Panel optimized for edge stiffness and gasket compression
AssigneeAmerican Standard International Inc.
InventorsJeffrey D. Dehning, Charles K. Kopplen, Michael D. Lewis, Donald G. Pestel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air handler enclosure includes a sheet metal panel fastened to a frame of the enclosure with a gasket sealingly compressed between the frame and the face of the panel. The outer edges of the panel are folded over to create a hem that overlays the face of the panel. The gasket is placed against the face of the panel, just inside the inner periphery of the hem. When the panel is installed, the hem abuts the frame to serve as a spacer that keeps the face of the panel a certain distance away from the frame. In this way, the hem prevents the gasket from being over compressed or crushed between the frame and the face of the panel.
Claims30
An air handler enclosure for housing a blower, comprising:
- a frame;
- a panel that includes a face member with a hem extending along an outer perimeter of the face member, wherein the hem overlaps the face member and is held directly up against the frame;
- and
- a gasket adjacent the hem and compressed between the face member and the frame.
A panel assembly, comprising:
- a face member having an outer perimeter;
- a hem having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein the proximal edge lies along the outer perimeter of the face member, the hem extends inward from the outer perimeter so that the distal edge overlaps the face member, and the hem and the face member comprise a unitary piece;
- and
- a gasket disposed up against the face member and adjacent the distal edge of the hem.
An air handler, comprising:
- an enclosure that includes a sealing surface disposed around an opening in the enclosure;
- a blower disposed inside the enclosure;
- a face member having an outer perimeter;
- a hem having a proximal edge and a distal edge, wherein the proximal edge lies along the outer perimeter of the face member, the hem extends inward from the outer perimeter so that the distal edge overlaps the face member, and the hem and the face member comprise a unitary panel that covers the opening of the enclosure;
- a gasket adjacent the distal edge of the hem and compressed between the face member and the sealing surface of the enclosure;
- and
- a plurality of fasteners spaced apart from the hem, extending through the face member and the gasket, and attached to the enclosure to hold the gasket and the hem against the sealing surface of the enclosure.
A method of sealing a flat panel to a linear support comprising the steps of:
- hemming the flat panel;
- positioning a gasket adjacent a hem formed by the hemming step;
- and
- using the hem as a spacer to establish the maximum amount of compression for the gasket.
An arrangement for sealing a flat panel to a linear support comprising:
- a flat panel having a hem;
- a linear support contacting the hem;
- and
- a gasket contacting the panel and linear support where the gasket is positioned adjacent the hem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.