Coil guard for an hvac system

Abstract

An enclosure for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes an enclosure panel. The enclosure panel includes a panel body, a plurality of vent holes formed through the panel body, a plurality of holes formed through the panel body adjacent an edge of the panel body, and a flange extending from the edge of the panel body. The flange includes a lateral portion extending crosswise from the edge of the panel body. The flange also includes a guard portion extending crosswise from an end of the lateral portion, opposite the panel body. The guard portion overlaps with a respective central axis of each hole of the plurality of holes.

1 . An enclosure for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 an enclosure panel, comprising:
 a panel body; 
 a plurality of vent holes formed through the panel body; 
 a plurality of holes formed through the panel body adjacent an edge of the panel body; and 
 a flange extending from the edge of the panel body, wherein the flange comprises:
 a lateral portion extending crosswise from the edge of the panel body; and 
 a guard portion extending crosswise from an end of the lateral portion, opposite the panel body, wherein the guard portion overlaps with a respective central axis of each hole of the plurality of holes. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein each hole of the plurality of holes is configured to receive a corresponding fastener of a plurality of fasteners extending along the respective central axis of the hole. 
     
     
         3 . The enclosure of  claim 2 , comprising an additional panel configured to extend crosswise to the enclosure panel, wherein the additional panel comprises a side flange configured to overlap with the panel body, the side flange comprises a plurality of additional holes, each additional hole of the plurality of additional holes is configured to align with a corresponding hole of the plurality of holes along the respective central axis of the corresponding hole, and the plurality of fasteners is configured to extend through the plurality of additional holes to secure the additional panel to the enclosure panel. 
     
     
         4 . The enclosure of  claim 3 , wherein a first diameter of each hole of the plurality of holes is less than a second diameter of each additional hole of the plurality of additional holes. 
     
     
         5 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the guard portion and the panel body each extend in a common direction. 
     
     
         6 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the panel body extends along an axis, and the guard portion extends from the lateral portion at an angle relative to the axis. 
     
     
         7 . The enclosure of  claim 6 , wherein the guard portion extends from the lateral portion and at least partially toward the panel body. 
     
     
         8 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the panel body extends along an axis, and the guard portion comprises:
 a first portion extending from the lateral portion along the axis; and   a second portion extending from the first portion at an oblique angle relative to the axis.   
     
     
         9 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the second portion overlaps with the respective central axis of each hole of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         10 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure panel is a lateral side panel of the enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the edge is a top edge of the panel body. 
     
     
         12 . The enclosure of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of enclosure panels including the enclosure panel, wherein the plurality of enclosure panels defines an interior volume configured to receive a heat exchanger, and the guard portion is configured to extend between the heat exchanger and a plurality of fasteners extending through the plurality of holes to block contact between the plurality of fasteners and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a plurality of panels, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a top panel and a side panel, and the plurality of panels is coupled to one another to define an interior volume of the enclosure; and   a heat exchanger coil disposed within the interior volume of the enclosure;   wherein the side panel comprises:
 a main body defining a lateral side of the enclosure; 
 a plurality of air flow passages formed in the main body and configured to direct an air flow into the interior volume; 
 a fastener aperture formed through the main body between the plurality of air flow passages and an edge of the main body; and 
 a flange extending from the edge of the main body, wherein the flange comprises:
 a lateral portion extending from the edge and toward the interior volume; and 
 a guard portion extending from the lateral portion, wherein the guard portion intersects with a central axis of the fastener aperture. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The HVAC unit of  claim 13 , wherein the top panel comprises a side flange, the side flange comprises a clearance hole formed therein, and the enclosure comprises a mechanical fastener extending through the clearance hole and the fastener aperture to couple the side panel and the top panel to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The HVAC unit of  claim 14 , wherein a distal end of the guard portion is below the fastener, relative to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC unit of  claim 15 , wherein the main body and the guard portion each extend along the vertical axis. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC unit of  claim 13 , wherein the guard portion extends at an oblique angle relative to the lateral portion. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC unit of  claim 17 , wherein the guard portion extends toward the main body. 
     
     
         19 . An enclosure panel of an enclosure for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising:
 a panel body comprising an outer edge, wherein the panel body extends along a first axis;   a plurality of vent passages formed through the panel body;   a plurality of fastener apertures formed through the panel body between the plurality of vent passages and the outer edge, wherein each fastener aperture of the plurality of fastener apertures is configured to receive a corresponding mechanical fastener; and   a flange extending from the outer edge, wherein the flange comprises:
 a lateral portion extending from the outer edge along a second axis, wherein the second axis is crosswise to the first axis; and 
 a guard portion extending from an end of the lateral portion, wherein the guard portion extends at least partially along the first axis, and the guard portion overlaps with a respective central axis of each fastener aperture of the plurality of fastener apertures. 
   
     
     
         20 . The enclosure panel of  claim 19 , wherein the guard portion extends at least partially along the second axis toward the panel body.