# US 11,112,129 B2 · HVAC unit centering systems and methods

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- Number: US 11,112,129 B2
- Document ID: US11112129B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/113,994
- Filed: 2018-08-27
- Published: 2020-02-27
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-24
- Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company
- Applicants: Johnson Controls Technology Company
- Inventors: Sriram Ramanujam; Amit R. Chothave; Karan Garg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112129B2

## CPC

- F24F 1/06: Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
- F24F 13/20: Casings or covers
- F24F 3/052: Multiple duct systems, e.g. systems in which hot and cold air are supplied by separate circuits from the central station to mixing chambers in the spaces to be conditioned
- F24F 13/32: Supports for air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation units
- F16B 2200/50: Flanged connections
- F24F 2221/16: mounted on the roof
- F24F 2221/32: preventing human errors during the installation, use or maintenance, e.g. goofy proof
- 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)
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a centering system for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit to be mounted to a curb. The centering system includes a centering wedge configured to couple to a base rail of the HVAC unit, the base rail having a lateral surface and a base surface along a length of the HVAC unit. The centering wedge includes an angled surface configured to extend between the lateral surface of the base rail and the base surface of the base rail. The angled surface is configured to contact the curb during installation of the HVAC unit to guide the HVAC unit toward a centered position on the curb.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rooftop unit, comprising:
a base rail having an interior perimeter; and
a centering system configured to center a position of the rooftop unit on a roof curb, wherein the centering system comprises a plurality of centering wedges coupled to the interior perimeter of the base rail of the rooftop unit, wherein each centering wedge of the plurality of centering wedges comprises an angled surface configured to slide along the roof curb to center the position of the rooftop unit on the roof curb during installation of the rooftop unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rooftop unit of claim 1, wherein the angled surface extends between a lateral surface of the interior perimeter of the base rail and a base surface of the interior perimeter of the base rail.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rooftop unit of claim 1, wherein each centering wedge of the plurality of centering wedges comprises a first side flange extending from the angled surface toward a base surface of the interior perimeter of the base rail and a second side flange extending from the angled surface toward the base surface of the interior perimeter of the base rail.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The rooftop unit of claim 3, wherein the first side flange and the second side flange abut the base surface of the interior perimeter of the base rail.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The rooftop unit of claim 3, wherein each centering wedge of the plurality of centering wedges comprises a first attachment flange extending from the first side flange and a second attachment flange extending from the second side flange, and wherein each centering wedge of the plurality of centering wedges is coupled to the base rail via the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The rooftop unit of claim 5, wherein the first attachment flange and the second attachment flange are coupled to the base surface of the interior perimeter of the base rail via fasteners.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The rooftop unit of claim 2, wherein the centering system is configured to center the position of the rooftop unit on the roof curb via contact between a top surface of the roof curb and the base surface of the base rail.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The rooftop unit of claim 7, wherein the centering system is configured to center the position of the rooftop unit on the roof curb to provide a clearance between the top surface of the roof curb and the angled surface of each centering wedge of the plurality of centering wedges.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The rooftop unit of claim 1, wherein the centering system is configured to center the position of the rooftop unit on the roof curb via contact between a first surface of the roof curb and a second surface of the base rail.
