Removable drip pan heat shield for heat exchanger coil

Abstract

A system is disclosed for use in a ventilation cabinet about a furnace. The system includes a heat exchanger coil having a bottom directed toward the furnace being configured to received air from the furnace, a drip pan disposed at the bottom of the heat exchanger coil so as to catch condensed water from the heat exchanger coil, and a heat shield including a unitary sheet metal body configured to be inserted between the drip pan and the furnace.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for use in a ventilation cabinet about a furnace, the system comprising:
 a heat exchanger coil configured to received air from the furnace;   a drip pan disposed below the heat exchanger coil and configured to catch condensed water from the heat exchanger coil; and   a heat shield comprising a unitary sheet metal body configured to be inserted between the drip pan and the furnace.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heat shield has a top surface, a bottom surface, an airflow hole, a rear edge, a right side edge, a left side edge opposite to the right side edge, and a normal break opposite to the rear edge,   wherein the airflow hole is located in the unitary sheet metal body to enable air to flow from the furnace to the heat exchanger coil when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace,   wherein the top surface is configured to cover the drip pan when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace, and   wherein the right side edge and the left side edge are configured to slide between the drip pan and the furnace when the unitary sheet metal body is being inserted between the drip pan and the furnace.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the unitary sheet metal body includes a hem at the airflow hole, and   wherein the hem comprises a portion of the unitary sheet metal body folded about 180° onto itself.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the normal break comprises a fastener clearance hole configured to receive a fastener when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the unitary sheet metal body includes a second airflow hole. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the top surface is configured to be disposed a distance from the drip pan when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace. 
     
     
         7 . A heat shield for use with a furnace and a heat exchanger coil unit having a drip pan, the heat shield comprising:
 a unitary sheet metal body configured to be inserted between the drip pan and the furnace,   wherein the heat shield is spaced apart from the drip pan.   
     
     
         8 . The heat shield of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the unitary sheet has a top surface, a bottom surface, an airflow hole, a rear edge, a right side edge, a left side edge opposite to the right side edge, and a normal break opposite to the rear edge,   wherein the airflow hole is located in the unitary sheet metal body so as to enable air to flow from the furnace to the heat exchanger coil when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace,   wherein the top surface is configured to cover the drip pan when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace, and   wherein the right side edge and the left side edge are configured to slide between the drip pan and the furnace when the unitary sheet metal body is being inserted between the drip pan and the furnace.   
     
     
         9 . The heat shield of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the unitary sheet metal body includes a hem at the airflow hole, and   wherein the hem comprises a portion of the unitary sheet metal body folded about 180° onto itself.   
     
     
         10 . The heat shield of  claim 8 , wherein the normal break includes a fastener clearance hole configured to receive a fastener when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace. 
     
     
         11 . The heat shield of  claim 8 , wherein the unitary sheet metal body includes a second airflow hole. 
     
     
         12 . The heat shield of  claim 8 , wherein the top surface is configured to be disposed a distance from the drip pan when the unitary sheet metal body is inserted between the drip pan and the furnace. 
     
     
         13 . A method of replacing a heat shield in a system for use in a ventilation cabinet about a furnace, the method comprising:
 opening an access panel on the ventilation cabinet housing a heat exchanger coil disposed above the furnace and being configured to received air from the furnace;   removing a first heat shield from the ventilation cabinet; and   inserting a second heat shield into the ventilation cabinet,   wherein a drip pan is disposed below the heat exchanger coil to catch condensed water from the heat exchanger coil, and   wherein the first heat shield comprises a unitary sheet metal body configured to be disposed between the drip pan and the furnace.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the first heat shield a top surface, a bottom surface, an airflow hole, a rear edge, a right side edge, a left side edge opposite to the right side edge, and a normal break opposite to the rear edge,   wherein the airflow hole is located in the unitary sheet metal body so as to enable air to flow from the furnace to the heat exchanger coil when the unitary sheet metal body is disposed between the drip pan and the furnace,   wherein the top surface is configured to cover the drip pan when the unitary sheet metal body is disposed between the drip pan and the furnace, and   wherein the right side edge and the left side edge are configured to slide between the drip pan and the furnace when the unitary sheet metal body is being removed from between the drip pan and the furnace.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the unitary sheet metal body includes a hem at the airflow hole, and   wherein the hem comprises a portion of the unitary sheet metal body folded 180° onto itself.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 closing the access panel on the ventilation cabinet; and   fastening the access panel onto the ventilation cabinet with a fastener,   wherein the second heat shield comprises a second unitary sheet metal body configured to be disposed between the drip pan and the furnace and having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, a second airflow hole, a second rear edge, a second right side edge, a second left side edge opposite to the second right side edge, and a second normal break opposite to the second rear edge, and   wherein the second normal break includes a fastener clearance hole configured to receive the fastener.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the unitary sheet metal body includes a second airflow hole. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the top surface is configured to be disposed a distance from the drip pan when the unitary sheet metal body is disposed between the drip pan and the furnace. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the top surface is configured to be disposed a ⅛″ from the drip pan when the unitary sheet metal body is disposed between the drip pan and the furnace. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the removing the first heat shield from the ventilation cabinet comprises:
 sliding the right side edge along a right side ridge in the ventilation cabinet; and   sliding the left side edge along a left side ridge in the ventilation cabinet.