Michael R Austin

US Patent:

6497256, Dec 24, 2002

Filed:

Jul 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/905234

Inventors:

John C. Adams - Manchester TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN
Christian C. Herbeck - Manchester TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

F16L 914

US Classification:

138149, 138155, 138158, 138DIG 4, 494831, 494891

Abstract:

A panel for use in air conditioning duct for carrying air along an enclosed path of travel. The panel includes a rectangular shaped frame made of a material having a relatively high R value. The frame is closed by a top cover and a bottom cover so that a cavity is established within the panel. The cavity is filled with a curable material that sets inside the panel to bond the walls of the frame together and to bond the covers to the frame. A bulb seal having high insulation characteristics extending along the length of one edge of adjoining panels so that energy transmission is further inhibited.

US Patent:

6530191, Mar 11, 2003

Filed:

Jul 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/904671

Inventors:

Edward T. Rieke - McMinnville TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

E04C 234

US Classification:

527941, 523099, 5230911, 527871, 428178

Abstract:

A support panel for use in an air handling unit for both supporting equipment inside the unit and providing a thermal barrier to the flow of heat into and out of the unit. The panel includes a plastic frame that is enclosed by upper and lower covers to form an internal cavity. Support members are placed in the cavity between the covers to which equipment that is supported upon the panel can be secured. The support members are fabricated of a high strength composite material having a low thermal conductivity. A curable foam is then injected into the cavity to bond the panel components together in assembly. The frame, the support members and the curable foam all have a relatively low thermal conductivity and coact to create a thermal barrier to impede the flow of heat in or out of the unit.

US Patent:

6530630, Mar 11, 2003

Filed:

Jul 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/904672

Inventors:

Christian C. Herbeck - Manchester TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

A47G 2900

US Classification:

3122654, 277637, 277644, 277921, 526531

Abstract:

An air handling system containing sections each having a framework made up of tubular structural elements defining each perpendicularly aligned openings each of which shares a common structural element with its neighbors. The openings are closed by panels that are latched into the openings. Said assemblies are installed around the perimeter of each rectangular opening. Each assembly includes a rigid plate having two bulb seals extending along opposite edges of the plate that are coextruded with the plate. The plate is mounted at about a 45Â angle along an inside corner edge of each commonly shared structural element so that a seal on one side of the plate services one opening while the other seal services the adjacent opening. The ends of the seals are mitered and the plate is inserted into a slot formed in molded corner retainers that support the structural elements in assembly. The mitered corners of the four seals surrounding an opening are placed in abutting contact to create a positive seal about each opening in the modular section.

US Patent:

6626017, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Jul 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/904673

Inventors:

Christian C. Herbeck - Manchester TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN
Timothy E. Ruhl - Manchester TN
Peter J. Hoch - McMinnville TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B65D 5514

US Classification:

70 63, 521279, 523094, 525822, 3122655, 292111, 292218, 292240, 138147, 285 80

Abstract:

A locking mechanism for an air handling duct which includes a plurality of interconnected modules which together made up the duct. The locking mechanism includes a male retainer contained on a frame member of a first module, with the male retainer having a locking arm adapted to be moved from an unlocked position to a locked position. A complementary female retainer is contained on a frame member of a second module, with the female retainer being in the form of an elongated keyway designed to receive and hold the locking arm in a locked position. Means are provided to move the arm from an unlocked position to a locked position when the male and female retainers are in alignment for locking the modules together.

US Patent:

6658904, Dec 9, 2003

Filed:

Jul 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/904670

Inventors:

Christian C. Herbeck - Manchester TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

B65D 5514

US Classification:

70 63, 292111, 138149, 521279, 525841, 3122655

Abstract:

An air handling unit (AHU) includes a frame structure and panels that are assembled to provide ducting for handling air. Each panel is rectangular with two sides and four edges. Each edge is integrally formed with the panel by extruding a perimeter of the panel. The extrusion has one flat edge that serves as a receiver for a cammed leg of a latch that is mounted in the same frame structure that retains the panel. While the latches are unengaged, the panel is inserted into the rectangular opening in the structure. The latches are then individually rotated 90 degrees such that the cammed leg pushes the panel further into the pocket, thus compressing a perimeter seal and eliminating air leakage.

US Patent:

6676234, Jan 13, 2004

Filed:

Jul 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/904684

Inventors:

Christian C. Herbeck - Manchester TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

A47B 7708

US Classification:

3122654, 312236

Abstract:

A panel for use in an air handling unit that conducts air along an enclosed path of travel. The panel includes a rectangular shaped frame made of a plastic material having a low thermal conductivity. The frame is closed by top and bottom cover plates having skirts that are contained in top and bottom channels that encircle the inside of the frame and thus establish an enclosed cavity within the panel. A curable polyurethane foam is injected into the cavity to fill the cavity. The foam sets to bond the covers to the frame and to provide a thermal barrier that impedes the flow of heat through the panel.

US Patent:

6688712, Feb 10, 2004

Filed:

Oct 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/969417

Inventors:

John Carlisle Adams - Manchester TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

A47B 4700

US Classification:

3122651, 3122571, 211191

Abstract:

A modular unit forming a part of an air handling system unit being arranged to support a heat exchanger coil therein. The unit contains a three dimensional framework that includes one longitudinally extended beam that is removably connected at each end to opposed corners of spaced end frames. The framework contains spaces between adjacent beams that are closed by removable panels. Removing the beam and the adjacent panels allows ease of access to the coil as well as installation and removal of the coil from the modular unit.

US Patent:

6721993, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Oct 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/278356

Inventors:

Brock Jensen - Tullahoma TN
Michael W. Austin - McMinnville TN
Christian C. Herbeck - Manchester TN

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Farmington CT

International Classification:

E05D 502

US Classification:

16252, 16253, 16264, 16DIG 43, 411340, 411345, 29625675, 296251, 29625671

Abstract:

A high strength easily assembled hinge assembly for supporting an access door upon a modular section of an air handling system. The assembly includes a pair of spaced apart mounting flanges that are connected by an arm. One end of the arm is pivotably mounted in a first end flange and integrally mounted on the second flange. The first mounting flange is locked to the framework of the modular section using a special clamp that acts in conjunction with a locating frame that registers the assembly in a home position. The second mounting flange is secured to the door using a pair of mounting screws.