm to 5 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor includes an open area greater than 60%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one return flame arrestor includes an open area greater than 60%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor comprises a metal mesh. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one return flame arrestor comprises a metal mesh. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor comprises a non-flammable fiber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one return flame arrestor comprises a non-flammable fiber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor comprises a non-flammable porous material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one return flame arrestor comprises a non- flammable porous material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the HVAC component comprises an evaporator coil operably coupled to a furnace. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 10, wherein at least one supply conduit and at least one return conduit are operably coupled to the HVAC component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor is positioned within the supply air stream by disposing the at least one return flame arrestor within the at least one return conduit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the at least one return flame arrestor is positioned within the return air stream by disposing the at least one return flame arrestor within the at least one return conduit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 11, wherein the at least one supply conduit comprises a plurality of supply conduits. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 10, wherein the furnace comprises: an enclosure; a fan disposed within the enclosure; and a heating element disposed within the enclosure; wherein the heating element is selected from a group consisting of a flame and an electrical heating element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the HVAC component comprises a fan coil. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 16, wherein at least one supply conduit and at least one return conduit are operably coupled to the HVAC component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 17, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor is positioned within the supply air stream by disposing the at least one return flame arrestor within the at least one return conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 17, wherein the at least one return flame arrestor is positioned within the return air stream by disposing the at least one return flame arrestor within the at least one return conduit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 17, wherein the at least one supply conduit comprises a plurality of supply conduits. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 16, wherein the fan coil comprises: an enclosure; an evaporator coil disposed within the enclosure; a fan disposed within the enclosure; and a heating element disposed within the enclosure; wherein the heating element comprises an electrical heating element. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the HVAC component comprises a refrigeration unit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 22, wherein the refrigeration unit comprises: an enclosure; at least one return air intake fan disposed with the enclosure; at least one supply air channel disposed within the enclosure; a compressor disposed within the enclosure; and an evaporator coil disposed within the enclosure; wherein the at least one return air intake fan is positioned within the return air stream; wherein the at least one supply air channel is positioned within the supply air stream. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 23, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor is positioned in the supply air stream by positioning the at least one supply flame arrestor adjacent to the at least one supply air channel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 23, wherein the at least one return flame arrestor is positioned in the return air stream by positioning the at least one return flame arrestor adjacent to the at least return air intake fan. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant comprises a flammable refrigerant. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 26, wherein the flammable refrigerant comprises difluoromethane. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 26, wherein the flammable refrigerant comprises 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one supply flame arrestor and at least one return flame arrestor are each configured to force a flame through a plurality of channels.