IP Library Granted Patent US 8,827,780
Granted Patent B1
US 8,827,780 · App. 10/334,958 · Granted Sep 9, 2014

Fan coil block and grid configuration system

Inventors: David Emmett Benson (Beaverton, OR); Kent Peterson (Long Beach, CA); Michael Thomas Post (West Linn, OR)
Assignee: Huntair, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,827,780
App. No.
10/334,958
Granted
Sep 9, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A fan coil block of the present invention preferably includes a fan for drawing air and a cooling device for cooling air drawn by the fan. A flexible air handling system of the present invention preferably includes a fan coil block that is supportable overhead by an overhead support system. The present invention is also directed to an air handling method that includes the steps of providing an overhead support system for supporting overhead devices, defining a return air chase within the interior space of a building, and supporting a fan coil block above or within the return air chase using the overhead support system. The fan coil block draws and cools air from the return air chase and returns the cooled air to a plenum above the overhead support system.

Claims (24)

1. An air handling system for filtering air in a building, said air handling system comprising:

a support grid extending along a ceiling of the building and spaced apart from the ceiling to form an air carrying plenum located between said support grid and the ceiling, said support grid configured to support overhead devices, said support grid comprising openings to a room of the building;

fan filter units positioned in corresponding openings of said support grid, said fan filter units to draw air from the plenum and to discharge the air into the room of the building;

a return air chase in fluid communication with at least one of said openings in said support grid and in fluid communication with the room and the plenum to return the air from the room to the plenum; and

at least one fan coil block comprising a fan and a cooling device, said fan coil block supported by said support grid and positioned within at least one of said openings in said support grid at a discharge end of said return air chase, said fan coil block configured to cool the air returned to the plenum from the return air chase.

2. An air handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said support grid comprises:

support elements suspended from the ceiling; and

support rails extending between said support elements to form said support grid and said openings.

3. An air handling system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said fan filter units are mounted on said support rails and positioned in said corresponding openings of said support grid such that said support elements and said support rails bear the weight of said fan filter units.

4. An air handling system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said at least one fan coil block is mounted on said support rails and positioned in said at least one of the openings of said support grid such that said support elements and said support rails bear the weight of said at least one fan coil block.

5. An air handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said discharge end of said return air chase is joined to said opening in which said at least one fan coil block is supported.

6. An air handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said fan filter units are interchangeably moveable from one to another of said openings formed in said support grid.

7. An air handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one fan coil block is interchangeably moveable to any of said openings formed in said support grid.

8. An air handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said return air chase is located directly below and extends upward to said support grid, said return air chase located within or adjacent an interior wall that surrounds a room of the building, said return air chase coupled to at least one of said openings in said support grid.

9. An air handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the building has exterior walls and a room surrounded by interior walls, said return air chase positioned remotely from the exterior walls and within the room within the interior walls.

10. An air handling system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said return air chase extends directly downward from an opening in said support grid to a floor of the building.

11. An air handling system for filtering air in a building having exterior walls, the building having a room surrounded by interior walls, said air handling system comprising:

a support grid held above the room, extending over the interior walls and spaced apart from a ceiling of the building to form an air carrying plenum between said support grid and the ceiling, said support grid configured to support overhead devices and comprising openings to the room;

a return air chase located directly below and extending upward to said support grid, said return air chase located within or adjacent one of the interior walls that surround the rooms, said return air chase coupled to at least one of said openings in said support grid and in fluid communication with the room and the plenum to return the air from the room to the plenum; and

at least one fan coil block comprising a fan and a cooling device, said fan coil block supported by said support grid and positioned within at least one of said openings in said support grid at a discharge end of said return air chase, said fan coil block configured to cool the air returned to the plenum from the return air chase.

12. An air handling system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein building includes at least two adjacent rooms having interior walls that form sides of said return air chase.

13. An air handling system in accordance with claim 12 further comprising fan filter units positioned in corresponding openings of said support grid, each of the fan filter units to draw air from the plenum and to discharge the air into one of the room and the adjacent room of the building.

14. An air handling system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the return air chase includes a discharge end joined to an opening of said support grid, said return air chase interchangeably moveable from one to another of said openings of said support grid to accommodate changes in an interior of the building.

15. An air handling system in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the plenum constitutes an air carrying non-ducted plenum having a side defined by and spanning across an upper surface of said support grid.

Assignments (17)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056647/0868 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2021
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC, LLC; THERMA-STOR LLC; ADDISON HVAC LLC; NOVELAIRE TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.; ROBERTS-GORDON LLC; STERIL-AIRE LLC; UNITED COOLAIR LLC; AIRXCHANGE, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056650/0303 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT; XANTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056614/0709 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 11, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: NORTEK, INC.; BARCOM ASIA HOLDINGS, LLC; BARCOM CHINA HOLDINGS, LLC; BNSS LP, INC.; BNSS GP, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; GEFEN, LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); HUNTAIR MIDDLE EAST HOLDINGS, INC.; LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORDYNE LLC; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; REZNOR LLC; TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041346/0048 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041326/0071 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041327/0089 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 5, 2015
From: CES GROUP, LLC
To: NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 035132/0952 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF CONVEYING PARTY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 033211 FRAME 0629. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jul 29, 2014
From: HUNTAIR, INC.
To: CES GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 033492/0449 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 13, 2014
From: LINEAR LLC; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CORE BRANDS, LLC; ERGOTRON, INC.; CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); TV ONE BROADCAST SALES CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; CES GROUP, LLC; REZNOR LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032891/0753 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 14, 2014
From: HUNLAIR INC.
To: CES GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 033211/0629 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2010
From: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023750/0040 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 31, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE LP; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 021316/0764 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 021301/0927 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Jun 19, 2008
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS U.S. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; NORTEK, INC.; NORTEK HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021118/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2006
From: HUNTAIR INC. (AN OREGON CORPORATION)
To: HUNTAIR, INC. (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
Reel/Frame 018221/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 8, 2006
From: CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 017586/0137 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2003
From: BENSON, DAVID EMMETT; PETERSON, KENT; POST, MICHAEL THOMAS
To: HUNTAIR INC.
Reel/Frame 013969/0986 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 60345875 · Dec 28, 2001