IP Library Granted Patent US 11,754,331
Granted Patent B2
US 11,754,331 · App. 16/664,395 · Granted Sep 12, 2023

Divider panel for HVAC system

Inventors: Curtis A. Trammell (Newcastle, OK); Curtis W. Caskey (Dallastown, PA); Roderick R. Sentz (Spring Grove, PA); Zhiwei Huang (Moore, OK); Gregory Ulizio (Oklahoma City, OK)
Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
F25B49/027F24F1/16F24F1/38F24F1/46F25B39/04F24F1/56F25B2339/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,754,331
App. No.
16/664,395
Granted
Sep 12, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a condenser section and a plurality of panels configured to abut one another in a common plane to form a divider panel assembly. Each panel of the plurality of panels is sequentially insertable into and removable from the condenser section.

Claims (32)

1. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a condenser section; and

a plurality of panels configured to abut one another in a common plane to form a divider panel assembly, wherein the divider panel assembly is configured to divide an interior volume of the condenser section into a first volume and a second volume, wherein the first volume is associated with a first set of condenser fans and the second volume is associated with a second set of condenser fans, wherein the first set of condenser fans and the second set of condenser fans are independently controllable.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels includes a hook portion configured to engage with a channel of a support rail of the condenser section.

3. The HVAC system of claim 2 , wherein the support rail is a component of a condenser fan deck of the condenser section.

4. The HVAC system of claim 2 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels includes a brace coupled thereto, wherein the brace and the hook portion are configured to capture the support rail in an installed configuration of the divider panel assembly.

5. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels includes an inner panel, an outer panel, and an intermediate panel.

6. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels includes an angled base surface configured to mate with a sloped base panel of the condenser section.

7. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein a panel of the plurality of panels is configured to engage with a bracket of the condenser section to secure the plurality of panels within the condenser section.

8. The HVAC system of claim 1 , comprising an end plate configured to couple to the condenser section and to one of the plurality of panels to secure the plurality of panels within the condenser section.

9. The HVAC system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels sequentially extends along the common plane from within the condenser section and toward an exterior of the condenser section.

10. A divider panel assembly for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a plurality of panels configured to abut one another, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels includes a respective hook portion configured to engage with a support rail of a condenser section of the HVAC system; and

a plurality of braces, wherein each brace of the plurality of braces is configured to couple to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and configured to capture the support rail between the brace and the respective panel.

11. The divider panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein a first length of the divider panel assembly is substantially equal to a second length of the condenser section.

12. The divider panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels includes a channel configured to capture a protrusion extending from a base panel of the condenser section to restrict movement of the panel relative to the base panel.

13. The divider panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein each brace of the plurality of braces is configured to couple to the respective panel of the plurality of panels to form a gap between the brace and the respective hook portion of the respective panel, wherein the gap is configured to receive the support rail.

14. The divider panel assembly of claim 13 , wherein each brace of the plurality of braces includes a flange with a distal flange end angled away from a main body of the brace to facilitate insertion of the support rail into the gap.

15. The divider panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein each brace of the plurality of braces includes a first portion configured to fasten to the respective panel of the plurality of panels, a second portion angled relative to the first portion along a lateral axis, and a third portion oriented substantially parallel to the first portion and configured to abut the support rail in an installed configuration of the divider panel assembly.

16. The divider panel assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second portion is oriented at an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the first portion.

17. The divider panel assembly of claim 10 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels includes a set of flanges, and respective sets of flanges of the plurality of panels are configured to couple to one another to couple the plurality of panels together.

18. A condenser section of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a fan deck;

a support rail coupled to the fan deck and including a channel having a J-shape; and

a panel of a divider panel assembly that is insertable into the condenser section and removable from the condenser section, wherein the panel includes a hook configured to slidably insert into the channel to engage the panel with the support rail, and the panel is configured to extend within the condenser section between a first interior volume and a second interior volume of the condenser section.

19. The condenser section of claim 18 , wherein the panel is one of a plurality of panels configured to couple to one another to form the divider panel assembly.

20. The condenser section of claim 19 , comprising a bracket having a recess, wherein the panel of the plurality of panels is configured to be inserted into the recess and abut the bracket.

21. The condenser section of claim 20 , wherein the panel is a first panel, and the condenser section includes an end plate configured to abut a second panel of the plurality of panels.

22. The condenser section of claim 21 , wherein the channel includes a flange configured to couple to the end plate.

23. The condenser section of claim 18 , comprising a base panel, wherein the divider panel assembly includes a base surface having a geometry configured to substantially match with a profile of the base panel.

24. The condenser section of claim 23 , wherein the base panel includes a protrusion, and the base surface of the divider panel assembly has an additional channel configured to capture the protrusion.

25. The condenser section of claim 19 , comprising a brace configured to couple to the panel and capture the support rail between the brace and the panel.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2025
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 072298/0096 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2025
From: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS LIGHT COMMERCIAL IP GMBH
Reel/Frame 070179/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 067832/0947 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2022
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 058959/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: TRAMMELL, CURTIS A.; CASKEY, CURTIS W.; SENTZ, RODERICK R.; HUANG, ZHIWEI; ULIZIO, GREGORY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 051743/0699 →