(19)
(11) EP 0 933 599 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
04.08.1999 Bulletin 1999/31

(21) Application number: 98600021.4

(22) Date of filing: 29.12.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6F24F 13/20
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 30.12.1997 GR 97100502

(71) Applicant: Bisimis, Tryfon
145 65 Ekali - Athens (GR)

(72) Inventor:
  • Bisimis, Tryfon
    145 65 Ekali - Athens (GR)

(74) Representative: Varvari-Roupakioti, Evangelia 
15 Areos Street
151 22 Marousi, Athens
151 22 Marousi, Athens (GR)

   


(54) Air tight frame for air handling units with thermal - barrier profiles


(57) Frame consists of metal parts (A and B in FIG 3), with the interpolation of a unique rubber insert with two parts.
The multi-winged part C1 and the refolded part C2 (FIG 3).
Wall panels of the air handling unit are in contact with part C1 and fixed through screws with a plastic gasket. The wings of part C1 are securing air tight function, either in positive or in negative pressure, due to their inclination in different directions.
Part C2 of the rubber insert, is prohibiting thermal bridging between internal and external part (B and A) of the frame.







Description


[0001] The invention is refering to AIR HANDLING UNITS, supplying, conditioned air to any space requiring air-conditioning.

[0002] AIR HANDLING UNITS are the units' used to change the psychrometric properties of atmospheric air (i.e. temperature and relative humidity) to the desired conditions, performing also air filtration. The conditioned air is supplied, through ductwork systems to any space requiring air-conditioning.

[0003] The temperature and humidity difference between internal space of the air handling unit and the ambient, is a factor resulting in :

a. HEAT LOSSES through the frame profiles.

b. UNDESIRABLE CONDENSATION on the casing surface.



[0004] The wall panels of the air handling units, are traditionally constructed as DOUBLE SKIN PANELS i.e. with two sheet metals plus insulating material between them, in order to avoid the above mentioned (a) and (b) problems.

[0005] The SUPPORT STRUCTURE of an air handling unit (FRAME), on which all the panels will be fixed, has also to be constructed in a way avoiding any THERMAL BRIDGE between internal -external space of the unit, while it has also to eliminate any possibility for air leakage through the joints between panels and frame.

[0006] Such frames, avoiding 100% or so thermal bridging, are already existing in the market known as frames with THERMAL BARRIER PROFILES, but there is not any construction, combining THERMAL BARRIER as well as AIR TIGHT PROFILES. All the manufacturers of such units are using various materials for the air tightness of the units, but always separately from thermal barrier material as it is shown in FIG (1).

[0007] The SPECIAL FRAME DESIGN of our invention as well as the SPECIAL INSERT DESIGN with multi-wings, consisting of insulating material, combines:

a. Elimination of THERMAL BRIDGING in the unit frame and consequently of CONDENSATION appearance, and

b.AIR TIGHTNESS of the units, prohibiting any air leakage through the gap between panels and profiles.



[0008] Above mentioned combination, shown in FIG (2) is original and for the first time presented in the Air Conditioning field. It could be constructed from a great variety of metal frame and insulating insert shapes.

[0009] There are a lot of advantages as follows:

1. It combines the solution of two main problems, i.e. THERMAL BRIDGING and AIR TIGHTNESS, through the special design of the frame as well as, the insert.

2. From the industrial point of view, can be produced easily with a large productivity and minimum labor cost.

3. It can be constructed from cheap, flexible and easily assembling materials, like GALV. STEEL SHEET( or ALUMINIUM or any similar metal), RUBBER and common SCREWS with plastic gaskets.

4. THERMAL BRIDGING is prohibited 100% to the whole length of the frame.

5. AIR TIGHTNESS is secured in the most effective way either in POSITIVE or in NEGATIVE air pressure in the internal space of an air handling unit, as it is proved in the following description.



[0010] Frame consists of two simple, formed sheet metal parts. External part (A) and internal part (B), shown in FIG (3), could be constructed from a great 30 variety of metal and shapes. The two parts are joined together, avoiding any metal contact (Thermal Bridge) by 30 means of a special shaped rubber insert (c), which is of unique (one piece) construction with two perpendicular parts C1 and C2.

[0011] C1 is a multi-winged part with double wings in two different directions. C2 part has an edge refolding, in order to be perfectly fitted on the metal part A of the frame.

[0012] Rubber insert C is fitted on both ends of metal part (A), since metal part (B) is kept in perfect contact on both sides of the profile, as it is shown in FIG (4). The construction of the unit is completed with the fixation of the AIR HANDLING UNIT panels, through screws, on the profiles, as it is shown in FIG (2). In the construction shown in FIG (2), THERMAL BRIDGING as well as AIR TIGHTNESS of the unit, have been secured as follows.

50 THERMAL BRIDGING



[0013] Conditioned air of the intemal part of the handling unit, is in contact with the insulated panels as well as the surface of the internal part (B) which is also insulated against the external metal part (A) through the rubber insert (C). There is not any thermal bridging due to the screw, since it has been fixed on the external part (A) only and there is an intermediate plastic gasket too.

AIR TIGHTNESS



[0014] In case the air pressure inside the air handling unit, is over the atmospheric (positive pressure), there is a tension of the air to escape, through the joints outside.

[0015] In this case the air leakage is prohibited, due to the mechanical tightening between panels and profiles through screws, as well as from the wings C1a of the rubber insert, the inclination of which is serving as a trap for the escaping air.

[0016] On the contrary, when the air pressure inside the unit, is below atmospheric (negative pressure), there is a tension of the air to inflow inside the unit. In this case now, apart from mechanical tightening, there are the wings C1b, which are serving as a trap for the incoming air.

[0017] Thus, the design of the frame works effectively against thermal bridging ensuring also air tightness.


Claims

1. AIR TIGHT FRAME OF THE AIR HANDLING UNITS WITH THERMAL BARRIER PROFILES, which consist of two metal parts with the interpolation of a UNIQUE (one piece) RUBBER INSERT, in order to secure air handling unit's function, without any THERMAL BRIDGIN and AIR LEAKAGE.
 
2. UNIQUE RUBBER INSERT of SPECIAL SHAPE, like claim (1), with one refolded edge and the other with multi wings of different direction, adapted to the metal frame of an AIR HANDLING UNIT, in order to secure unit's function without any thermal bridging and air leakage.
 




Drawing
















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